Massimiliano Riccini argues “it would’ve been more embarrassing to stop playing” after he was sacked for leading an Italian youth team to a 27-0 win.
Riccini was dismissed by Grosseto-based youth club Invictasauro, whose President branded him “disrespectful” after they hit double digits against Marina Calcio.
“What was I supposed to do? Ask my boys to let their opponents score a goal?” he told La Repubblica.
Massimiliano Riccini argues “it would’ve been more embarrassing to stop playing” after he was sacked for leading an Italian youth team to a 27-0 win.
Riccini was dismissed by Grosseto-based youth club Invictasauro, whose President branded him “disrespectful” after they hit double digits against Marina Calcio.
“What was I supposed to do? Ask my boys to let their opponents score a goal?” he told La Repubblica.
“It would have been more embarrassing if we just passed the ball around and played keepball against them, if we stopped playing.
“We were up 6-0 after 10 minutes and, after the first half, I asked the opposition’s coach if we should stop the game. He asked me to just keep playing.
“That’s what we did. That’s what we should do in football. Anyone who says otherwise is a hypocrite.
“I would prefer to lose 27-0 than lose with fewer goals, aware that we had been the leading lights of a farce.”
The trainer has since received an outpouring of support, with the story going viral.
“I know the club will have a meeting tomorrow and I know the boys and also their parents will be there to convince the President to change his mind on the decision,” he concluded