The Uneasy Position of Felice Mazzù: Is His Coaching Career at Risk?

By playing the ball, not the man, the observation remains implacable and the situation slowly untenable. With a score of 17 points out of 51, the worst since Charleroi’s return to the first division, Felice Mazzù logically knows she is in a swinging seat. “Yes, it’s my worst season as a coach,” he himself admitted on Sunday evening after the inevitable defeat against Union SG (1-3). Of course, it is not against the authoritarian leader that Sporting should hope to garner the points that will keep it in the Pro League, but the current reality in Charleroi does not date from the day before yesterday.

Far from the new idyll

The first months of the remarriage, almost a year ago, with an exciting rise in the rankings to end the 2022-23 season, nevertheless augured a new strong and lasting romance. But the effect of the potion has faded and today it would be dangerous not to be fully aware that the precipice is getting closer (12th, 17 points) with two units ahead of the playdowns.

Felice Mazzù is not the only culprit, as we have already said. The management is also aware of this and, according to our information, it is not (yet?) calling into question the position of its coach. “No, I don’t think the spring is broken,” says our consultant Nordin Jbari. Of course, the staff made mistakes. I find in particular that the changes on Sunday against the Union were too late. Me, I would put Guiagon on the pitch all the time, the only player capable of bringing magic to this doubting collective. Mazzù tries, but it doesn’t work. ”

With his captain Marco Ilaimaharitra.

Fact. In his latest speeches, he sometimes gives the impression of no longer knowing where to turn. When he does not praise the superior qualities of the opponent, he points out the individual errors of his players, the bad choices in the zone of truth, as well as a deficit of confidence which fuels the spiral. After the defeat at Mechelen (1-0, November 11), he admitted a mea culpa. A way for him to take responsibility without systematically placing the blame on others. “I don’t have much to reproach my players. We still showed desire, we are not giving up,” he repeats often. Wouldn’t that be the bare minimum for professional players?

Behind this “desire” and this “intensity” so dear to him, we cannot help but notice coaching that is too often ineffective. Mazzù searches, but does not find. Success turns his back on his team, that’s also true, but he will be the first to agree that luck is induced. It is also clear that he no longer manages to revive the Carole spirit of revolt, which he nevertheless draws from deep within himself.

No progress

One of Mazzù’s strengths, in the past, also consisted in sublimating certain average players, or in further improving his best elements by installing them in a psychological and emotional comfort which allowed them to exploit the maximum of their potential, even a little more. That no longer seems to be the case today, in a team that has total doubts and is no longer progressing, either individually or collectively.

gull

We need reinforcement in January. At least one defender and one attacker. A scorer. A real.

Fortunately for the former Coach of the Year, new American shareholder David Helmer is not at first glance an elephant in a china shop. He is not specialized in football anyway and sports management remains more than ever the function of Mehdi Bayat, essentially.

The two men appreciate each other and share a clear observation about the squad: there is an absolute necessity to strengthen it and rebalance it in January, without waiting for the 31st. “We need reinforcement, at least a defender and an attacker . A real. A scorer. Not a Dabbagh, who I see more as a second attacker, explains Jbari. If, with the reinforcements, Mazzù still does not take enough points, then I would change. Having previously studied the possibilities of a successor. Because if it is to rush and make mistakes, it is of no use. Until then, we have to give him some more time.

There are three matches left before the winter break: at Standard, at Sint-Truiden and against Mechelen. We will have to collect. Because Mehdi Bayat will not be able to defend his coach indefinitely, whose aura is starting to crumble, even in Charleroi. Will the next Walloon shock mark a turning point, when Mazzù was just fired from Anderlecht after a defeat at Sclessin, on October 23, 2022? Elements of response Saturday around 10:30 p.m.

2023-12-12 12:32:00
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