Cagliari Does he stay or go away as a victor? The future of Claudio Ranieri is the most popular topic but perhaps he is right: now it’s time to enjoy this moment, the happy epilogue of a tormented season with the liberating victory at Sassuolo. He, who will turn 73 in October, had already been part of Cagliari’s history for 30 years, with the double promotion from C to A and the salvation achieved on his debut in the top flight as a coach. These last two seasons have simply strengthened the fans’ love for this coach. A promotion achieved after a return round played to the max and then the new salvation, which reached the penultimate day by putting together a group that seemed poorly matched and with several holes in the squad. Ranieri, after the feat in Bari, the Serie A won in the last dive, began to weave his canvas almost immediately. And before starting the new season he made things clear. «Guys, we are the last to arrive and we will have to fight a lot and suffer. There will be winds that will rock our ship. If there is salvation, it will come on the last day.”
Those words revealed the coach’s wisdom once again because they were not thrown there at random, or to build an alibi. But, as he revealed on Sunday evening, they were useful. «Not only did the team understand, but also the fans immediately had the perception that it would not be an easy championship and they were by our side at all times. Their support was truly fundamental in accomplishing this feat.” The film of the championship starts from the difficulties in the summer retreat in Valle D’Aosta. The injuries of Rog and Lapadula immediately cast some doubts on the composition of the squad. The championship begins with many debutants in Serie A and the start is very difficult. After 9 rounds just three points. On the 10th matchday the first turning point with the incredible success against Frosinone at the Domus, a comeback from 0-3 to 4-3 with a brace from Pavoletti in injury time. The encore against Sassuolo, a 2-1 comeback after the 90th minute with Lapadula and Pavoletti.
In the meantime, Ranieri weaves his web and in his painstaking work there is the progressive inclusion of all the players. The project involves the entire squad. A choice that will prove fundamental in the continuation of the season. In any case there are difficulties, so much so that the rossoblù finish the first round with only 15 points. After the halfway point it seems to be going better with the important 2-1 against Bologna. In the meantime, reinforcements arrive: Mina and Gaetano will lend a hand in the crucial phase. But the team doesn’t take off: 4 defeats in a row and everything seems lost. But the 1-3 home draw with Lazio becomes the decisive moment of the tournament. Ranieri enters the locker room and announces his resignation.
«Usually – he said in Reggio Emilia – the team accepts the coach’s decision with bowed heads. Instead my players reacted, and told me that we all had to stay together to reach the finish line. And then I decided to stay.” From that moment, it was February 10th, history has changed significantly. In 13 games, four wins, six draws and three defeats with 18 points in the bag, as many as achieved in the previous 24 games. A change of pace that turned Cagliari’s table upside down, launching them towards salvation. With the orchestra direction of maestro Ranieri, forever a legend of the rossoblù people.
