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

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.

This was hardly a straightforward moment to be handed the reins to the senior team. Monza, playing their first-ever season of top-flight football, had collected only one point from six games under Giovanni Stroppa. Their goal difference was minus-11. Oh, and the next match was at home to Juventus.

Perhaps Palladino relished that last detail. As a player, he spent several years with the Bianconeri, scoring goals by the bucketload in their academy, heading out on loan for two seasons and then returning to help fire them to promotion from Serie B after they were relegated as a result of the Calciopoli scandal. Although he was sold a year later, a mutual fondness remained.

More than anything, though, he just seemed excited to have his shot at managing for real. “I’ve lost my head for this work,” he said after his appointment was confirmed. “I’m in love with it.” By the end of Sunday, Monza’s supporters would be in love with him.

For the