Andrea Sottil discussed the team performance in the 3-1 victory away to Cremonese on Thursday afternoon in a friendly to get the players ready for the Serie A restart in January.
“It was a hard-fought game in every sense of the word. It was a good test and the players’ approach was spot on while showing a marked improvement on the friendly with Lecce. We found it a bit tough initially, but then went on to carve out so many chances and I saw a real team performance out there.
“The approach is key in all circumstances. Not having three points to play for or playing behind closed doors mustn’t be an excuse. The approach will be even more important in the league. I saw positives from all the lads and there were improvements on a physical and also technical and tactical level.”
Sottil also assessed the situation regarding players returning from injury and the general condition of the squad. “[Jean-Victor] Makengo is on the rise. [Rodrigo] Becao played for 65 minutes at a high level and [Destiny] Udogie showed great acceleration and a burst of pace, but I can’t expect him to be at his best just yet. The players who’ve been training regularly since the start of the preparation phase are in good physical shape. I’m pleased with their performances and this final test has shown just that.”
With just a few days to go until the start of the second half of the season, Sottil spoke of his desire to get back into the swing of things. “The players, the fans, the club and I can’t wait to resume. It’s been a lot to manage this long break for everyone. On a mental level, we now need to switch on the adrenaline of seeking three points and playing competitively because it’s time for things to get serious.”