Coach Kosta Runjaic spoke at a press conference ahead of the match against Carrarese on Monday. Here is what he had to say.
Impressions ahead of the new season
“The new season starts on Monday; we still have two days before our first match. We’ve undergone a very intense preparation, focusing on details and physical aspects. We’ve played some good friendly matches, but there’s still work to do. The players need to get used to playing together . On Monday we'll see the first results of our work. Friendlies can provide valuable insights, but there is a different type of tension, energy and pressure once the season begins. So we look forward to getting this first feedback. I am happy with the work we have done so far. The team looks focused and well tuned. We have worked hard and have also had fun; we’ve made great progress. During pre-season, however, you often don’t have the final squad, so to reach an optimal level you need time to integrate the new players. I am happy with what they’ve done. I’m also happy with the players who were already at Udinese who have made major progress. I’m optimistic about this new season. We’re starting off with a home match and the odds are in our favour. We accept this responsibility – we want to move on to the next round and our game must be intense. I think it’s something we can do and we’ve trained for this. A team’s preparation goes beyond six weeks of training - it also includes the first few competitive matches of the season. Now we’ve got a block of three matches, and after the one against Inter we’ll get the first real feedback on the work we’ve done. I’m happy with what we’ve done so far, but there’s still more work to do. We know we’ve made progress, also during the past season. We know what we must do this year. I can’t wait to start again and I’m happy it’s going to be at home with our fans.”
Transfer window and formation
“We’ve got quite a few new players. I believe that so far we’ve made good signings. They’re young and talented, they want to win and they have great attributes. However, they need time to adjust and we don’t know how long it will take. Last year [Jesper] Karlstrom came from a lower league and immediately adjusted to Serie A. Therefore, I believe the new signings can show their skills and adapt quickly. I am happy with the work we’re doing: I see improvements on the pitch and in terms of mindset. The players are determined and focused. We’ve improved when it comes to mindset and that’s crucial to grow. Many of them have been playing for Udinese for one year and are improving and becoming increasingly aware of their assets: that’s what I’m focused on. The transfer window is not over yet and maybe some positions will be reinforced, especially in attack, since we’ve lost some important players. This, however, is also an opportunity for those who have stayed and those who have already arrived. We’ll seize this opportunity of the transfer window not being over and complete our squad. We’re discussing this internally, but I can’t say much. We hope we will be able to find what we need. Some players may still leave, as the transfer window isn’t over yet. We still have two weeks left to work on the details and systems, but we already have an idea of how we will be playing and we’re on the right path: our new signings have convinced us both on and off the pitch, so I’m optimistic. Getting new signings would be a positive thing for us to have a good season and for the competition within the team, which is important both for me and players, as this way they keep getting better. We have some goals to reach and we play in a tough league. Last year we started off with a three-man defence, then we switched to four and this year too we will continue switching between the two systems, but I can’t tell you which one we’ll choose for Monday. We want to be versatile and able to play either way. During pre-season we played nearly all matches with the four-man option because we had few midfielders available, but working intensely on the four-man defence was nevertheless a positive thing. In the future we will be ready to seamlessly switch from one system to the other. We have a balanced squad and I like the fact that the players can apply either system - they don’t prefer one over the other as far as I can tell. This year too our formations will be 3-5-2 and 4-4-2.”
The centre-back of the back three
“Last year [Thomas] Kristensen played as full-back and wide centre-back. He’s a fast player, he can communicate well, he’s good in the air, versatile and precise with long passes. He likes being in the middle of a back three and it’s an option, but whether it's three or four I think he can do better on the right. There are other players who can play in the centre. We’ll see who will play. [Nicolo] Bertola hasn’t played a Serie A match yet, but I've been impressed with what I’ve seen from him. Saba Goglichidze played a lot last year and wants to be in the starting line-up; I’m happy we have him in the team. And let us not forget about [Matteo] Palma, our youngest player, who has made major improvements. There’s a lot of competition. I can’t tell you who will play and in what position, but I’m open to different options and the players want to be in the starting line-up regardless of their position.”
Simone Pafundi
“He’s been training with our first team for four years, but he’s still just 19 years old. This means that he has believed in the club ever since he was very young. He’s a talented player but he’s still young. Perhaps in previous years some wrong decisions were made, or they were made at the wrong time. He was given the impression that he was ready for Serie A too early on. [Simone] Pafundi is talented and is making great improvement; since he returned from his loan spell, he’s worked very hard on his physical condition. He still needs to do some physical work. He’s doing well and I’m following him closely. I believe his ideal position is as second striker or attacking midfielder, behind two forwards. We need to understand how he adapts to what we need, since the team comes first. In the past we’ve had players that prioritised themselves rather than the team and I just can’t accept that. The club comes first and we must all move in the same direction. When a player is ready to give us what we need, it’s a great achievement for both us and him. We’ve searched for players who were suitable for Udinese, as our goal is to have a good squad with players who can improve. A case in point is [Lorenzo] Lucca, who in his second year here found a more relaxed team and started to thrive. But the team comes first, not Lucca or Pafundi. We must think as a team to reach our goals. We’ll see who will join the team and who may leave; we’ll speak to all the players to understand what the best option for them is, all of them, which also includes Pafundi. Even if he were transferred on loan, he would have to perform well to help his team succeed. There’s a lot of competition, which is normal: we’ll see it in our match against Carrarese on Monday. Progress can only be made by focusing on the team: we will make the best decision together with the player.”
