Fresh from the experience of working shoulder to shoulder with the first-team squad during the Moena pre-season training camp, we caught up with Alessandro Bianco, Filippo Frison, Louis Munteanu, Christian Dalle Mura, Ivan Andonov, Vittorio Agostinelli and Dimo Krastev to learn about their experiences over the last couple of weeks.

THE HARD WORK OF PRE-SEASON

Bianco – who has often been used in the deep-lying playmaker role by Vincenzo Italiano – is frank about how gruelling the camp has been.

“It’s been a tough camp – it feels like two months have gone by,” he says. “It’s been a great experience but it’s been hard work, with two training sessions every day. We’re not used to that tempo. But I’m sure that pushing now will help us when the season begins.”

Frison echoes the sentiments of his young team-mate.

“It hasn’t been easy, particularly at the start, when we had to adjust to the tempo and the high standard,” he adds. “However, as time went by, and as we got more training under our belts, we were able to integrate into the group and get to grips with what the coach wanted from us.”

THE EXPERIENCE

All of the youngsters are full of positivity following the experience.

“It’s been great because you get to experience the first-team environment a bit, away from the pitch too,” says Bianco. “You see the kind of attitude they have, the people they have around them. There have been a lot of emotions, as well as the work side of it.”

“It’s definitely been a big experience and one I’ll certainly remember,” says Frison. “It’s going to help us to progress – you’re in close contact with professional footballers with all their experience, and they give you advice.”

“It’s been a fantastic experience,” says Agostinelli. “It’s always good to play with the senior players, both in terms of the mental side of things and the football itself.”

“I think it’s been a great experience so I want to thank the coach and all my team-mates,” adds Andonov. “I’ve been able to speak to the more experienced keepers and have learned a lot from them. They’re a lot more experienced than me.”

“It’s definitely been a good experience,” says Dalle Mura, the most experienced of the group. “It’s the ultimate for players of our age. You learn a lot on both a human and football level. Spending 24 hours a day with professional athletes is really exciting and I hope there are more opportunities like this to come.”

“It’s been exciting,” says Munteanu. “It’s been a great experience – I’m pleased with how I’ve played and I hope that I’ve done a good job. My dream is to become a player in the future, so I’m happy to have taken this step with this team.”

“I’d been dreaming of playing for the first team for a while,” says Krastev. “I used to watch them when I was little. My childhood idol was Sergio Busquets.”

FIVE YEARS AGO…

Training side by side with the first-team squad is the stuff of dreams for most young players, but that’s exactly what this group has been doing over the last few weeks. Would they ever have expected this five years ago?

“We all believe in our dreams,” says Agostinelli. “Some might have a bit less belief when they start out, some gain more belief as they go on, but if it’s your dream you have to believe you can get to the first team.”

“I’d never have believed it because it’s a big step up, even if it is every kid’s dream,” said Dalle Mura. “This is only the beginning, anyway. Five years ago we were playing five a side!”

HIGHLIGHTS

For Krastev, one of the undisputed highlights of the training camp was beating Dusan Vlahovic in a competition to score a curling shot from behind the goal line.

“It’s always nice to beat Dusan, because he hates losing,” he says with a smile. “I’m pleased to have won that competition against him!”

Frison revealed some of the hijinks the youngsters got up to.

“We hid Dalle Mura’s headphones – he can’t live without them,” he says. “He had about 15 or 20 minutes of panic… then we gave them back to him.”

As is traditional, all of the youngsters had to get up and sing in front of the whole squad, as part of their initiation process.

“One young player had to get up on a seat and sing for a few minutes with a bottle in their hand every night,” says Frison. “Some of us were more embarrassed, whereas others took it in their stride. There was a great reaction and lots of clapping from the squad to help us out.”

LESSONS LEARNED

Bianco explains that while he has learned plenty from playing in the friendlies, reproducing that in front of a packed stadium is a whole other ball game.

“They’re friendlies and although they’re good experiences, you’re expected to be better than the opposition,” he says. “It’s great to receive praise, but I think I’ll feel the pressure more when I’m playing in front of 50,000 or 60,000 people. The coach played in the same position as me – that’s a blessing and a curse, as he’s been pushing me hard! He played for 20 years at a very high level, so he’s been able to give me a lot of advice.

“I need to improve with my left foot, get stronger physically and work on my reactions. Then my heading, my timing… How long have you got?! Slowly but surely, I’m trying to improve across the board.”

Agostinelli had the thrill of finding the net in the friendly action during the training camp.

“Scoring goals is always a great feeling, but to do so for the first team is absolutely amazing, even in a friendly,” he says. “I’ve learned something from everyone – I try to steal something from all the players and I’ve learned a lot from the wide men. [Riccardo] Saponara has given me a lot of advice in terms of movement and mentality.”

“I worked with some great first-team defenders last year too,” adds Dalle Mura. “Every day I get to train with them is a massive gift.”

“I’ve become more assured both in playing the ball and in my marking, which is crucial,” says Frison. “This has to be something I go on and build on now.”

Krastev takes a more playful approach.

“I’ve learned from Bianco!” he quips. “Jokes aside, I’ve learned from all the midfielders. And I’ve improved in terms of my mentality.”

“We’re very lucky,” says Dalle Mura. “This group is full of guys that want to help us. [Lorenzo] Venuti is always helping us in the dressing room, and [Riccardo] Saponara always gives a lot of advice.”

How would they rate the experience from one to ten?

“Ten!” is the instant response.