Today’s edition of “Il Corriere dello Sport” focuses on Palermo busy in Venice chasing the feat.
He’s already been through it: last year too Mignani lost the first leg of the playoff semi-final 1-0. What’s more, with 20 minutes to go in the second leg he seemed to be out because his Bari were still at 0-0 against Sudtirol and had been playing numerically inferior since the end of the first half due to Ricci’s expulsion. But there was the advantage of the better position in the standings, so Benedetti’s goal was enough to ensure qualification. The case is obviously different, much more unfavorable for Palermo who play away from home and will have to score two more goals than their opponent to reach the final. But the precedent explains how in such challenges nothing should be taken for granted.
Desplanches out. The coach spoke again yesterday morning in Torretta, but with two training sessions still available and checks on the conditions of those who played, only general indications on attitude and tactics emerged. In Venice, however, Palermo will certainly have to give up Desplanches, who in the final stages of the first leg suffered a muscle problem in his rectus femoris and cannot recover (Pigliacelli returns between the posts). The presence of Lund also appears to be in strong doubt, as he did not train yesterday and could be replaced by Di Mariano deployed on the left. Mignani doesn’t change his aplomb, but assures us that the team believes in it: «Aside from the enthusiasm that the great Barbera public has infected us with, the first leg said that we can play it on equal terms. Most offensive deployment? First of all we will have to have balance and manage the first part of the match well. In a playoff, you can score a goal even halfway through the second half; we won’t throw ourselves into the fray, I will ask the team for clarity and conscience and if anything greater decision in the episodes that can determine the outcome. For example, on Monday we took many corner kicks without ever finding the right conclusion.”
Future puzzle. She doesn’t hold back even from an insidious question: «If things went badly, could it be my last with Palermo? – explains Mignani, linked to the squad until June 2025 – we are professionals, we cannot bind ourselves to clubs even with a contract. But right now it’s right to focus only on the match, I can’t think about my future. Certainly, the club is strong, organized and whoever coaches Palermo will be a privileged coach.”
