Torino vs Catania preview - Maran chasing history

Posted Saturday, May 18, 2013 by PA

Head coach Rolando Maran is demanding one last show-stopping performance from his players as Catania's historic Serie A season draws to a close.

Sunday's opponents Torino are only playing for pride having secured a second season in the top flight with a haul of 38 points, but the Sicilians can finish eighth for the first time since 1965 should they better Inter Milan's result against Udinese.

The Elefanti have outstripped their best-ever points tally of 45 and victory at the Stadio Olimpico would bring Maran's men up to 58 for the season.

The Catania boss told La Repubblica: "We'd reached our own goal back in March by achieving mathematical survival.

"We have done so much more, though, by breaking all our remaining records. We have made history and that makes us proud.

"I will believe we can take eighth place right until the end but the important thing is to finish the season playing as we have done all year. That will be a clear sign of our growth and new mentality."

Defenders Alessandro Potenza, Nicola Legrottaglie and Pablo Alvarez join midfielder Fabio Sciacca on the sidelines through injury.

Maran also revealed his lack of concern over any possible departures from creative trio Francesco Lodi, Alejandro Gomez and Pablo Barrientos this summer.

"If that happens, we should not worry," he added. "It is Catania's policy to lose valuable players and then start again.

"I trust the way the club operates so we don't need to worry."

Torino boss Giampiero Ventura expects to keep his job despite the rumbles of unrest that grew across a lacklustre finish to the campaign.

The Granata looked assured of a mid-table finish in February but eight defeats from 14 games saw the Turin club dragged back into the battle to avoid the drop, until uninspiring draws against Genoa and Chievo stopped the rot.

Ventura told La Repubblica: "The club have confidence in me and I've had no problems with (president Urbano) Cairo. There's no doubt about it - I'm staying at Torino.

"We've sowed a lot of seeds and not harvesting them would be unwise.

"The next phase of our project is to reach the top half of the table. Doing so will depend on the transfer market and whether we are able to add value to our squad."