Last season they were relegated with Cosenza, now they are leaders: “Ancelotti, Conte, Gianpaolo, Baldini… All masters. We have the best school”
From last to first, 213 days later, in the same championship. Max Alvini’s evolution is phenomenal and follows that of Frosinone, who closed out the playout last May 9th and only avoided it thanks to the “Brescia case”. The coach had been relegated with Cosenza for some time and feared that no one would call him to Serie B anymore. Instead he found managers who go beyond the result and know how to judge: sporting director Castagnini called him, president Stirpe and general manager Doronzo welcomed him. And so the new leader was born.
More surprised by the call or by the record?
“I didn’t expect Castagnini’s call, I confess. Then I found the trust of Stirpe and Doronzo and Frosinone is this: a winning pyramid that gave me everything to work well.”
If coaches were judged only by results, everyone would be a sports director.
“It’s the truth. I had a clear path up until Cremona, and I arrived in Serie A after a 22-year career. Then in La Spezia and Cosenza I had less than positive experiences, but scars remain that have strengthened me and made me a better coach.”
Why do you like your ideas?
“Everyone knows that I like to work, that I want to build a group that recognizes itself in discipline and principles. The result cannot be everything.”
You are the only team that has always played with a back four in this Serie B.
“I adapted to how Castagnini built the team. The team expresses itself better this way, even if we can play as a three and sometimes we do in a match. The important thing is to be flexible.”
However, this is nothing new for her.
“Until 10 years ago I played as a four, in professionalism as a three, but always as a zone. Today many defenses play as a three with reference to men, not to the ball. I spent three years at AlbinoLeffe when Gasperini began his career at Atalanta, I studied it and I also respect those principles.”
And how is the B’s best attack born?
“From the quality of the players. We manage to bring many men into the area and we score goals because they are good. We take risks, but I have always preferred proactive football. Sometimes it succeeds, sometimes it doesn’t…”.
Whose ideas in the world today are the best?
“Of the Italians. Our school is the best in the world. Ancelotti for the leadership, Conte for the method, Italiano or Baldini for the tactics. And Spalletti obviously. But I saw Sarri, Giampaolo and others, all masters. Last week I did an exercise that Sarri did in 2012 in Empoli: I adapted it and I liked it.”
Didn’t you find a depressed Frosinone after the year-no?
“No, I found clarity, coherence, desire to work. A perfect club, the values and identity were there. And the team is young, they weren’t demoralized: as a staff we made ourselves available to them, immediately receiving answers and good discipline.”
You have the same path as the stellar Monza. Is it a coincidence?
“What matters is the pitch, not the name or the wages. The pitch expresses its judgements: we are a team with the ambition of wanting to improve.”
The defeats in a row against Monza and Venezia seemed to stop your brilliant start, but instead…
“There’s work behind it. We deserved all of our points and maybe we’re missing something.”
So we can compete for the A.
“It would be something big. What interests me is maintaining identity and discipline. The word Serie A seems enormous to me, but the beauty of Serie B is that names and money don’t make the difference.”
Ghedjemis, Bracaglia, Kvernadze and the others: which of these players will have a good career?
“And Calvani and Monterisi? Where do we put Barcella and Cichella? And Palmisani and Grosso? There are many excellent young people here who will have important careers.”
After 10 years with 8 teams between A, B and C, is Frosinone the right place to put down roots?
“Yes. Serie B is certainly the only championship I haven’t won, my goal is to do it sooner or later. And today Frosinone is the best for me.”
Do the 381 km from Fucecchio weigh on you?
“Being away from home is a test, but I’m happy when I go to work and when I come home.”
You live on football 24 hours a day: can you distract yourself a bit?
“Unfortunately, that’s the way it is. I only get distracted when I go home to my family, parents and friends.”
The last time you went to the cinema?
“I’m passionate: I saw the premiere of the film about my friend Brunello Cucinelli.”
Last book read?
“Conte’s biography”.
Joseph the former Prime Minister?
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