After eight months on the sidelines, Alessandro Zanoli is eager to get back into action. Speaking on TV12’s Udinese Tonight following the defeat to Torino, the wing-back reflected on the team’s difficult run of form and his long-awaited comeback.
“The mood is what you’d expect after a defeat,” he admitted. “It’s a disappointing result because a draw would’ve been fair, but we were our own worst enemies. We can’t keep making these mistakes because they’re costing us points.”
Injuries have made matters worse for Udinese, leaving the squad stretched and several players fatigued.
“Injuries certainly haven’t helped. We’re short of cover in certain positions and some players have also played every international match. Hopefully this run of bad luck will end soon.”
Zanoli himself missed the Torino match as a precaution, having only recently returned from a serious injury.
“After being out for so long, it’s normal to have some muscular issues. I’m hoping to be available against Lecce. I’m fed up with watching from the sidelines. I want to play again and experience everything I’ve been missing.”
The wing-back believes Udinese’s recent defeats have come down to lapses in concentration and an inability to maintain their intensity throughout matches.
“It’s about paying attention to the small details. We’ve started games strongly but then run out of steam. After four defeats, we need to start winning again or our season could turn out very differently from what we expected.
“We’re a strong team and we shouldn’t be where we are in the table. Our aim has always been to reach 50 points again, or even surpass that total.”
Despite Udinese’s defensive problems, Zanoli sees reasons for optimism.
“The positive thing is that we’re scoring more than last season. We just need to find the right balance and avoid leaving ourselves too exposed when we attack.”
He also praised new arrival David Alaba.
“His trophies speak for themselves, but what stands out about him as a person is his professionalism and humility. He made himself available to the team straight away.”
Reflecting on his eight-month recovery, Zanoli insisted he had maintained a positive attitude throughout.
“The injury never took away my smile. I accepted it calmly and immediately started working towards my return. My aim is to be back to 100% by November or December. Goals and assists will come naturally. Right now, I just want to give everything.”
Looking ahead, he remains convinced Udinese can climb the table once their injury problems ease.
“When results don’t come, you risk getting caught in a negative cycle. I’ve experienced that before and I don’t want to go through it again. With everyone available, this team deserves to be in the top half of the table. We’ll enjoy ourselves once we’re all fit.”