Lecce, lights and shadows: Cup smiles

Eusebio Di Francesco's new Lecce side got off to a good start, defeating Juve Stabia 2-0 in their first competitive match of the season in the Coppa Italia. The Giallorossi had a mixed bag of ups and downs, taking the lead in the first half through Krstović but having to grit their teeth throughout the second half following Banda's dismissal at the end of the first half. A few too many scares, averted by the usual Falcone, were avoided before Kaba's winning tap-in in injury time, sparking joy among the 10,000 fans at the "Via del Mare" stadium on the evening of August 15th.

There's still work to be done, on the pitch and in the transfer market. It couldn't be otherwise, considering there are still two weeks to go until the end of the summer transfer window and tomorrow marks the start of the week leading up to the Serie A debut away to Genoa. In short, Lecce is still a work in progress, with many areas to improve, but also good points to consolidate from here on out. There are also some images that speak volumes about the team that is emerging: first and foremost, the group embrace of Kaba after the goal that made it 2-0. It's a symbolic image of a united group, aware of the challenges ahead, but eager to continue to impress and capitalize on the hard work put in throughout the preseason.

Coach Di Francesco focused on this very aspect during the post-match press conference: "I liked the team's fighting spirit, which is essential for competing in the league. I'm happy for everyone, including those who came on as substitutes and gave their all, even playing out of position. We know there are areas we can improve on, but let's hold on to this spirit. This is what we need to stay up, even before quality. I'm happy with the great willingness I'm seeing in this group of players; the fans should be proud of their attitude." Tiago Gabriel and Kouassi also performed well against Juve Stabia, both making their competitive debuts for the Giallorossi. "It's only the start of the season and there's still a lot of work to do," said Tiago Gabriel, "but I felt good. I immediately had a good feeling alongside Gaspar, especially because we speak the same language and understand each other immediately. I work to be ready, the coach will decide whether to let me play, but I train to continue creating opportunities for myself."

Kouassi, meanwhile, said he was captivated by the stadium atmosphere: "It's wonderful to debut like this, with a win in front of our fans. I feel like I'm growing day by day, thanks to the advice of my teammates, who are helping me so much. I've already learned so much since arriving, and I can't wait to improve further to help the team."

The victory against Juve Stabia certainly helped boost Lecce's spirits, and they're now ready to step up to Serie A, with plenty of certainties and a few remaining doubts, especially regarding the transfer market. Krstović's first goal of the season came from a penalty: could this be the Montenegrin striker's last goal at the "Via del Mare"? He's a hot name in the transfer market, but watch out for surprises, because if the right offer doesn't arrive, Lecce is happy to continue to count on him. Furthermore, young Camarda, a key figure in the cup match, is eager to sign him, with his splendid assist for Kaba's second goal. The youngster, born in 2008, impressed everyone with his personality and the mentality he brought to the pitch, never overdoing it, always playing for the benefit of his teammates. The assist was a selfless act "of a true player," as Di Francesco described it post-match. And Kaba's emotion at scoring his first goal for the Giallorossi was no small feat. Arrived in the summer of 2023 for a fee close to three million euros, the French midfielder suffered a torn left cruciate ligament in his first season with Lecce, which forced him to sit out a long period of action. Having returned last season, he took time to regain his fitness, only finding more playing time towards the end of the season. For this reason, his cup goal represented a sort of relief from the misfortunes of the past few months, and who knows, it could signal a new beginning for the Frenchman with the Lecce jersey. What is certain is that Di Francesco and the Salento club strongly believe in him: he thus seems destined to carve out increasingly important roles in the upcoming Serie A season, in a Lecce side that is leveraging the strength of its squad in its pursuit of a historic relegation battle.