Among Messina ‘s key players this season is defender Giulio Orlando , who has been consistently employed by coach Pippo Romano, having previously coached him for three seasons. A loyal member of the coaching staff, a firm favourite with sporting director Martello, Orlando can now enjoy his on-field performances. “We’re proud to have recovered from a 14-point deficit , a crucial goal. We’re kicking ourselves a bit, because without the penalty, we would have fought for the championship .”
Orlando tries to elude an opponent (photo by Paolo Furrer)The centre-back has now become accustomed to playing as a left-back: “I’ve adapted very well, also because the manager felt the need dictated by the somewhat short squad. I’d already done it as a boy; it was my role as an under-21 , when I was more of a full-back than a central midfielder. We know each other very well; this is my fourth year with him. The same goes for the manager, Giovanni Martello .”
For Orlando, who made ten appearances in Serie C with Siracusa, 113 appearances for Licata , and another 75 between Acireale and Troina : “Group I is now my home. It’s fascinating, tough, full of Sicilian teams, and very balanced. The only exception was the stint in Fasano , where I was with Carlo Clemente last year . Having him as a teammate again was very important for me; we have a great relationship.”
The team is ready to welcome back the ownership, after an initial meeting with Justin Davis and Morris Pagniello : “We met them a few weeks ago in a brief meeting, and we’re awaiting the final transfer of ownership. Our impressions are positive: they have clear ideas and want to overhaul the current management. This prospect gives us the peace of mind we lacked at the start of the season.”
Orlando praises the locker room: “The surprise is the group , not the individuals. There are teams with superior individual skills but they don’t perform like us, who have faced so many challenges and trained in extreme conditions. Even those who don’t play or play for five minutes always contribute. We’re a hard-working group.”
Over the summer, the appeal of the crowd made up for the skepticism: “Playing for Messina is a dream despite the -14°C. Many of us accepted for this reason: people care about the colors and the shirt. There are many fans at home, and seeing them follow us everywhere is an added bonus. The goal? Staying up without the play-offs; that would be the icing on the cake.”
The experienced Catania defender Giulio Orlando
