Football Season Guide

After years of struggles for the team and disappointments for the supporters, Hellas Verona at last managed to get rid of hated President Setti and the club was bought by an American fund. It was last December and the team was battling for a place out of the bottom 3. In fact, the last campaign was not a memorable one as they were always inconsistent and rarely managed to obtain positive results for more than 2 games in a row. Nevertheless, they made the relegation zone only in a couple of occasions, proving capable of taking decisive points when needed. Testament to that is the thrilling finale of the season when, coming off a winless 8-game run, they defeated Empoli and sent them to the Serie B, while achieving salvation. Coach Paolo Zanetti, who had started his tenure under Setti, was confirmed at the helm of the team also for the new campaign. Truth be said, at the moment one cannot tell the difference between the current club owners and their predecessor. In fact, the back-bone of the team that reached safety was dismantled while little, if anything at all, was spent in new-comers. With starting Ghilardi, Coppola and Dawidowicz all gone, Hellas Verona will display a completely renewed back 3 next season. So far, they hired Unai, on loan from Celta Vigo, and Ebosse, just recovered from a long-lasting injury at Udinese. Valentini will thus be pivotal in the new season but depth is needed. In the midfield, key Duda decided not to renew his deal with the club and they only signed Yellu, from Getafe. Niasse and Bernede together with versatile Kastanos saw their loans made permanent but it might not be enough. Key winger Lazovic was released, after hardly playing a role last season, while their top scorer starting striker Tengstedt left for PSV. Beside signing permanently Sarr, who became a protagonist in the second half of last season, they hired 21-year-old Giovane, coming from Corinthians and that does not look enough either.