Chievo coach Eugenio Corini has certainly turned things around in a short space of time at the club. Already, he has a 100% winning record, with two Serie A games and a fourth round Coppa Italia match against Reggina on Wednesday added to his file.
The Former Palermo and Tornio man already has the Gialloblu out of the relegation zone and now the 43-year-old needs to maintain the teams winning mentality and continue that when they face Sassuolo this weekend.
Club president Luca Campdelli will be content with the effect Corini has had on his players and current form they are in, after seeing some good results and his forwards Cyril Thereau and Alberto Paloschi scoring again.
However, nothing will please him more than the win against city rivals Hallas Verona, which was a nail biting affair that concluded in the dying seconds when Dejan Lazarevic scored the winning goal to take all three points away from their counterparts.
Nothing has changed majorly at the club, a few personnel changes in the starting eleven by the tactician, but he continues to adopt the formation former coach Giuseppe Sannino had implemented – flooding the midfield with three in the middle and having two deep lying wingers either side. However the club feel and look different under Corini as the fans and players seem to be behind him and have something of a desire to win their games.
Corini has stated since he re-joined the Gialloblu that he wanted to see more commitment from the players and to work hard, on and off the ball: “It’s going to take physical aggression and concentration.We have to be productive when we’re on the ball, and work hard when we’re off it. We’re just focusing on the technical and tactical aspect.”
Chievo won at home to Reggina in the fourth round of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday, a 4-1 victory over the Amaranto. Paloschi scored two goals within the 25 minutes, before he was taken off in the second half. The lack of goals was certainly a huge problem for Corini to deal with when he returned to Bentegodi side, as the Flying Donkeys were the lowest scoring side in the league, but looks as if the coach has had an effect on Paloschi who seems to be more decisive in front of goal.
Confidence may be returning to Chievo and so it should after a disappointing start to the campaign. The players and fans needed a jolt to the system in an attempt to kick start their season, and with a comfortable win at home to Livorno in week 12 and their strikers both hitting the target the Flying Donkeys are looking on course to reach mid-table again come the end of the season.
The two front men and the midfield will play a vital part in Corini’s success if he is to achieve a mid-table finish, and he seems to be satisfied with the likes of Marcelo Estigarribia, Luca Rigoni, Perparim Hetemaj and Ivan Radovanovic, all of whom have featured in his first two games in the Serie A.
Corini must keep spirits high and the positives coming from this Chievo side are palpable.
Forza Chievo!!
Follow Nic Petruzziello on Twitter: @NicPetruzziello
