Reasons behind Italian managers' Premier League flop
Claudio Ranieri begun the current campaign as Premier League defending champion, Chelsea’s Antonio Conte was one of the best manager at EURO 2016 and Italy’s performances made Chelsea fans hopeful that Conte could replicate the same style at the Stamford Bridge. Francesco Guidolin is now on the brink at Swansea, whilst Walter Mazzarri is getting some better results after a difficult start to the season. Overall, Italian managers are failing to live up to promises so far. But which are the reasons behind their flops? Our pundit Guglielmo Cannavale tries to give an explanation.
CONTE: Arsenal hammered his Chelsea last week and the Italian gaffer is in the middle of a storm after losing another key clash against Liverpool, before the Arsenal game. Performances of defenders have been tragic so far and Chelsea have been linked with welcoming’ Leonardo Bonucci’s services again. Trouble is, Juventus are not going to let him go. This Chelsea side look so similar to last season’s. Games against Hull City, Manchester united and Leicester City are now coming up for the Blues. Conte's philosophy based on defence and aggressivity in the middle of the pitch is probably not working in the Premier League this season and some fans at the Stamford Bridge are asking themselves whether the role of manager suits Antonio Conte or not.
RANIERI: We all knew that this seasons would have not been as easy as walking in the park for Ranieri’s Leicester City side. Repeating last year’s miracle is impossible and no one at the club has asked Ranieri to achieve what he did last season. The Foxes, however, suffered two heavy defeats against Liverpool and Manchester United, losing both games for 4-1. This year’s target is getting another Champions League qualification. It would be almost like another miracle.
MAZZARRI: Not a good week-end for Walter Mazzarri as well as his Watford side lost an away game at Burnley. The Hornets were coming from two victories against West Ham and Manchester United before last week-end’s defeat and urge to find the right balance between home and away games as clashes far from Vicarage Road are not producing the same good results than those at home.
GUIDOLIN: The former Udinese gaffer’s job is the only one under threat among Italian Premier League managers. The week-end’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester City is not his fault, but Swansea’s position in the table is tragic as the Swans sit 17th in the table with four points in six games. West Ham, Stoke City and Sunderland are the only sides that are doing worst than them and the next Liverpool clash is definitely not going to help Guidolin.
Simone Zaza deserves one last mention. The Italian striker failed to impress in West Ham’s 3-0 home defeat against Southampton despite playing for the whole 90 minutes and West Ham fans believe the former Juventus striker was overrated.
Guglielmo Cannavale, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni
