Torino’s season is beginning to find its shape after an uneasy opening, and Gianni De Biasi sees reasons for patience around the club he knows well. The first coach appointed under Urbano Cairo and a former Granata manager in intense years, De Biasi has watched Ignazio Abate’s early work with particular interest. He coached Abate in Turin during the 2008-09 campaign, when the then 22-year-old already stood out for his explosiveness, technical ability and uncommon maturity. Now Abate is leading Torino himself, and De Biasi believes the first signs are encouraging.
The coach and the club
De Biasi’s verdict is that Torino have come through their early setbacks with greater substance. He felt they deserved their draw at Bologna and could even have won there, describing the performance as another indication that the side are settling into the season.
The beginning had offered little comfort. Torino lost to Milan, then suffered another defeat at Sassuolo in Reggio Emilia, before Monza eliminated them from the Coppa Italia in front of their own supporters. De Biasi said that sequence made the campaign look difficult at first, but he considers the response more significant.
- After the early defeats to Milan and Sassuolo, Torino went out of the Coppa Italia against Monza at home.
- They then won in Florence, a result De Biasi regarded as far from straightforward.
- Roma won 2-0 in Turin, although De Biasi felt the margin was harsher than the balance of the match.
- Torino followed that with a solid display and a deserved point away to Bologna.
For De Biasi, the important work is not simply in the results but in Abate’s attempt to establish a recognisable team. He sees a young coach trying to impose his own ideas, with an aggressive side capable of playing consistently rather than living from isolated moments.
“Anything new needs time to develop,” De Biasi said. “If the injuries stay away and the supporters help the team, which would be fundamental both for Abate and the squad, Torino can build something important.”
He stopped short of predicting a place in the top six, but believes a finish between seventh and ninth would be realistic if the progress continues.
Room for adjustment
Torino started with 3-4-2-1 and 3-5-2 systems, while the staff are also considering work on a four-man defence. De Biasi views that possibility as a healthy sign rather than a departure from principle.
In his view, a coach should not defend one formation at all costs when the pitch offers different answers. Flexibility, he said, is essential because managers may begin with one idea only to discover that the players and matches require another solution.
Midfield, experience and the younger group
De Biasi has been particularly drawn to the technical qualities emerging in midfield. He praised Fitz-Jim strongly and also highlighted Bragança, describing him as physically slight but accomplished on the ball and able to understand when to retain possession and when to win it back.
Mandragora, meanwhile, represents a different kind of assurance. His familiarity with the environment and his experience make him a reference point within the group, De Biasi said.
The return of Ricardo Rodriguez was another development he welcomed. De Biasi did not insist that the defender would immediately transform Torino on the field, but he believes Rodriguez’s greatest early contribution may be in the dressing room, where his presence can help the squad manage difficult situations.
The number of younger players also matters to the club’s longer view. De Biasi singled out Cacciamani after seeing him three or four times, impressed by his bravery, directness and ability to keep the ball before delivering dangerous passes into the area.
He considers the Italian presence in the squad an added strength. A shared language can make communication inside the dressing room simpler, he argued, while Torino can also provide a meaningful contribution to the national teams.
Options in the final third
There is already established experience in attack through Adams and Simeone. De Biasi believes the picture could become far stronger should Zapata recover his sharpness, even if his return to real influence comes only in the second half of the season.
He also expects more from Vlasic once he reaches full rhythm. De Biasi pointed to the player’s imagination, willingness to attempt the pass that can send a teammate through on goal and threat from the edge of the box.
Oristanio is another player De Biasi rates. He recalled seeing him make an effective impact from the bench at Cagliari three seasons ago and believes his qualities can still offer Torino another dimension.
For now, De Biasi’s message is one of measured confidence. Torino have not had a smooth introduction to Abate’s tenure, but the former Granata coach sees a side becoming more competitive, a squad with technical resources, and a club that could give its young manager the time required to turn an initial idea into a more durable championship story.
