Football Season Guide

Three years after their last embarrassing relegation to the Serie B following an amazing promotion with Zeman at the helm, Pescara return to the top flight of the Italian football. Francesco Oddo, the architect of their past successful campaign, thanks to some bright playoffs, was confirmed in charge and he will be asked to lead the team towards a final safety. It will be far from easy, though, especially considering that the Dolphins can rely on a very tight budget. Because of that, they were forced to sell the best player of their past campaign: Gianluca Lapadula. The top scorer of the past Serie B with 27 goals was sold to Milan. Another major loss is represented by the end of Mandragora’s loan. The midfielder joined Juventus and he also left a huge hole in Oddo’s squad. Torreira also returned to Sampdoria due to the end of his loan. Pescara management have tried to fill those holes obtaining some promising players on loan from bigger clubs. Thus, Cristante, whose past couple of campaigns have not been particularly bright, arrived from Benfica, while Manaj joined in from Inter. They should both be given starting places in the 4-3-3 formation beloved by coach Oddo. The 38-year-old Bizzarri, who had a couple of impressive seasons with Chievo Verona, will be providing his experience in goals while Biraghi, loaned out from Inter after a good campaign with Granada, should be acting as left-back. Great news is the fact that players like Verre, Memushaj and Caprari were not sold and will still be protagonists in the new season. However, the feeling is that Pescara are still lacking a central defender and a forward. Two problems to be solved at all costs before the end of August.