And so, after almost two years, Palermo achieved the hat trick. With last night’s 1-0 victory over Sampdoria, which came thanks to a flash from the Frenchman Le Douaron, the rosanero returned to winning three games in a row: it hadn’t happened since February 2024, when Eugenio Corini was on the bench. Nine goals were scored in this streak and only one conceded (in the dreaded away match in Empoli). Filippo Inzaghi, as a good helmsman, led his team out of the storm: after a dark period, in which the pinks had only obtained three points in four games, a trio of victories arrived which bodes well.
Crisis behind us, “Inzaghian” principles rediscovered
The period of crisis seems to be behind us also because, albeit partially, Palermo has found the “Inzaghian” principles on the pitch: high pressure on opponents, search for verticality, intensity, compactness and solidity. The pragmatism of the coach from Piacenza, which has always been a trademark, has forcefully returned to the locker room: only the team, the group, counts. After the defeat in Castellammare di Stabia, the feeling is that the coach has imposed a general “reset” to lay the foundations for a restart: after the break the equalizer in Chiavari, in which according to Inzaghi we saw “something new in the eyes of the boys”.
Tactical variations and new hierarchies
The coach also confirmed this last night, praising the group for having been able to suffer against a difficult opponent. Inzaghi studied some tactical variations during the break and made important choices, also from the point of view of the hierarchies (the captaincy assigned to Bani is a clear signal). Palumbo’s position is now finally effective: the number 5 plays between the lines, acting as a glue between midfield and attack. His vision of the game can really make the difference: it cannot be a coincidence that, in the downturn period, the former Modena player was unable to be at the heart of the maneuver. Yes, the maneuver: now thanks to a rediscovered Ranocchia the circulation of the ball is more fluid. Yesterday, for example, in the first half the team played some good football: quick touches, overlaps in the lanes, effective movements without the ball and a greater search for depth.
Monsieur Le Douaron took the stage, Brunori on the sidelines
In this, in addition to the amazing work of the striker Pohjanpalo, there is also the hand of Monsieur Le Douaron: the Frenchman, after last year’s criticisms, now seems really into the project. Thanks to Inzaghi, who had already praised the qualities (technical and athletic) of the former Brest player since his retirement. Le Douaron runs a lot and wins several aerial duels: if he then gets into the habit of scoring, yesterday the second in a row after the one in Empoli, then his contribution becomes even more interesting. At this moment, it is Brunori who pays for the transalpine’s exploit: for the number 9 yesterday it was the second game in a row observed from the bench. It is not excluded that during the January window the player could decide to move on, in which case other scenarios would open up for the club in the transfer market.
Defensive solidity, Bani the leader
The other strong point of Inzaghi’s team is its defensive solidity: Bani has literally changed the skin of the department, guaranteeing a security rarely seen in the past (except in the golden times). The new captain is the leader of the locker room and plays with disarming authority on the pitch: this is what is needed in a highly complicated championship like Serie B. Now the rosanero will rest for a few days, then they will think about the away match in Avellino: in Campania they will try to get their poker game on track. If the “hand” is also lucky the undertaking does not seem so impossible. Meanwhile, Inzaghi is enjoying the growth of the team and the feeling he has found with the whole squad.
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