The View from the Opposition: Sassuolo

We get a local perspective on Sunday's visitors to the Stadio Olimpico...

“If Sassuolo were a F1 car, they would be Racing Point – a pole position and a couple of podium finishes,“ says Neroverdi fan Leo Turrini, one of Italy’s most authoritative Formula 1 journalists.

Turrini, who was born in Sassuolo 60 years ago and recently wrote a book on the Panini empire (Panini-Storia di una famiglia, published by Minerva), insists he’s not a bit surprised by Sassuolo’s incredible start to the season.

Ahead of Sunday’s match at the Stadio Olimpico, Turrini spoke to asroma.com about what makes Roberto De Zerbi’s side tick.

What’s the secret behind Sassuolo’s lightning start to the campaign?

"Sassuolo have a medium-term project and the club is run magnificently. The training ground is an absolute beauty – on a par with the facilities at Roma, AC Milan, Inter and Juventus. Giorgio Squinzi’s children are carrying their dad’s philosophy forward. The results we’re seeing are simply the fruit of careful planning.

“Sassuolo don’t sell their players anymore unless the offer matches their expectations. [Manuel] Locatelli is an example of that – Juventus wanted him but the club didn’t sell him. The same goes for [Jeremie] Boga.

“Their argument is: ‘We’re a well-established Serie A side now. If the big clubs want our players, they’ll have to pay the right amount for them.’ That’s why I’m not surprised by their excellent league position.

“On top of that, De Zerbi is one of the most modern coaches in Serie A and knows how to get his ideas across to his players as a team, regardless of their individual ability. Do you know who recommended him to Squinzi?"

Who?

"Arrigo Sacchi. After Sassuolo flirted with relegation with [Giuseppe] Iachini in 2018, Giorgio Squinzi decided he wanted a different, more attacking style of football. Which meant a different coach. Sacchi said to him: ‘Go and get De Zerbi. He plays a brand of football that can only get better.’ Mark my words: sooner or later, he’ll be in charge at one of the top clubs.”

Do you think last week’s defeat to Inter was an eye-opener for those who thought Sassuolo night be able to ‘do a Leicester’?

"Sassuolo winning the Scudetto would be amazing but we’re a town of 40,000 inhabitants. As good as the current side is, you have to keep things in perspective. Sassuolo can look to the example of Atalanta in recent seasons and aim to finish in the upper part of the table."

If you had to compare Sassuolo to a F1 car, which would it be?

"If we’re looking to make an Italian comparison, we can start by saying that Sassuolo are more competitive than Ferrari at the moment. I think Sassuolo are Serie A’s Racing Point – they managed to get a pole position and their drivers on the podium.”

Who is Sassuolo’s best player?

"[Domenico] Berardi is the most talented player. He’s been in and around the Italy team for several years now. The reason he’s stayed is that, as I said before, the club doesn’t need the cash and they only sell if they get what they’re looking for. After Berardi, I’d say [Francesco] Caputo – another one who’s been called up to the national team.”

Which Roma player would you like to have for Sassuolo?

"I like Roma a lot. Apart from the blip against Napoli, they’ve always had a very clear style of football and have been constantly improving. In terms of individuals, I’m a big fan of [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan’s. I used to watch him in the Premier League too. He’s a fabulously talented player who’s not afraid to put in a shift: he does so much running for the team. I don’t know what your view is, but personally I think the current Roma side are great to watch.”

What’s your prediction for Roma v Sassuolo?

"Roma have the better team – man for man, they’re superior to Sassuolo – but I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be a draw. If you want to beat Sassuolo, you have to really work for it. There’s no home advantage either. Obviously I’d prefer to play in front of 40,000 spectators but not having the pressure that comes with playing in a big stadium works in Sassuolo’s favour.”