Roberto De Zerbi’s nomadic playing career included a Serie A stint with Napoli and two
league titles in Romania with CFR Cluj.Hhe then went into management shortly after retiring
from playing. He learned the ropes with Serie D amateurs Darfo Boario, then picked up his
first trophy with Foggia, where he also played the most games as a professional footballer,
winning the Coppa Italia Lega Pro in 2016.
But De Zerbi’s rise to prominence, and acclaim as a coach, really began when he took over
Benevento, after a short stint with Palermo. Benevento are a small club who exceeded expectation
to be promoted to Serie A for the 2017/18 season; although they were immediately relegated,
De Zerbi won plaudits for his adventurous approach, possession-based football, and astute
transfer business.
Despite relegation, Sassuolo, who themselves only joined Serie A for the first time in
2013/14, liked what they saw, and De Zerbi has continued to enhance his reputation with
a team famed for producing talented young players and canny transfer business.
Under De Zerbi, Sassuolo have lined up in a 4-3-3 and a 3-4-3, the two systems he preferred
at Benevento. Both systems build slowly from the back: the 4-3-3 sees a screening midfielder,
usually Francesco Magnanelli, dropping in to make a series of passing options with the
full backs and centre backs; the 3-4-3 instead uses the centre backs, while the wing backs
do offer width, but are happier to return possession to the centre backs in a controlled
manner rather than burst forwards.
The aim is to build slowly then transition quickly, ideally with vertical passes through
the centre. This is case with both systems, and in both, the wide attacking players will
dovetail in to the centre. Kevin Prince Boateng is strong in the air and, as someone used
to playing as an attacking midfielder, is happy to drop away from the defensive line
to pick up the ball. Domenico Berardi is quick and frequently cuts inside from the right
wing, making angled runs with or without the ball, to end up centrally in support of the
attack.
Sassuolo attack in this way because the change of pace unsettles sides. They seem to be playing
it slowly around the back, not really looking to advance the ball a great deal, with even
the wide defenders playing it safe – then there is a sudden change of pace as the ball
is sent up the middle of the pitch, either as a through ball to run on to, or to then
send wide to an overlapping run before a cross is pulled back.
While quick, vertical passes through the centre are Sassuolo’s preferred method, they do
use width, especially in the 4-3-3, when the screening midfielder allows the full backs
to press higher. The two central midfielders, usually Alfred Duncan and on-loan AC Milan
youngster Manuel Locatelli or the creative Stefano Sensi, will move at angles forward
or back, either to fill in for the full backs as they push high or to create the overlap
if the full backs stay back. This places a real emphasis on the understanding between
the full backs and midfield, and Pol Lirola and Juventus loanee Rogerio have impressed
as both wing and full backs.
When Sassuolo attack out wide, the aim is to get the ball pulled back low into an area
around the penalty spot; indeed, no Serie A side has taken more shots from within the
penalty area, rather than outside it. And whether the side attack wide or centrally,
they still look to create the change of pace, the shift from slow, patient possession to
quick, surging attacks.
Defensively, Sassuolo vary the degree to which they press, but the triggers are the same
– the ball moving wide, or backwards under pressure, and opposition players facing their
own goal. Sassuolo do look to win the ball back and counter quickly, and their wide centre
backs in a back three formation also look to step out of the line to intercept, carry
the ball forwards, and then spring a counter with a through ball.
Sassuolo are not a great side defensively, though, and while their front three and wing
or full backs work hard to press the ball, they are vulnerable to sides who can break
that easily, as the midfield, especially in the 3-4-3, can become isolated. They can also
look a little static once they fall back into a low block, relying on the aerial ability
of their centre backs to repel any crosses without pushing out too much to close down
the man on the ball.
What is impressive, though, is that De Zerbi’s team remain true to their principles of possession
football, building from the back, and looking for difficult, but effective, through balls.
They may not have the most experienced or expensive side, but De Zerbi is a manager
who knows how he wants to play the game. He has encouraged his young team, sprinkled with
a few older, more experienced leaders like Magnanelli, Boateng, and ‘keeper Andrea
Consigli, to stick to these principles – so far, for the young manager and his side, it
appears to be working.