Bari May Be Going Down, But Not Without Some Class

Bari are in a whole lot of trouble. They have been for some time now, and nothing seems to be getting better for the side. Relegation may not be a mathematical certainty but certainly looms on the horizon as a seemingly inescapable destiny. Coach Bortolo Mutti, however, wants to ensure that his side go down in style.

I Galletti’s awfulness has been recounted again and again this season, and mostly with good reason: overall, Bari have been awful. Dead last in the table, the only win the side has managed since January was against fellow relegation rivals Parma on Matchday 31. Before that, the side had picked up only three points in thirteen weeks. Visually, that looks mostly like a whole lot of red:

With 15 points left to play for, Bari find themselves 13 points off of safety: a massive clash against Sampdoria this weekend could be the lethal blow for any remaining hopes of staying in Serie A. Despite all the doom, however, Mutti has spoken out about the importance of playing for the fans:

A victory [against Sampdoria] could represent a small tribute to offer to our fans, who are disappointed… We must tackle this game with diligence and we must not care about the concerns of our adversaries. I count on the sense of the responsibility of my players.

Almost nothing left to play for and Mutti wants his team to fight like warriors. In a day and age where “football” and “money” have become nearly synonymous, it’s refreshing to see a side strive to play for nothing but fan affection and pride. Of course, letting Sampdoria win may allow the side to stay in Serie A (Although they probably don’t deserve it). Such an act could potentially be seen as generous and merciful: after all, any points Bari picks up will most likely go down to Serie B anyway (Metaphorically speaking). Yet that does not seem entirely in the sense of fairness, and Mutti has other ideas: trying to salvage something of the season, a win that the fans can relish.

If only it wasn’t so late.

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Category: Serie A