Football Season Guide

After recording a miraculous salvation in the previous campaign, last season Salernitana unexpectedly succeeded in repeating themselves only after a painful coach change, though. In fact, with Davide Nicola in charge, the man who proved decisive in 2021/2022, they found themselves in a deep crisis, highlighted by a famous 2-8 defeat to Atalanta,and in mid-February the management eventually decided to pull the plug, hiring Paulo Sousa instead. With the Portuguese gaffer at the helm, they lost only 3 times, winning 4 and drawing 9, with Napoli, Inter, Milan and Roma among the others. Coach Sousa was logically confirmed at the helm and he was asked to repeat last season’s wonders but, so far, the management were not very active during the transfer campaign. In fact, while they managed to sign permanently striker Dia, capable of 16 goals and 6 assists, and 36-year-old winger Candreva, who pulled out an extraordinary campaign with 7 goals and 5 assists, together with 20-year-old centre-back Pirola, although he was a bit inconsistent, they hired no new players.    On the other hand, they lost starting striker Piatek, from whom they expected more than just 5 goals and 5 assists, and he was not replaced yet, while Centre-back Troost-Ekong also returned to his parent club but he will not be missed.   The midfield was then the area where they lost more players as starting Vilhena and back-up Nicolussi Caviglia and Crnigoj all returned to their parent clubs. Last season, Salernitana held a very poor defence, with 62 goals conceded they only did better than relegated Cremonese and Sampdoria, and nothing has been done to improve the department. Moreover, they lack alternatives and back-ups in all the other areas, thus leaving theman incomplete squad at the moment.