Salernitana coach Pippo Inzaghi admits throwing Jerome Boateng straight into the starting XI for his debut against Torino isn’t ideal after ‘just two training sessions,’ but has become necessary.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino at 11.30 GMT.
Boateng only signed for the club on February 2, able to put pen to paper after the closure of the January transfer window because he was a free agent.
That also means he has not played a competitive match since June 2023 for Olympique Lyonnais, so the 35-year-old can be nowhere near fully fit, yet he is in the starting XI for his debut this afternoon.
“Boateng put himself at our disposal, he hasn’t played for eight months and had only two training sessions, but is ready to help,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia.
“Unfortunately, losing Fazio, Gyomber and Pirola in one go is not easy, but we will not feel sorry for ourselves. I hope that from today we can start moving up the table.
“We really ought to have a little time to get players settled like Pierozzi, Zanoli and Basic, but this is the transfer market. In honesty, I am also glad to see them straight away, they’ll train in the match.”
Boateng had been linked with a return to Bayern Munich, but has instead chosen to join the team rock bottom of the Serie A table and seemingly heading towards relegation.
“Someone like Boateng who had this remarkable career and decided to come to Salerno for a new adventure, that is very important for us. His approach has been very positive. I would’ve liked to give him a few more training sessions, but he put himself at the disposal of the squad, like the great professional he is.”
Along with the injury crisis, Inzaghi also has to deal with the flu bug that has kept Boulaye Dia on the sidelines recently.
“Dia is not ready to start, but he is back in the squad. We have been scoring goals recently, I just want us to not concede, as something always seems to happen. We need to be even more concentrated.”
🇱🇻 WARM UP 🔥 #TorinoSalernitana #macteanimo #forzagranata #salernitana #uss1919 pic.twitter.com/BFMCakOaf0
— US Salernitana 1919 (@OfficialUSS1919) February 4, 2024
Well, they didn’t concede but they also haven’t scored. Boateng played for an hour and did well. More than well I should say, because somehow for the 1st half an hour Toro was pushing constantly and there in many situations he was quite sharp.
Inzaghi can do it, Salernitana can do the miracle again and save themselves.