12 November 2014
Fabio Grosso says his youngsters need to take a leaf out of Federico Mattiello’s book if they are to make the step up from academy level to training alongside the first team on a daily basis.
The Primavera coach, now in his first full season in the job after assuming the reins towards the back end of last term, believes enthusiasm and determination are the crucial ingredients behind Mattiello’s promotion and says these aspects are pointed out to his squad on a daily basis.
Speaking of his joy at seeing one of his former students graduate at the start of the current campaign in today's Jtv interview, Grosso began: “Every now and again I bump into Mattiello in the corridor at Vinovo and I can see his delight at reaching a goal of his, but also the understanding that he’s now at the start of a new journey.
“He’s a lad I worked with last year, and it gives me a real thrill to see him on such an important stage. I hope that’s a feeling I’m able to experience again in the future, as that’s our aim here at the academy.
“Federico’s done well to be training with the big names and I often told him that his qualities would ensure an opportunity would arrive sooner or later. In football you need to take your chance when it comes and give all you can because the journey is long and hard.
“To reach certain objectives you need to have great enthusiasm and determination and believe in what you’re doing, as well as the desire to overcome each step on a daily basis. I try to explain to my players every day how important it is to have this passion.”
After seeing their formidable start to the league campaign hit the buffers in recent weeks, the Primavera will be targeting a return to winning ways when they resume domestic duties at the end of the international break against inter-city rivals Torino.
But while points from the last few games may have been in short supply, Grosso insists his youngsters are on the right track and backs them to convert their bright displays into wins sooner rather than later.
Previewing the Derby della Mole fixture, he added: “We’re facing a team who are having a good season. We approach it on the back of a couple of bad results, but I’m very happy with the performances we’ve turned in so far.
“Obviously there’s still room to improve and we have to try and do better, starting with next Saturday’s game against Torino. We need to maintain this attitude, which is the right one in my eyes, and try to turn the results into positive ones.”
