As the Pope blessed Fiorentina and Napoli ahead of their clash at the Stadio Olimpico for the Coppa Italia, Eugenio Corini will be hoping that the Holy Man will be praying for his team this coming Sunday against Torino and for the remaining games in Serie A.
The Flying Donkeys lost their 21st game this season, away to 10-man Sampdoria, in a match that should have really ended in a draw.
The 43 year old believes the team played well and there were lots of positives to take away from the match, however I wasn’t impressed with the wasteful chances and the fact that they couldn’t capitalise on the red card the Blucerchiati received midway through the second half.
Nevertheless, if Chievo have the slightest glimmer of hope, others are sitting in the same boat as they are and need points to keep clear of the drop.
As I have been reiterating in my club focus articles, I am confident that The Flying Donkeys will survive and be in Serie A next season. As for Corini? It’s still unclear whether or not Luca Campedelli will keep the tactician at the helm for another season.
When former Chievo player took over he insisted that that he was confident he could revive the team as he had familiar faces he knew and trusted from the season before.
However, the plan didn’t go accordingly. When Giuseppe Sannino took over in the summer he evaluated the team and the players he had to work with. He took a mid-table team and decided that reaching a position such a 10th or 12th would be impossible. So the objective was to stay in Serie A.
When you consider that the Gialloblu had the worst defensive records at the start of the season with Sannino, clearly players weren’t convinced of his playing style, lost confidence, and were unable to perform consistently.
Corini though did bring back some belief, Alberto Paloschi being one of those who has shined in recent weeks. The biggest question remains… Whether or not the 24-year-old will stay or will AC Milan look to cash in on their 50 percent stake and take him back to the San Siro.
Others also have uncertain futures, Cyril Thereau and Luca Rigoni, who has attracted attention from other Serie A clubs, and Nicolas Frey, who has apparently agreed a deal with Watford to reunited with Sannino.
The plan for now is to survive, Torino, Cagliari and Inter remain in the Flying Donkeys way. Nine points up for grabs in these games, and Corini should be confident that he can get them all.
Torino will be tough opposition, as coach Giampiero Ventura’s players slaughtered the Gialloblu 4-1 at home earlier in the season, and will be hoping to win again at the Stadio Bentegodi. With Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile the Granata’s biggest threats, they must be closed down and marked tightly if they are to be prevented from scoring.
Sassuolo and Bologna will be watching with eager eyes, as they are just two points behind Chievo, and a win for either side could see Corini’s men drop in the bottom three.
However don’t give up on the Flying Donkey’s just yet… Forza Chievo!!!
Follow Nic Petruzziello on Twitter: @NicPetruzziello
