29 January 2023
29 January 2023

Sottil confident of good showing against Verona

The coach shared his thoughts ahead of the contest with Hellas

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Following the victory against Sampdoria in the last round of league games, morale is good in the Udinese camp, according to coach Andrea Sottil. 

"The team is in good shape and they have shown me, although I had no doubts, that they are a group of great, responsible lads, who are very united and have great sense of belonging," he said. 

"This week has been about doing and not saying. We'll be back playing at home. I sense a battling atmosphere. The time has come to play with greater determination and concentration than in previous matches, maintaining the same quality that we have always shown. I expect a great game tomorrow," the coach continued. 

Sottil also underlined that, despite the recent winless run, his team has consistently played with "great quality". 

"Now we have turned the tide, no more mistakes, no more blunders, otherwise it'll just be words, whereas I like a team that works, that does, that executes. We continue to think in this way and we want consistency."

Regarding tomorrow's opponent, he commented: "We know Verona very well and we have prepared properly. We have great respect for them, but I would like to concentrate on what we have to do. We have to battle until the end – this is the spirit that the team has shown me, especially in recent days. Great intensity in training, great individual and collective work. We must produce a great performance in front of our fans.

"We are a competitive team when we are combative, showing great hunger but always remaining humble. Serie A is very balanced – you can see that, in every round of fixtures, there are surprises. That's why we must always go onto the field with humility. I'm sure that the stadium will be full and we will feel great energy from the Friulian people – it's another reason for us to perform well."

Sottil also confirmed ahead of the encounter that Roberto Pereyra is set to miss out through injury. 

"Pereyra is recovering from a muscle problem he had. I don't think he'll play in the match. Udinese's framework remains the same, because it's well-tested and we've been working on it for months," he said. 

"It's clear that with the absences of Pereyra and [Gerard] Deulofeu, who are very important for us, some things will change. Specifically, it will be the different characteristics of each player that will make the difference and my job will be to make the most of them."

As for the atmosphere he's expecting at the Dacia Arena, the coach concluded: "I'm not one to make a lot of fuss. I know the fans well, they are very passionate, attached to the team and know how to understand moments. 

"I expect a full stadium. This combination of the ownership and the fans is our real strength. What we have to do is to put in a performance worthy of Udinese and I'm sure the boys will do that."