EXCLUSIVE The Crazy World of Zamparini: Ballardini's out! No, he's in!
Already stunned by the three goals the team shipped in at home against Fiorentina, Palermo fans had to deal with another Zamp soap opera.
With the team seemingly not benefitting from the break, it could at least count on Coach Ballardini to take all the blame himself. The former Cagliari and Lazio coach was set to be fired, too, with the man he replaced, Giuseppe Iachini, set to sit on the Palermo bench again. Until Zamparini changed his mind, that is.
Why? He bickered with Iachini, who seemingly only wanted some guarantees on the transfer front. Excluding some major turnaround, he'll stay in Friuli.
To add insult to injury to Palermo fans, two of Fiorentina's goals came from former playmaker Josip Ilicic, in a first half when the home team showed nothing. Saved in the second half by a better performance and another goal dell'ex, this time from Alberto Gilardino, Palermo were unable to stage a comeback. The standing ovation went to Ilicic, who was simply superb.
The team is now back on ritiro (punishment boot camp) in Coccaglio, with this weekend's trip to Verona the last chance saloon.
