After wrapping up the derby weekend against Padova — which ended with an away win for the arancioneroverdi — Venezia FC is preparing for their home match against Mantova, scheduled for Saturday, November 29 at 3:00 PM. Defender Joël Schingtienne, who has played in all 15 official matches so far between the league and the Coppa Italia, previews the game and provides an update on the team’s condition.

Joël Schingtienne, Venezia FC defender
“We are very happy to have won the derby; the fans wanted it badly, just as we did. Winning in Padova was a great source of joy. After the match we returned to Ca’ Venezia and experienced the fans’ embrace— it was the first time I had experienced something like that, and it was wonderful to feel all their passion. It motivates us to do even better.

It was our first away win, and we learned a lot from the mistakes made in previous away matches. By following the guidance of the staff and the coach, we managed to get the result. I’m very happy to have found continuity this year; I’m playing a lot of minutes. Last season I learned a lot from the difficulties, especially in the first months of adaptation when I had to understand how defending works in Italy. This continuity helps me gain more confidence and allows me to help the team in the best possible way to achieve our goals.

Stroppa wants to maintain possession starting from the defense, building up play from the back. It’s something that is paying off, and we need to keep doing it in the upcoming matches. Serie B this year is a league where every team is competitive and every small mistake can be punished. The small details truly make the difference; you have to stay focused until the last minute if you want to do well.

Stroppa is helping me a lot in my growth as a player, both technically and tactically. There is a good connection with the other defenders; we all know each other well and know what we can contribute to the team. After the difficult moments earlier in the season, we tried to work on our mistakes and turn the page so we could be ready for the next match.

On Saturday Mantova arrives; they are in good form and coming off three consecutive wins. Like us, they play a lot with the ball at their feet, so we will need to stay very focused at the back. Mantova is a team that plays very well; we’ll work on the details because they will make the difference.”