Monza’s gamble on the unknown pays off with audacious win over Juventus | Nicky Bandini


The new Monza manager took an astonishing senior bow in the dugout as things went from bad to worse for Massimiliano Allegri

Not even Raffaele Palladino’s own boss could provide insight into his management style at the start of the weekend. “I don’t know him well enough to give comparisons,” said Monza’s president, Silvio Berlusconi. “He has worked for a while in our youth system. With our tireless support and technical advice, just like we offered to coaches at Milan for 30 years, I believe he will do well.”

The sentiment was echoed by Berlusconi’s right-hand man, Adriano Galliani, who evoked Arrigo Sacchi as evidence of how well things could go when they make “courageous choices” together. Even this, though, was comparing apples and oranges. Sacchi had already been the manager of Rimini and Parma before they hired him for the Rossoneri in 1987. Palladino has had a year each with Monza’s Under-15s and Under-19s.

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