Udinese and that “50” in the standings that have not been touched since the golden days

There are 9 games left, scoring 17 points is an ambitious goal: Guidolin was the last to climb that wall in 2013

UDINE. Perspectives. Fueled by the face shown by Udinese against Cagliari. Convincing. Perspectives, also linked to the possible future on the Juventus bench of Gabriele Cioffi, given that Gino Pozzo asked the Florentine coach (who took over from Luca Gotti after acting as deputy) to renew his contract at the end of the season.

Perspectives from 50 points, if the group will really find the emotional resources to live a finally convincing final straight, after years of disappointments or stunted salvation.

The past

Udinese overcame “quota 50” for the last time in 2013, in the penultimate year of the Guidolin management, when the coach from Castelfranco managed to get yet another ticket for the cups, for the Europa League in that opportunity, thanks to a 5th place with 66 points. A huge amount.

Since then, the bianconeri have remained far from 50 points, thus always closing in the right side of the standings, the second half to be clear. The “wheelies” – so to speak – were recorded in 2017, at the end of a championship that began with Beppe Iachini on the bench and ended by Gigi Delneri, when Udinese finished 13th with 45 points, the same tally and the same placing 2020, collected by the couple composed of Igor Tudor and Luca Gotti.

Immediately after the 44 of the last Guidolin in 2014, then the 43 in the year of the “three tenors” Velazquez, Nicola and Tudor who reached the highest peak of the last eight years: an incredible 12th place, given the loot.

The lowest point? 39 points with Stefano Colantuono and Gigi De Canio in 2016, when he closed at 39 on the last step useful for salvation. In the middle 40 for Delneri, Oddo and Tudor, another “triad” for salvation (14th place), same result as last year for Gotti, while Andrea Stramaccioni closed at 41 points for 16th place.

The future

Cioffi now has 33 points in his pocket, but two more games to play than most of his opponents. Only the Cinderella Salernitana has two games to recover like Udinese.

And since he will have to play twice against the Campania grenade, putting 6 points in the “prospects” is not part of a science fiction film. Just as we can realistically say that the calendar will offer opportunities to the bianconeri Venezia (next Sunday) and Empoli (on Easter Saturday).

So, after the first midweek recovery with Salernitana, Bologna is far from Friuli, before the other recovery, in Florence, where Udinese usually pays an “annual tax”.

The home match on May 1st against Inter Milan was also complicated, before the final three steps with Sassuolo, Spezia and (again) Salernitana. 17 points are a lot in 9 games, who knows if Cioffi “the motivator” will surprise everyone. –

© breaking latest news