Finding something positive after a 4-0 is a rather difficult exercise, especially when there are fans who could desert the stadium in protest and you come across an unacceptable ranking for a team that has just been relegated from Serie A, with a following of important audience and which in the summer grossed tens and tens of millions between parachutes, TV rights, sales, redemptions and box office. However, Colantuono’s first Salerno team has also left a legacy of some good signals from which to start again to prepare for the next championship matches which, at least on paper, are affordable and could allow them to get back on top. After all, the gap between the fifth and the third to last is minimal and the famous “row” is enough to find yourself in the left area, completely changing scenarios and perspectives. We were talking about yesterday’s match. Salernitana faced the strongest squad in the championship, with six important defections (Maggiore, Stojanovic, Torregrossa, Njoh and Tongya are starters) and a very different game system compared to the one proposed by Martusciello up until the match against Bari. Yet, at 0-0, the Granata had four excellent opportunities to take the lead and were met with prodigious saves from the goalkeeper, on a decisive save by Odenthal and on a decisive recovery by Romagna near the line. In the first 15 minutes of the second half the guests, supported by 1200 people, surprised Grosso’s eleven by displaying some pleasant football and it is certainly not the coach’s fault if Fiorillo misses a clearance giving away the first goal and if Ferrari, the great ex, runs into a bad day and paves the way for the 2-0. The third and fourth goals came in full injury time, with one Salernitana now with his head elsewhere and on a penalty still born from the naivety of an individual, in this case Jaroszynski.
Of course, Sassuolo had two goals disallowed, the Neroverdi hit a post and Fiorillo sacrificed himself on Berardi, but the final poker hides an overall decent hour. What can no longer be hidden, however, is the corporate problem. Iervolino has now been physically absent since March, the Milan CEO left Mapei at 2-0 without making any statements, president Busso has very limited autonomy and even trace of vice president Petrucci has been lost. Salernitana pays dearly for a summer based on a clear technical and economic downsizing, which resulted in Sottil’s farewell close to the departure for Rivisondoli, in a summer retreat carried out in open construction mode and in low-cost arrivals not capable of filling obvious gaps. Because this team, without 5 important additions (starting with a central defender and a striker), really risks a lot. Petrachi asked for carte blanche and a sufficient budget to operate independently, Colantuono is the iron sergeant who knows the category and the environment to be able to attempt the ascent. Now it’s up to the property: will we realize the danger or will we continue to buy only after having given in?