Sampdoria continued with their superb start to the season after beating lowly Parma 2-0 away on Sunday.
Last weekend’s programme of matches brought the curtains down on the first round of the Serie A and surprise package Sampdoria are now joint third in the standings with Napoli, eight points behind second-placed Roma but two points clear of fifth-placed Lazio and three ahead of Fiorentina.
In 19 first-round outings, Samp-doria managed eight wins and nine draws. Overall they collected 33 points and that’s no mean feat for a side that had started the season harbouring aspirations to finish in a mid-table, trouble-free spot.
So far, the only two sides to beat Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Sampdoria this season were Inter 1-0 (matchday nine) and Lazio 3-0 (matchday 17).
This clearly shows Sampdoria’s consistency and if the 1990/91 Italian champions succeed in keeping the same kind of pace, they will surely have their say in the race for one of the three Champions League berths at the end of the season.
Like Lazio, Sampdoria are not involved in the Europa League but that’s not the case with Napoli, Fiorentina and Inter.
Indeed, there is one factor that clearly distinguishes Sampdoria from the other contenders for Europe – the lack of pressure to make a top-three finish at all costs.
Roberto Mancini made a headline-grabbing return to Inter last month with the sole intention of trying to steer the team to better results and improve on their current modest placing in the league standings.
Club owner Erick Thohir moved fast to sign Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri in this month’s transfer window but as things stand at the moment, Inter are still seven points behind Napoli and Sampdoria.
Napoli, signed Manolo Gabbiadini and Croatia left-back Ivan Strinic this month while Milan unveiled Alessio Cerci and Suso.
Alessandro Diamanti returned to the Serie A and signed for Fiorentina.
Sinisa Mihajlovic is a great motivator and wants to keep his side at the very top
Before the February 2 transfer deadline, most of the leading teams in Serie A could add more signings, thus enhancing their chances of finishing high in the final standings.
In this regard, Lazio are an exception as to date they have yet to sign new players.
Last week, coach Stefano Pioli told reporters his side’s direct rivals are all so active on the transfer market and that means that they had failed to do their homework properly in summer.
Pioli could be right, albeit Sampdoria profited from the transfer window to bolster an already solid base.
The departure of Italy striker Manolo Gabbiadini was the prelude to possibly four quality signings – Joaquin Correa (Estudiantes), Samuel Eto’o (Everton), Luis Muriel and Andrea Coda (both Udinese). These additions will make Sampdoria stronger.
Meanwhile, Samp’s city rivals Genoa, too, had started the season brilliantly but after beating Milan on matchday 14 they only managed two draws from the next five games.
Although Genoa are only five points behind Napoli and Sampdoria, the indications are that Gian Piero Gasperini’s men will not last the pace and they will bow out of the race for third spot in the final standings.
Samp are different though as they did not experience a dip in results and have been consistent for most of the campaign.
Mihajlovic, a former Sampdoria player between 1994 and 1998, is a great motivator and wants to keep his side at the very top.
With him in charge the team made remarkable progress after taking over from Delio Rossi in November 2013. At the time, Samp were 18th and in deep relegation trouble but they finished the season on a much better note and in a healthier position.
Mihajlovic, European Cup winner with Red Star in 1991, has moulded a side on his own image – tactically astute, robust and without fear in front of opposition.
Stefan Okaka, linked with a number of clubs including Milan and Roma this month, has been dropped from the starting formation. When asked about the striker’s omission, Mihajlovic said he wants his players to be fully committed to the team’s cause.
That was a tough decision to take but results show Mihajlovic is right.
Flamboyant club owner Massimo Ferrero has brought a lot of enthusiasm at Sampdoria. The atmosphere is ideal and Mihajlovic has all cards in place for the team to repeat the feat of 2009/10.
On that occasion, Luigi Delneri’s men went on to book a Champions League spot at the expense of more-quoted sides.