Salernitana sacked Davide Nicola after an 8-2 loss against Atalanta, but Football Italia understands there are more reasons behind the Granata’s decision, especially different views regarding the club’s targets this season.
The Italian tactician was sacked on Monday morning, the day after an 8-2 loss against Atalanta in Bergamo.
Nicola had been appointed in February 2022 and picked up 1.06 points per match on average since his arrival, helping the side avoid relegation last season.
Salernitana have collected 18 points this season and are currently nine above the relegation zone. President Danilo Iervolino invested more than €40m in new signings during the summer transfer window and expected the team to end the campaign in the top 10.
Football Italia understands he and Nicola had different views about the team’s objective this season. The coach believed that earning survival for the second time in a row was the main target for his players, who should not be given extra pressure.
Tension has raised at the club over the last few weeks, with several confrontations between the President and the coach. Unity was lost and Sunday’s heavy defeat to Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Iervolino bought Salernitana from Claudio Lotito exactly one year ago and led the club to an incredible survival by hiring Walter Sabatini in January 2022 and Nicola one month later.
Sabatini left the club in the summer following transfer disagreements with the President.
Eusebio Di Francesco, Leonardo Semplici and Roberto D’Aversa are among the candidates considered by Salernitana to replace the 49-year-old.