Hellas Verona’s sporting director Sean Sogliano has revealed the club is taking up to 48 hours to decide on the future of head coach Paolo Zanetti following a disastrous run of form. The team has lost seven of their last eight matches, with their latest setback coming in a humbling 4-1 defeat to Empoli at the Stadio Bentegodi.
Empoli Rout Deepens Verona’s Crisis
The situation worsened for Verona as Empoli raced to a commanding 3-0 lead within the first half-hour of Sunday’s match. By halftime, the visitors had added a fourth goal, leaving the home side to the jeers of frustrated fans. The result marked Verona’s seventh defeat in eight Serie A outings, leaving them precariously close to the relegation zone.
Verona’s defensive struggles have been glaring this season, with the club conceding an average of 2.46 goals per game — the worst defensive record across Europe’s top five leagues. Despite a promising start to the season that included wins over Napoli and Genoa, Verona’s form has plummeted, and they have yet to register a single draw, with 12 losses and only three victories.
Club Reflects on Zanetti’s Future
Following the loss, Zanetti skipped the post-match press conference, leaving Sogliano to address reporters. “We felt it was better for me to speak. It’s clear that something is not working, and we need time to evaluate the situation,” said Sogliano. “We are not making any decisions immediately, but we’ll take 24-48 hours to reflect.”
Sogliano admitted the responsibility for the team’s poor form falls on both the coach and the players, adding that the squad’s performance against Empoli fell far short of expectations. Discussions within the club reportedly include the possibility of recalling Salvatore Bocchetti, a former assistant manager at Hellas Verona who remains under contract. However, Sogliano emphasized that the immediate focus is on assessing Zanetti’s position.
A Fall from a Promising Start
Zanetti, who joined Verona in the summer of 2023 after a brief stint at Empoli, now finds himself under mounting pressure. His arrival initially brought optimism following Verona’s early-season success, but the team’s sharp decline has brought his tenure into question. As the 42-year-old coach approaches his birthday later this month, his future with the club hangs in the balance.
For now, Verona will deliberate on the next steps, knowing that any delay in resolving their crisis could deepen their struggles and drag them further into the relegation battle.
