Andrea Pirlo, known for his effortless grace on the field, found himself in an amusingly dishevelled state courtesy of his own player. A maestro of the midfield during his playing days, Pirlo’s managerial journey hasn’t mirrored the same success. After stints with Juventus and Fatih Karagumruk ended in dismissal, he’s now steering Sampdoria, a team relegated from Serie A.
In a recent match where star forward Sebastiano Esposito secured a 2-0 victory against Lecco with a brilliant brace, Pirlo, 44, faced an unexpected upheaval. Post-goal, anticipating a congratulatory hug, Pirlo opened his arms, only to find Esposito seizing his jacket and vigorously shaking him.
The result? Pirlo’s once-impeccable hair resembled a tousled mess, akin to navigating through a tornado. Yet, he swiftly regained his composure, praising Esposito before sending him back onto the pitch.
This incident, reminiscent of his flustering encounter with Manchester United’s Park Ji-Sung in the 2010 Champions League knockout stages, showcased Pirlo’s rare moments of unsettlement. Despite this, considering Sampdoria’s struggles this season, Pirlo seems ready to endure such disruptions if it propels his team up the standings.
Sampdoria’s campaign has been patchy, with six wins, three draws, and seven losses in 16 league matches, placing them in a modest tenth spot. Yet, they’re within touching distance of the division’s playoff positions, a mere five points away.
Pirlo pins his hopes on replicating recent successes, where his team secured victories in four of their last five matches. Perhaps, his next advice to the players might involve simpler gestures, like a supportive hug or a congratulatory handshake.
Sampdoria performance and stats
Sampdoria is currently 10th in the Serie B with 19 points.
In the last 16 games, it has won 6 times, drawn 3 times, and lost 7 times. In its last match, Sampdoria won 2-0 against Lecco.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 19 goals and conceding 20.
Sampdoria will play the next match in Serie B against Reggiana on Saturday 16th of December in Reggio nell’Emilia.
Juventus performance and stats
Juventus is currently 2nd in the Serie A with 36 points.
In the last 15 games, it has won 11 times, drawn 3 times, and lost once. In its last match, Juventus won 1-0 against Napoli.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 23 goals and conceding 9.
Juventus will play the next match in Serie A against Genoa on Friday 15th of December in Genova. The prediction is Juventus winning the match.