Simon Laner: “I hope Meran is ahead against Bozen”

In the past twelve months you have rarely been on the lawn. How are you currently? “Now I feel in great shape. The break lasted much longer than initially expected. After I tore my cruciate ligament, things got better quickly, but then I started having muscular problems that kept slowing me down. I can now fully train again and am now available to the trainer. There are still 15 games and 45 possible points remaining. So I can still make an important contribution.”

How did you bridge the time without football?

“It wasn't an easy situation for me as I had never had to sit out injured for so long before. All the hard work that didn't seem to bear any fruit left its mark on me. I was very nervous, but in the end I always kept my goal in mind: to prove to everyone my qualities on the pitch. 'Nia lug losn', that's my motto that I also had tattooed on my arm. I always stuck to that during the difficult times. But I also have to say that I received a lot of support from the club. Carpi signed me even though I couldn't train at all. I was shown a lot of patience, which I now want to repay with good performances.”

During your absence, Carpi has climbed up the Serie B table and is currently on the rise. How did you perceive the development?

“Things were similar with Hellas Verona a few years ago, but back then everyone expected promotion. The pressure was enormous. In Carpi, however, everything is different. We know that we have already achieved great things, but at the same time there is potential to play even better and more successfully. But there is a clear parallel to the time back in Verona: the cohesion in the team. In the end, this also decides whether success or defeat.”

A few weeks ago, Lazio president Claudio Lotito denounced that provincial clubs like Carpi had no place in Serie A. Since then, your team has played 0-0 three times in a row. How did that happen?

“I don’t want to say anything about these questionable statements. The fact is that we simply lacked the coolness and the necessary bit of luck in the last few games. We are all working hard to ensure that we are at the top at the end of the season. I have never seen such training intensity as here in Carpi before. I am convinced that this will bear fruit.”

Saturday's opponent, Pro Vercelli, has recently lost twice in a row, so three points should be on the cards. Or?

“Pro Vercelli is going through a difficult phase, but that is exactly what makes the Piedmontese so dangerous. They will certainly do everything they can to get back to winning ways in front of their home crowd. This will be a very close game. In any case, we have the quality and the self-confidence to play for a win away from home right from the start.”

At Pro Vercelli, Manuel Scavone, a native of Bolzano, is one of the top performers. That should probably make this game particularly interesting for both sides.

“That's right, after all we are currently the only two South Tyroleans in Serie B. For this reason too, I'm following his career very closely. Manuel enjoys a high reputation at his club and throughout the league. That is not by accident. On Sunday, however, I hope that Meran holds its own against Bozen.” (smiles)

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Simon Laner: “I hope Meran is ahead against Bozen”

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