Massimo Coda talks about himself with sincerity, between the season just ended with Sampdoria, the desire to continue to feel like a protagonist and the special relationship with Fabio Lucioni, recently installed as sporting director of Cosenza. After his last season with Sampdoria, which ended with 9 goals and 3 assists in 28 appearances, the Campania striker looks ahead with enthusiasm and the belief that he can still be a protagonist.
The experience with Sampdoria, explained Coda, was characterized by two very distinct moments. «Last year, let’s say for half the year, I was at the top both physically and mentally. In the second part of the season, however, I was put aside and this made me suffer”, said the center forward. A complicated ending which, however, did not undermine his certainties. The striker assured that he feels good and that he has already started work ahead of next season. «From a physical point of view I am fine. Now I’m training with a trainer and doing the things I should do in training camp,” he explained. The desire to continue has never waned. “I still have a lot of desire to play and I hope that some good teams can still trust me, even though I am of an advanced age,” he said with conviction.
For Coda there is only one parameter to decide when to stop. “If I knew I couldn’t make a difference anymore I would stop, but in my opinion I’m in the right conditions: I can still do it.” During the interview, the striker also dedicated important words to Fabio Lucioni, former teammate and new sporting director of Cosenza. There is a relationship between the two that goes beyond football. «There has always been a friendship with Fabio. We talk often during the year and always meet in Lecce, where he lives. We always have a few days at the beach together”, he said.
Coda is convinced that Lucioni has all the qualities to establish himself in the new role. «He was a footballer who made himself heard in the locker room. It was already clear that he had the ability to be a director or a coach. He chose to be a director and in my opinion he will do it well.” The judgment remains very positive also from a human point of view. “The facts on the field will be the ones to really take into consideration, but I think he can do well because he cares, he knows how to do it and he knows how to move in this world.” According to the attacker, the new management role seems almost natural for the former defender.
«He already had this role inside him. He was a true leader and I think that being sporting director is a suitable position for him.” Coda added that he found Lucioni ready for this new experience. “When I saw him he already had clear ideas, he was already prepared.” It is inevitable, at that point, to address the topic of the transfer market and the possibility of a call from the new rossoblù boss. On this front, however, the bomber has stopped every hypothesis. “Look, at the moment I don’t think so.”
The explanation is linked above all to his ambitions. “I said that I would only go to Serie C for a winning project and I don’t know if Cosenza has this possibility at the moment.” The main objective remains another. “I would like to do at least another year in Serie B, hoping that there is someone who can still trust me.” For this reason, at least today, the rossoblù track appears rather difficult. “So for the moment I don’t think so.”
