Wishing night?

24-12-2011 - 18:03

It’s wishing night!

Christmas Eve has always been a wishing night (???). The wishes of Udinese’s supporters are well-known: they all hope to continue ammiring ("admiring"?) this great Udinese: we know their hearts, their wills (is someone going to die because they have to leave a will????), their pride will be always at the top!

Udinese...

19-12-2011 - 10:12

Pinzi: “We proved what we can do, on Wednesday we are to win” (“we have to win”?)

Giampiero Pinzi is happy at the end of the match with Lazio for the decisive goal he scored: “I don’t score much, it’s my flaw. I’m happy, even if I scored it to my Lazio (“if I scored it against my Lazio”?). Our goals? We can have fun, we proved to be at the level of (“at the same level”?) AC Milan, Juventus and Lazio themselves. There is nothing to lose, we’ll be daredevil (“daredevils against”?) to Juventus, eager to win. We are a great group. A prevision (???, how about “prediction”????) for Wednesday? We win, 2-0”.

Udinese...

19-12-2011 - 10:25

Guidolin: “Proud of my squad”

Pinzi’s goal allows Udinese to conquer one point to remain in the upper part of the ranking (“standings”?). “We made a mistake when we conceded the first goal, with all the defence lined up – Guidolin said after the match – but Benatia is still one of the best defenders of our championship, a reliable player. As we took the lead, we began playing better and Lulic’s goal gave Lazio a hope. In the second half we did our best and we achieved the well-deserved draw”.
Why did Di Natale made (“make”?) a late appearance?
“We are the only Italian team to have played three matches in six days and I have to take in consideration a number of factors. I can count upon extraordinary players who are able to give me satisfaction”.
Thirty-one points after 15 weeks. Have you started thinking big?
“I’m proud of my squad, enthusiast (“enthusiastic”?). I think AC Milan and Juventus will outdistance us in the end because they are stronger than us, but we’ll do our best to stay up there as long as possible and to give Juventus some troubles (“trouble”?) on Wednesday”.
Udinese have conquered 74 points this year.
“An unbelievable result coming from hard work” (“which comes from hard work”?).

Udinese....

19-12-2011

Udinese-Juve: 61 years after the first challenge

There have been 39 matches played between Udinese and Juventus at the “Friuli” stadium in Udine (37 – Serie A; 2 - Coppa Italia). The score sees Juventus ahead with 22 wins – all championship ones – while the two Coppa Italia matches were both draws.

The first challenge between two of the most ancient teams (“ancient”? Why not “oldest”?) of the Serie A was played on 17 December 1950: Juventus got a 3-0 win thanks to Hansen and Boniperti.

The first win for Udinese came on 10 March 1957 with a clear 3-0: the goals were scored by Frignani, Pantaleo and Secchi, the squad was then coached by Giuseppe Bigogno.

It is peculiar to find out (“to know”?) that the total of the goals scored by the two teams when facing each other is 100: 70 scored by Juventus, 30 by Udinese.

Taking a closer look to (“a closer look at”?) the past 5 years, the score is more balanced than the past: Udinese managed to win in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The last precedent is last year’s 4-0 which came in (“during”?) a delicate period for Guidolin’s squad, which from then on started an extraordinary course that brought it to the final fourth place.

Udinese...

2-12-2011

Pablo Armero: “We are down to earth. Guidolin? Talented”

The win upon Chievo (“against Chievo”?) allows Udinese to be back at the top of the ranking in anticipation of Monday’s match between Juventus and Roma. “We are down to earth because we haven’t done anything yet – Pablo Armero says after Udinese-Chievo -. It wasn’t easy today, they played well and I think it’s normal to have difficulties (“difficulty”?) in facing Di Carlo’s squad. We played smartly, we managed the possession of the ball and we tried to get some new ways to hit them”.
What did the coach tell you in the locker room?

“He asked us to turn the page and focus on Celtic. We’ll train tomorrow afternoon. That’s how he’s done (“done?” or “That’s how he is”?), he’s a talented coach”.
Three more matches before the break. Which is your target?
“None. We’ll have to stay focused until the 21st, then we’ll be on holiday”.
“Despite your preference for the front line, you’re doing well also as a defender. How can you be good at both (“positions”)?
“I like striking, but I know I have important defensive skills too. My team-mates do rely on me, I can’t let them down”.

Udinese...

11-12-2011

Udinese Calcio’s wishes to the media

Last night, at the restaurant of the Stadio Friuli, there was a dinner dedicated to the media that follow Udinese Calcio. A chance to take stock of the great season with the hope for it to (“also”?) continue also in 2012.

Udinese’s General Director Franco Collavino, alongside the Administrative Director Alberto Rigotto, welcomed all those present: “I’d love to thank you (we would usually say: “I’d like to thank you”) for the closeness you’ve showed (“shown”?) in following us in Italy and abroad, with great professionalism in this (??) 2011 which has been giving us a lot of joy. It is one of the best years of (“in”?) our history. 2012 seems to be promising from several points of view”.

