Davide Nicola's Press Conference

Ahead of the match against Napoli, valid for the seventh round of the 2026/27 Serie A Enilive Championship, Venezia FC Sporting Director and General Manager Filippo Antonelli and Venezia FC head coach Davide Nicola spoke at a press conference. Nicola will make his debut as head coach of the Arancioneroverdi in tomorrow’s match, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Penzo Stadium.

Filippo Antonelli, Venezia FC Sporting Director and General Manager.
“I would first of all like to thank coach Giovanni Stroppa and his entire staff for the immense dedication, passion and determination they showed during the wonderful journey that took us to promotion last year, a journey that will forever remain part of this club’s history and in the hearts of our fans. The decision to change the coach was carefully considered but difficult, prompted by the fact that the match against Atalanta showed a step backwards compared to the game against Lazio and following the long break. We therefore decided to put our faith in coach Nicola, someone I have known for many years and respect both as a professional and as a person. From the very beginning, he has shown that he believes in the potential of this team and this club. We have a clearly defined path, we know what we need to do and where we need to get to, and we are fortunate to have a strong and consistently supportive ownership behind us".

Davide Nicola, Venezia FC head coach.
“I would like to thank the sporting director and the club for the opportunity they have given me. After just two days, the first impressions are always exhilarating, and I am really eager to begin this new journey. Now we need to build on the good work done so far and work with a sense of freedom, dedication and balance to shape our future. This team has quality, and I am sure it will be able to demonstrate it. It is a squad with players who possess a wide range of different attributes, which is a positive aspect because it will give us more options in the various positions and depending on the opponents we face. I approach my work with professionalism, passion and balance, convinced that I can achieve what I set out to do, also thanks to a group that has been fully committed to working from the very beginning. I have seen a group of very serious and well-mannered players, chosen because they possess strong moral qualities as well as technical and tactical ability. This shows that there is a positive environment built on strong values. These are players who care, who want to improve and get out of this situation. It is up to me to provide them with solutions and help them understand that this is a difficult and demanding journey, but that once they reach their goal, they will experience a level of satisfaction that few things in life can match. I want to see a team that is balanced in both phases of play, flexible and ready to express its full potential. To establish ourselves in this division, we must start from the understanding that it takes a process, that we must achieve our objective of staying up, but that nobody gives you anything for free. We have to fight, accept the difficult moments and stand united with the local community and the fans, because these are the moments when the strength of a group becomes clear. Tomorrow we will face a great team, led by an outstanding coach, but for me, the important thing is not to focus on that, but on our own potential and what we want to do. I feel the responsibility of representing a city and its people. I have embraced this challenge with incredible passion, and I will do everything I can to make these people proud. Right now, we need to picture ourselves as climbers tackling an extremely high peak. We know where we want to get to, but we must focus metre by metre and climb step by step, without looking up at the summit of the mountain".