Paolo Bravo at the training camp in Ridnauntal. © Alfred Tschager

“FC Südtirol has never relied on big names”

On Sunday, FC Südtirol kicked off its third Serie B season with the traditional training camp in Ridnauntal. What do the white and reds expect from the new season? We went out to get some opinions.

July 17, 2024

From: dl

For the 13th time in a row(!), the FCS is preparing for the new season in Stange in the Ridnauntal. Paolo Bravo is already there for the seventh time. During this time, the sports director has led FC Südtirol into Serie B and has now established themselves there. One of his main tasks is the transfer market. "The market has only just started this year. A lot can still happen," said a cheerful Bravo at the FCS media day on Wednesday in the Hotel Schneeberg.

Bravo then went into more detail about the further transfer plans. "We want to do something in attack and central midfield. I expect that we will bring in around two more players and that two more players will leave."

“We want to do something in attack and central midfield.” Paolo Bravo on the transfer market

When asked by a journalist whether the FCS squad was lacking big names this year, Bravo responded quickly: "FC Südtirol has never relied on big names. We simply want to improve our structures year after year and grow as a club. Then we will become interesting for more and more players. Although Jasmin Kurtic or Andrea Masiello are certainly names with a great Serie A past."

The FCS is housed in the Hotel Schneeberg in Maiern. © DLife/Luca Ognibene

But the goals remain the same. "Our goal is to stay in the league. Everything else is just an extra. It would be presumptuous to call for promotion. We have an experienced and well-rehearsed team. We also want to bring in young players from our own youth team - like returnee Federico Davi – build in. This mix has to be right.” Indeed, with Giacomo Poluzzi (36), Andrea Masiello (38), Fabian Tait (31), Jasmin Kurtic (35), Daniele Casiraghi (31) and Raphael Odogwu (33), the FCS is building on an experienced and well-rehearsed axis.

First summer preparation for Valente

Bravo said the following about coach Federico Valente: "He simply deserves the contract extension. He has simply put aside the criticism of the first few months." And what does the squad planner say about seeing former coach Pierpaolo Bisoli again on the first match day? "I'm looking forward to seeing him again against Modena, but the points are more important."

“We have become football friends.” Coach Federico Valente on the reunion with Bisoli

Valente said the following to Bisoli: "We have become football friends. In the short time that I have worked with him at FCS, I have learned a lot." This year, the coach wants to build on the successful second half of the season and form the White-Reds into a tight-knit unit again. Will he continue to rely on a three-man defense chain? "At the moment it looks as if we will play with a three-man defense chain again," said Valente, who is playing in the Ridnauntal for the first time.