Raffaele Palladino at Bologna: How the spell is resurrecting both parties

Raffaele Palladino at Bologna: How the spell is resurrecting both parties As debuts go, it could hardly have been worse. Roma had already conceded four by the time Mats Hummels diverted into his own net.  It was Fiorentina’s fifth victory in the bounce.  More importantly, though, it was the start of the Raffaele Palladino revolution. That night in October 2024, the Florentine defence switched from four to a three. Pietro Comuzzo dominated; Moise Kean got a brace.  By year’s end, only two wins separated them from a Europa League place. Italy, it seemed, had its  next managerial phenom.  Things look quite different in Florence now, of course. All those players are gone, as is the coach, whose murky departure in the Spring was followed by a frustrating stint in Atalanta.  Palladino left Bergamo  with a reputation diminished and a question still lingering – just how good is he?  Since taking the job at Bologna last month, he has set about answering that question. The Rossoblú won their third game on the trot at the weekend, coming from behind to beat Monza.  “My goal was to create healthy competition among the players” he said after the game, about a team that was second-bottom when he arrived.  “I’ve had great feedback from everyone. I’m here to make decisions, I can make mistakes, but I have the boys’ willingness to give their all, and I’m giving everyone the opportunity”.  It’s an opportunity they’re taking. Quite simply, Bologna are a different beast under their new coach. Content to piddle with the ball under Domenico Tedesco, teams would eventually overrun the indifferent Romagnans. Now, they are harried and pressed, dizzied by a Bolognese attack that feels much more intentional; the goal is the result, and the results have flowed, not least in an incredible 4-2 victory away to Milan last time out. “The coach is restoring our self-confidence and helping us achieve the consistency and lightheartedness needed to get results” Tommaso Pobega enthused at the weekend.  “At the start of the season, we were a bit stuck in these areas, but by working hard and building our confidence, we want to have fun again”. Fun. They haven’t had that in a while in Bologna; not since that crazy Coppa Italia win under Vincenzo Italiano 18 months ago, a season that they also spent in the Champions League. Results have deteriorated  since, and there had been a sense of regression to the mean. Had Tedesco stayed, things would likely have grown even worse. Indeed, before the weekend Bologna hadn’t won at home for six months.  Now, they find themselves looking up the table rather than down.  Palladino’s men sit in eighth with a favourable run of fixtures throughout November and, what’s more, they can call upon a fit-again Ricardo Orsolini.  In the space of a month, new life has been breathed into an institution that felt like it was on its knees. “This shows you should never give up” said Nicolò Cambiaghi at the final whistle. “We were down and we managed to get back on track. That’s our essence: we never give up…Now we’re enjoying this victory, even if it’s just a starting point.” Quite where that starting point will lead is anyone’s guess.  But for now, it  looks look Palladino and Bologna are going in one direction.  Christopher Weir I GIFN