RESPECT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE
Yesterday afternoon, Riccardo Chiarello, Matteo Francesconi, and Simone Pieraccini, along with the team official Fiorenzo Treossi, participated in the project "On the Field as in Life: The Value of Rules," organized by the wellness commission of the G.B. Morgagni High School in Forlì, which organizes cultural and recreational activities for its students.
"Respect is the most important rule. Beyond the rules of the game, being part of a team requires knowing how to behave and respect others' goals to achieve a common one. I could never put my personal goals ahead of the team's," Chiarello started before passing the baton to Pieraccini: "This is the first real year I'm playing professionally, and the rules you learn in school carry over into life, helping in your work and journey."
Francesconi highlighted the importance of combining respect, sports, and education: "I want to say that football has taught me to respect others' differences. Growing up in a locker room with 20 people from different cities and cultures teaches you to understand and respect differences. My teammates have children; you must listen to those with more experience. I think education is important. I'm enrolled at the University of Bologna, and balancing both the athletic and academic sides helps me keep an open mind."
After an introduction, the players answered students' questions, sharing their experiences balancing sports with education. They emphasized the importance of family and willpower in achieving goals: "I wanted to make my parents proud, but it was also important to me. If you truly care, it's not impossible to study and train. You have to want it and have the right mindset. Then, your family can greatly support and motivate you to do your best," Francesconi said.
Among the audience were two students starting their journey to become referees, and Treossi shared his experience: "I started at 17, then I was lucky enough to move up through the regional and national levels, and finally, become an international referee. I was fortunate to see many things across Europe and beyond. It was a wonderful experience and a good life lesson. Enforcing rules strengthens your character and personality, giving you visibility pleasantly. Indeed, after I retired due to age limits as a referee, Cesena called me, and I've had 14 wonderful years. I'm proud they reached out because this city was born to play football. The first home game was incredibly emotional, and those emotions give you the strength to move forward in many areas. You should feel excited to go to school and bring home results."
Finally, there was time for the last curiosities, from competitiveness to how to react after a defeat: "Competitiveness is the foundation of football, but it has to be healthy. Once off the field, you become friends again. Competing for a spot with a teammate is a great motivation; the right kind of competition gets you up eager to succeed in the morning. When you lose, even though it's tough, you must understand it's part of the game. It is important to react, analyze the next day why it happened, and work to improve. Every defeat teaches a lesson, but if it happens, it's for a reason. I try to take everything positive from it and work on it the following week to prevent it from happening again. As you grow, you must analyze defeat without taking it personally, as it can provide insights for tackling new situations. It would help if you stay balanced, not discouraged by losses, and not get carried away by wins," Chiarello, Francesconi, and Pieraccini preached.