Palermo Need Form Reversal as Alessio Dionisi Faces Daunting Return to Sassuolo

“Total failure” proclaimed one of the banners in the Curva Nord of the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo on Sunday.

Removed halfway through the first half, one almost expected the banner to be unfurled again as Marco Pompetti‘s late winner sealed all the three points for Catanzaro.

The result saw the Rosanero drop out of the play-off spots, with eighth place now two points away.

Describing the season as a total failure may sound premature, but it is fair to say more was expected of Palermo.

In the summer, Sunday’s trip to league leaders Sassuolo was billed as a promotion showdown, but while the Neroverdi have held up their side of the bargain, the Sicilians have struggled.

Palermo are 19 points behind Sassuolo and just four points clear of the relegation zone. 

This wasn’t in the script when City Football Group spent over €10m (£8.5m) on players this summer to propel the Rosanero back to Serie A for the first time in seven years. 

The investment is yet to deliver, as Palermo have lacked a precise identity thus far and don’t score enough goals. Only four teams have scored fewer than the Sicilians’ tally of 17 this term, while Sassuolo have scored 19 more.

On Sunday, Dionisi and the Director of Football Morgan de Sanctis were both unceremoniously invited to leave the premises by the Palermo ultras and the former admits the criticism is justified.

“I feel it’s my duty to take responsibility. I don’t see any other way. We all work hard,” he said in his press conference. 

“We hoped to avoid this moment. But we are responsible. I know I might sound repetitive, but our performances have often been at odds with our results. 

“I cling to the performance, knowing that it’s not enough. Because if we’re putting in good performances and the results aren’t coming, then something’s not right. 

“It’s normal for there to be discontent and for people to start losing faith. But I believe in this team as much as I did on the first day.”

The malcontent in the stands makes Saturday’s trip to Sassuolo, whom Dionisi managed for the past three seasons, even more daunting. 

Palermo have stood behind Dionisi, but in a league where on average a manager loses his job every two weeks, he is walking on increasingly thin ice.

Conversely, Fabio Grosso’s job could not be more secure.

Sassuolo took a while to get going, but over the past two months they have hit their stride in spectacular fashion and are top of Serie B, three points clear of Pisa.

The Neroverdi have won nine of their last 10 matches and have the best attacking record in the division. Their only defeat of the season came back in August, when Cremonese won 4-1 at the Mapei Stadium.

Earlier this month, La Gazzetta dello Sport described Sassuolo as a “team in a league of their own” and it’s hard to argue with the sentiment given the options at Grosso’s disposal.

Kristian Thorstvedt and Armand Lauriente have seven goals each, while Nicholas Pierini and Samuele Mulattieri have chipped in with six and five respectively. 

Throw in Domenico Berardi’s nine assists and it comes as no surprise that Sassuolo are the top scorers in the league with an average of over two goals per game.

And yet, despite Sassuolo’s brilliance, Dionisi remains hopeful he can upset his former side.

“Let me be clear: we have the ability, and the obligation, to give our absolute best,” he said when asked of Palermo’s chances to stop the league leaders. 

“We need to dig deep and leave it all out there.”

It would, if nothing else, go some way towards placating the ultras who demanded “blood and sweat” for Palermo’s colours on Sunday.