We’ve reached the final stages of the season. How would you assess your first experience at Ravenna from a personal perspective?

From a personal standpoint, it has been a positive and educational year. I came from a completely different environment, so integrating quickly and understanding both the internal dynamics of the club and those of the local area was not a given. There was a natural period of adaptation, but over time, also thanks to sharing objectives with the club, we began a structured path. We work on both short-term targets and broader goals, with the aim of building solid foundations to bring Ravenna’s youth sector back to the level it deserves. Ravenna is a city with history, passion, and a deep love for football—it’s an exciting challenge.

What objectives has your work focused on?

We identified two main objectives: strengthening the internal environment and revitalizing the relationship with the local community. Internally, the goal was to structure a staff with an innovative vision and introduce a completely new, coherent, and shared working methodology, creating a consistent technical and developmental thread. We wanted to build a system that could ensure continuity and growth, setting periodic targets. Externally, we focused heavily on dialogue with local clubs. Ravenna has a rich network of amateur teams, and we aimed to establish relationships based on understanding, collaboration, and exchange. This work is allowing us to create an environment conducive not only to sporting growth but also to educational development.

What kind of environment did you find in Ravenna, both in terms of the local area and the club?

Certainly, the geographical position puts us in contact with well-structured and historically solid realities. But from the very beginning, our focus has been on ourselves: on who we are and who we want to become. We cannot—and should not—chase external models; we need to build our own path based on our goals and potential. I found a receptive local area: over these months, I have met many clubs in the region, and there has been great openness to dialogue. The new ownership has given a strong and clear image, but now it is up to us to consolidate it through actions. And that’s exactly what we are doing—building relationships, visiting clubs even outside the province—because we believe growth comes from engagement, sharing, and mutual respect.

What have been the greatest achievements in this first season?

The greatest satisfaction is seeing the boys’ tangible growth. We introduced a new methodological approach, which initially required time to be absorbed, but is now beginning to show concrete results. The environment is more professional, and the players are more aware, motivated, and engaged. Numerous call-ups to provincial and regional representative teams, as well as the participation of some players in the Torneo delle Regioni in Sicily—such as Magnosi, Venturi, Tesselli, and Cortesi—are signs that we are moving in the right direction. For us, in this first year, which we defined as observational and evaluative, more important than the sporting results—which still hold significant developmental value when achieved through solid principles—is the journey itself: forming players and individuals capable of facing future challenges with maturity and ambition.

What are the critical issues?

The main critical issue concerns the facilities, but this isn’t a problem unique to Ravenna; unfortunately, it’s a widespread deficiency across the Italian landscape. Our available facilities are not yet at the level required to compete with more structured clubs like Cesena, Bologna, or SPAL. To bridge this gap, investing in adequate infrastructure is essential. The ownership has shown great sensitivity toward this issue: they have already invested and will continue to do so with determination. We consult with the directors daily to plan concrete interventions. It is clear that modern facilities are a decisive factor in technical and organizational growth, but I also strongly believe in the work ethic: if you convey seriousness and professionalism, you can create value even in less equipped environments. That said, improving our facilities remains a mandatory step to making a true leap in quality

Today, football is increasingly focusing on early-blooming talents. Do you see anyone among your youth players who could truly break into the first team soon?

Our common goal is to bring as many players as possible from our youth academy into the first team. I prefer to speak about attitude rather than just talent: talent is only one part—certainly an important one—that must be nurtured. However, it takes commitment, a strong training culture, self-awareness, and the desire to improve every single day. Some of our players are already showing these traits and, if they continue on this path, they will achieve great things. The objective is to have a youth sector that works in vertical continuity with the first team, and we are investing heavily in this.

Looking ahead, what are the pillars you will be working on for the next season?

There will be two core focus areas: facilities and training/development. Regarding the first aspect, as mentioned, the club is already working on planning concrete interventions. On the internal development front, we want to expand our staff and provide the players with continuous expertise. This year, we have already organized training sessions involving various departments: these were valuable meetings that we intend to scale up. The more the quality of the environment grows, the more the value of the players’ development pathway increases

How does the Giallorossi youth sector address the sense of belonging?

The sense of belonging and the attachment to the shirt have grown alongside the professionalism we have brought into the youth sector. We see this in many areas: a large number of our kids attend Ravenna’s home matches, they accompany the players onto the pitch, and they wear the club kit with pride. There is a wonderful, engaging atmosphere where the desire to be part of something is felt deeply.
Even those coming from outside the city feel highly motivated to wear the Ravenna shirt. To me, this is the clearest sign that we are building a strong identity based on values, transparency, and vision.