In a Arechi from a seasonal low, but with the ultras sounding the charge inviting everyone to support the team from the warm-up until the 95th minute “because united we make the difference and we can transform our stadium into an impregnable fort”, Salernitana is hunting for its second victory consecutive to fuel the dreams of the square and to give continuity to the excellent performance offered in Palermo before the break. Despite the weather warning, at 3pm there will be at least 10,000 of them pushing the Campania team against an opponent of absolute caliber who is surprising everyone in this first part of the first round. D’Angelo’s Spezia arrives in Salerno, undefeated and deservedly second in the standings. It was Spezia who baptized the new Granata course last August 12th in the Italian Cup. A scenario diametrically opposed to today’s, 120 days to completely change history. On that occasion, in fact, there was the first real public protest against the resigning president Danilo Iervolino, who was invited to sell the company and strengthen a squad that was lacking in all departments, but which could still count on the talent of Boulayè Dia. Booed for 120 minutes, but scored a brace which was decisive for qualification. Spezia, on the other hand, began the year with a thousand unknowns and still carrying the fear of relegation to Serie C avoided at the last minute and with a lot of suffering also thanks to the final collapse of Bari and the two draws achieved in the Cesarini area with Ternana. As mentioned, in two months the situation was reversed. On one side and the other.
In Salerno there is a rapprochement with Danilo Iervolino who, this week, attended the team’s training 7 months after his last public appearance, asking for a “truce” from the ultras groups. The staff is totally different, Martusciello soon became an essential point of reference for the project and the environment put aside the waste of the backward leap with negative records guaranteeing support and enthusiasm both at home and away. Spezia, for its part, has never lost, has a rock-solid defense, away from the Picco it has already stopped two big names of the caliber of Sassuolo and Cremonese and can count on people like the Esposito brothers capable of making the difference. We expect a spectacular and interesting match, therefore, on a pitch weighed down by rain and between two coaches who apply diametrically opposed tactics and strategies. We were talking about Iervolino’s partial about-face, announced in the stands along with the lawyer Fimmanò, the Milan CEO and the president Busso. At the moment, all negotiations for the sale of the club have been interrupted and the owner has reassured the players, technical staff and management of his desire to carry forward a three-year project based on self-financing while dreaming of returning to Serie A within three years. “I have never skimped on financial efforts, I took a step back and physically left the scene but I never stopped following the events of Salernitana. The players, coach and management are working very well and finally there are people who want to wear this shirt , we hope that the public will also push us to create that magical environment as can only happen in Salerno. Returning to the Salernitana side represented a rush of adrenaline” in a nutshell, Iervolino’s thoughts expressed through a letter published on the official website. The Milan CEO is on the same wavelength, cautious with respect to the words of captain Sepe who indicates promotion as the team’s sole objective: “We are happy that the players believe in us and are ambitious, but the program is for three years and we are starting again with a new cycle, changing a lot and in all sectors, it will take time and patience, but we are sure that we have what it takes to be a difficult opponent for everyone.”
As for the lineup, Salernitana will have to give up Rene Adelaide due to injury and ad Amatucciforced to leave retirement due to the premature death of his mother. All of Salerno rallied alongside one of the strongest midfielders in the championship, one who decided to take the field in Palermo despite living with a dramatic personal situation. For the rest everyone is available, but with some athletes to manage. In goal Sepe, the defensive quartet will be made up of Stojanovic, Bronn, Ferrari and Njoh, constantly growing after a false start. In the midfield, the great former Maggiore will act as a low point, with Soriano and Tello on his sides and Hrustic the only alternative in midfield. Up front there will be a relay between the other great ex Verde and the returning Tongya, while on the opposite side Braaf appears untouchable. The center forward will be Simy, whose first and only goal in Serie A with the granata shirt dates back to a match against Spezia which sanctioned Castori’s dismissal. Only in the case of particularly heavy terrain (there is a weather warning until tonight) could one think of the two physical strikers with the attacking midfielder behind them.