Atalanta took that to the next level by reaching the quarterfinals of the
Now, Sassuolo is shaping up as the next surprise in the Italian league.
Undefeated through seven matches, Sassuolo sits in second place entering a visit to Hellas Verona on Sunday and is tied with Atalanta atop the league chart with 18 goals scored.
“You want to know the truth? Sassuolo is still at 60% of its capacity,” coach
After winning 2-0 at
Looking back, Sassuolo’s rise was already in the making last season when it drew twice with
Financed by the Squinzi family which controls the Mapei building materials company, Sassuolo’s squad is filled with talented young players and led by the 26-year-old Berardi.
His contract once co-owned by
Labeled for years as one of Italy’s most promising young strikers, Berardi is now also coming into his own with the national team, scoring twice in the Azzurri’s last two matches to help secure a spot in the
For many, the biggest question about Berardi is why he hasn’t joined a bigger club.
“We’re accustomed to a world where everyone wants to move up a level, gain more attention and earn more money. It goes against the rules for him to stay — and remain happy — at Sassuolo," De Zerbi told La Repubblica. “He realizes that his strength comes from his surroundings.”
Berardi wasn’t the only Sassuolo player shining on the international stage over the last week.
Midfielder
With Italy’s under-21 squad,
“Locatelli is the best Italian midfielder,” De Zerbi said. “And if Raspadori continues like this he’ll become the (senior) national team’s centre forward.”
Then there is
“Our players were chosen one by one. Nobody is here by chance,” De Zerbi said.
The players fit into De Zerbi’s offensive vision of the game, which is shaped by coaching greats
De Zerbi spent a week studying Bielsa up close in
De Zerbi also draws from his own playing career, which never reached the heights he imagined as an attacking midfielder in AC Milan’s youth system.
“I really make every effort to promote my players’ characteristics,” De Zerbi said.
Based in a town of only 40,000, Sassuolo plays its home games in nearby
Sassuolo patron
The club’s best finish was sixth in 2015-16, resulting in a
Now, in a season in which expected title contenders
“It’s a unique season,” De Zerbi said. “We need to take advantage of that.”
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