The cinema a Salernowhere we are already on the third coach and Fabio Liverans his hours are numbered. Fatalistic resignation a Darmstadt, where German pragmatism and budget stability reign supreme. The flat calm a Clermont e Metz, in France. Unlimited trust a Burnley and the unsuccessful attempt a Sheffield, in England. To find something comparable to the Italian reality you have to go to the Spanish one Almeria, where the team that never wins and has set a record plays. The panorama of the bottom of the class in the five top European championships is, after all, a mirror of the country and its teams habits.
SALERNITANA CINEMA – Paulo Sousa from the first to the eighth day. Filippo Inzaghi from the ninth to the twenty-fourth. Liverans from the twenty-fifth, but already the twenty-seventh, to Udine, could produce yet another round of waltz in the event of a knockout. Result of this traffic of coaches: last place in the standings with 13 points, -7 from the trio of penultimate teams, made up of CagliariVerona and Sassuolo. The perpetual motion of the Campania society, led by the entrepreneur Danilo Iervolinoalso concerned themanagement area: in an attempt to repeat the miracle of two seasons ago, he was recalled Walter Sabatini in the role of sporting director, resulting in the farewell of Morgan De Saints. Not to mention the technical area: three assistant coaches, five collaborators, two goalkeeper coaches, six athletic trainers, three match analysts: nineteen people from August to today. The numbers from the winter transfer market aren’t bad either: ten signings, plus the arrivals of free agents Boateng e Manolas, following seven transfers. The surprise, if anything, is in the January balance sheet: 250 thousand euros for incoming operations, 3.3 million euros in sales, thanks to the sale of Pasquale Mazzocchi to Napoli (3 million). Great movements, but the cold statistics nail Salernitana to theirs mediocrity: the best scorers in the league are Antonio Candreva (37 years old on February 28) e Yesat 4. The Senegalese striker did his best in the game general chaos: after 16 goals last season, he tried to leave. He was forced to stay and his performance it dropped. After Saturday’s 0-2 at Arechi against Monzathe fans protested, but by now a Salerno there is resignation: to avoid returning to Serie B after three seasons in Serie A, a feat is really needed.
THE TEAM THAT NEVER WINS – Me too’Almerialast in the Liga with 9 points, produced by as many draws, has changed leadership (Vicente Moreno until 29 September 2023, Alberto Lasarte ad interim for ten days, from 8 October the Basque will be in charge bad Garitano48 years old) and a further novelty could appear soon, but the aggravating factor, compared to Salerno, is that the Andalusian club has not yet won in the current championship and by adding the last three matches of the previous Liga, it is now at 29 without success, record in Spain. The owner is an Arab politician, Turkish Al-Sheikha past as a Saudi government minister, a present as sports entrepreneur. In 2018 he purchased the PyramidsEgyptian team, but after a year, he dropped everything to secure Almeria and investing 20 million euros. Personal portfolio of the highest level, during the pandemic he donated 1.2 million to the Andalusian city to be used for health facilities, food and aid for the poorest. Almeria returned to La Liga in 2022 and escaped by one point last season. In the current one, it is sinking, even if the team plays well and draws with the big teams. The last place, – 12 from the fourth last position (the Celtic vigo at 21), counts as a sentence. However, the cheering is calm: in Almeria, a city with three thousand hours of sunshine a year, home of tapas and locations of westerns of Sergio Leonethere is a lot of life beyond football.
TEUTONIC APLOMB – Darmstadtin Hesse, is one complex reality: it was the first community in Germania to force the Jews to close their shops, but it was also one of the centers of resistance to Nazism. The football team is making its fifth appearance in Bundesliga: the return among the greats matured in 2023, under the guidance of Torsten Lieberknecht, 50 years old, former midfielder. In Darmstadt they were prepared for a season of suffering: last place (13 points) did not shatter their nerves. Football is a galaxy of one sports club by 13,500 members, with activity spread across various disciplineincluded futsalhiking, judo e ping pong. Rule number one is safeguard of budgets. The coach does not touch himself, also because the third to last place, which gives the right to playoff with the third of the 2. Bundesligaoccupied by Coloniais just 4 lengths away.
FRENCH CALM – Clermont e Metz they share the bottom of the Ligue 1 at 17, but with different moods. The Clermont it’s kind of miracle. After the historic promotion of May 15, 2012, the first in French top divisiontwo salvations in a row have been achieved, with the boom of eighth place in 2023. He has been in command of the team since 2017 Pascal Gastientwice voted best coach of Ligue 2 (2019 and 2021). The club gave him trust boundlesseven in front of disastrous results of this season: despite the rumors of a possible dismissal, he declared that he wanted to stay. Clermont-Ferrandthe heart of Gaul and where the statue of Vercingetorigelives sport in all its aspects: if things go badly with football, you console yourself with rugby. A Metz55 km from the border with Luxembourg, the disappointment however is strong. The history is important (64 seasons in Ligue 1) and the return to the top flight in 2023 was supposed to represent the launch pad for an interesting cycle. President Bernard Serinbusinessman, in charge since 2009, hoped to have left behind the troubled period, but it went badly for him. Despite everything, the promotion’s coach, the Romanian, confirmed Laszlo Bologna70 years old, 108 appearances for the Romanian national team as a player from 1975 to 1988. In September 2023 his contract was prolonged to 30 June 2025: an act of faith that was not reflected in the results.
RUTHLESS ENGLAND – Burnley e Sheffield United there are two newly promoted players: the suffering in Premier, certified by 13 points in the standings, was predictable. It is no coincidence that the third to last, the Lutonis fresh from the lift Championship: There is a huge difference in quality between the two leagues. Burnley have lived through this year of torment by reaffirming their faith in Vincent Kompany, former Manchester City defender. The Belgian coach, the first non-British coach in the history of Burnleyin 2023 he brought the Clarets back to the Premier League after just one season in Championship and US ownership, the AKL Capitalhas not changed course, despite last place in the rankings and one relegation behind the corner. After the sentence which reduced the penalty for theEvertonin fourth to last position there is now the Nottingham Forestat 24. Sheffield United instead sought an emotional shock by recalling Chris Wilderthe manager of the promotion in 2019 and of the Europe missed in 2020. On 5 December 2023 he was sacked Paul Heckingbottom and brought back to base Wilder, but the move didn’t pay off. Sheffield United are last overall on goal difference: – 44 compared to – 33 for Burnley. The 3-1 on the pitch Lutonon February 10th, was an illusion: they immediately reached 0-5 with the Brighton and the 1-0 conceded to Wolverhampton. The return to Championship now seems inevitable.