Gabriele Cioffi spoke to Udinese TV about his expectations for Sunday's match at Dacia Arena against Lazio, after what has been a difficult week for the team.
How keen is the team to make up for last week's defeat to Verona?
“As sports men, you always want to bounce back but obviously we need action more than words right now. Talk is cheap. “
Have you had to work on a psychological level after the way the game panned out and the change in the league table following the decision regarding the Salernitana match?
“It was an unusual week because we lost six points: three of them rightly, because Verona deserved them and another three from the sports judge. I won't go into that because it's not for me to comment on it but we'll happily replay that match.
“The Verona game was unusual because we played well. Credit to Verona because they took all their chances and we took none of ours. We mustn't make excuses, though. It's not a case of being lucky or unlucky. Against Torino we made our own luck and against Verona we didn't. The problem was we forgot why we beat Torino.”
What have you asked the team to work on more – being more clinical or more focused defensively?
“Our attitude as a team is and has to be clear. Udinese's DNA and identity are clear: we must be solid defensively and add good football on top of that. We produced some good football in the last game but not much of our identity. We're not in this game to give lessons on style; we're in it to get points by being solid and playing in the Udinese style of recent years while trying to improve it and make it more entertaining to watch.”
Can you give us an injury update?
“[Bram] Nuytinck is a key player for us but unfortunately his recovery is taking longer than we thought so he won't be available. [Destiny] Udogie is fit. [Marvin] Zeegelaar has been back in full training for a few days.”
Is Roberto Pereyra ready to play now after getting a full week's training under his belt?
“He's looking good. He's an important player for us and he's getting back to the level where he can be important again.”
Udinese have made it hard for Lazio in recent encounters. What sort of game are you expecting?
“I expect it will be similar to the reverse fixture because that's the way [Maurizio] Sarri plays – keeping possession and building play slowly. Lazio are a great team and despite missing players they deserve to be up near the top. It's going to be very difficult. We're going to have to be perfect and then some.”