Inside Venezia: Di Francesco’s Tactics, Transfers and Best Players

Eusebio Di Francesco and Venezia weren’t given much of a hope at the beginning of the Serie A campaign. After battling away for four months, they’ve done little to change opinion.

Propping up the table, the Venetians have won just two games all season and are still in single digits when it comes to points, having amassed just nine in their opening 15 matches.

Having overseen Frosinone’s immediate return to Serie B, Di Francesco has stuck around in the top flight to try his luck with I Leoni alati, but back-to-back relegations remain a distinct possibility, if he even gets the chance to see out the season.

The 55-year-old is already having to withstand consistent chatter around his future, not that it appears to be bothering the man himself.

“I’m experienced enough to maintain clarity in every moment,” he told the press after the club’s recent 2-2 draw with Como.

“The club believes in those who work and have a plan. In two matches, I go from being someone who develops players to someone who doesn’t know how to manage the team, but you can write whatever you want. I’m calm.”

There are reasons behind Di Francesco’s composure. Cagliari and Monza have shown in recent years that arriving in the top-flight via the play-offs isn’t a barrier to success.

There have also been signs of this team stirring into life at points – holding high-flying Fiorentina to a draw, beating Udinese and cruelly being denied an injury-time equaliser against Inter at San Siro by VAR.

The point against Como stopped the rot of a four-match losing streak, though all involved with the club know results have to start coming if they are to avoid being cut adrift. That’s easier said than done with Juventus and Napoli both still to come before the end of 2024.

Di Francesco may be keeping his cool, but it will take a hot streak of improbable proportions to lift Venezia out of the hole they find themselves in.

Transfers: Venezia spent €14million after returning to the top flight in the summer, with Gaetano Oristanio their biggest outlay of €4m from Inter. Centre-back Joel Schingtienne arrived for €3m from Leuven in Belgium, while Johan Yeboah jumped ship from Rakow in Poland’s top flight. Money was also spent on Giorgio Altare, Issa Doumbia and goalkeeper Alessandro Plizzari.

Alfred Duncan and Noah Baudouin arrived on free transfers from Fiorentina and Piacenza respectively, while there were five loan arrivals, including Hand Nicolussi Caviglia from Juventus and Inter pair Filip Stankovic and Franco Carboni.

American Tanner Tessmann was their biggest departure – the 22-year-old midfielder leaving to join Lyon in France.

Best performers: Given their form, best performers is perhaps over-egging the pudding slightly. It will come as no surprise that goalkeepers have been getting the plaudits – even though Venezia boast the second-worst defensive record in the Serie A. Jesse Joronen started the season well, and was in inspired form to keep his clean sheet against Fiorentina in the 0-0 stalemate in Florence.

His injury allowed loanee Stankovic to take up the mantle, and he too has had to be on his toes.

At the other end of the pitch, Joel Pohjanpalo has scored four goals, while Juventus loanee Caviglia has three. Oristanio – their most notable summer arrival – has two goals and two assists to his name.

Tactics: Di Francesco has stuck with a back three this season, rotating on occasions between a 3-4-2-1 setup and a 3-5-2. More often than not it has been the former formation preferred, with Oristanio reverting to sit in a two behind captain Pohjanpalo.

Michael Svoboda is the nucleus of the defence. The Austrian centre-back has started every game this season in league and cup.