Chievo Club Focus: Turbulence is almost over

Date: 15th January 2014 at 3:29pm
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Chievo left 2013 with two defeats, in which one of them would be unforgettable for coach Eugenio Corini, losing heavily to Torino who dominated the Gialloblu in a 4-1 victory for the Turin outfit.

Whilst critics were unimpressed with the style of football that the former Torino and Palermo man had adopted, describing it as attacking football without a defence. The 43-year-old maintained that his team could take positives and continue their fight to stay up in the Serie A.

With the winter break over and a new year, The Flying Donkeys faced Cagliari which would be uneventful for any spectator, the game was a stale 0-0 draw at the Bentegodi. There were very few chances in the game for either side, despite the Rossoblu having a penalty saved by an inconsistent Christian Puggioni.

Nevertheless, Corini insisted that he believes his team could build on from the point they earned against Cagliari in a press conference, stressing that the Verona side will keep their place in the Serie A.

Whilst the club, players and some fans are behind Corini, he had a mountain to climb when his team would face Inter at the San Siro on Monday night. He went into his pre-match press conference with fighting talk.

“We are there, we take the criticism that we are owed, but we are fighting and will be safe again this season,” said the tactician.

“When you are battling to avoid relegation, you have many chances, but you need to improve the performances.

“I am not thinking about those jeers, as we have to stay within the game, work and improve ourselves. We have 20 games, 20 opportunities to save ourselves and must do well to keep our heads.

“We have the characteristics to trouble even the most important opponents and that is a great motivator. So far this season Chievo have given their fans the joy of winning the Verona derby. At the time we were bottom of the table, but now we’re here fighting.”

This clearly inspired his players who went to the San Siro and draw 1-1 with Walter Mazzarri’s side, who are still continuing their protests of the referees’ decisions, disallowing the Nerazzurri a goal – However Inter were outclassed.

As for The Flying Donkeys, they played football and showed the Serie A that they wouldn’t give up. The Gialloblu soaked up all the pressure from Inter and defended very well, even Puggioni was unstoppable in goal with some crucial saves which secured the point for his team.

Cyril Thereau and Alberto Paloschi caused problems for the Inter defence (which doesn’t take a lot for any striker this season) when they caught them on the counter, whilst Boukary Drame and Gennaro Sardo were influential on the wings and caused Inter all sorts of problems.

Corini expressed his happiness after the match, usurping Mazzarri’s tactics and making the Nerazzurri play negatively. Whilst some say they deserved all three points, the Chievo faithful need to be happy with this result against a very unsettled Inter.

Yet there still appears to be no news or speculation on whether or not the Gialloblu side will bring anyone to the club during the transfer window, Corini will need to concentrate on keeping the players who he does have in order to maintain their safety in the Serie A.

Paloschi has been linked with a move away from the Bentegodi to Sassuolo, but after Domenico Berardi’s outstanding performance against AC Milan over the weekend, I’d doubt the Neroverdi will want to add to their strike force.

With Corini confident, and I still maintain that the Flying Donkeys will survive this season, they have some quality players in the team, yes the defence needs improving but as the former Torino and Palermo man stated he is resuming his work from when he left in the summer and claims the Flying Donkeys will be safe.

Forza Chievo!!

Follow Nic Petruzziello on Twitter: @NicPetruzziello

 

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