Position: 11
Points: 50
Comparison with previous season: -12 (8th)
Season overview
Sassuolo‘s 2021-22 season will be defined by big wins over the more prominent sides but defeats to the lesser sides across the campaign. The season saw the Neroverdi beat Milan, Juventus and Inter, but it also had defeats to the likes of Sampdoria, Bologna, Udinese, Cagliari and Empoli. It is fitting then, that they finished 11th, with 12 points less than in the previous campaign. The club made sure that the continuation policy while hiring Alessio Dionisi last summer. His playing style doesn’t differ much from that of Roberto de Zerbi. They lost Manuel Locatelli and Francesco Caputo, but their recruitment and the emergence of Gianluca Scamacca helped them along the way. In many ways, it could have been worse for Sassuolo.
Turning point of the season
A case can be made of the fact that if not for Sampdoria’s 4-0 win over the Neroverdi, things may not have turned around for Sassuolo. Following the drubbing, Dionisi’s side went on to beat Inter and Fiorentina while holding Roma to a 2-2 draw. It sparked a seven-game unbeaten streak in the league and if not for that, they could have been closer to relegation than they’d have thought – especially considering the fixtures they had.
The coach – Alessio Dionisi
Early on in the season, there were murmurs of discontent around Dionisi. Fans seemed frustrated with the De Zerbi replacement after the first couple of months, but he had a tough job on his hands. Sassuolo had changed their squad from the previous season and his first Serie A campaign was meant to be one of transition. Nevertheless, despite all the criticisms, the 42-year-old masterminded some big wins and guided them to a solid mid-table finish. He also found the perfect role for Giacomo Raspadori, managing to deploy him along with Scamacca and Berardi in an attacking and exciting 4-2-3-1 system. Perhaps, next season will be a better reflection of his true qualities as a coach at the highest level of the game. So far, he’s done quite a decent job.
Player of the Year – Domenico Berardi
Even though Gianluca Scamacca was excellent for Sassuolo, Domenico Berardi was one of the best players in the league and the best player for the Neroverdi. He contributed to 32 goals in Serie A, while playing 33 games in what is a brilliant tally for the Italian. This may be his last season with Sassuolo, but he gave the fans some great moments to remember. He starred in the win over Fiorentina and helped Maxime Lopez to score against Juventus with a dazzling pass in stoppage time. He will probably be remembered as Sassuolo’s most important player in history.
Disappointing Player of the Year – Matheus Henrique
Sassuolo’s loss of Manuel Locatelli meant that the club needed a proper replacement. While Davide Fratessi’s rise was encouraging, Locatelli was a different profile. Abdou Harroui and Matheus Henrique were brought in to bolster midfield options, but they couldn’t make an impact in their first season at the Mapei Stadium. They benefit from the doubt because it was their first campaign in the top five European leagues and they would only improve, but more high-level performances from them could have made the season better for Sassuolo.
@Kaus_Pandey17