Giacomo Ferri interview: “Torino has potential. If it finds balance…”

A Sunday without football, perhaps taking a look at the Trento Sports Festival in streaming, but “it’s a day that never goes away, it’s as if a piece of us had been taken away from us: we’re always complaining that we play too much, then on a day like this we miss football”. And then, on a Sunday where the ball doesn’t roll in Serie A, with Giacomo Ferri we end up talking about Toro. Of what is his first and only lifelong love: he who started as a boy from Philadelphia, who then became a defender much loved by the fans and who completed the parable in the role of an appreciated manager. A life in grenade.

Ferri, let’s start again from the 3-3 draw on the last day with Lazio: what feeling did Toro leave with you?

“But let me first say that the equalizer in the 103rd minute was daring: it was enough for Dembélé to throw a healthy ball into the stands and Toro would have deservedly won. Then, to answer you, as Mister Baroni says, the feeling that Torino leaves is that of a team that is shaping itself and which needs to be given some time. It’s true that up to now they have conceded goals that could have been avoided, but without that penalty in the 103′ he would return from Rome with 6 points between league leaders Roma and Sarri’s Lazio.”

On the first matchday you saw Inter-Toro at San Siro, then you didn’t miss the other Granata matches: did you notice any growth from San Siro to Lazio?

“Without a doubt there has been, because the approach to the game can be seen. However, a general principle applies: when a new coach arrives, it takes time, because no one has a magic wand. The point is that Toro needs to find a balance and, which is difficult, they have to do it as quickly as possible.”

I’m playing, yes, but I’ve still scored a lot of goals.

“This team lives in two phases: when they are in possession they are one team; when they are not in possession they become another team and struggle. Baroni was born a defender, he has played at a high level, I am sure he will be working a lot on this: he is seasoned, experienced, I like him a lot, I have faith in him.”

So the key concept is…?

“I think it’s balance.”

In your opinion, is this a topic that only concerns defence?

Do individual gifts have anything to do with it?

“Also, because there have been too many errors that have resulted in goals being given away. But that’s not it.”

So what’s the point?

“In my career I have had great coaches and I take up their ideas: when too many goals are conceded it is because there is no balance between the three departments, it is a problem that affects everyone, not just the defenders. The first defenders are the attackers, thanks to which the distances between the departments are shortened.”

In the first six matchdays, Toro’s schedule was tough, and Napoli arrives next time. We want to try to give the right dimension to the 5 points obtained against Inter, Fiorentina, Roma, Atalanta, Parma and Lazio: do the points add up or are they weighed at the start of the season?

“If in the first six matchdays you meet all first-tier teams, except Parma, this affects the ranking and even more so because Toro is a team under construction. The fans, like me, would have wanted more than 5 points, but evaluating the opponents it is not a negative balance.”

What do you expect the journey will be like?

“You have to have faith, the points will come. When Baroni finds the balance and optimal form of all the players, for example there are some midfielders who are not in top condition, Toro will become an interesting team. On paper they are a good team, with Zapata’s full-time return it will bring satisfaction.”

Do you like a Taurus with the Adams-Simeone couple, the two 9s?

“I see them as compatible, I think they can play together. I remember a year ago, when Adams teamed up with Zapata, he was uncatchable because Duvan took defenders away from him and left him one-on-one. It could happen again with Simeone.”

Are you convinced by the path taken by Baroni to focus on the game?

“It’s the right path, I support Baroni’s thesis and it fits in with the search for balance. Baroni is right, I believe playing well for the coach is also understood from a tactical point of view, in the need to find the right distances. And let’s return to the topic of balance.”

From whom do you expect a great championship?

“Ever since he arrived in Italy a year ago, Adams has impressed me. I’m banking on him.”

So what can Simeone-Adams become?

“They are a great advantage for Baroni. In the second half against Lazio, when Adams entered and placed himself close to Cholito they drove the defenders crazy. Together they can form a great pair, they have enormous potential. Toro has an important battery of attackers.”

How do you imagine the match against Napoli on Saturday?

“It will be another difficult match, where it will be very important to have your head but not for 90 or 94 minutes, but for 100 minutes. These teams, if you do the slightest thing wrong, they punish you.”