Atalanta vs Chievo preview - Corini focused on Chievo

Posted Saturday, May 18, 2013 by PA

Chievo head coach Eugenio Corini knows nothing about speculation linking him to a sideways move in Serie A and insists he is fully focused on Sunday's trip to Atalanta.

The former Rosanero midfielder has enjoyed a successful debut season as a Serie A coach, dragging Chievo away from the bottom three to earn a shot at a 10th-placed finish should victory at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia match convenient results elsewhere.

The futures of both Giampiero Ventura at Torino and Giuseppe Sannino at relegated Palermo are far from secure and reports in Italy suggest the struggling outfits, among others, could approach Corini to spark a similar revival.

The 42-year-old is happy with his lot, though, telling Gazzetta.it: "The thing I most care about is keeping the confidence of president (Luca) Campedelli, and I'm happy to have repaid the faith he's shown in me.

"The rumours about Palermo and Torino? I don't know anything about that yet, all I have in mind are my future plans for Chievo.

"We will see if all the conditions are right for us to continue working together."

Goalkeeper Samir Ujkani, defender Nikos Spyropoulos and strikers Sergio Pellissier and Alberto Paloschi miss the trip to Bergamo through injury.

The Flying Donkeys are now three games unbeaten but are yet to draw away from Verona this season, while Atalanta have the third lowest tally for goals scored at home and are without a win in six attempts.

Nerazzurri boss Stefano Colantuono may have overturned the club's two-point deduction - issued for involvement in match-fixing - but a vocal section of fans have nevertheless criticised the Roman for underachieving this year.

"The vast majority of Atalantini are happy we stayed up but then there are always the discontented," he told La Repubblica.

"I've already said that we in fact booked our place ahead of schedule. Without the point penalty we would have been safe for about a month but you cannot get everyone to agree.

"The fans have stood by us over recent years, though, and we must understand their concerns. They always want us to improve."

Colantuno is without strikers Igor Budan, Guido Marilungo and Franco Brienza for the last game of the season, with midfielder Riccardo Cazzola and defender Cristian Raimondi also on the treatment table.