As much as we hate using cliches, we will allow ourselves just one that does sum up the season for Eusebio di Francesco and his men… A rollercoatser ride!
Written off from day one as a sure-fire relegation candidate and expected to immediately return to Serie B, the team from Reggio Emilia defied even the most experienced of pundits to finish the season as a top flight club. And all this in their inaugural season in the premier division.
It was not a foregone conclusion, as the side remained in the wrong half of the table for the whole of the campaign and in the bottom three for much of it. So concerned were the owners with the state of things, that the coach was fired in January and Alberto Malesani charged with trying to salvage the season.
The former Verona coach lost every game during his short tenure and di Francesco was promptly re-instated, with a final opportunity off finishing the job he had started.
And he did, as Sassuolo were mathematically safe from the drop with a week to spare.
Magnificent.
But their debut year in Serie A was marked by the manner in which they approached the task of staying up. The tactician almost exclusively used his preferred offensive 433 formation, trusting in winning games as opposed to trying not lose. This was a strategy almost unheard of for a team expecting to struggle to avoid the drop.
The front trio of Simone Zaza, Nicola Sansone and Domenico Berardi lit up the league with their youthful exuberence, goals and never say die attitude.
Defensively they struggled, conceding far too many goals but the coach was astute enough to realise that his rear guard was not going to be good enough to ensure his side stayed up, trusting more in his strike force.
How right he was. An early bashing by Inter (7-0) did not destroy morale and the team stuck to many of its offensive principles even if it did flirt with a back three for some games.
Spectatcular matches against Roma, AC Milan and Fiorentina soon reversed the disaster against the Nerazzurri and the men from the Mapei Stadium get to do this all again next season.
Player of the season
This accolade has to go to Domenico Berardi, the new teenage sensation of Serie A. Owned by Juventus, the young forward had a great year in previously Serie B (where he scored 11 goals) and much was expected of the Cosenza youth product, and he did not disappoint.
He hit 16 goals, propelling his side to safety and forming a deadly trident with the likes of Zaza, Sansone and sometimes Antonio Floro Flores.
His temperament is, however, a weakness, having started the season with a three match ban from the year before and collecting 11 yellow cards and one sending off throughout 2013/14.
But it is often that said that with genius comes madness so it is possible that this part of his game is a by-product that his current and future coaches will have to accommodate.
His form earned him a call-up to the Azzurri training camps but he was unlucky not to make the final cut for the squad to Brazil.
But his time will come.
Goal of the Season
A spectacular game in January saw Sassuolo defeat the mighty AC Milan 4-3, with Berardi scoring all four. Each goal was the proverbial ‘peach’ but his second was particularly special. It may not have been a blockbuster but the young player swivelled and squeezed his shot past Christian Abbiati after being off balance and having his original shot charged down.
Superb balance and presence of mind make this an extremely special goal.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRSaNmc4ZII[/youtube]
Best and Worst Signings of the season
Sassuolo brought in a whole host of players in the January transfer window, all with a view of ensuring they could keep the club in the top flight. But one of the few players that was brought in right at the start of the season was undoubtedly the most important.
Gianluca Pegolo arrived from Siena on transfer deadline day, after some shocking displays by Antonio Rosati and Alberto Pomini between the Sassuolo sticks. The experienced custodian was as safe a pair of hands as the club could have hoped for given their status and the former Verona keeper was reliable all year l
ong.
His penalty save from Alberto Gilardino in their crucial 4-2 victory over Genoa, which ensured safety, was fitting reward for his performances in a Sassuolo shirt.
In contrast, Sergio Floccari was not so successful from the spot when called upon, missing a crucial kick during their 1-0 defeat to Udinese. The big front man was drafted in from Lazio, with the express purpose of scoring the goals that would keep Sassuolo in the top division.
The striker failed miserably and was often consigned to the bench, scoring only once in his 15 appearances.
