Che Adams strike seals vital Torino win at Pisa
Che Adams's second-half goal secured a crucial 1-0 victory for Torino away at Pisa on Sunday, with manager Roberto D'Aversa praising the striker's impact after a recent physical struggle. The Scotland international, who joined Torino from Southampton in the summer, scored the decisive goal to move the Granata closer to their seasonal objectives in a tightly contested Serie B encounter.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, D'Aversa explained his tactical decisions, revealing Adams had been managed carefully due to fitness concerns. "Adams was coming back from a difficult period physically," D'Aversa said. "After the absence of Duvan [Zapata] we couldn't afford to lose another. I used the freshness of [Antonio] Kulenovic and then exploited the qualities of Adams in the second half." The goal, Adams's seventh of the league campaign, proved the difference in a match where Pisa had shown more energy in the first period.
The Torino coach also took time to discuss the broader challenges of developing young talent in Italian football, specifically mentioning midfielders Cesare Casadei and Tommaso Prati. "Casadei, in my opinion, is a very good attacking midfielder, he knows how to play football and needs to find consistency," D'Aversa stated. "In Italy, as long as the culture doesn't change, young players are not highlighted. We coaches are forced to get results otherwise we are immediately questioned." His comments underscore a persistent debate in the Italian game as clubs like Torino balance immediate results with long-term development.
For Pisa, the defeat was a frustrating one, with manager Oscar Hiljemark telling Sky Sport that his team controlled large spells but failed to convert. "The league table hasn't changed; there are still 7 games left," Hiljemark said. "I saw a team that tried and played well. Torino came into the game well in the second half and the match changed. One chance, one goal. Very frustrating." The result leaves Pisa in mid-table, while Torino consolidates its position in the promotion playoff places.
The three points are a significant boost for Torino's ambitions as the season enters its final stages. Adams's return to scoring form and fitness provides a timely offensive option alongside the veteran Zapata, offering D'Aversa greater flexibility in his attack for the run-in. The win exemplifies the fine margins in Serie B, where a single moment of quality from an experienced striker can define a match and shape a club's trajectory.
