The coach behind the historic promotion to Serie A: “Today’s team is a good one. It needs to maintain this consistency, and it has plenty of strong forwards.”
It’s been 23 years—a whole generation—since the “Longobarda” days to the “Yellow Tank.” Today, Modena looks at its team and feels younger. Andrea Sottil is at the helm after a start identical to that of Gianni De Biasi, who arrived on a roll following promotion to Serie B and charged straight into Serie A. The same number of wins, draws, losses, and goals allowed: the only difference is in goals scored, with the explosive 2001–02 offense having three more (22 to 19) than the current one. Will it end the same way? De Biasi watches from afar, studies the situation, and is open to comparison. And he, too, feels young again.
Have you seen this Modena team?
“Several times on TV, but never in person. I’ll be there soon, I promise.”
What’s your impression?
“They’re a good team. They need to maintain this consistency, and they have a lot of strong forwards: their rotation will be key. Chichizola is a sure thing—he didn’t win championships by chance: he’s 35, but I had Ballotta…”
Sottil uses a 3-5-2, while you used a 3-4-1-2. Not much of a difference…
“Two top-tier teams, fairly young, that are quite similar. We played that way because everyone else was using a 4-4-2: that way, we created a numerical advantage by having one of the center backs push up—what they call ‘wing-backs’ today.”
You had an attacking midfielder.
“Rubens Pasino was good at finding open space in the attacking third, providing assists, and opening up the flanks for the wingers who pushed forward a lot. Today, Modena might have less creativity, but they’re very organized, solid, and make the most of their individual talents.”
Any other differences?
“The opponents. We faced Preziosi’s Como, who finished first, then Napoli, Cagliari, Genoa, and Sampdoria—teams that played top-tier soccer.”
When did you realize you could get promoted to Serie A?
“The 4-1 win over Napoli on Matchday 3, in the evening—our third straight victory: great soccer and beautiful goals. The team had character.“
Your first loss came on Matchday 11; the current Modena team lost on Matchday 10 in the derby at Reggio.
”Against Empoli, a goal by Di Natale: a cursed game—it was drizzling. The loss to Reggiana, on the other hand, really made me angry…“.
Why?
”Because there’s a latent pessimism in Modena. It was the same with us, even though we’d won Serie C. After the derby, I heard fans expressing their disappointment: I understand they cared deeply about the match against Reggiana, but negativity doesn’t help.”
May 12, 2002, a 0-0 draw on Genoa’s home field, and Modena in Serie A.
“The draw suited everyone. That day, the nickname ‘Longobarda’ became public: watching Lino Banfi’s movie on the team bus had become a ritual.”
What nickname could Modena have today? “I don’t know—they’ll have to come up with one. But ‘Yellow Tank’ fits.”
Back when you were there, Modena went from Montagnani to Amadei; today it’s Rivetti.
“All of them were important figures. I’ve met Rivetti; he’s very sharp and competent. He’s surrounded himself with talented staff—that’s been his greatest strength.”
Back then, just like today, Modena trained on the small field behind the bleachers. But at least now a sports complex is taking shape…
“Oh yes, it’s essential in modern soccer. You can’t work in those conditions anymore. Besides, that field is maintained properly now: back in our day, whether it was wet or dry, it was always fine.”
In recent days, he was in Palermo for the club’s 125th anniversary.
“I’ll be very happy if both Modena and Palermo make it to Serie A—also for my friend Carlo Osti.”
