Darryl Bakola continues to make his way in Italy, and the young French midfielder is seriously starting to make a name for himself at Sassuolo. Arriving at the Neroverdi with the label of great hope, the former Marseillais had already shown great things during his first season under the orders of Fabio Grosso. In a championship renowned for its tactical rigor and its ability to put young players to the test, the kid gradually gained credit, until he settled into the rotation and demonstrated that his profile could be perfectly expressed in Italian football. His adaptation, however, was not linear, with the demands of a particularly demanding championship and significant competition in his position, but Bakola was able to display enough personality to convince his coach and those around him.
The change of coach that took place this summer inevitably reshuffled the cards. With Fabio Grosso gone, Sassuolo has entrusted the reins of his team to Alberto Aquilani, a former Italian international midfielder who intends to establish his principles and give a real place to the club’s young talents. A new dynamic from which Bakola already seems to be benefiting. Since the start of the season, the Frenchman appears much more confident and displays a growing influence in the Neroverdi game. Aquilani asks him in particular to play with more courage, consistency and personality… Three elements which correspond perfectly to the potential displayed by the player. The start of the Sassuolo season also confirms this desire to rely on a generation called upon to take on more and more responsibilities, with Bakola as one of the most followed profiles.
Aquilani trusts him
The figures also make it possible to measure the progress of the young Frenchman and the importance taken by his profile since the resumption. Bakola has already had the opportunity to show himself in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, with playing time which reflects the confidence gradually granted by Aquilani. His performances, beyond just the offensive statistics (2 assists in 5 appearances in all competitions), above all testify to a player capable of participating in the construction, of projecting himself and responding to the physical and tactical demands of the Italian championship, notably against Juventus in the crazy victory (3-2). True to its reputation, Sassuolo continues to focus on players with high potential capable of gaining value and establishing themselves at the highest level. Bakola is part of this new generation, alongside Vasilije Adzic, another young player on whom the club is counting a lot this season. And Aquilani makes no mistake when he talks about the two men and how they must continue to improve.
Asked today at a press conference about Bakola’s development and the ability of the two young players to make a difference, Alberto Aquilani delivered a particularly clear speech on the demands he places on his young players. “They are young people, fundamentally good players, because we can bring out the qualities of a good player. That’s what we ask of them: courage, the desire to always be in the match, not just in fits and starts. Sometimes a young player is happy to do things well, but to progress you have to start again, you have to stay in the game and not rest on your laurels. These are all essential factors for a team that must and can progress, and I have found players who have this desire to progress, young and old, and who help each other. Bakola feels better, he trained yesterday, he trains again today, but he is completely recovered. » A speech which perfectly sums up the expectations placed around the Frenchman while Sassuolo wants to confirm his good start to the season and Bakola intends to take a new step in his young career.
