20 January 2022
20 January 2022

Pablo Mari: "It’s a pleasure to be at Udinese”

The ex-Arsenal defender spoke about his forthcoming experience at Udinese

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Pablo Mari does not hide his determination. The defender made it clear in the press conference that he was "looking forward to working with his team-mates. First of all, I want to thank Gino, Franco, to the coach, and the club," says the 28-year-old. "It’s a pleasure to be here, Serie A is one of the best leagues in the world. I'm very grateful for this opportunity the club has given me, I didn't have to think for a second when the possibility of coming here came up." Regarding the criticism of his career choices, which saw him play in Brazil, the Spaniard isn’t fazed. "When I went to Flamengo they told me it wasn’t the route that players took, but I don't care what other players do with their lives. It's about commitment, and what your heart tells you to do.”
 
Talking about his experience, gained in highly competitive leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga, and Brasileirao, Mari says that his background "can allow me to help my team-mates. For me, the important thing is to talk to them, to organise ourselves on the pitch. It is important to communicate and always be there. In a young dressing room, they need people around them to help them to overcome a situation. You have to keep your concentration high and follow the game plan that the coach wants.”
 
About the defensive system, the Spaniard shows no concerns. "I feel comfortable in any system. There are different systems on the pitch, for example, the club I came from [Arsenal] played with four [at the back], but when building up the play we played with three because we wanted the full-backs high. In the end, it depends on how the coach wants to play and we have to follow his gameplan."
 
Accepting Udinese's offer was not difficult. "I was given the opportunity to play in one of the best leagues in the world, for a team that has shown great things over the years. The commitment they showed in signing me made the decision [to come here] easy. I know what they want to build, and I want to be part of it."
 
During the press conference, he was asked about his fellow countryman, Gerard Deulofeu. Although he hasn't met him yet, Mari says that "we have many friends in common, who have spoken very highly of him. He is a top player. I called him before coming to find out what the club and the city were like, and he had nothing but good words to say about Udinese and Udine.”