Champions Without Privilege:
Defending the Scudetto on €12M
Winning Serie A is supposed to change everything — more respect, more resources, more margin for error.At Torino, it changed nothing.
After lifting the Scudetto in season one, the board once again handed me a €12M transfer budget. No safety net, no superstar signings.
Only in Serie A can a reigning champion be expected to defend the title — and compete in the Champions League — with a mid-table budget.
That context makes this season even more surreal when you consider history. In real life, Torino last played in Europe’s top competition back in 1976–77, long before the modern Champions League era. Returning to this stage — and doing it as Italian champions — only underlines how unnatural this situation feels.That reality shaped every decision in season two.
Competing on two fronts was never going to be about money. It had to be about profile recruitment, Match Engine understanding, and squad structure.Using installment deals, I built two solid squads — a clear
Team A and Team B. A first XI capable of standing up to Europe’s elite, and a second unit strong enough to rotate without losing intensity. Rotation was planned, not reactive.The priorities were non-negotiable:Serie A and the Champions League.The Coppa Italia didn’t matter.---
Building a Back Line for Europe To survive against the best strikers and wingers in the world, one thing was clear:you need monsters at the back.
I was able to sign two towers, both ball-playing defenders, strong, fast, and aggressive, built specifically to cope with this Match Engine:
Christian Matsima and
Abdoulaye Faye.Against the insanely built squads you face in Europe, this is the only way to survive. Pace, power, recovery speed, and dominance in open space are mandatory — not optional.---
The Philosophy My recruitment logic is ruthless.
Every player who represents this team must fit the same profile.For me, the key attributes are non-negotiable:
Aggression Teamwork Pace & Acceleration Finishing Composure Determination
If a player doesn’t have these, no technical quality can save him in this Match Engine.That same logic applied to the goalkeeper position.
I was able to sign
Lorenzo Montipò — a goalkeeper I’ve always admired in previous FM versions. Cheap, confident, mentally strong, and reliable. Not a glamorous name, but exactly the presence needed behind an aggressive defensive unit.
---The Statement Signing
The biggest surprise of the summer was landing
Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan.In this Match Engine, his attributes feel like a cheat code. Relentless movement, elite physical output, and perfect timing. A midfielder who doesn’t adapt to systems — he breaks them
---Europe Shows No MercyThe Champions League schedule offered no favors: Slavia Praha, Marseille, Atlético Madrid, Arsenal, Ludogorets, Monaco, and RB Leipzig. A brutal schedule...
— but one that rewards preparation, depth, and tactical clarity
---
Domestic Disrespect, Again Despite being reigning champions, the bookmakers once again placed Torino in 11th. No narrative shift. No respect gained.
And honestly — perfect.This project has never been about expectations. It’s about making one system work against everything, building squads around roles instead of names, and proving once again that in this Match Engine, cohesion, physical dominance, and mentality beat cash.
Team A
Team B
Season two begins exactly how season one did — undervalued and underestimated.But this time, we have all the cards in our hands — and we fully intend to prove them wrong.
Most of all, I’ve found my love for this FM again.At release, that felt impossible — now, I’m fully locked in,thanks to this unbreakable system that gives me so much joy playing it.
First Champions League with Torino~Goosebumps