The Padova Post
Squad22 May 2028
Tempers go at Padova
Marco Pompetti was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad22 May 2028
Oscar Garrido falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout22 May 2028
Zé Hugo frozen out at Padova
This is not rotation. Zé Hugo has not been in the manager's plans for some time, and nobody at Padova is pretending otherwise.
Match20 May 2028
At last: Padova win one
5 matches without a win, and then this, against Union Brescia. Relief is a strange noise in a football ground and it was the only noise at the end.
Match20 May 2028
Padova get the job done against Union Brescia
A 1‑0 win over Union Brescia, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Player ratings22 May 2028
Ninety minutes of Exequiel Zeballos at his very best
Marked 8.14. Players have careers without a single afternoon like this in them, and he has just had one in front of everybody at Padova.
Squad22 May 2028
Simone Tonini signs a new deal
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Simone Tonini commits to Padova for another 4 years.
The dugout22 May 2028
No hiding place for Francesco Belli
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Francesco Belli, and the manager let it.
The dugout22 May 2028
The view from the dugout
“We controlled it. There were spells I did not like and we will look at them, but the group showed me something.” Gianmarco Salvatore, on a 1‑0 win that he was already picking apart on the walk to the press room.
In brief
- The dugout Simone Colombi asks for a word with the manager
- Squad Bookings catch up with Cristian Buonaiuto
- Market The Marco Pompetti talk will not go away