{"id":80926,"date":"2026-04-20T23:23:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T23:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/lecce-need-to-concentrate-positive-energy-for-final-5-games\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T23:23:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T23:23:48","slug":"lecce-need-to-concentrate-positive-energy-for-final-5-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/lecce-need-to-concentrate-positive-energy-for-final-5-games\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Lecce need to concentrate positive energy’ for final 5 games"},"content":{"rendered":"


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LECCE, ITALY – APRIL 20: Head coach of US Lecce Eusebio Di Francesco looks on during the Serie A match between US Lecce and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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Eusebio Di Francesco admits Lecce failing to take their scoring opportunities is \u2018the crux of our season,\u2019 but hopes they can \u2018concentrate positive energy\u2019 after the 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.<\/p>\n

This was a must-win fixture for the Salentini, who saw Cremonese pick up a point in yesterday\u2019s 0-0 draw at Torino, leaving them in the bottom three.<\/p>\n

Di Francesco surprisingly left his top scorers on the bench to begin with, but he was perhaps trying to take advantage of Fiorentina\u2019s Conference League efforts against Crystal Palace on Thursday, unleashing his best strikers for the last 35 minutes.<\/p>\n

Jack Harrison\u2019s curling finish had put the Viola in front before half-time, but Tiago Gabriel nodded in a corner to equalise, the first goal scored by Lecce after three and a half Serie A games.<\/p>\n

Di Francesco saw a strong Lecce<\/h2>\n
\"LECCE,
LECCE, ITALY \u2013 APRIL 20: Tiago Gabriel of US Lecce celebrates his team\u2019s equalizing goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe were coming off a run of consecutive defeats, where individual errors had compromised our results,\u201d Di Francesco told DAZN Italia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we had been doing very well even before their goal, then managed to react and in the second half pinned Fiorentina back for over 30 minutes. I saw a lot of chances, with Pierotti, Coulibaly, Stulic, but we were unable to convert the chances.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is the basic crux of our season. However, I will take the good performance, I told the lads with this mentality and hunger, we can achieve our aim.\u201d<\/p>\n

This 1-1 result means Lecce and Cremonese remain locked together on 28 points, with Cagliari next ahead on 33, then Fiorentina with 36.<\/p>\n

It is no secret where their problems lie, scoring only 22 goals in 33 Serie A games, and wasting several more big opportunities this evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can certainly improve, but I liked the number of crosses into the box and pull backs. With Gandelman, he is sort of an extra striker, giving the team balance. This side is working to achieve safety with a certain organisation, but we put so many balls into the penalty area today,\u201d confessed Di Francesco.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a technical skill in attacking certain spaces, we\u2019ve been working on it all season and I\u2019ll continue to focus on it this week in training, because that is how we can score more goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LECCE,
LECCE, ITALY \u2013 APRIL 20: Walid Cheddira of US Lecce competes for the ball with Nicol\u00f2 Fagioli of ACF Fiorentina during the Serie A match between US Lecce and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It had already been confirmed that Lecce would go into a two-week training retreat to prepare for the decisive upcoming games, away to Verona on Saturday, then at Pisa on May 1.<\/p>\n

At the final whistle, the fans called the players over to their Curva and sang encouragement, demanding \u201911 Lions\u2019 in those matches.<\/p>\n

\"LECCE,
LECCE, ITALY \u2013 APRIL 20: Fans of US Lecce during the Serie A match between US Lecce and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Via del Mare on April 20, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe analysed the statistics and almost always conceded goals around the 30th<\/sup> minute, so we have to work on that. I don\u2019t want it to become a mental issue, otherwise we\u2019ll get stuck in a doom loop of worrying around that time,\u201d added Di Francesco.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to finish off these opportunities that we create, especially when getting down the wide areas. We\u2019re concentrating all our positive energy with this training retreat, ensuring we have full control of everything from rest hours to nutrition, so we can be at our best in these crucial weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

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