Modena-Cesena: Mandelli is a candidate for the future, aiming to smile in the derby

Thoughts are already in the future even if the nuances are very similar to those of the present. Paolo Mandelli is a candidate, but in the end it is not even news because Modena has never ruled out his profile for next year, on the contrary. We will see, in the evaluations following the last tango of the season with Michele Mignani's Cesena, just one point away from the arithmetic playoffs. And lucky them, one might say.

The Canaries have one and only one goal this evening in the derby of regrets against Cesena of the former Mignani: to leave, at least, a small smile to those present at the Braglia. As happened in 2023 and 2024, when Tesser and Bisoli closed by winning with Sudtirol and Lecco. These are small satisfactions, of course, but we have to be satisfied, in the meantime. As for future ambitions, we will talk about it again. We will not see Idrissi on the field, as announced by the coach. Almost certainly not even Duca and Di Pardo.

Instead, a break is looming for captain Pergreffi, seven months after the injury to the cruciate ligament in his left knee and it will be good news for him and for everyone. As for the starting lineup, Dellavalle should be ready to take his place in defense with Zaro and Cauz, so that Beyuku can move up a little further on the right flank.

In the middle, Santoro returns in tandem with Gerli, on the other, attention to the possible chance for Ponsi, one of those wild cards that have often been missing from the Canary Islands chessboard. Palumbo and Caso in the three-quarter line, up front with the return of Pedro Mendes from suspension, the last day of the championship could be an opportunity for the Portuguese to close out an unlucky season in the best possible way. It is a last tango (definitely not in Paris) that is a bit bitter. However, as we have always emphasized, Modena has reflected what it has demonstrated. The important thing is to have understood it and to start again with clearer ideas for the future. Starting tomorrow morning, we will start building it and a completely different story will begin.

Tonight at the 'Braglia' Modena has only one task: it must leave its fans with the right confidence. The regrets related to another season without having reached the playoffs will remain such, that's it. What has been done is now the past. It's useless to point it out every time.

Alessandro Troncone