Building the Team (On and Off the Pitch)

When I first walked into the club, the board informed me we were already two staff members over our limit for the First Team. On paper, we looked bloated. In reality, the structure was unbalanced: one assistant manager, one coach, and three fitness coaches. Not exactly the model of a modern football club.

To appease the board, I released two of the fitness coaches and then formally requested an additional technical coach. The request was declined. If we’re serious about promotion to Serie B, we need the bare minimum of technical coaches. So, I pushed back hard in the boardroom and, to my relief, won my first battle off the pitch.

That led us to Massimo Lo Monaco, our new defensive coach. Calm but demanding. Tactical but practical. His defensive knowledge will give structure to our back line, and his personality aligns perfectly with the culture we’re trying to build. Alongside Flavio Giampieretti and young coach Marco Antei, we now have a small but unified group. Lo Monaco will be central to shaping our defensive identity.

The Tactic: 4-3-3 — Disciplina & Controllo

Anyone who followed my Venezia journey will already recognise the blueprint. Our philosophy remains the same: Disciplina & Controllo.

Discipline when we do not have the ball. Control when we do.

The two wing-backs invert into midfield to create a defensive wall alongside the holding midfielder, locking down the central areas and dictating the flow of play. 

This gives us numerical superiority in central areas and allows our two mezzali — the number eights — to push on and support the attack.

Out wide, the wingers stay high and stretch the pitch horizontally, forcing defenders into uncomfortable spaces and creating the 1v1 duels we want them to exploit.

Up front, the striker has licence to roam. He holds the ball, links play, and becomes the pivot for the entire attacking structure. When this system clicks, we control tempo, dominate territory, and wear teams down. When it doesn’t, we can be exposed down the flanks or drawn into wide defensive duels – a trade-off I’m willing to accept. Football is about managing risk, not eliminating it.

Execution will take time. Cohesion is still low and relationships are developing. But our tactical identity is clear. The foundations are in place, and it’s now up to Giampieretti, Lo Monaco, and Antei to implement this on the training ground.

The Key Three

(I don’t want to make this article longer than it has to be, so you can access player profiles by clicking on their names.)

These are the pillars we’re building around. If Arezzo are going to climb into Serie B, it will be through their influence at both ends of the pitch.

Emiliano Pattarello – Right Winger

Our star man and the face of this new era. Last season’s 18-goal haul was no accident: Pattarello combines pace, power, and direct finishing with a fearless mentality. A resolute personality and relentless work rate make him the player teammates look toward when the game demands a spark.

Operating from the right flank, Pattarello is our primary goal threat and the player we will build attacking patterns around.

Camillo Tavernelli – Left Winger

Where Pattarello brings fire, Tavernelli brings finesse. The 26-year-old is comfortable as both a winger and inside forward, offering sharp movement, tidy technique, and the ability to glide past defenders.

His balanced personality and team-focused play make him the perfect foil on the opposite wing. Opponents cannot afford to double up on one side when these two stretch the pitch together.

Matteo Gilli – Central Defender

The defensive anchor. At 6’1” with dominant physical attributes, Gilli thrives in duels and reads danger early. He will not be asked to play like a modern ball-playing defender; his role is simple. Win his battles. Organise the line. Clear the danger. Culture often starts at the back. 

The Old Heads

Experience is something we thankfully do not lack. These three bring leadership, calm, and consistency when it’s needed most.

Filippo Guccione – Central Midfielder

Our vice-captain may be entering his twilight years, but Guccione’s technical quality and set-piece delivery remain among the best in the division.

His fairly professional personality sets a strong example for the squad’s younger core. If he were a little more defensively minded, he could drop deeper, but for now his value comes from orchestrating play higher up the pitch and being the one to unlock stubborn defences.

Fabio Tito – Left Wingback

A veteran of Serie C, Tito’s composure and tactical intelligence make him an ideal inverted full-back. He steps into midfield from the left seamlessly, helping us control the ball and dictate tempo while still retaining enough athleticism to recover when needed. A steady, reliable presence who raises the collective confidence of those around him.

Pietro Cianci – Striker

At 6’5”, Cianci gives us a focal point up top and a presence few defenders can handle. Fresh from his best goal-scoring season at arch-rivals Ternana, he combines strength, aerial ability, and sound technique. His hold-up play allows our midfielders and wingers to attack the box with purpose. If he matches last season’s numbers, we’ll have one of the most complete forward lines in Serie C.

The Young Gun

Unfortunately, we only have one young player who is truly ready for first-team involvement right now. Other than Renzi, below, Fransesco Dell’Aquilla will feature from the bench where possible, while 17-year-old Samuele Sussi has been invited to train regularly with the senior squad.

It’s not much, but it’s a start.

Alessandro Renzi – Right Wingback

At 21, Renzi is the future of our right flank. He’s not quite yet on Filippo De Col’s level, but De Col is 31, and it’s time to start embedding the next generation. Renzi’s fairly professional personality, coupled with agility and anticipation, makes him a promising fit for the inverted role within our system. This season is his test — can he grow into a dependable first-team option? If he succeeds, that position could be locked down for the next few years.

Filling the gaps

With four starting places still to settle, competition remains fierce.

In goal, I’ve chosen veteran Giacomo Venturi over the younger Luca Trombini, though both will get their chances.

Captain Marco Chiosa anchors the defence alongside Gilli, with Nicoli Gigli pushing hard for minutes as a physically imposing alternative.

In defensive midfield, I have two contrasting options depending on the match. Shaka Mawuli Eklu brings raw power and aggression, ideal for protecting the defence and breaking up play. Meanwhile, Gennaro Iaccarino, on loan from Napoli, offers a calmer, more creative approach, reading the game and dictating tempo from deep. Both will feature heavily across the campaign.

Moving higher up, the competition between Luca Chierico and Jacopo Dezi to partner Guccione is close. Chierico offers cleaner technique; Dezi brings pace, versatility, and the option to play further forward. It’s the kind of healthy selection dilemma every manager wants.

Closing Reflection

The squad is far from perfect, but there’s balance. It’s certainly a squad which should meet the Board’s aim of making the playoffs.

We’ve built a coaching staff that shares a tactical identity and just need to convince the players who believe in it.

The next step is simple, if not easy: turn potential into performance.

In Italy, culture matters as much as talent. And at Arezzo, we’re building both.