Verona confirm Zanetti could be sacked over 24-48 hours | OneFootball

Verona director Sean Sogliano confirms the club is ‘taking 24-48 hours’ to consider sacking coach Paolo Zanetti after losing seven of the last eight games. ‘He knows something is not working.’

The situation was already negative at the Stadio Bentegodi, but it became even more dire when Empoli emerged with a 4-1 victory this afternoon.

They were already leading 3-0 after just 32 minutes and added the fourth before half-time, where Verona were jeered off the pitch.

This represented their seventh defeat in the last eight Serie A games and risk being sucked into the bottom three at the end of this weekend.

Verona expected to sack Zanetti

epa11765057 Verona’s Giangiacomo Magnani walks off the pitch after losing the Italian Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Empoli FC in Verona, Italy, 08 December 2024. EPA-EFE/Emanuele Pennnacchio

Zanetti did not attend the post-match press conference, as instead director of sport Sogliano spoke to reporters.

“We talked and decided it was best that I come here. There is no point hiding, something is not working here and we need to reflect,” said Sogliano.

“We will not be making any definitive decision today, but will take 24-48 hours to think. Obviously, the performances are not coming, it’s partly the fault of the coach, partly the players, but today we all expected a very different game.

“We need to analyse what is happening.”

According to Sky Sport Italia, Verona could recall Salvatore Bocchetti, who is still under contract after his experience as assistant manager to first Igor Tudor and then Marco Zaffaroni.

This is because in 2022 he lacked the necessary coaching badges to hold the main job.

“Whether or not Bocchetti returns, the first thing we need to think about is the decision on Zanetti. He is an intelligent person, he knows something is not working,” added Sogliano when pressed on this idea.

It has been a massive fall from grace considering Hellas had started the season with impressive victories over Napoli and Genoa, around a 3-0 defeat to Juventus.

They have curiously not played a single draw this term, winning three and losing the other 12.

Verona also have the worst defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues, conceding an average of 2.46 goals per game.

Zanetti turns 42 later this month and only took the Hellas Verona job over the summer, having been sacked by Empoli in September 2023.

His previous clubs were Sudtirol, Ascoli and Venezia.