Gran(de) Torino

I didn't bother setting an alarm. I was sure there'd be activity on the phone before too long. So it was that as I made a start on a nice Macchiato with a couple of Biscotti
the notifications started rolling in. Italian football twitter had got wind of the story and of course all my previous...well, let's say 'exploits' started getting dragged
up again. In all fairness, that whole business at Genoa was years ago and in my defence I wasn't really sure how co-ownership actually worked. I learned a long time ago
not to pay too much attention to social media at times like this. The only time I needed to really take notice was when my own players were posting instagram stories in
shisha bars at half two in the morning. Fortunately that kind of situation was rare. I was surprised to find a few voices actually praising Torino for hiring me! At about
half 9, Silvia rang and put me on to some social media or marketing or online manager. Basically he told me they'd put together a promo image and were going to push it
on the Torino social media channels and would I want to see it first? I said sure why not.


Pretty decent if I'm honest. And I'm especially happy they didn't use a photo of my ugly mug on there as well. Nobody needs to see me leering at them over their morning coffee.
I was hoping the two team captains, Belotti and Sirigu, would get on board with some of my ideas and end up being my dressing room leaders, fingers crossed. No sooner had I shot
off a quick reply to the media man when the phone went again. Frannie this time. She asked me how my head was, obviously thinking the worst of me as usual. 'Get yourself over to
the training ground as soon as; Gazzetta will do an interview there and then you're set to meet the team and coaching staff.' I knew better than to argue so the phone went
down and the shirt and pressed trousers went on. I'd asked reception if they could find me anything Torino-related about the place last night and as I left one of the girls
came running up with a nice pin badge of the club crest. 'Grazie mille,' I said and pressed 20 euros into her hand.

The journey over was uneventful, fortunately I didn't have the same driver this time. I really needed to sort myself a hire car until I got a place sorted. I sent a quick
message to Frannie saying as much. She sent a quick, expletive-laden reply along the lines of 'do it yourself.' Lovely girl she is. I could see a few media types gathered
around the doors and a few fans and others I didn't recognise. Silvia turned up to usher me in and we took a minute or two to sort out the company line before we went into
the room they'd put together. There must have been maybe ten journos waiting in there already, couple of cameras and the usual tech guys at the back. Not a bad
turnout all things considered. A nice lad called Alessio asked a few harmless questions about my feelings on the job and how I'd settled in and all that, good value he was.
There were a few mentions of my history but nothing I couldn't handle. They asked me about my preferred playing style and with yesterday's meeting fresh in my head I made
sure I let them know I was going to favour a solid, defence-first approach. Hehehe yeah right. The last question was about my captains, if I planned on replacing Belotti.
Not a chance I said, and I made a point of letting them know I wanted to get the supporters on board as soon as. As far as I was concerned I'm in this for the long haul.
Everyone seemed happy enough with that so I said my thank-yous and see-you-soons and headed out.

It must have been half past 12 by the time I got out onto the pitches. I met a few coaches out there already doing drills with the youth team and then I finally got hold of
Dario, my assistant. He was young, 37 or 38, so we bonded instantly. Seemed like we shared a few of the same ideas which was good. He asked me what kind of loose system did
I prefer to play?

Judging by the reports I'd been given, we had decent options in midfield, quality at centre back, a couple of decent wingers and one top top class striker in Andrea. So I've
said we'll start with a sort of 4-3-3 which can transition either way to become more defensive or more attacking. He seemed to think that wasn't a bad idea and went off happily
to bring the lads in for some words. I didn't grandstand too much on my introductions, just let them know I expected a good work ethic and that whatever they put in, I'd
match it. Effort brings its own rewards that's what I've always said. You know, 'fuggi il piacer presente, che accena dolor futuro.' The boys seemed pleasantly surprised
actually. Not sure what, if anything, they'd heard about me beforehand but some of the older lads I knew from the national side like de Silvestri and Zaza certainly got on
board with what I had to say.

So with the introductions made and the gameplans discussed, it was time to run my first training session. Paolo was working with Sirigu and the lads in nets, Antonino
was with the second string and so me and Dario took the first team for a quick 5 v 5. Teams looked in decent shape to be fair, though the game was a little bit ponderous for my liking.
I started clapping and shouting to try and get the energy levels up. 'Premere! Premere!' I shouted, 'Press, press!' Dario looked over and took me aside. 'Look I'm not sure
how they do things in England but we don't really do that here.' 'What do you mean?' I asked him. 'Boss, we don't press.'