Inside Salernitana: Tactics, Transfer Window and Best Players

Opening the season with two home wins and two away defeats, Salernitana boss Giovanni Martusciello is considering systemic change ahead of the match against table-topping Pisa.

Having dropped down from Serie A, the revolving door in Salerno has seen nearly 40 players head elsewhere, with 17 more arriving for free or on loan.

Martusciello is at a crossroads. Salernitana boast the best attack in the division but the worst defence – a dichotomy that must be addressed accordingly with five games in 21 days on the horizon, including a Coppa Italia trip to Udine.

Yet, the 53-year-old defended his young backline after the defeat at Mantova.

“I can’t help but compliment my team,” Martusciello said. “The performance was there, I can’t blame them for anything at all.”

“We are a team in the process of settling in, we’ve gone through so many changes between those who left and those who arrived. Now that the market is closed and I know which players I have available, I will be able to focus on the group and the work to be done.”

The international break arrived at the right time, according to Martusciello, who is utilising this time to assess his last-minute inclusions after letting go of two of wide defenders late in the transfer window.

Until now, the Granata have stuggled for balance in midfield, a problem which must be resolved during the blockbuster at the Stadio Arechi against the Nerazzurri, now led by ex-Salernitana manager Pippo Inzaghi.

Transfers Out: Despite the level of top-tier talent last term, Salernitana lacked continuity. Many of the squad have filtered up to Serie A: Boulaye Diá and Loum Tchaouna to Lazio, Lassana Coulibaly to Lecce, and Domagoj Bradarić and Flavius Daniliuc join Grigoris Kastanos at Hellas Verona.

Transfers In: Having raked in €20 million during the summer – a huge stash for any Serie B club – Salernitana has reinvested less than 10%. Money was spent on Franco Tongya (€1M) and Paolo Ghiglione (€700K) to reinforce depth in midfield while loanees Ajdin Hrustić, Daniele Verde, Yayah Kallon, Szymon Wlodarczyk, Ernesto Torregrossa and Jayden Braaf permit Martusciello endless options in attack, the latter contributing two goals so far.

Roberto Soriano ended his sabatical, returning to football one year after leaving Bologna FC. Lorenzo Amatucci and David Gentile join from Fiorentina, Petar Stojanović from Empoli and Tijs Velthuis from Sparta Rotterdam. Pawel Jaroszynski is back for a second spell after leaving in 2022, and 32-year-old former Italy defender Gian Marco Ferrari switched from Sassuolo.

Best performers: Jayden Braaf is just the surprise packet that Martusciello wants. The Dutchman scored the winner against Sampdoria in September and should remain a key player throughout the campaign. Daniel Verde has been awarded the creative licence in general play and at stoppages, with Simy playing a vital role in various phases.

Tactics: Martusciello fluttered between 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1 over the first month, yielding six league points. The mister is set to continue with a four-man defence with Ferrari and Stojanović leading from the back.

Salernitana XI (4-3-3): Sepe – Stojanović, Njoh, Ferrari, Bronn – Amatucci, Valencia, Tongya – Braaf, Simy, Verde