Catanzaro’s Serie A dream continues in the most exciting, albeit painful, way. Cosenza instead reflects on its future, with the Tutino case taking center stage.
Catanzaro from hell to paradise
Not even the most twisted mind of the most skilled thriller author could have created a screenplay like that of the race between Catanzaro and Brescia, preliminary round of the Serie B play-off. When in the 95th minute of the Ceravolo match the partial was 1-2 in favor of Maran’s teamnot even the most optimistic Giallorossi fans could have predicted what would happen shortly thereafter. That last corner, that winning shot from Donnarumma (that’s him!)that crazy rush of his towards the fans while some of his companions collapse on the ground, in tears, in disbelief. Among these captain Iemmello who had scored the temporary 1-1 goal in the first half, keeping the Giallorossi’s hopes alive. That precise moment changed the race. I almost 13 thousand of Ceravolo, who were now preparing for a sad return home with their hands in the bag, rekindle their energy and charge the team. In extra time the work was completed with the assist to Iemmello’s kiss for the acrobatic goal of Brignola (finally him!) and then the definitive 4-2 signed by the captain himself, with the scavetto, on the closing credits. An apotheosis. From hell to heaven, all in a few moments. From exclusion to the play-off semi-final against Cremonese. First act Tuesday evening, back at the Ceravolo, return to Cremona on Saturday. «We have booked ourselves for another day of show» he will say Vivarini at the end of the match, anticipating the bedlam that will welcome Stroppa’s team next May 21st. The Eagles secure at least two more games to play. Two more challenges, those against the grey-reds, however chasing a dream that at this point is really starting to appeal. Serie A wasn’t a goal, it probably still isn’t, but why not try?
Cream: the goals from Donnarumma and Brignola are, without a doubt, the most positive aspect for Vivarini’s team. After the withdrawals of D’Andrea and Ambrosino, the options in attack for the Giallorossi coach were reduced to a minimum. The return to goals of both therefore gives them back two players who have rediscovered themselves from a psychological and mental point of view. Donnarumma hadn’t scored since 09.27.2023 (1-1 at Ceravolo against Cittadella) and ended the season with just 2 goals. However, only one goal was scored in the championship by Brignola, who scored in the 1-2 win at Sampdoria on 01.10.2023. Having found them right now, at the crucial moment and in the phase in which the blanket seems short can really be fundamental. Their exploits support the choices of Vivarini who picks them up from the bench and who has always declared that he has faith in both of them. Expert players, of category, of personality. All characteristics that in decisive matches, such as the play-offs, can and must make the difference.
Bitterness: the “off” day for the young Veroli, not flawless on the occasion of the 0-1 scored by Galazzi (but his teammates didn’t seem flawless either) and the unfortunate protagonist of the error that cost Moncini’s 1-2. The 2005-born player owned by Cagliari perhaps felt the pressure of an inside-out match, the first in such a context in his young, and certainly successful, career. If the experience of Donnarumma and Brignola has returned and will be useful in the play-offs, Veroli’s inexperience has made itself felt a bit. Captain Iemmello dedicated the victory to him on Sky’s microphones, demonstrating a group united more than ever and which needs everyone, now more than ever. (Stefania Scarfò)
Cosenza, Tutino-gate and the danger of illusion
Let’s hope Eugenio Guarascio he has already made up his mind and enjoys observing the anxiety of the fans and to read the requests from those who want in newspapers and social media Gennaro Tutino’s redemption at all costs. Maybe so, whether he laughs at it, or not, he hasn’t decided anything and waits, as he has always done in the summer, a season in which the opponents run and Cosenza football sleeps. Understanding what is going through the head of the rossoblù owner these days is a real puzzle (as well as a useless repetition of reasoning), but with a championship concluded prematurely compared to the suffering of recent years, if in the rossoblù environment there is no talk of the Tutino-gate, it’s almost boring. The onerous ransom from Parma of the new Gigi Marulla has become the question of questions, the watershed that could say a lot about the Cosenza to come and about the popularity of Eugenio Guarascio himself from Lamezia Terme who will shortly – given the redemption of the Neapolitan striker at a modest sum, for his modus operandi, of over two million euros – could find himself facing yet another crossroads in his football experience: sale of the player in Serie A with capital gain to tear your hair out or his confirmation in the squad with the knowledge that at that point he would have to spend more money, a lot, to build a high-flying team around him. In the meantime, it seems almost certain that this year the retreat will take place in the cool and above all in the mountains of Silas, and not in an incomprehensible hot plain in central Italy. A few days ago the general rehearsals with the entire club and team who visited the Sila Potato Consortium in San Giovanni in Fiore. Here is the mayor Rosaria Succurrowho is also president of the Province, asked Guarascio to enhance Tutino to conquer Serie A together. The president seems to have reacted with a polite and polite smile.
Cream: there is an entire province asking Guarascio to make an effort on Tutino. The fans of the Curva Nord have publicly declared that that is the only path to follow otherwise they will act accordingly. We don’t know if all this can be included in the cream of this column, but it is certainly capable of spicing up a summer which, who knows, could turn out to be more lively than usual for the red and blue colours. All this while waiting for sporting director Roberto Gemmi to decide what to do: does he stay with Guarascio or accept Spezia’s offer? The Ligurian club, after a terrible year, will aim to return to Serie A. Cosenza, returning with the sporting director on command from a playout win and a more or less peaceful survival, what ambitions do they have?
Bitterness: to think (provided that Guarascio decides to buy him out of Parma) that Tutino can put aside his dreams of glory to make room for the love that only Cosenza can ever give him, as well as risking deceiving and distracting the public, is selfish. The striker, objectively, after an extraordinary season like the one just concluded, deserves a second chance in Serie A. A second chance that would arrive at the age of 27, in a mature and solid moment in his career. A chance that, we know, Guarascio cannot guarantee him anytime soon. All this, for a change, makes the future of Cosenza football uncertain and bitter, but for the good of Tutino such an eventuality must be taken into account and accepted. Reasoning rationally, the Tutino affair, unfortunately, is a non-problem for the fans, because it is unthinkable, given the way in which the club has managed the football product to date, that it could remain. (Francesco Veltri)
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