THE SEASON OF THE BIANCOROSSI UNDER 20 TEAM

The Under 20 season is drawing to a close.

Week after week, AC Monza’s Under 20 side has built a journey defined by growth, resilience and identity, leading the young biancorossi to secure mathematical safety with three matches to spare.

It is a significant achievement earned on the pitch, reflecting the team’s constant improvement: in a highly competitive Primavera 1 championship filled with well-structured clubs, the Brianzoli demonstrated character, organization, solidity and quality.

Survival therefore represents the culmination of daily work carried out with dedication and unity by both staff and players. It is not only a finishing point, but above all a confirmation: thanks to this achievement, Monza will compete in the Primavera 1 championship again next season, marking the club’s fourth consecutive year in the top tier of Italian youth football.

Oscar Brevi, head coach of the Under 20 team, commented: “The Primavera 1 championship is far from easy; in many ways, it can be considered a sort of year zero for everyone. The football played here is very close to senior football and extremely different from what players are used to experiencing in the lower youth categories. On top of that, there is also the issue of relegation. That is why, before anything else, I sincerely want to congratulate the team and thank the entire staff, all the players and the Club for what has been accomplished this year”.

“Compared to last season, the group changed considerably and many players made a double leap in category, moving up to the Under 20 team directly from the Under 17. From the beginning, the work that my staff and I set up was designed and adapted around the characteristics of the players in the squad, focusing on several aspects: physical, athletic, structural, mental, technical and tactical. The goal has always been to improve each player’s weaknesses while strengthening their qualities at the same time. Working on the individual is important, but ultimately results are determined by the team’s work as a whole. That is why individual development is integrated and blended with collective work”, the coach stated.

“What we demanded from our players from day one was seriousness, professionalism and responsibility, while always trying to instill enthusiasm and confidence in their abilities. It was not easy, especially at the beginning, but the group we found is exceptional in every respect, both on and off the pitch. The players have always trained well and with a positive attitude, growing tremendously and very quickly, immediately proving themselves to be a solid and united team. For much of the season, in fact, we were one of the best defensive teams in the entire competition, as well as the youngest squad, and that is certainly a great source of pride”, Brevi added.

“We had an extraordinary season”, the coach continued, “always staying far from the relegation zone. The first part of the campaign was fantastic, characterized by excellent physical and mental condition and consistently positive performances. In the last two months, however, we experienced some difficulties, but the continuous growth and the individual and collective improvements of the entire group are the greatest satisfaction, although certainly not the only one. Throughout the year, many Under 20 players regularly trained with Monza’s First Team. It was a huge pleasure to receive compliments from coach Paolo Bianco and his staff for having prepared players who were talented, well-mannered and ready. The step from Under 20 football to the First Team is enormous, so already having the opportunity to experience senior football is extremely useful and important for the boys”.

“Furthermore, during the season some of our players were called up to their National Teams: another source of satisfaction that demonstrates both the players’ growth and the quality of the work we have all done together since day one, fully rewarding all of our efforts”, Brevi added.

The Under 20 coach then continued: “Our style of play is based on building from the back, aggression, competitive intensity and vertical football, while trying to keep the tempo as high as possible. We prepare every match by setting up one-on-one situations regardless of the opponent we are facing, aiming to win as many individual duels as possible without relying on a fixed tactical system. It is not easy to maintain a high level in training and then reproduce it in matches, especially with such a young team, but we were excellent at doing that for much of the season, also thanks to great physical preparation and constant growth in maturity and mentality. It is therefore natural that by the end of the season the boys became a little fatigued and performance levels dropped”.

“We spent the entire year constantly encouraging our players. They are young boys, so it is normal for them to make mistakes, and it is our duty to protect and correct them in the right way. They are truly a wonderful group, and I am sure they will achieve great things in life. I wish every one of them the chance to play at high levels and fulfill their dreams”, coach Brevi concluded.

“I have been at Monza for seven years now and I always try to represent and defend the biancorossi colors with passion and dignity. My greatest pride, however, is being the captain of the Under 20 team: to me, it means leading the squad with responsibility and inspiring my teammates, so I always try to give my all in every match and every training session. This year I found a group of serious players with a great desire to do well and achieve our goals together; little by little, we became a family”, said Under 20 captain Alessandro Bagnaschi.

Christian Fogliaro, one of the players called up to the National Team and one of the standout performers this season, concluded: “I have been part of Monza’s Youth Academy for five years now and it is an honor for me to wear this shirt. The season that is coming to an end has been very positive: we always gave our all and improved a lot both individually and as a team, achieving excellent results. Personally, the experience with the national team was simply wonderful. This opportunity helped me grow and mature, not only from a footballing perspective. I also scored in one of the matches I played, which was certainly an enormous satisfaction”.

The final matches of the season will therefore be an opportunity to build on everything achieved so far, but also to continue improving, gaining experience and preparing for the challenges ahead, with solid foundations on which to build future ambitions. Beyond the results, this is perhaps the clearest sign of the biancorossi Under 20’s journey: a team that has learned how to grow up.

CLICK HERE to discover the full weekend schedule of the AC Monza's Youth Academy.