The big Virtus-Bozen analysis: Where were the mistakes?

Virtus Bozen was in Serie D for 3 seasons. On Sunday, the Sebastiani team returned to the top league after a very unfortunate run in the playoff against Montebelluna (1:2). A season summary from Christian Morandell. That's how the season went Virtus Bozen started its 3rd consecutive Serie D season well on October 3rd. Although the engine stuttered away from the start, the away syndrome was well glossed over for a long time with clear and deserved home wins. The 2020 calendar year was completed satisfactorily. They got 11 points in 18 games and were in 6th place. The dilemma began in 2021, because only 27 points were collected in the following 17 games. In the preliminary round they got 20 points, in the second half they only got 15. The big tremors started. When the football association decided that only two teams would be relegated directly and that there would be no playout and therefore no further relegations, those responsible for Virtus heard a deep sigh of relief. The relief came too soon.

The fact that Kiem &Co. It was only on the penultimate matchday that they slipped into a direct relegation zone for the first time. A small football miracle was needed on the last match day, because Virtus had to win and at least one team from the Montebelluna/Feltre duo had to lose. Montebelluna did the people of Bolzano a favor and after 38 games of the season, a playoff in Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella had to determine the second relegated team.

What the spectators saw in the famous wine-growing region bordered on sporting self-destruction. The fact that a major blackout (in the form of red cards) happened to Matteo Timpone and Manuel Rizzon - 2 of the most experienced Virtus players - was inexcusable, also because two important pillars, captain Hannes Kiem and Emil Grezzani, were missing due to a suspension. Timpone and Rizzon ruined the game with their uncontrolled behavior. It's still not fair to put the sole blame for the relegation on the two of them, because the mistakes were made in the 2 previous games. Management The fact that they tried again to put together a Serie D team with almost exclusively players from South Tyrol was commendable. This was due to the fact that the Bolzano club's financial resources are limited, also because a Serie D championship is very expensive in terms of registration fees and travel costs. Nevertheless, attempts were made to improve the squad over the course of the season by sending local players away. Was a reinforcement for Virtus Bozen: Denis Iardino. © F. Griessmair

The king transfer during the championship was goalkeeper Denis Iardino. With his experience, the 37-year-old from Bozner FC exuded the necessary security that the defense had previously lacked. The Slovenian center forward Mark Gulic came from the top league and was injured after just a few weeks. The 4-time and more intensive training took a noticeable toll on the 23-year-old. The loan of striker Lukas Hofer was announced in the spring. A player who could certainly have helped Virtus Bozen. The problem? The Lana player was already injured when the signing was announced and didn't play for a minute. Trainer Alfredo Sebastiani is without a doubt one of the best in his field in South Tyrol. However, the season took its toll on the level-headed high school teacher, who was hard to shake. He increasingly appeared tense and nervous and often found it difficult to hold back from criticizing opponents and especially referees. The negative highlight was the 5-game ban that Sebastiani received during the championship. Alfredo Sebastiani often seemed tense and nervous. © DLife

The goalkeepers Due to the youth rule, it is a great advantage to have a young goalkeeper in the team who can fill this role. At Virtus Bozen, two goalkeepers born in 2, Kristian Grbic and Manuel Vitiello, met these requirements. Coach Sebstiani did not commit to a number 2001 and had the two 1-year-olds play alternately. In the end, both of them kept making mistakes. The fact that none of the duo was able to build up the necessary self-confidence was partly Sebastiani's fault. Only when Denis Iardino was brought in was there a number 20. Abwehr The biggest problem for the defense was the goalkeepers. The constant change made the defense increasingly unsettled. Suddenly Kiem, Rizzon, Carella, Davi and Kicaj were no longer standing securely, wobbled more often and also made mistakes that led to goals being conceded. Only with Iardino did security return. Andi Kicaj has had a season with ups and downs. © DLife

In the decider against Montebelluna there was only one regular defender in the starting line-up, Rizzon. Kiem was suspended, Davi and Kicaj were injured. But the “representations” Carella, De Santis and Hochkofler were also enough to keep Montebelluna at bay. mittelfeld The showpiece of the team. The championship got off to a good start with a mix of experienced and young wild ones. Especially in front of the home crowd, the midfielders let off steam with quick and well-executed moves that often just had to be completed by the attackers. Driver Davide Cremonini was often injured and only got up to speed towards the end of the season. Michael Bacher played solidly and tried to give the Virtus game the necessary calm. Michael Cia only rarely appeared anymore. It was significant in the game in Mestre when the score was 2:3 that coach Sebastiani only gave the Montanan his trust from the 88th minute onwards. Arnaldo Kaptina mostly filled the holes in defensive midfield, but fell short of great expectations on a few occasions. Attack Matteo Timpone and Elis Kaptina were mostly in attack. Neither of them is a real center forward. Both like to move to the wings. However, there were hardly any of the midfielders who took over the free space in the center of the attack. Nicholas Mlakar © Andreas Kemenater

The technically adept Adrian Osorio (he trained with Girlan in the 2nd Amateur League before joining Virtus) often fooled his opponents on the wing, but his crosses from the side usually found no suitable receiver. The center forwards Gulic and Thomas Mair were rarely on the pitch; they could have done something with the Osorio crosses in the center of the attack. Nicholas Mlakar, who trained at FC Südtirol, showed that he has football talent. Fear was a foreign word for him. player of the season Choosing a player of the season after relegation is difficult. The youth players have made developments in the right direction, especially Emil Grezzani, who often showed off his technical skills. The 37-year-old also proved in Serie D that Denis Iardino is the best goalkeeper in the league. But he couldn't achieve miracles either. Disappointment of the season She was definitely Michael Cia. With his experience, the former Serie B professional should have been the one who used his skills to create the moments of surprise in Bolzano's attacking game. Couldn't meet expectations: Michael Cia. © DLife/RM

While the Montanan was regularly on the pitch in the preliminary round, he was only given 9 partial appearances (156 minutes) by coach Alfredo Sebastiani in the entire second half of the season. He played in 24 of 39 games. Cia was in the starting line-up 12 times and made partial appearances 12 times during the game. The soon-to-be 90-year-old only played for more than 33 minutes once in the entire season. In the second half of the season he was allowed on the field for the only time from the start on matchday 1 against his former employer Delta Porto Tolle. The future What will happen to Virtus Bozen in the future is something that only those responsible know, and probably not completely. One possibility would be for Virtus to apply for resumption in Serie D (“ripescaggio”) if there are free places in the 4th league. However, this requires additional financial resources. The deadline for applying for readmission into Series D is July 14th. A second option would be to start anew in the major league. The aim there is to focus primarily on homegrown players, and promotion to Serie D is not necessarily a goal. Either way, numerous players will be leaving Virtus Bozen in the summer. As has been leaked, coach Alfredo Sebastiani should stay.

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The big Virtus-Bozen analysis: Where were the mistakes?

Virtus Bozen steadily declined over the course of the Serie D season and committed sporting suicide in the decider to stay in the league. S+ takes a look at the past season: Where were the mistakes? Who is the winner and who is the disappointment of the season?

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