Verona - A new appointment with ‘Viste da vicino’, the new format of Yellow-Blue interviews in which the protagonists are the girls of the Hellas Verona Women's First Team.

The 5th episode is dedicated to Sara Corsi, a Verona full-back born in 2004. Born in Montorio, who grew up footballing in Verona, Sara told us about her career in the Yellow-Blue shirt, her passions but also her future, in which she imagines herself a footballer.

How did your career in football begin? "When I was 7 years old, I started playing in the men's team of my town, Montorio. I started thanks to a friend who used to dance with me, who convinced me to go and try out with him. At that time I was dancing at my parents' dance school, where I met this boy. His dad, who used to see me play football, one day said ‘come with us, let's try’ and from then on I never stopped. I played with this friend of mine for a year at Virtus Verona and then at Montorio, where I stayed for a couple of seasons before moving to Verona".

Has your family always supported you? "Yes, my family told me right from the start to try since it was a sport I liked to play, they gave me carte blanche. They always come to watch the games when they have the chance, they have always been very supportive. I have nothing to say about that, I can only thank them. From the beginning they made it clear to me that if it was something I liked to do, they would never deny me the chance to pursue it".

Is there anyone else in the family who plays? "My brother has always played for Montorio, but my dad is also very passionate. Let's say that since I started everyone has always come to the stadium to watch me".

At the age of nine you arrive at Verona where you go all the way, from the youth team to the First team, and last year was the first year with the mains, how was it? 'Well, I would say that for me last season was the turning point. For me, born in Verona, growing up in Hellas was a dream come true. The debut match in the first team was the most beautiful emotion so far on the pitch. For the moment I miss the goal, I hope it will come soon, but last year making my debut was wonderful. All my teammates, along with the coach, were happy for me. Although I played very little, last year I think it was a year of absolute growth for me in all respects".

Then this year you decided to stay, how come? "I saw in this year's team a good project. We are many young girls and there is a coach who gives me confidence. In general, I felt trust from the club. Although we are a young group, I believe we can do well this year".

What did growing up in Verona's youth academy give you? " When I played in the Under 17, Hellas was one of the teams that almost always went to the playoffs, we always came 4th, 5th, in the top positions of the standings. For me it was an important growth, because although there were strong teams like Inter or Juventus, we were always there to play for the title with them. These teams then perhaps had something more, but now we meet those same players every Sunday, many play with us, they are our opponents in Serie B. I think it's nice to have been able to compete with them and still find them today in other teams".

Still talking about youth, what is the memory you carry with you? "I remember one of the games we played against Cittadella, which was the derby for us when I played in Primavera. We won 3-0. For me that is a beautiful memory. There was a lot of pressure, but we had a great desire to have our say in such a match. I think it's one of the best memories I have".

Like some of your teammates did last year, have you ever thought about trying a loan spell and then coming back here grown up? "My dream is to become a Verona flag, because I grew up with these colours, but I don't deny that I've also had the thought of trying to leave home, to have a different experience. Some of my teammates have told me about their experiences away from home, telling me that it could have been an opportunity for me to grow. However, I believe that the thing that makes you grow the most is to receive trust, and I received it from the club this summer when I chose to stay. I didn't feel the need to leave because I felt the trust of the coach and the club in me. One day I hope to be able to play in Serie A, and I'd love to do it with Verona. If I had to gain experience away from home I'd like to do it abroad, I'd like to play in Spain for example".

Why Spain? "I really like Barcelona, I'd like to experience an environment like that. In our country at the moment women's football is growing, and I am happy about that. In other countries, however, there is a different focus on women's football. Let's say that seeing teams like Juventus Women, who have had the opportunity to play in a big stadium and fill it, makes me happy. I believe that little by little we too can reach the level of the foreign teams".

Who are your football idols? "My favourite players have always been Neymar and Marcelo. Especially when I think about my role, I think Marcelo was the best ever. I often watch his videos, study what he did on the pitch, I like him so much. I remember watching it all the time as a child, even with my brother".

What kind of player are you instead?"I am a full-back, although this year we varied a bit with the roles. I think I'm a player who always fights on the pitch, I'm very hungry, I want to prove myself. I think I can give a lot this year to the team, not only on a technical level, but also on a personal level. I think I'm an important figure in the team, I think I can make a contribution. These colours are now tattooed on my skin, I know what Verona means. I want to pass it on to the younger ones and the new girls".

What is it like to have grown up together with teammates with whom you now play in the first team? "By now I think it's eight or nine years that I've been playing with Giulia (Mancuso ed.) for example, as well as Elisa (Casellato ed.), Nicole (Croin ed.) and Gaia (Datres ed.). On the court I don't need to talk to them because by now we have a connection, no words are needed. I think this is one of the best aspects of Verona: we've come a long way together and now we're doing a Serie B championship together. We started from the Pulcine and we've made it all the way to the First Team, I think it's a beautiful thing. Hellas gives you the chance to grow together".

Who is Sara off the pitch? "I'm about to start university, although I have yet to make a final choice on which path to take. I would like to work with children or people who have difficulties. In my spare time, when I'm not training, I actually spend time with my friends, with people who make me feel good. I'm also very passionate about Formula 1, and on Sundays if we're not playing I always watch the races with my dad. I really like it because it's one of the times we can spend time together, since he's often away on business. We always support Ferrari together".

Do you also have other passions? "I've always been a bit obsessed with fashion, with style, I like it a lot. I also happened to be a model, I feel comfortable, it's something that makes me feel good, I like it and I'm passionate about it. I often suggest to Mancu (Giulia Mancuso ed.) that we go shopping together, even though she doesn't like it much. It's something I really like, I don't know why, but it really gets me. I'm often interested in clothes, trends or fashions".

Do you also see something for the future in this passion for fashion? "I don't know, I'd like to, but I don't want to focus too much on that. I see myself as a footballer in the future. If there is a chance to do both, then so be it".

So how do you see yourself in your future? "I aim to do football, I am focused on that. Studying for me I think could be a way to build a different kind of future for me as well. I think sometimes just focusing on one thing and not thinking about anything else can also make you lose your head a bit. Studying will definitely allow me to grow as a person as well. I would like to be able to do good through what I learn, as I said before I would like to be able to help people in need, especially children. I imagine myself as a support teacher. I like children a lot, and many of my friends often tell me that I am good at listening, at giving advice. I would like to combine these two aspects, I think my extra-football path could be this. In any case, my first choice is to focus on my career as a player for now, the rest I will deal with and take forward as I go along".

What does football mean to you? "I started playing for fun, and many people thought I quit right away, they also told me I wasn't good, that it wasn't for me. These ‘negative’ opinions made me persist, I wanted to prove that I could do it and I did. So if you ask me now what football is for me I answer that football is my life. I do nothing else but think about football. Everything I do is focused on football. I try to live an athlete's life: I go to the gym, I go on a diet, for me everything revolves around training and then the game".

How are you enjoying this Serie B championship? "So far I'm happy, but partly also a bit disappointed. I am happy because we are a young group that has a lot of desire; a little bit sorry because the points we have in the standings are a bit of a lie in my opinion. We are playing well, we find ourselves and we train well, all we need is to be able to put our work into practice on Sunday. We aim to be higher than where we are now, but I know we will get there. With the ability we have, we can have a good championship".