Mantova lost 0‑2 against Cremonese in a derby which left the club in a position of reflection. Coach Francesco Modesto expressed his frustration, underlining that the goal conceded early on influenced the entire course of the match, but also reiterated that the team had created numerous scoring opportunities.
Post-match Modesto recognized that the initial episode, which led to the guests' first goal, changed the flow of the match. He explained that, thanks to that goal, Cremonese's high-level players managed to maintain a very compact defense, while Mantova had difficulty finding spaces. “We created a lot of scoring opportunities, but the difference is that they converted and we didn't,” he said. Modesto also highlighted that although Cremonese only had one counterattacking situation in the second half, they were able to score thanks to their ability to determine the match at any moment.
The coach then analyzed the effectiveness of the substitutions. “We changed the team, inserting different interpreters, but we didn't achieve the desired effect,” he declared. Modesto recalled that his team tried to equalize at all costs and that, despite the last goal, the team had many opportunities to score, including a chance by Ilie that could have made it 1‑1. He also mentioned the numerous chances created since the first half, such as Bragantini's chance, which was saved by the opposing goalkeeper.
Regarding the atmosphere in the stadium, Modesto expressed regret for the defeat, recognizing the importance of the support of the fans. “Hearing the stadium in silence for fifteen minutes is not easy, but we must respect the fans' position,” he said. He stressed that the team needs that support and thanked the fans for their continued support.
Finally, the coach outlined the next steps: "We have to work, grow and focus on the next match." With the defeat in the derby, Mantova is preparing to review its strategies and try to regain the fans' confidence in the next matches.