Very explosive Celestini returns to Central Switzerland: “My story with Lucerne is not over yet”

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The pride cannot be ignored when Fabio Celestini talks about his almost two years in Lucerne: “After 29 years without a title, I brought the trophy back to Lucerne. Besides me, only two other coaches have won anything with the FCL (Rudi Gutendorf and Friedel Rausch; editors). The exchange with the fans and the people in the city – it was incredible!”

On Sunday he returns to the site of his greatest triumph as a coach to date: the 2021 cup victory. Celestini, coach at FC Basel for seven weeks, says: “It will be special because I am coming back for the first time. I still have many friends in Lucerne. From a human perspective, it was an incredibly intense two years. Not just professional. Corona started shortly after I arrived. There was a lot of uncertainty for everyone about what would happen next. In football and in life.”

The last meeting in Lucerne was unpleasant

He has only positive memories of Central Switzerland. With one exception. Celestini to Blick: “The last meeting with Remo Meyer (FCL sporting director; editor) and Stefan Wolf (chairman; editor) Wasn’t fun. You know why, and at some point I’ll talk about it publicly. It was just a shame.”

In November 2021, Celestini had to leave after almost two years. FC Luzern was in last place with only one win from 14 league games. From a sporting point of view, the dismissal made sense. Celestini knows it too. But there’s something about the way he does it. Until today.

Celestini and Lucerne argue about money

Because Celestini still has a score to settle with the people of Central Switzerland. In the true sense of the word: it’s about money. “My story is not over yet,” he says. Background: Celestini’s contract with FCL would have run until the summer of 2023. He is pushing for wage payments that have not been made so far, but the FCL sees it differently. Also because Celestini was working in Sion in the meantime (November 2022 to March 2023).

Celestini’s return to Lucerne is also explosive from a sporting perspective. Before the last race of the year he made it clear: “This is our last chance to attack the top 6.” This means: In the event of a defeat, FCB’s goal in the new year is only to stay in the competition.

Basel is currently ten points behind the line, with FC Luzern in 6th place. Celestini wants to see the fact that red-blue has a chance to come close again as a compliment for his players: “When I came seven weeks ago, Basel had the feeling that it had been relegated. Now we are a team again and we are alive again.”

Source : Blick