Kosta Runjaic sat down with the gathered journalists on Friday to discuss Udinese's next league match, away to Inter on Sunday evening.
Read below what he had to say.
INTER
“We're going to Milan and we know we're the underdogs. We're playing Inter and we have nothing to lose. They know that too – they're one of the best teams in Italy. We know their strengths, how dangerous they are in attack, how hard they run, their transitions, their style of play. They've been playing together for years. We want to produce a good performance and play the way we've prepared to play, regardless of the opponent. We must do better than against Verona, which wasn't an easy game. We did some things well and others less well. It could have turned out differently but ultimately we weren't able to win in front of our fans. We had an open training session yesterday and it was a special occasion. The players know what they have to do on the pitch to come back with something. We almost managed it against Inter last season, so it's doable. We must play as one, with the right energy and stayed 100% focused."
MENTALITY
“We always try to get points but it's no easy task away to Inter. It can always happen though, as we saw when Cremonese visited Milan last week. I want us to play better than in our last game. We'll have less of the ball and we'll need to be focused and play with the right energy against a team like Inter. We must play as a unit and when we have the ball implement our ideas to score. Set-pieces will be another factor. We know how good they are in dead-ball situations. We'll go to Milan with the right mentality to get a result. If we make mistakes, we'll concede as we did the last few times we've met. If you give the ball away easily against a team like that, they punish you. They showed how much firepower they have in their first game. We'll see how we measure up to top-class team and it will give us good feedback about where we are. I can't wait to play this game."
ATTACK
“Last January we drew 0-0 with Verona and we had [Lorenzo] Lucca. They're a good team who defend deep. We had chances that we didn't take. We can't expect to have ten clear-cut scoring opportunities. Inter got off to an excellent start in their first game. They have bundles of quality and have been playing together for years. We have a young team and it takes time, but our youngsters will grow. I'm overly critical by nature. I wasn't happy with the last game but I saw some good things too. We have to forget about last season. [Florian] Thauvin and Lucca are in the past. I'm focused on the players we have here now. We know we have certain qualities and we must do better. Maybe we'll sign some more players but for now [Adam] Buksa has joined. He's an experienced, ready-made player who will be a big help. We must keep working on improving. I'm confident we will.”
4-4-2 AND EKKELENKAMP
“I haven't forgotten about 4-4-2. When we have everyone available we'll work on that formation. I don't know if we'll use it against Inter. Previously we've played 3-5-2 against them and done well. We only lost because of mistakes that have nothing to do with the formation. We need to cut out those mistakes and make the most of the chances we get. [Jurgen] Ekkelenkamp has trained with the team and is better. I spared him against Verona but he'll be 100% for Inter.”
KAMARA OR ZEMURA
“I don't see one as better than the other. I can't tell you who will play.”
PALMA
“Matteo is improving. We'll spare him his game as well. He could have come with us to Milan this Sunday but we'll use the international break to get him back to full fitness.”
SOLET STAYING PUT
“[Oumar] Solet is a closed chapter. We have talented players who come to Udine to grow and he's one of them, but any offers have to be suitable. I haven't followed the matter personally but I know there was talk of Inter and the fact that the offer wasn't considered high enough. I spoke to Oumar and he told me he's staying here. He's a consummate professionalism and it's a closed matter. We won't be selling him or any others. Players leaving and having to be replaced is part and parcel of the game but it depends on the offers that you get. This club has a lot of experience in the transfer market. They know when is the right time for a player to move on, like in the case of [Jaka] Bijol. When Solet is able to harness his full potential, he'll become one of the best centre-backs in Serie A and he'll attract even more interest. He knows what he's capable of and we'll do everything we can to get him up to that level, until an offer comes in that's impossible for all parties to turn down. He's only been here six months. We're working to help him become a better player – to take him, like others, up to the next level. So in a nutshell: Solet is staying put.”