Manuel Gerolin confirmed Palermo and Coach Davide Ballardini are “taking time to reflect amid tension.”
The Sicilians won 1-0 away to Verona today, but the result did not mask clear all-out war between the squad and tactician.
Manuel Gerolin confirmed Palermo and Coach Davide Ballardini are “taking time to reflect amid tension.”
The Sicilians won 1-0 away to Verona today, but the result did not mask clear all-out war between the squad and tactician.
It was reported Ballardini wanted to drop captain Stefano Sorrentino for this game, leading to a row in front of fans yesterday and intervention from President Maurizio Zamparini to order the goalkeeper start.
Today when Palermo were celebrating the win, players crowded round Sorrentino. Ballardini was left isolated and then refused to speak to the media.
“It has been a very stressful week for the Coach and he preferred to take a break,” Gerolin told Sky Sport Italia.
It was also widely reported that on Thursday President Zamparini had fired Ballardini to recall Beppe Iachini, only to change his mind after a discussion with the former Coach on the phone.
“We’ll see, it is a moment of reflection for him and the club. The important thing is that we won this game in a delicate moment. Now we must continue.
“Sorrentino? I repeat, it is a strange moment, a moment of tension. It’s normal that in moments like this there are some sparks and at times this tension can help, in fact we won.
“There was an embrace between the players and the staff, but we know Ballardini has always behaved in this isolated way.
“Ballardini is a rather cold person. At the moment of the team hugs, he stepped aside. There was certainly a lot of tension, including yesterday.
“It was important to get the result. Now we’ll take time to reflect, I’ll hear from the President and we will decide what to do.”