It has arrived redde rationem of Hellas, the moment of all or nothing: the away match in Salerno puts Verona against the wall. We need to score points to secure the survival that six minutes of ordinary madness against Torino have called into question. Against Salernitana, Verona must save themselves and avoid further mental worries. The danger is the revved-up environment that the yellow-blues will find.
The ancient rivalry with the Campania supporters is the unknown factor of a match that must have an absolutely different history on the pitch. Motivations count, it is often said. And Verona’s motivations, compared to those of Salernitana, must make the difference. Salernitana has only won two matches in this championship. One within friendly walls against Lazio, the other, unfortunately, at Bentegodi.
A team that is coming off a good point achieved against Juventus in Turin but which is already relegated even if not disarmed. We need attention and respect for an opponent who will display pride and dignity but the yellow-blues must be aware of the vital importance that the match scheduled for Monday represents. Vital because salvation means a lot not only for those who take the field.
Verona has just returned from a troubled season to say the least. The winter transfer market transformed the team and president Setti’s difficulties spilled over onto the pitch. Baroni was able, supported by the director Sogliano, to keep the bar straight, to give a face, an identity, to a renewed group. Against Torino, Lady Luck turned her back on the Gialloblù. Without going overboard like the former Juric did at the end of the match, “we stole it” said the Croatian coach, Verona undoubtedly didn’t deserve to lose.
The difference was made by the details and the motivations that will be the basis of the match against Salernitana. Motivations that Juric took from the bench, inserting into a team that showed no signs of life, three young players capable of overturning the contest such as Pellegri, scorer of the winning goal, Savva, the Cypriot born in 2005 who was the protagonist of the draw and another baby, Dellavalle , 2004, author of a glimpse of a great personality. Players who have shown that they are hungry, the one that Verona must field against Salernitana.
Much, it is true, will also depend on the results of direct competitors. But you have to look inside yourself, avoid useless calculations and always dangerous intersections. A team that is hungry for salvation, wanting to reach the goal, must silence the dangers of a match that should have a foregone conclusion. It won’t be easy, they say in these cases. It must become one. Because the stakes are too important.
