Hellas Verona continue to surprise the pundits by beating Parma 3-2 at home with one goal coming from defender Fabrizio Cacciatore and a brace from young midfield talent Jorginho, whose wonderful start to his debut season in Serie A has seen reports flooding in that the 21-year-old is attracting a lot of attention from Europe’s big clubs.
The player has been quoted as saying that he knows he is being watched by the scouts of Arsenal and Chelsea and reports have suggested it will take €10 million to poach the Brazilian from the Mastini. Coach Andrea Mandorlini was quick to bring the player back down to earth, as suits a team built on hard work, by declaring Jorginho’s performance against the Crociati to have been his worst of the season.
The victory over Parma was not Verona’s most convincing but it highlighted the qualities that have seen them rise to occupy a Europa League spot after eight games when many tipped them for relegation. Coach Andrea Mandorlini praised his opponents who he said deserved to lead in the first half after Antonio Cassano and Amauri looked dangerous. The former Cluj boss praised his side’s spirit as they picked themselves up at half-time to go out and claim the three points in the second half.
“It was a victory of sacrifice and dedication,” said Mandorlini
“We started a lot better than them, then they got back on their feet as they have great players and went ahead deservingly.”
Mandorlini also commented on the excitement surrounding Jorginho with calls for the Brazilian-born midfielder to be capped for Italy:
“Jorginho for the national team? They have asked me about it several times.”
“We are talking about a fantastic player who is young but cool at the most important of times.
“I must compliment him and the squad and hope they enjoy the moment without making comparisons.”
Verona’s win on Sunday 20 October to preserve their 100 per cent home record came at a poignant moment after a difficult week when the club commemorated the death of popular former president Giovanni Martinelli. The ex-president sadly died on October 15 at the age of 62 following a long battle with illness.
Martinelli holds a dear place in the hearts of the fans of the Gialloblu as he is credited with starting the club’s revival when he took over in 2009 while the club were languishing in Serie C. He almost had the opportunity to preside over their return to Serie A before he unfortunately had to step down due to illness in 2012. Verona fans mobilised to commemorate the man who saved their club and many turned up at the funeral with a banner that read simply:
“Grazie Presidente Martinelli”.
Chants thanking Martinelli also rang out at the Bentegodi during the Parma game and the players wore a specially designed shirt with a commemorative message for the club favourite.
Coach Mandorlini echoed the tributes on the club’s official website by saying that he felt as though he had lost a family member and adding that Martinelli will always be remembered as part of the fabric of the club. Mandorlini’s relationship with Martinelli was especially close as it was the former president who brought Mandorlini in from Cluj where he gave up Champions League football to successfully guide Verona back up the football pyramid.
In other news, first-choice goalkeeper Rafael has extended his contract to keep him with the Scaligeri until 2016. The 31-year-old has been one of protagonists in Verona’s great start and he has exuded calm and reliability. The Sao Paulo born stopper is also an asset to the dressing room spirit as he has been a servant for Verona since 2007.
He also mentored his compatriot and the current golden boy Jorginho ever since the versatile midfielder was a 15-year-old youngster struggling with homesickness as he desperately tried to forge a career in football. Rafael looked after the young Jorginho, allowing him to settle in the northern city and prove himself as a member of the first team.
Next up the Butei will travel the 167 kilometres along the A4 to face Inter at the San Siro. Although Verona currently sit one place ahead of the Nerazzurri, it will be a tough trip to the San Siro against a side that appear revitalized under Walter Mazzarri. Verona’s great start must not lead to them getting ahead of themselves and they should not be disheartened if things do not go their way in Milan.
An extra level of spice will be added to the fixture by the history of relations between the two sets of fans. Verona and Inter Ultras used to be twinned. In the past, when Inter were obliged to play on neutral ground in the 1990/1 UEFA Cup against Rapid Vienna they chose the Bentegodi to be their home and Verona and Inter fans shared the Curva to cheer on the Biscione. However, the relationship soured in 2001/1 when the old guard of both of sets of fans were replaced by new generations.
Inter supporters felt that the new younger groups who took control of Verona’s Curva Sud were arrogant and disrespectful towards their old friends. Ever since the different sets of fans have become rivals and meetings between the two clubs have often been tense, most recently seen when Verona headed to Milan in 2012 to face Inter in the Coppa Italia. Let’s hope that Saturday’s game will be remembered for all the right reasons.
