Inside Mantova: Possanzini’s Tactics, Transfer Window and Best Players

Of the Serie B newcomers this season Cesena and Juve Stabia have commanded the lion’s share of attention so far, but Mantova are quietly making a case for themselves.

While the Bianconeri and the Stabians sit fourth and ninth respectively, Davide Possanzini’s men are 10th, five points off Cesena and very much in the thick of the play-offs race.

It is a remarkable run for a team that was expected to be fighting to avoid relegation in their first season back in Italian football’s second tier for the first time in 15 years.

“I believe we can achieve more than just staying up,” Possanzini said after Mantova drew 2-2 away against Catanzaro last week.

“We’ve shown we can compete with anyone.”

Mantova have certainly done that, beating promotions hopefuls Cremonese and drawing against Brescia and Palermo and narrowly losing to league leaders Sassuolo.

The Biancorossi, however, have been hampered by a chronic lack of consistency and they have struggled to string together an unbeaten run that stretches for longer than two matches.

Only five teams in the Serie B top-10 have conceded more than the 17 goals Mantova have allowed in 14 matches, but two clean sheets in the last four fixtures are reason for optimism going into December.

If Mantova are addressing their defensive issues, Possanzini will also be hoping his side can find a new lease of life at the other end of the pitch where only Davide Bragantini, Leonardo Mancuso and Antonio Fiori have found the net more than once this term.

Of the teams in Serie B’s top-10, only Juve Stabia have scored fewer goals than Mantova, a worrying trend for the Biancorossi as far as their chances of remaining in the play-offs picture are concerned.

For his part, Possanzini remains adamant his team are on track.

“Our points tally is consistent with our objective of avoiding relegation,” he said.

“However, looking at our performances, we can see that we’re missing a few points. As a coach, I want to win every game and I’m never 100% satisfied, but we need to be honest and clear-headed. The lads are giving their all, continuing the path we started last year without losing our identity.”

Transfers: Mantova spent just €170,000 on players this summer, all of which went on signing Torres attacking midfielder Francesco Ruocco. Stefano Cella and Federico Botti arrived on a free transfer, while Leonardo Mancuso, Davide Bragantini and Matteo Solini joined from Monza, Hellas Verona and Como respectively and Mattia Aramu signed on loan from Genoa.

Meanwhile, Mantova released a host of players that were part of their Serie C promotion campaign, including left-back Christian Celesia and forward Gaetano Monachello.

Best performers: Verona loanee Bragantini is Mantova’s top scorer with five goals in 16 appearances and has developed into a key player for Possanzini, while Marco Festa has already kept four clean sheets.

Despite being 37, Salvatore Burrai remains a crucial cog in Mantova’s midfield, while Alex Redolfi and Federico Brignani have been defensively very solid.

Tactics: Possanzini has zagged where the rest of Serie B has zigged, with Mantova bucking the 3-5-2 trend that has swept the division to remain fully committed to their 4-3-2-1.

Veteran striker David Mensah is the focal point of the attack, with Bragantini on the right wing and Fiori on the opposite flank and former Sassuolo man Federico Artioli and Simone Trimboli anchoring the midfield.