“He’s been training with our first team for four years, but he’s still just 19 years old. This means that he has believed in the club ever since he was very young. He’s a talented player but he’s still young. Perhaps in previous years some wrong decisions were made, or they were made at the wrong time. He was given the impression that he was ready for Serie A too early on. [Simone] Pafundi is talented and is making great improvement; since he returned from his loan spell, he’s worked very hard on his physical condition. He still needs to do some physical work. He’s doing well and I’m following him closely. I believe his ideal position is as second striker or attacking midfielder, behind two forwards. We need to understand how he adapts to what we need, since the team comes first. In the past we’ve had players that prioritised themselves rather than the team and I just can’t accept that. The club comes first and we must all move in the same direction. When a player is ready to give us what we need, it’s a great achievement for both us and him. We’ve searched for players who were suitable for Udinese, as our goal is to have a good squad with players who can improve. A case in point is [Lorenzo] Lucca, who in his second year here found a more relaxed team and started to thrive. But the team comes first, not Lucca or Pafundi. We must think as a team to reach our goals. We’ll see who will join the team and who may leave; we’ll speak to all the players to understand what the best option for them is, all of them, which also includes Pafundi. Even if he were transferred on loan, he would have to perform well to help his team succeed. There’s a lot of competition, which is normal: we’ll see it in our match against Carrarese on Monday. Progress can only be made by focusing on the team: we will make the best decision together with the player.”
The new signings
“They are all ready, but they can’t all be in the starting line-up. Jakub Piotrowski is an important player and can contribute a lot to the team, but he too needs to learn the team’s systems. Lennon Miller is an extraordinary player and I’ve seen a lot of talent in him ever since the first training sessions, but he too needs to adapt. Things are different for Goglichidze and Bertola, as they are ready physically. I don’t know how we will play, but I believe in all of them, including [Vakoun] Bayo, who has been training with us for a while but comes from a different league. I don’t how long it will take for each of them.”
“They are all ready, but they can’t all be in the starting line-up. Jakub Piotrowski is an important player and can contribute a lot to the team, but he too needs to learn the team’s systems. Lennon Miller is an extraordinary player and I’ve seen a lot of talent in him ever since the first training sessions, but he too needs to adapt. Things are different for Goglichidze and Bertola, as they are ready physically. I don’t know how we will play, but I believe in all of them, including [Vakoun] Bayo, who has been training with us for a while but comes from a different league. I don’t how long it will take for each of them.”
The new captain
“It’s been official since yesterday: Karlstrom is the team’s new captain and [Sandi] Lovric is the vice-captain. Then [Christian] Kabasele, Kristensen, [Kingsley] Ehizibue and [Daniele] Padelli make up the team council. I expect a lot of responsibility and decision making on their part. I need a strong captain with a powerful presence and a team council that can convey our ideas to the rest of the team-mates on various matters.”
“It’s been official since yesterday: Karlstrom is the team’s new captain and [Sandi] Lovric is the vice-captain. Then [Christian] Kabasele, Kristensen, [Kingsley] Ehizibue and [Daniele] Padelli make up the team council. I expect a lot of responsibility and decision making on their part. I need a strong captain with a powerful presence and a team council that can convey our ideas to the rest of the team-mates on various matters.”
Florian Thauvin
“[Florian] Thauvin had a good season last year, which unfortunately ended in March. He was doing well and could’ve scored more goals; our game heavily depended on him. I hope we will strike a better balance this year. I need a full squad to achieve that. His transfer was a surprise: I believed in him and he was the captain. However, the club let him go because it was what he wanted. You shouldn’t try to keep someone who doesn’t want to stay. I understand why he made that decision: he has good prospects. We’d realised he could leave at the start of pre-season, which was a better solution for us to adapt than having him leave at the end of the transfer window. He has left the team, but we have the players who have stayed and they may surprise us. I wish Thauvin all the best; he is a part of Udinese’s history, but he belongs to the past, I’m focused on the players in my squad.”
“[Florian] Thauvin had a good season last year, which unfortunately ended in March. He was doing well and could’ve scored more goals; our game heavily depended on him. I hope we will strike a better balance this year. I need a full squad to achieve that. His transfer was a surprise: I believed in him and he was the captain. However, the club let him go because it was what he wanted. You shouldn’t try to keep someone who doesn’t want to stay. I understand why he made that decision: he has good prospects. We’d realised he could leave at the start of pre-season, which was a better solution for us to adapt than having him leave at the end of the transfer window. He has left the team, but we have the players who have stayed and they may surprise us. I wish Thauvin all the best; he is a part of Udinese’s history, but he belongs to the past, I’m focused on the players in my squad.”
New penalty taker
“Certainly neither Lucca nor Thauvin! We’ll see based on the starting line-up. I wouldn’t know right now. [Keinan] Davis is an option if he starts: having a forward who’s good at penalties is a good thing. I also see [Oumar] Solet practising penalty kicks during our training sessions and he’d certainly like to.”
“Certainly neither Lucca nor Thauvin! We’ll see based on the starting line-up. I wouldn’t know right now. [Keinan] Davis is an option if he starts: having a forward who’s good at penalties is a good thing. I also see [Oumar] Solet practising penalty kicks during our training sessions and he’d certainly like to.”
Oumar Solet
“You can never rule out anything in football, but we are determined to keep Solet and another season at Udinese would be good for him, so that he can find the right stability and make further improvements. He’s bound to become a top player, but I’d like him to stay and the club is aware of this. Everyone at Udinese wants him to stay and remain the leader of our defence.”
New attacking options
“I won’t make any comments on possible signings. We’re searching for a striker. If we can, we will also get a second forward, but he must be suitable for our squad. He must have something to offer: it’s not just about making up the numbers. We’ll see who will join the team and what will happen to our current players. We don’t need another number 10, as we already have Pafundi and he is well suited. We also have Brenner, but we may still get someone if we come across an opportunity that is worth it. Now I’m focused on the players in my squad and we don’t have any recent signings; I’m happy with the way we’re working with the current squad.”