Pattarello: The Relentless Engine Behind Arezzo’s Rise

In a season defined by fine margins, tactical tweaks, and the emotional turbulence of a genuine promotion chase, one presence has remained unwavering: Emiliano Pattarello.

He has become the rhythm-setter of our entire attacking identity – through intelligence, work rate, and an end product that continues to tilt tight matches in our favour. There are players who contribute, and then there are players who shape seasons. Pattarello has been the latter.

His attacking return stand out:

• 21 games
• 8 goals from 5.3 xG
• 6 assists
• 5+ dribbles per 90

But the deeper numbers underline why he’s been one of Serie C/B’s standout performers.

His 91% pass completion combined with 60 attempted passes per 90 marks him out as a winger who doesn’t just receive the ball — he helps to anchor entire phases of possession. In a system built on discipline and control, there’s nothing more valuable than a wide player who keeps the ball moving and the block pinned in place.

His 2.7 open-play key passes per 90 place him among the best creators in the division. Add that to 5.3 dribbles per 90(4th-most in Serie C/B), and you have a player who stretches defensive blocks, forces defences to tilt and react, and constantly drags opponents into uncomfortable positions.

He isn’t just part of our rise.
He is a driver of it.

His recent run summed that up perfectly. Against Juventus U23 he delivered a slide-rule assist to Guccione to rescue a point. Days later, he scored the match-winner against Pineto.

And then came that moment against Gubbio. Second-best the entire first half we went into half-time at 1–1. Then Pattarello produced a wonder-goal that ignited one of the most outrageous second-half performances this league has ever seen. We went on to score six more.

It was also the game in which Mario Ravasio scored his final goal for the club.

Grazie, Mario

The first hint that something which could significant effect our season was about to happen came quietly: a £325k bid from Sweden.

Not enough to force a sale, but enough to start a conversation. When I pulled Mario into the office to talk it through, his face told me the truth before he spoke.

He wanted the move.
A new country. A new league. A chance he felt was right at 27.

At that point, you make a choice: dig in and risk morale, or shape the situation to your advantage.

Working closely with the Director of Football, we pushed the deal to £600k up front, rising to £700k with performance triggers. For a club still operating with a negative bank balance, it’s transformative. The income gives me room to renew key contracts, protect assets, and explore pre-contract moves for next season.

But let’s not pretend this isn’t a sporting loss.

Ravasio muscled his way into the starting XI earlier in the season. He was once just a rotation forward; then he became a match-tilter. Relentless off the ball, fearless in the penalty area, and deceptively clean in his finishing. His goals often arrived when the game needed a moment of disruption – exactly the personality this team has thrived on.

His numbers this season tell a large part of our story:

19 games, 11 goals.

His departure feels not only like losing a player but also like closing a chapter.

But football doesn’t wait for sentiment. The task now is simple: replace the goals, redistribute the load, and keep the system stronger than any single individual.

Scouting Report: Rachad Fettal (ST) — On Loan from Real Madrid

Into the void left by Ravasio’s departure steps Rachad Fettal, on loan from Real Madrid and bringing an entirely different skillset to our No.9 role.

At 21, he is still developing, but the raw materials are undeniable. Explosive acceleration, sharp dribbling, and crisp technique make him a natural threat when the match becomes stretched. He’s happier receiving to feet than fighting battles in the air, and his technical attributes give him a ceiling that surpasses his current reputation.

He offers something neither Cianci does, nor Ravasio did:

• Can drift wide and isolate full-backs
• Can attack gaps between defenders
• Can beat a man off the dribble
• Fits fluid patterns in our 4-3-3
• Gives us flexibility against deep blocks

A previous loan at Almería returned only one goal in 14 games, but he was just 19 and adjusting to senior football. Here, in a more structured system with clear expectations, he has the tools to contribute.

He’ll come in as a back up to Cianci, who once again will be given an opportunity to claim the starting striker spot. But Rachad will be given every chance to stake a claim as a cog in a pivotal season for S.S. Arezzo.

Challenging Times Ahead

Ravasio’s departure was only the beginning of a turbulent spell.

Eklu’s injury and Iaccarino’s flu left us without a single natural defensive midfielder before the trip to Rimini. Fortunately, Chierico dropped back superbly while loanee Jacopo Dezi slotted in and grabbed a goal in a 3-0 victory.

Then came the gut punch: Pattarello tore knee ligaments in training. A month out. Just as he hit peak form.

His replacement, Muhamed Varela Djamanca, stepped up brilliantly with two assists for Cianci in a vital win over Ravenna. Speaking of Cianci, he looks determined to seize the moment and ensure Ravasio’s absence doesn’t define our run-in.

Elsewhere, Ascoli – our closest rivals – dropped points to Forlì, giving us a three-point cushion with a game in hand.

We beat Vis Pesaro 3-1, before a heavily rotated side scraped a 1-1 draw against Campobasso. But rushing Eklu back proved a mistake; he aggravated the injury and will now miss two months. Our midfield destroyer gone for most of the run-in.

A difficult derby defeat to Perugia followed, with former Arezzo striker Roberto Ogunseye scoring twice in a 3-1 loss. Fettal netted his first for the club late on, but it was no consolation. To compound matters, Nicolo Gigli – excellent since breaking into the centre of defence ahead of captain Chiosa – suffered a hamstring tear. Six to eight weeks out.

The squad is now stretched to the edge.

The Run-In

Ten games remain. Everything is still in our hands.

We’re two points ahead of Ascoli with a game in hand—a position every club in the league would trade for. But we’re also carrying injuries to three starters and four key squad players, with an inexperienced backup striker.

Getting Pattarello back soon could be pivotal. But I need to be careful. We’ve already seen what rushing Eklu cost us.

So training is being managed with extreme caution – recovery blocks increased, intensity tuned down where possible, staff aligned behind a single message: don’t break anyone else.

If this title is to be won, it will be won through resilience, rotation, and discipline.
Not just control in the tactical sense – control in the emotional sense too.

A motto for the final stretch?
Take the rough with the smooth. Stay in the fight. Finish the job.