Cagliari, it’s party day. Ranieri: “I want to do well next year too”

CAGLIARI – “I hope I can do well next year too!”. Claudio Ranieri raises his arms to the sky. The Domus, over twelve thousand to greet the winners of the B, blows up. The technician is moved. He fixes his glasses, receives pats and hugs. Blue jacket, white shirt, dark tie, Sir Claudio has taken over the island and the rossoblù cheer for the second time. “You know, with Roma I’ve always had you in my heart. Because it’s here, with Cagliari and the Orrù family, that I became a coach!”. Another roar. The victory in the extra-time in Bari, the run-up after taking the fourteenth team 4 points from the play outs, an unthinkable leap in January. Instead, the master from San Saba sewed, glued, brought together. Team and fans, together. In a run-up to 60 points and fifth place, play offs to knock out Venice, Parma and Bari. Third place in Serie A, with Frosinone and Genoa, is a sort of miracle built with experience, work and common sense. “I knew it would be a difficult mission. But I put aside the selfishness that in returning made me see the risks of erasing what good I had done more than thirty years ago. Then, I came and asked for your help You – Ranieri told the fans – were also angry but you never left us alone”.

The man who has won the Premier League and coached in four countries finds words and feelings. The stadium falls silent. “I have to thank my players, they have never given me up and have always followed me step by step, especially in difficulties and I am thinking of our two defeats (Modena and Parma, ed)”. The team embraces him. The technician with the glasses flying everywhere, hesitates. The volume of the music rises. Influencers, artists, anthem, a lava of notes envelops Pavoletti and partners. The twelve thousand dance. On the lawn, the boys and girls of the soccer players run around. And in the general chaos, the promotion trophy also disappeared, only to find it again in Deiola’s hands. President Giulini and Mayor Truzzu present the medals. The catwalk show opens with the warehouse workers. Followed by executives, technical and medical staff, marketing and communication staff. The ultras sing and infect the public. Serie A has returned to Sardinia after thirteen months of Venice’s horrific relegation. Aresti, Ciocci and the highly acclaimed Mancosu (“The goal from 50 meters in Perugia? I don’t even know how I did it!” confesses the attacking midfielder) wear the cloth with the Quattro Mori. “Today tell your wives and those you love the most that they are as beautiful as Pavoletti’s goal in the 94th minute” shouted Viola. Bomber Lapadula, 21 goals in the regular season, 26 in the season, cut short: “We have become a family!”. The concept is also embraced by Nandez, Radunovic, Zappa and Deiola. “I still have the bitterness suffered in Venice, I stayed because I believed in the group’s desire for redemption” shouted Goldaniga. “I wanted to score a lot of goals, I scored one, beautiful and at the right time” Pavoletti rejoices as he gives the medal to his little son Giorgino.

In short, a plant and a city celebrating. Sports hangover and more. Cagliari and supporters found again, a long love affair that goes from the capital to Olbia, passing through Nuoro, Oristano and Alghero. The return to the top twenty championship is a beneficial balm. A target that inconveniences strategies, business, investments. The construction of the new stadium, for example. But that’s another story. Meanwhile, Sir Claudio has written a textbook page. Capable of taking the stage even in the post-victory of San Nicola (“What’s the matter, cheer on your team and that’s it. What’s the point of mocking the others!”), the San Saba coach has already launched the challenge. Strangely absent in the first tweet of jubilation of the presidency, Ranieri once again demonstrated ethics and morals. Those of a seventy-one-year-old gentleman grappling with a world that does not want to improve. And yet, he accomplished yet another feat. In the land that ended since 1987 – three years from C to A, with comfortable salvation – he won’t forget it. Cagliari is in A, with Pavoletti’s paw nailing Bari. The sailor bomber ruined the party for the 58 thousand of San Nicola. of art signed Sir Claudio was consumed like this, under the flood. With Ranieri who slapped the teasing of the Rossoblù fans. When we talk about style and respect. Values ​​that are now only good for the Perugian kiss foil. Instead, a precious page of balance and common sense has also been added to the miracle, incredible but true. Competition, sweat and sacrifice. Cagliari, which is escaping from the hell of Serie B, including the playoffs, has a protagonist: Claudio Ranieri.

The technician has forged and reformed a group without leadership, unglued, demotivated, unable to assume their responsibilities. He has given breath and strength back to immature and expert athletes, perhaps struggling with long-standing ailments and injuries. A sort of second father, able to intercept the frequencies of his and codify them in favor of the group. He instilled the spirit and determination needed to achieve any goal. The ascent is phenomenal if you think about the way, the context and the interpreters. Ranieri took the team in the second round, from fourteenth, closer to the play-outs than to the top of the standings. A horrible situation, the result of Liverani’s sacking, the expulsion of the sporting and general directors, Stefano Capozucca and Mario Passetti, the move to the Primavera of the technical collaborators, Roberto Muzzi and Fabio Pisacane. Moves that confirmed the approximation, a touch of arrogance and the lack of a project. Sir Claudio saw, heard and understood. And he went further. He immediately armored the group, and himself, from corporate interference. And, above all, he brought him back to the fans in a serious, correct, transparent way, without ulterior motives.

In short, a small big revolution. Then, he sowed his own doctrine, based on work, experience and concentration. On the field, like any rookie, he moved knick-knacks and pins and elbowed in overalls and shoes with a rose. He restored courage and confidence to Lapadula (B top scorer with 21 goals, 26 this season), Nandez and Mancosu. He pitched Under Obert, Kourfalidis and Luvumbo. He transformed Dossena, coming from C, made Radunovic become an excellent goalkeeper, restored Azzi’s shine and waited for Rog and Pavoletti, who scored the match, and championship!, in the fourth minute of added time in Bari. Furthermore, he rearranged the defence: the department halved the goals conceded in just a few months. He invented Makoumbou director and created a profitable interchangeability between Lella, Deiola, Di Pardo, Zappa, Altare. Ultimately, a useful path to study in schools of planning, management and professional sports management. On the other hand, without this mix you can’t win the playoffs, with the double final against the Apulians pushed by sixty thousand fans at San Nicola. Ranieri was that essential clean and competent manager in a club that showed more than one shortcoming. Serie A was revived in twelve months. The past must be kept in mind. Starting from the shameful relegation of Venice, unable to beat the landlords stuffed with reserves and already relegated, with Salernitana overwhelmed at home by Udinese.

A horror film at the end of a shocking tournament with Semplici exonerated after three days, Mazzarri dismissed three rounds from the end with the call of Agostini, Godin and Caceres electrocuted on live TV – it should be kept in mind. And it must serve as a warning for the immediate future. Now, it’s time to enjoy the party: carousels, flags, drapes on the windows. An infinite joy for the rossoblù people. But the key issue, felt by most, concerns the coach’s future. First of all, we have to ask ourselves what Ranieri’s choice might be. The technician would automatically have the extension. But on this front it is too early to understand if, after signing an unthinkable sporting and ethical monument five months ago, he decides otherwise. Serie A requires a profound review of the squad. The tournament is profoundly different from the B and not only in terms of income, power and visibility. Technically, a full-bodied and thoughtful restyling is necessary and indispensable. So, investments and expertise. Claudio Ranieri not only did it but let him understand what it means to be aware of all the knowledge, good practices and ways necessary in the world of football, more or less golden. Now, the ball is in the property court.