The "big maneuvers" of Catania. Why it can now get back in the running for Serie B

If the choice was Viali, then let's let him work. This is the opinion of a good part of the public who the day before yesterday supported Catania in this new chase for a concrete hope: to maintain the second place in the league at the end of the regular season to aim for the playoffs in the best position: as a seeded team that would advance directly to the quarter-finals.

The impact with the new coach was anticipated. But judging immediately would be unfair. Also because there were aspects that worked, and others that did not. A bit like it happened with Toscano, honestly. Was there a need for change, then? The club decided, not the players, and it will be responsible for discussing this regardless of how things go. One hopes to comment on a promotion to B.

Viali, then. He has personality, he has experience that perhaps did not coincide with promotions to B but with miraculously won play-outs (Cosenza). He has a way of communicating that is different from many other coaches. He has also sent clear signals to his players.

Shall we share a couple of them, just to please? After a first half of difficulties and a second half that was much, much more productive, both the substitutions and the words between the lines spoken (or not spoken) at the end of the match pointed in one direction: the area must be filled in a certain way and when the team attacks, it manages to pressure the opponent. Without Forte and Cicerelli (he is recovering now, the trequartista: but let's not rush his full return and not place all the responsibilities on a single player) it is a half Catania. Because Caturano continues to remain a mystery. A former striker of the league who signs a three-year contract at prices we are not interested in publicizing (good for him, good for the agent) but can arrive at this point in the season, continue not to score and not to make an impact especially? As we wrote a few weeks ago, the scapegoat should not be him, but given his experience and recent past numbers, perhaps he should step it up and quickly.

Bruzzaniti scored. Hooray. But what had he done in the match before? The usual movement, systematically blocked by opponents who read his game and stole the ball from him. Not much. So he needs to improve too, varying his pace if possible. The effort of Lunetta is as always an example to bring to the post-match meeting. The midfielders have given their all, but that two-man formula does not work, at least against Casarano it did not work, so much so that in the second half, Viali advanced Casasola, reinforced the sector by also bringing back one of the trequartisti when necessary.

A foundation was left by Toscano, another is being built by Viali, the players are putting their soul into reaching the end of the season. The public supported until the end and only after the final whistle did they verbally express their dissent (the curves) in a civil but firm manner.

We are heading towards the match against Latina with renewed optimism, but also aware that a team that changes coaches – a decision of the club, not the boys – is a group that needs to be rebuilt in their minds and in some movements that change. For this reason, we give the coach the opportunity to work calmly and without feeling under examination every moment of his day. We give credit because something good was glimpsed against Casarano. There are no definitive judgments for now, in a few weeks we will be able to draw the final balance of the season.