Ending the season right now would certainly suit the team at the top of the table, handing the mighty Juventus another league title. But, here at Club Focus, our interest lies at the other end of the division and bringing the curtain down on Serie A would see our beloved Neroverdi safe from the drop into the dreaded Serie B.
Eusebio di Francesco’s men find themselves sitting 17th and just above the the relegation zone. If indeed the season was already over, you can’t help but feel a huge pride for the Serie A débutantes, having retained their top flight status playing every game with a view to winning rather than trying to avoid defeat.
However, the current campaign still has four ‘finals’ for Sassuolo to negotiate before they can give themselves a well earned pat on the back.
The fact that they have hauled themselves out of the bottom three is testament to the coach and his abilities but you do have to wonder whether his five match break on what was effectively gardening leave, was the boost both he and his players needed.
And the timing of his mini hiatus begs more questions than we have answers to.
The Alberto Malesani era, which consisted of five games and five defeats, arguably during the club’s toughest part of the calendar, has got conspiracy theorists working overtime. It has been suggested by various sources that Malesani was nothing more than a coaching sacrifice for a set of games that Sassuolo had little chance of winning.
Di Francesco would then be brought back to lead the team, having been refreshed and re-energised with some new ideas on saving his side from the drop. Furthermore, the sword of Damocles would have been lifted from over his head, temporarily at least, whilst he masterminded this great escape.
It does sound very far-fetched but whether ‘Difra’ was purposely relieved of his duties for those matches or not, the team has certainly received a jolt of some sort (or ‘scossa’ as the Italians like to call it) which has given players and fans alike the belief that they can remain in Serie A.
But the mysteries do not end there.
A further unexplained phenomenon is the disappointing news that weekend match winner Domenico Berardi is going to miss the next game against table toppers Juventus. Again. And we say that, as he was also suspended for the previous match against the Bianconeri.
And why is this strange? Well, the young striker is owned by the Old Lady and is by far the stand-out player in di Francesco’s team. Strange that the stylish Calabria-born forward will not play any part against his title chasing employers.
Strange indeed but far be it for us to suggest Berardi purposely picked up a yellow card so as to avoid any potential conflict of sporting interest given that he will probably be part of the Juve first team next season.
But the teenage superstar will not be in the squad to face Antonio Conte’s side this weekend and we have been robbed of another starring performance by one of Italy’s great young hopes.
Unfortunately, he won’t be the only player missing through suspension. With bookings for Davide Biondini and Simone Missiroli, the Sassuolo midfield will have to be redesigned as they too will sit the Juve game out.
Early reports suggest that Aleandro Rosi and Yussie Chibsah will come in and stake a claim for a permanent starting spot in the team against the league leaders.
Nicola Sansone will replace Berardi alongside Simone Zaza and an impressive Antonio Floro Flores in the now standard trident attack.
Those of you familiar with the workings of the Italian psyche will fully understand that all things must happen for a reason. Nothing is ever down to luck (good or bad) there has to be something behind the scenes that make it so. No matter how bizarre or unlikely the theory might be.
So, if that’s the case, let’s believe that Sassuolo will save themselves from Serie B because they bucked the trend of every other small Italian club by playing an attacking brand of football that favours winning rather than trying not to lose.
How’s that for a conspiracy theory?!
Forza Sasol!
