Udinese are up for the challenge of what promises to be a testing challenge away to Lazio on Monday evening, says Gabriele Cioffi.
Speaking ahead of the game at the Olimpico, the coach said: “We're focused and motivated. We want to be bold but this team has always had that.
“The mentality I want to instil and is that we play to win regardless of our league position, which at the moment is not one we deserve and one we want to get out of immediately.
“Expectations going into this match are similar to before Juventus. On a mental level, playing at such a tough ground actually helps us at the moment. Wanting to surprise people and show we're up to it is different to going into a game having to win at all costs, so it's a good thing.”
“We had a poor first half against Genoa, then played well in the second despite having ten men. Against Salernitana, the second half was impacted by a mistake but the team stayed in it even when a man light.
“We haven't underestimated the mistakes we made but we're in a good place and we'll show that on Monday.
“Lazio have been playing the same way for three years now and run on auto-pilot. [Matteo] Guendouzi is missing but whoever plays, they're not players who have come in from little-known leagues. They're top players so any absences are relative.
Cioffi also provided an update on Roberto Pereyra's situation.
“He's trained all week. I'll talk to him tomorrow and we'll get a better idea of how he is. He has a special skill set. He's a catalyst for the team and invigorates them. We've missed his mindset and his reading of the game. He's close to a return now and we'll welcome him back. That's not to say that those who have played instead of him have done badly – they just offer different qualities.”