Kosta Runjaic held a press conference on Saturday ahead of Udinese's trip to Juventus. Here's what he had to say:
“Last week we lost unexpectedly at home against the team bottom of the league and of course we're annoyed about that performance. We shouldn't have played the way we did. We didn't win and we weren't happy – we were sad and frustrated – but we can't change it now.
“On top of that we've lost [Jaka] Bijol and [Martin] Payero to injury and we'll be without [Lorenzo] Lucca and [Arthur] Atta due to suspension. We're missing players but we've been able to train normally. We have other good players who will be able to show what they can do.
"Our aim and ambition is to give it everything we have in these last two games to finish with as many points as possible. Any match can be won. It's going to be tough because Juventus are trying to qualify for the Champions League but we're playing for ourselves, for the club, for the fans and for Friuli.
"It hasn't been the most joyful of weeks but we're professionals. We've trained well, the lads are focused and I'm convinced we'll put in a good performance and give it our all till the end. We play every game to win. Sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn't. Tomorrow is another opportunity to get some points and make up for the Monza match. The season has gone pretty well. Now our task is to finish it well so that we can take stock.”
Club management
“I talk to Gino Pozzo, Gianpaolo Pozzo, [Franco] Collavino, [Gokhan] Inler and [Gian Luca] Nani every week. We discuss things intensely and always in a positive way. We have lots of things to talk about. The first was the Monza game of course, but we also talk about other matters, like the future. There are two games left and then we'll have a clearer picture. We'll be able to analyse the season and see what was done well and what wasn't, with next season in mind. But we're always in contact and we don't only discuss the previous match. Towards the end of the season you naturally talk about next year and I'm giving them my input in that sense.”
Monza
“We played really well against Bologna then won a difficult match at Cagliari we expectations were high for Monza and we wanted to win. We didn't but we can't say it's 100% down to one reason or another. If you look at the game, Monza only had one shot in the whole of the first half. We didn't do badly in every area but we needed more energy and determination. Partly because of the way Monza play – they sat very deep – we found it hard. Our decision-making and ball circulation needed to be faster and we needed more conviction up front – that's what I told the team at half time.
"In the second half we were a little unlucky as we could have scored three or four goals but didn't. It's not the first time we've created chances and not taken them. It happened against Torino for example, and on other occasions. Then we conceded twice from two mistakes we made. The result is the consequence of all those things together. Generally we didn't have the right energy and didn't put Monza under pressure. We let them take the lead, we didn't take our chances and then we conceded the second. We're still a long way off the level of the big teams. We're too consistent. We'reaware of that and we have to work on it by analysing things, making the right decisions and improving for next season so that we can avoid repeating the same mistakes.
“Now we need to focus on the present, which is Juventus, so that we can produce a good performance, fight together and see what the result is at the end.”
Gianpaolo Pozzo's comments
“It's nice to hear compliments. It's been an intense year. I've given my all 24 hours a day, as I always do, but it's not just me – it's everyone I work with too. Italy is a new country for me and after this first season it will be easier to understand certain things with the benefit of experience. We're already talking about next season but this one hasn't finished yet and we must finish it as best we can. If we could get six points in these two games, it would be magnificent, but we have to first think aboyt Juventus and then Fiorentina. Every player in the squad has to show their worth and they can do that in these last two matches. Finishing this season well takes priority over next season.”
Payero and Kamara
“Payero picked up a muscle injury and the doctors say he'll need a few weeks to recover so he won't be available for Juventus or Fiorentina.
"[Hassane] Kamara has had an ankle niggle for a few weeks. We're working with him so that he can be available for these last few games. He often feels a bit sore towards the end of games. The goal Monza scored to make it 2-1 came after a challenge on him. I didn't realise it at the time but having watched it back I don't know how a foul wasn't given. He couldn't train for two or three days after that challenge but he rejoined the rest of the team yesterday and he'll be available for selection tomorrow.”