With the 26th matchday wrapped up with a 3–2 victory over Pescara, Venezia FC are now preparing for Saturday’s away trip to Bolzano to face Südtirol. Filip Stanković spoke to the media about the team’s current form and focused on the upcoming fixtures on their schedule.

Filip Stanković, Venezia FC goalkeeper.
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Looking back at last Saturday’s match against Pescara, we knew they would start strong. They were aggressive and ready from the very beginning, but we reacted well as a team and showed an important response. The results of our direct rivals don’t affect our motivation—we focus only on our own path without being influenced by the other matches of the round.

This year there are a few goals I might have been able to avoid. I don’t know if this is my best season, but helping the team in delicate moments—like at the end of the match in Pescara—is always important. My best save this season? In Castellammare di Stabia, against Carissoni.

This year I feel I’ve improved with my feet. Football is evolving very quickly and, in the possession phase, the goalkeeper has effectively become an additional outfield player and needs to be comfortable using his feet. Stroppa’s style of play emphasizes building from the back and helps me grow in confidence and responsibility. After Cesena, the coach had asked us not to concede, and a clean sheet is like a reward for the defense—it means we all did a good job. Building from the back as requested by Stroppa obviously involves some risks, but when done well, the benefits are much greater.

On Saturday we go to Bolzano—Südtirol are an excellent team. They mark man-to-man and press fearlessly; it will be a complicated match. We’re preparing for it in the best possible way.

From the first day of training camp, in the first weeks of work, I immediately realized the team’s quality. On the pitch the plays come naturally, and both individually and as a group we are competitive. We want to keep proving that on the field, match after match. At the moment, the season’s balance is positive. Dropping a few points in the early months certainly helped us smooth out our mistakes and gain points as the championship progressed. In any case, we continue to give 100% in every single match and we’ll look at the table at the end.

Having a teammate like Plizzari helps a lot. In training we talk a great deal—about technique, about saving style. We grow together; it’s great to talk with him. My dad? He always tells me never to give up, to push hard and not to give up even an inch, because football never waits for anyone. In general, my family gives me a lot of support—they watch every match and stay close to me in the most delicate moments

The press conference of Filip Stankovic

At the end of the match between Venezia FC and Pescara, valid for Matchday 26 of Serie BKT, which ended 3–2 in favor of the orange-and-black side, head coach Giovanni Stroppa and forward Andrea Adorante analyzed the game.

Giovanni Stroppa, Venezia FC head coach:
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Today the team strongly wanted to secure the three points. Matches like this are never easy; we knew that today’s Pescara wasn’t the same team as a few weeks ago. They’re in good form and caused us problems. We conceded goals due to reading errors. In the opening minutes we had many chances to take the lead but failed to convert them — otherwise it would have been a different match. After going behind and risking going 0–2 down, we managed to turn the game around in the first half. Then in the second half we came out with the wrong approach, but we still managed to bring home the three points. I also take positive answers from this match, because there were some. Now our focus is on the next challenge against Sudtirol

Today we had plenty of chances to close the game earlier — we could and should have done so. We did well to turn the score around already in the first half after going behind, and then in the second half we secured the three points. We knew Pescara would be a strong opponent, even though they are fighting for different objectives, and we also know that in the future there will be other matches like this where the important thing is to bring them home

The post-match of Venezia FC - Pescara

There are 25 players called up by head coach Giovanni Stroppa for Matchday 26 of the Serie BKT 25/26 season, which will see Venezia FC face Pescara tomorrow at 3:00 PM at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.

Goalkeepers:
Matteo Grandi, Alessandro Plizzari, Filip Stankovic.

Defenders:
Bartol Franjic, Antoine Hainaut, Ridgeciano Haps, Seid Korac, Richie Sagrado, Joel Schingtienne, Ahmed Sidibé, Marin Sverko, Michael Svoboda, Michael Venturi.

Midfielders:
Emil Bohinen, Gianluca Busio, Matteo Dagasso, Alfred Duncan, Marko Farji, Nunzio Lella, Kike Perez, Alessandro Pietrelli.

Forwards:
Andrea Adorante, Antonio Casas, John Yeboah, Lion Lauberbach.


Serie BKT 25/26: Squad list for Venezia FC vs Pescara

On the eve of the 26th matchday of Serie BKT, which sees Venezia FC face Pescara, coach Stroppa previews the key topics of the match and describes his team’s current form ahead of the challenge against the Abruzzese side. Kick-off is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, at 3:00 PM at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.

With Cesena we got back on track; beyond the four goals scored, we delivered a more than positive performance. Tomorrow will be yet another challenge as we try to collect as many points as possible until the end.

Pescara’s recent matches should not make us let our guard down. We have a target that keeps our motivation high, and I don’t think I need to further motivate the team because the boys have always been very focused and take great responsibility for what they do. There will be difficulties tomorrow as well, but the goal is too important not to find the right energy to approach every match at 100%.

The mistakes from the first-leg game against Pescara allowed us to raise the level of our subsequent performances. Tomorrow it will be very important to stay focused on what we do best.

With Gorgone, the Abruzzese side has found a bolder identity, without losing the team’s ability to play vertically. Pescara has very dangerous players up front, and Brugman has the technical quality in midfield to dictate the tempo, while the team can rely on players who can be protagonists in this league. They come off an important win in Avellino and are a team in good shape.

We need to continue taking it game by game; at Cesena I made five substitutions, and all the players who came on gave positive responses. This also motivates me a lot, as it allows me to better manage the squad. As I have said before, the secret of this team lies in the players further down the pecking order — I know I can always count on them

Venezia FC

The press conference of Filip Stankovic

The post-match of Venezia FC - Pescara

Serie BKT 25/26: Squad list for Venezia FC vs Pescara

The press conference of Giovanni Stroppa