Mihajlovic Makes Il Toro Rage Again

Written by Joshua O'Byrne (@JobJobBinks):

Siniša Mihajlovic took over Torino in the summer after what many consider a harsh sacking at Milan. Since then however he hasn't looked back and this season he has the Granata playing some wonderful football. Torino have 22 points after 13 games which is their best start to a Serie A season since 1976-77. The Granata can also boast that they have perhaps the most exciting young Italian talent in Andrea Belotti. However, he is just one of the many young talented Italians in Mihajlovic's exciting team. Under Miha, Il Toro are definitely aiming to achieve great things this season.

One of the key factors to Miha and Torino's success this season has been their strong core of young Italians. Players such as Belotti, Davide Zappacosta, Marco Benassi, Daniele Baselli and Antonio Barreca have grown immensely under Miha. The Serbian tactician is no stranger to giving youth it's chance either as he is the man responsible for launching Gianluigi Donnarumma's career at Milan. Along with the young Italians at Torino, Mihajlovic has also helped revive Adem Ljajic and Iago Falque. Both have already scored 5 goals each this season contributing to the Granata's 29 goals this season, making Torino the second highest scoring team in Serie A this year. One of the major factors to Torino's great form in front of goal under Miha has been Andrea Belotti. The young Italian is on blistering form and is in discussions to sign a new contract with a 94 million euro release clause. Belotti has scored ten goals already this season and sits top of the capocannoniere charts with Mauro Icardi and Edin Dzeko. Mihajlovic has Granata fans constantly sitting on the edge of their seats with his attacking young side, however defensively Il Toro remain solid as well.

A large part of their defensive solidity is down to Urbano Cairo. In Joe Hart and Leandro Castan he made two excellent signings and showed that Torino were ready to mix it with the big boys once again. Hart especially has made a huge impact at Torino. After a shaky debut against Atalanta in which he cost Torino the game, he went on to keep two consecutive clean sheets. Hart seems to be growing from strength to strength in Serie A as he adapts to the Italian game. The English keeper is helped by the fact that just as his predecessor Ventura did, Mihajlovic has made the Granata a very tough team to break down. While they have conceded 16 goals, 6 of them came in the first 3 games. Since then Torino have only conceded 10 in 8 games which can be improved on, yet 4 of those ten again have been in matches that they have won convincingly. Miha has already identified that the Granata's ability to switch off after going two goals ahead is something that must be altered. However, under Miha one can only feel that as the season progresses that Il Toro will get more solid defensively and cover up their small cracks.

Mihajlovic has got this young team playing some excellent football but Urbano Cairo has to be praised for his part in constructing this team. Cairo almost took a leaf out of Sassuolo's book and built a team of young Italians that can now compete for a European place. Keeping hold of Belotti, Benassi and Baselli has been key to their success and Cairo has to be praised for this. Also his appointment of Miha was a wise decision as I've mentioned before The Serbian tactician seems to be able to get the best out of young players. Cairo must be delighted with the work he has put in to rebuilding the club. He can now dream of big things with this young exciting team.

Torino this season must have set their sights on Europa League qualification and right now it's a very distinct possibility. Mihajlovic has made Il Toro rage again and now he and their fans will hope that their team of young bulls can storm their way into Europe this season...