Joël Schingtienne press conference

At today's press conference, defender Joël Schingtienne spoke about his arrival at Venezia FC, his adaptation to Serie A, and the challenges awaiting the team in the coming weeks.

Joël Schingtienne
"When I arrived here at Venezia FC, the first thing that struck me was the facilities. Ca’ Venezia is a beautiful training center, but what truly convinced me to take on this new challenge was the vision and project presented to me by director Antonelli and the club.

The main difference between the Italian league and the Belgian one is the tactical aspect, particularly defensive movements, which I had to adapt to.

I still remember my debut against Milan: it was a tough match, especially because we were playing at San Siro, where I believe the atmosphere had a certain impact. I had just arrived and was still absorbing the tactical principles and automatisms with my teammates—things I feel I have improved a lot on today.

I get along very well with coach Di Francesco. He is a manager who instills great confidence in his players, encouraging them to play without fear against any opponent. His teachings and advice are crucial for a player’s development: he focuses on every tactical detail and helps you understand how to best face opponents, as well as how to effectively manage passing lines and the defensive phase.

Arriving together with my former Leuven teammate, Richie Sagrado, was a great help in settling in. He had already been here for a few weeks and made it easier for me to integrate into the group, allowing me to adapt more quickly to this new reality. Unfortunately, he has suffered another injury, but I am convinced that once he returns, he will contribute on the pitch.

On Saturday, we will face Como, a team made up of excellent players who are going through a good run of form. It will be a tough match for both teams because we are also improving. We are preparing in the best possible way, paying attention to every detail, to try and achieve the best result.

In recent matches, we haven't been particularly lucky and could have picked up a few more points, but our belief has never wavered. We have confidence in our abilities and believe we can compete against anyone. We are approaching every game with the right mindset, and by continuing on this path, I am sure we can achieve our ultimate goal."