Palermo is waiting for the Mignani treatment to begin to take effect: the coach’s first impact was moderately positive from a mental point of view, with a team that seems to have found that bit of tranquility lost in the last months of Corini’s management; on the other hand, it is undeniable that the new coach’s start on the Rosanero bench is slow with the two draws against Sampdoria and Cosenza.
Those who know Mignani know, however, that the draw is not an unusual result for him. Indeed: the “X” sign is the most recurring in the coach’s still short career in Serie B. In 49 benches, 47 with Bari and 2 with Palermo, the coach drew 23 times, almost half of the total, with 18 victories and 8 defeats. If we stop only at this season the data is sensational, given that in 11 games (9 with Bari), the draw has arrived on 9 occasions (then a victory and a defeat).
A roadmap that had not convinced Ciro Polito, sporting director of the Galletti, to confirm the coach on the bench. The choice, however, did not prove to be the right one, given that the Apulians are still in the playout zone and have just made their fourth coach of the season official (after Marino and Iachini it is the turn of Federico Giampaolo, former Palermo player, promoted from Primavera).
The Bari management did not have the patience that proved successful last season: last year too Mignani made a draw his “weapon” to move the rankings and with 14 “X”s (but above all with 17 victories) during the regular season the coach had managed to achieve third place which almost earned him Serie A if it hadn’t been for the playoffs lost at the last second of the final against Cagliari.
Mignani’s first two Serie B games with Bari last season ended in draws (there will be three in the first four): there will come a time when there will even be five draws in a row. Also this season the coach debuted with a draw, against Palermo, when his Bari managed to limit the damage with 9 men, also suffering a penalty and a goal disallowed.
Sometimes a draw can be the lesser evil, especially in periods of crisis like the one Palermo was experiencing, even more so if the work is also planned with a view to the play offs. It is true that drawing indefinitely cannot be a lasting medicine and the example is Corini’s Palermo 2022/23 who finished ninth, behind only Como for seasonal draws (16 for the pinks, 17 for the Lombards).
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Tags: Bari Palermo history repeats
