When we talk about the surprises at the start of the Serie A season, it’s hard not to think of Sassuolo. Promoted for only a year, the Emilian club is already among the most prominent teams, ninth with 17 points after 12 days, just three points behind Juventus. This result is not the result of chance: it is the reflection of a patiently constructed project, a strategy of continuity and, above all, the immense work of Fabio Grosso. Two seasons after a painful relegation, the Neroverdi have regained their place in the Italian elite with a squad that intelligently mixes old pillars and promising young talents. Berardi, Pinamonti, Laurienté, Doig, Boloca and Thorstvedt are not just names, they are the guarantors of the stability and resilience of a group which has been able to bounce back with method and ambition.
One of the secrets of this success lies in Sassuolo’s philosophy, which stands out for its ability to maintain its executives while remaining open to opportunities. Unlike other clubs facing relegation, the management did not give in to the temptation of massive sales to replenish its finances. On the contrary, the players who had carried the team through the challenges of Serie B were put back at the center of the project to rebuild a competitive team in Serie A. The familiar faces are not that numerous, but their weight on the collective is immense, since the four best scorers at the start of the season all come from this old core, proof that the club’s strategy, already successful last year, continues to bear fruit. Sassuolo thus shows that a coherent and patient policy can create value and surprise even the most seasoned observers.
A promoted knife between the teeth
At the center of this dynamic, Fabio Grosso embodies technical and human success. After a journey strewn with pitfalls, promising beginnings in Bari and Verona, a reconstruction in Frosinone, then a delicate passage in Lyon, the former 2006 world champion found in Sassuolo an ideal environment to fully express his vision: “this is a relevant observation, it could be a source of motivation. Maybe it was a special evening, the atmosphere was different from that of Bergamo. We must know how to increase the pressure, regardless of the opponent, the public or the ranking, because this championship proves that every match counts, and the more you give your all, the more chances you have of obtaining a result. When we got there, we played well, even better in the second half, and we were punished on the counter-attack, but bravo to the guys who believed in it until the end.explained Grosso after the draw against Pisa. His Sassuolo is not a cautious or defensive team, it seduces with its audacity, its fluidity and its offensive variety. Ten different players have already found the net this season. A figure which illustrates the extent to which Grosso knows how to trust his workforce and promote talent, from historic executives to young people from the training center.
His ability to create a balanced, energetic and coherent collective makes him one of the most promising coaches in current Serie A. Grosso’s impact goes beyond mere numbers. Sassuolo have regained the confidence and enthusiasm that was missing after relegation, and the team now commands respect on every pitch. Defensive solidity, offensive creativity and collective involvement create a team capable of aspiring to Europe in the seasons to come. For a promoted club, these signs are particularly promising and offer supporters a rare and valuable reason for optimism: “There are not yet enough matches to establish statistics. We played well away to take points. Today we started the match with a penalty and conceded a goal; many small details influence decisions and scores. We know that we can do much better in certain phases of the game.. By combining patience, audacity and tactical mastery, Grosso is transforming Sassuolo into a true revelation, and it is no exaggeration to say that the team could continue to surprise until spring. In Sassuolo, work well done pays off, and the future looks bright.
