Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi offered his thoughts on the coaching merry-go-round in Serie A this season. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Rossoneri tactician explained what he expects from Vincenzo Italiano, Marco Baroni and Raffaele Palladino next season:
Do you like Italiano, Baroni and Palladino?
“In different contexts, such as Florence, Verona and Monza, they have shown good things. In their new roles I read an appreciation for the work done and, if you like, a promotion. I think I can say that these three have earned their future.”
How do you see Italiano at Bologna? The step from the Conference League to the Champions League is not a short one.
“Italiano is a young man who has already accumulated a fair amount of experience. I have been following him for several seasons. In my opinion, he is a strategist who tries to give his teams a precise style of play. And in Italy, as I often repeat, we need a breath of fresh air from strategists to ensure that our football returns to being what the founding fathers had thought it would be, namely an offensive and team sport.”
Let’s go back to Italiano. What are the biggest difficulties he can face in Bologna?
“One above all: the comparison with the past. He is measured against the shadow of Thiago Motta who has achieved extraordinary results and, above all, has conquered an entire city through the beautiful game. In Bologna, where they know what fun is, they ask for this: that the team amazes them. Italiano, who did well in Florence, is called upon to make a leap in quality. But I believe he has the qualities to improve himself. Facing the Champions League he will have to grow, he will have to become even more of a strategist than he already is. In the most important European event they don’t give discounts.”
Palladino is moving to Fiorentina. What do you think?
“I have followed him often, he is a young coach who has a lot of enthusiasm and good ideas. He was good at Monza, but I think he is still a tactician, who must therefore evolve. Florence is a tough place, that demands a lot and forgives little. He will have to put on the pitch a team that knows how to play good football.”
He will make his debut in Europe, with the Conference League.
“He will quickly realize that the way of playing, outside Italy, is completely different. And, if he wants to achieve important goals, he will have to adapt to the European mentality, proposing a courageous, collective, dominant and totally participatory football.”
Finally Marco Baroni who goes from Verona to Lazio. What do you say?
“In my opinion he, of the three, is the one with the most difficult task.”
In what sense?
“We will have to see how many and which players the managers decide to buy for him. And, above all, we will have to understand if they will listen to his suggestions. The success of a coach always depends on the feeling that is created with the club. Baroni was very good at Verona, and he had also been good in his previous experience at Lecce. In Verona, at Christmas, they had sold practically all the players and built a new team for him. Well, he, without ever complaining, rolled up his sleeves, worked hard and won salvation. For me he did a masterpiece with Verona, and he also played well.”
At Lazio he will face the Europa League, not easy.
“First of all, he will face an environment that demands a turnaround after last season. The important thing is that they give him players who are willing to sacrifice and have very strong motivation. Then, he can really amaze. In Italy and also in Europe.”
Any advice for the three?
“That they don’t abandon their ideas. If they have got this far, it is thanks to their ideas and it would make no sense to change them. And then I would advise them to try to have an impact on the market. It is essential that a coach can choose the players he will have to work with all year round.”
