Tim Parks, author of A Season with Verona, is looking forward to tonight’s derby with Chievo. “It’s the football of identity against the modern game.”
It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“I’m working in Milan, but will be glued to the television to watch the game with one hope within me: that Hellas win,” English writer Parks told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Tim Parks, author of A Season with Verona, is looking forward to tonight’s derby with Chievo. “It’s the football of identity against the modern game.”
It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“I’m working in Milan, but will be glued to the television to watch the game with one hope within me: that Hellas win,” English writer Parks told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Both clubs are struggling this term, as Verona are in penultimate place, but Chievo sit only six points above them.
“I am not surprised by the difficulties Hellas are going through, as this is what the history of Verona is all about: we are doomed to suffer. At times it even seems as if we like it.
“Chievo had seemed secure, as usual, but instead had an unthinkable collapse. I hope Hellas win and put them in relegation trouble. The bigger the at-risk relegation zone, the better. Besides, for many years I was insulted by Chievo fans for my Verona faith and so this is very amusing.
“I attacked Chievo, who at the time were at their peak, in an article published by the Corriere della Sera in 2001. Everyone was praising them for being wonderful and I wrote it wasn’t the case. There was a banner against me in a derby and I was even threatened, but I found it all rather comical, considering what usually happens in this country.
“Localism is the key in Italy, as everyone is against everyone else, but if someone criticises your football team, it creates a cohesion in the community that you just don’t get in any other issue to defend yourself from the ‘enemy.’
“Let’s be honest, nobody expected Chievo to last this long, but consistency within the club was fundamental. Many figures have been there for decades, starting from President Luca Campedelli.
“Chievo are another world compared to Verona, who have passionate fans and live in the eye of a permanent storm. That’s what makes them so attractive.
“If you are the President of Verona, there will always be protests. When I was following the club, the President was Giambattista Pastorello. Just like Maurizio Setti now, he couldn’t understand the insults aimed his way, but for a fan it is inevitable to attack the owners.
“The fan thinks: ‘I have passion, they only do it for money and will never understand me.’ The anger grows and a dichotomy is born, a little like between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty.
“Verona v Chievo is the football of identity against the modern game. Chievo would’ve struggled to stay at this level in the past because they have so few fans, but now the money comes in from TV rights, sponsors and the business of the sport. Admittedly, Chievo have been impeccable on that front.”
The Derby della Scala is tonight, so what would be the ideal scenario for Parks?
“Last minute, a lucky ricochet, Verona score and beat Chievo. Bentegodi boiling over, me there with a smile stamped on my face for an entire day, and then Hellas securing Serie A safety in some absurd fashion. I have to dream, I’m a Verona fan…”