Football Season Guide

Even though at the end of the past campaign they had failed to reach the top 6 of the table, which would have granted them the qualification to the Europa League, courtesy of Genoa’s failure in obtaining a UEFA license, Sampdoria eventually made the competition. That was certainly a well-deserved result considering the quality of play they succeeded offering at times during the season and the amount of money and enthusiasm spent by President Ferrero. Since his first day in charge, the film-producer made it clear what his ambitions were: bringing the Sampdoria back to the top of the league. Unfortunately for him, he could not rely on coach Mihajlovic for the new season as he left for Milan and so he opted for Walter Zenga, who, in Serie A, had a positive experience at the helm of Catania and a negative one with Palermo, while leading several teams all over the world. During the summer, Sampdoria lost a few important players such as Romagnoli, who returned to his parent club before joining Milan, Okaka, who had ended up the past season on the bench, Obiang and Eto’o, whose short stint at the club was not a memorable one. In order to overcome such departures, the management hired several new players but also one prodigal son, Fantantonio Cassano, who is back after Parma’s wreckage. So, with Viviano confirmed in goals, the newcomers Cassani, another Parma’s veteran, and Zukanovic, whose debut season with Chievo Verona was outstanding, should be contending with De Silvestri and Mesbah as full-backs while Moisander should join Silvestre in the heart of the defence. Regini and Salomon should be the alternatives at centre-back. Fernando and Barreto will become protagonists in the middle of the park alongside Soriano, or Krsticic if the Italian ends up being sold as it seems likely. In the attack, in a 4-3-1-2 formation, Cassano should support Eder and Muriel, expected to shine at last. The premises of the season are far from favourable, though, as they were eliminated from the Europa League qualifying rounds by Vojvodina, having lost 4-0 at home and won 2-0 in Serbia.