Why Tait demands mentality and his dog is a good luck charm

The Salurner is a worker, a fighter, pragmatic and down-to-earth, straightforward and honest. “That was the most difficult moment in 2 years of Serie B,” said the FCS captain about the situation before the guest appearance in Ascoli. “And we had exactly the reaction I was hoping for.” Tait has already experienced a lot at FC Südtirol, but it hasn't been this difficult and complicated for a long time. “We were facing the most difficult game since promotion to Serie B - against a team that was 2 points behind us, away, in a heated atmosphere. When you deliver this performance, it shows your strength of character and mentality,” said the FCS captain happily. Tait had hoped for a performance like this. “I knew we could do it. The match against Cosenza was simply too bad to be true,” said the man from Salur, looking back on the 0-1 defeat in the last home game. “There are these games where nothing works. Parma and Cremonese also had similar games. Our problem was that we showed this poor performance at the wrong moment - in a 6-point match at home against a direct opponent. There was a lack of energy, maybe we overloaded the game emotionally. I can't explain the performance," said Tait and added: "So we had two options after Cosenza: either to fall into depression, or to say to ourselves: Never have a performance like that again, we'll do better now." “Let’s forget last season. Our reality is the relegation battle.” Fabian Tait Tait was convinced that FC Südtirol would give the right answer. "I knew it. Because I see how the team trains. Our shape curve points upwards. It's going up. It often takes defeats like the ones against Cosenza in order to continue to grow,” emphasized Tait, who also knows that the road to staying in the league remains long, rocky and difficult. “We are where we need to be. Let's forget last season. We have to get them out of our heads. Our reality is the relegation battle. We have the same number of points as Bari and Sampdoria, a club like Spezia is behind us. Still, everything is supposed to be bad with us? I do not think so. Of course I hope that we can go on a winning streak. But we have to be prepared for a fight to stay in the league until the last minute. The mentality from the Ascoli match must be shown in every game,” demanded the Salurner. Tait's dog as a good luck charm With the opening goal and the own goal to make it 1-1, Tait was the big protagonist of the game in the Marche. “It was really a stupid own goal, totally unfortunate,” said the captain, who praised his team’s reaction to the equalizer. “The 1-1 draw could have blown us away, but we fought back. The players who came in made a crucial contribution, they were great.” The winning goal in Ascoli was scored by one of Tait's best friends: Andrea Masiello. Tait told a funny anecdote. “As a little good luck charm, I wear a photo of my dog Achille on my shin pads. Before the game in Ascoli, Masiello asked me briefly for the dog picture because he would need a bit of luck this time, he said with a wink." The rest of the story is known. In the 78th minute, Masiello grabbed the ball from Ascoli attacker Pablo Rodriguez, played a one-two with Daniele Casiraghi and scored through the legs of keeper Emiliano Viviano to make it 2-1 for FCS. “My dog obviously brought him luck,” Tait laughed. FC Südtirol now has 27 points, 5 points ahead of a relegation place. Last season, 41 points were enough to stay in the league. “It will be similar this year. It will take 42 or 43 points,” said Tait. Words of praise for coach Valente Coach Federico Valente is the right football teacher on the command bridge. “He created new enthusiasm and trust among the players during a very difficult period after parting ways with Coach Bisoli,” Tait said. “He managed to clear his head again.” For the first time in his entire footballing career, Tait has a coach who speaks German with him. “This is actually completely new for me,” the FCS captain had to grin broadly. “Coach Valente speaks French with Kevin Vinetot and Jeremie Broh.” Thanks to his empathetic, open nature, the FCS coach managed to get the players behind him despite the setbacks and defeats. This team unity paid off on Sunday in Ascoli. Now FC Südtirol has to build on this performance, already on Saturday (14 p.m.) at home against Venezia.

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Sassuolo	37	78:37	82
2. Step on	37	62:35	73
3. Specia	37	56:32	63
4. Cremonese	37	61:42	61
5. Juventus Stabia	37	42:41	54
6. Catanzaro	37	51:45	52
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Why Tait demands mentality and his dog is a good luck charm

Fabian Tait is someone who leads the way and takes his team with him - as captain on the pitch, but also off the pitch. Nobody embodies FC Südtirol more than him.

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