Coach Kosta Runjaic spoke at his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s game against Roma. Find out what he had to say on a range of topics.
How Udinese are approaching the match
“Tomorrow will be a big challenge against a top-level opponent. We’re doing well, we’re motivated and we want to show the best version of ourselves and try to win. There is no need to talk too much about consistency. We are a mid-table side and it is normal to win sometimes and lose sometimes depending on the circumstances. That applies not just to us but to all the teams in our part of the table. Against Roma we need to put in a strong performance and improve further compared to the game in Verona. Last Monday, we made the most of our chances and won, but it wasn’t an easy match and at certain moments we also took risks. We know what awaits us tomorrow and all that remains is to perform well on the pitch. I am optimistic.”
“Tomorrow will be a big challenge against a top-level opponent. We’re doing well, we’re motivated and we want to show the best version of ourselves and try to win. There is no need to talk too much about consistency. We are a mid-table side and it is normal to win sometimes and lose sometimes depending on the circumstances. That applies not just to us but to all the teams in our part of the table. Against Roma we need to put in a strong performance and improve further compared to the game in Verona. Last Monday, we made the most of our chances and won, but it wasn’t an easy match and at certain moments we also took risks. We know what awaits us tomorrow and all that remains is to perform well on the pitch. I am optimistic.”
Zanoli’s replacement
“It is a real shame, after a good away win, to lose [Alessandro] Zanoli for several months, especially now that he was in form and well integrated into our game. Unfortunately, injuries are part of football and have to be dealt with. I can’t say much about who will play tomorrow. [Nicolo] Bertola is a central defender and we have to keep that in mind, but he has shown he can also do well out wide and we’re happy to have a player who can cover more than one position. Nicolo can also play on the right if needed, but we also have [Kingsley] Ehizibue there, who has our full trust and can’t wait to play. Whether we play with three at the back or four depends on many factors, just as any new arrivals depend on the opportunities that arise in the transfer market.”
“It is a real shame, after a good away win, to lose [Alessandro] Zanoli for several months, especially now that he was in form and well integrated into our game. Unfortunately, injuries are part of football and have to be dealt with. I can’t say much about who will play tomorrow. [Nicolo] Bertola is a central defender and we have to keep that in mind, but he has shown he can also do well out wide and we’re happy to have a player who can cover more than one position. Nicolo can also play on the right if needed, but we also have [Kingsley] Ehizibue there, who has our full trust and can’t wait to play. Whether we play with three at the back or four depends on many factors, just as any new arrivals depend on the opportunities that arise in the transfer market.”
The challenge with Gasperini
“Teams coached by [Gian Piero] Gasperini are not easy to face. They play with intense man-to-man marking and put their opponents under pressure. We’ll need to be able to dig in and respond blow for blow, switching the point of attack when the opportunity arises and maintaining our balance as we did in Verona, even though it’ll be more difficult. We’ll have to make good use of possession, even if they press us one against one, and find the right solutions on the ball. I’ve seen the lads working hard this week, the atmosphere is good and the players can’t wait to get out on the pitch. Since I’ve been here, we’ve always lost to Roma. It’s time to pick up points.”
“Teams coached by [Gian Piero] Gasperini are not easy to face. They play with intense man-to-man marking and put their opponents under pressure. We’ll need to be able to dig in and respond blow for blow, switching the point of attack when the opportunity arises and maintaining our balance as we did in Verona, even though it’ll be more difficult. We’ll have to make good use of possession, even if they press us one against one, and find the right solutions on the ball. I’ve seen the lads working hard this week, the atmosphere is good and the players can’t wait to get out on the pitch. Since I’ve been here, we’ve always lost to Roma. It’s time to pick up points.”
The opposition
“We expect to face the strongest possible Roma side. At the top of the table every point is crucial and a coach like Gasperini knows that. It won’t be a simple match, but we’re also fighting for every single point because we haven’t yet secured safety. Tomorrow it’ll be important to win our duels and not make mistakes in the build-up because they are strong in the press. We’ll have to stay focused, make the right decisions and play simply when needed. Roma are also strong from set pieces. They are a complete team. Intensity will be decisive and we’ll have to approach the match well from the very start, as we did against Napoli. In the first meeting, duels were fundamental. Zaniolo often had several players on him, as did [Arthur] Atta, and we need to learn from that match.”
“We expect to face the strongest possible Roma side. At the top of the table every point is crucial and a coach like Gasperini knows that. It won’t be a simple match, but we’re also fighting for every single point because we haven’t yet secured safety. Tomorrow it’ll be important to win our duels and not make mistakes in the build-up because they are strong in the press. We’ll have to stay focused, make the right decisions and play simply when needed. Roma are also strong from set pieces. They are a complete team. Intensity will be decisive and we’ll have to approach the match well from the very start, as we did against Napoli. In the first meeting, duels were fundamental. Zaniolo often had several players on him, as did [Arthur] Atta, and we need to learn from that match.”
Injuries
“[Adam] Buksa is recovering but still needs a bit more time. Calf injuries aren’t always straightforward to manage. [Hassane] Kamara won’t be available tomorrow, nor will [Rui] Modesto. Zanoli, as you know, is unavailable and [Saba] Goglichidze and [Sandi] Lovric have left. The squad is short, but we can still leave our mark. [Iker] Bravo and [Matteo] Palma have also left the club. If a player feels he deserves an opportunity, it’s the right thing to give it to them. For now, though, we’re focused only on tomorrow. That is the only thing that matters. I’m happy that Zaniolo has returned earlier than expected. Yesterday he trained with the group for the first time and, if everything goes well, he’ll be available tomorrow. I don’t know how many minutes he has in him, that depends on many factors, but having him with us would already be a very positive sign.”
“[Adam] Buksa is recovering but still needs a bit more time. Calf injuries aren’t always straightforward to manage. [Hassane] Kamara won’t be available tomorrow, nor will [Rui] Modesto. Zanoli, as you know, is unavailable and [Saba] Goglichidze and [Sandi] Lovric have left. The squad is short, but we can still leave our mark. [Iker] Bravo and [Matteo] Palma have also left the club. If a player feels he deserves an opportunity, it’s the right thing to give it to them. For now, though, we’re focused only on tomorrow. That is the only thing that matters. I’m happy that Zaniolo has returned earlier than expected. Yesterday he trained with the group for the first time and, if everything goes well, he’ll be available tomorrow. I don’t know how many minutes he has in him, that depends on many factors, but having him with us would already be a very positive sign.”