20 August 2022
20 August 2022

Sottil: "A scrappy game. The lads did well"

The boss chews over a hard-fought home point

Sottil 3.jpg
Andrea Sottil had praise for his side after they dug in with ten men to earn a point against Salernitana, but he also voiced his disappointment about what might have been.
 
“I was expecting it to be very tight and scrappy,” the coach began in the wake of Saturday's 0-0 draw at Dacia Arena. “We were a bit tense at the start and made a few mistakes playing out but then we relaxed more and in the second part of the first half we had them pegged back. We were playing well and creating chances. We were very alert to the second balls. Salernitana were struggling and we should have scored.”
 
The complexion of the match changed completely after Nehuen Perez was shown a straight red card for a foul in first-half stoppage time – a decision Sottil felt could have gone the other way. 
 
“I spoke to the referee about it and I have a good relationship with him. He said he interpreted it as dangerous play. Of course when you're running at pace a little trip can look much worse. That was the ref's interpretation but I think a yellow would have sufficed.”
 
The team regrouped during the break and the coach replaced Jean-Victor Makengo – who was already on a booking – with Sandi Lovric.
 
"I decided to bring on Lovric to link up with the defence when we were playing out,” Sottil explained. Makengo is better at running with the ball but I already had [Destiny] Udogie on that side. Lovric can pick a pass and get forward as well. He's more of a box-to-box midfielder than a playmaker but if he works on it he could play in either position.”
 
The coach also commented on the contribution of Udogie and his forwards.
 
“We all saw what sort of player he is last season. His bursts forward are important for us and he so much room for improvement – his off-the-ball movement for example. Twice he came across brilliantly to make a defensive block and when you're capable of doing that, you can make a big difference either at wing-back or in a back four.
 
“[Isaac] Success did a good job. There were a few times when he could have done better in the final third but we had lots of chances in the first half. We have to keep going. Forwards are always deemed good if they score and not so good if they don't, but they showed tenacity. I'm sure the goals will come. I have quality strikers.”
 
Udinese might have got a goal within the opening five minutes had the referee not backtracked on his decision to awards a spot-kick for handball
 
“The penalty incident I think was rather dubious. They said it hit his armpit but his movement was clumsy and he made himself larger so I don't know if it was a penalty. We haven't had much luck with VAR in these two games.”