The mayor of Udine, Furio Honsell, guest of the night (“evening”?), underlined the importance of the media to make a feature of the club and the city both in Italy and abroad: “I wish a merry Christmas (“Merry Christmas”) to the Pozzo family and all (“to all of”?) Udinese. Even if I’m not an expert of the media (“even if I’m not a media expert”?), I know what this team means for the city of Udine. Football is a global language, if it is spoken well, it is understood all over the world. This team has something brilliant. Pozzo is a genius of sportive management (“sports management”?) and the structure that lies behind him is also more incredible. He’d have to be studied at school (!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps at Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge…). I hope the works (“work”) for the renewal of the stadium can start in 2012 so that we can celebrate next Christmas in the shadow of the cranes” (birds or machines?).

Udinese...

09-12-2011

New Generation Day, an unforgettable one.

The New Generation wrote another beautiful page in its history today. Udinese’s young supporters, led by the project manager Michele De Sabata, touched the grass of the Stadio Friuli and watched the training of the First Team and its friendly match against Monfalcone. Finally they sat on the benches of their darlings (??. What about “heroes”?) in the locker room of the squad. The amazing adventure came to an end at the stadium’s auditorium where Udinese’s supporters met the General Director Franco Collavino who welcomed all of them. “Dear boys, Udinese Calcio decided, at the beginning of this season, to reinforce the project you’re in, the “Young supporters growing up”, which is now called “New Generation”, in order to let you know better and closer this wonderful sport, football, and to make you love your city team. It is an innovative initiative, strongly wanted by the Pozzo family. The rich program you subscribed in September is letting you follow all the home matches played by Udinese, meet our splendid players, have fun during the 90 minutes on the stands and become friends” (indeed a most “logical” phrase!).

Before the final greetings, the New Generation decided to give the players, who were coming back to the locker room, a lovely applause. “Every Sunday your joyful support is a boost in the players’ legs – Collavino said -. Don’t ever stop supporting your favourite players! Follow the advices for an healthy (“a healthy”?), correct and non-violent support, as Michele De Sabata and his colleagues tell you, and remember that supporting Udinese means rooting for your favourite team, it doesn’t mean being against another team. You represent the supporters of the future. Today you’ve had the chance to live a unique experience and see what happens behind the curtains of a great team. Don’t forget that, because what you see in the ninety minutes is nothing compared to the great organization that lies behind a squad” (indeed, like the organization behind their web site in English!!!).

Finally, an happy (“a happy”?) wish to all: “I use the occasion to wish a merry Christmas (“Merry Christmas”?) and a happy (but here they wrote “a happy”!) new year (“New Year”?) to all of you and your families”.

Udinese, as usual...

09-12-2011

New Generation Day, an unforgettable one.

The New Generation wrote another beautiful page in its history today. Udinese’s young supporters, led by the project manager Michele De Sabata, touched the grass of the Stadio Friuli and watched the training of the First Team and its friendly match against Monfalcone. Finally they sat on the benches of their darlings (??. What about “heroes”?) in the locker room of the squad. The amazing adventure came to an end at the stadium’s auditorium where Udinese’s supporters met the General Director Franco Collavino who welcomed all of them. “Dear boys, Udinese Calcio decided, at the beginning of this season, to reinforce the project you’re in, the “Young supporters growing up”, which is now called “New Generation”, in order to let you know better and closer this wonderful sport, football, and to make you love your city team. It is an innovative initiative, strongly wanted by the Pozzo family. The rich program you subscribed in September is letting you follow all the home matches played by Udinese, meet our splendid players, have fun during the 90 minutes on the stands and become friends” (indeed a most “logical” phrase!).

Before the final greetings, the New Generation decided to give the players, who were coming back to the locker room, a lovely applause. “Every Sunday your joyful support is a boost in the players’ legs – Collavino said -. Don’t ever stop supporting your favourite players! Follow the advices for an healthy (“a healthy”?), correct and non-violent support, as Michele De Sabata and his colleagues tell you, and remember that supporting Udinese means rooting for your favourite team, it doesn’t mean being against another team. You represent the supporters of the future. Today you’ve had the chance to live a unique experience and see what happens behind the curtains of a great team. Don’t forget that, because what you see in the ninety minutes is nothing compared to the great organization that lies behind a squad” (indeed, like the organization behind their web site in English!!!).

Finally, an happy (“a happy”?) wish to all: “I use the occasion to wish a merry Christmas (“Merry Christmas”?) and a happy (but here they wrote “a happy”!) new year (“New Year”?) to all of you and your families”.

Udinese...

07-12-2011

Guidolin: “Never look back, let’s close this page and focus on Chievo”

After the win at the San Siro (“Stadium”?), coach Francesco Guidolin comments on the great performances of this year’s Udinese: “We’d better not look back. It’s something I heard yesterday and I want it to be clear. The present and future will tell if we’re able to play for an important place in the ranking. Time, opponents, matches will tell us (“and matches will tell us”?). The future is yet to be written. We’re living a magic moment and we’ll do anything we can to make it last. We know we’ll find determined opponents on our way, it’s a part of this sport, we just have to look forward and focus on Chievo. I’m proud of the men I coach, but on Sunday there’s another battle to fight”.
How does it feel to be told by the president that the coach is the real world beater?

“I can’t hide (“I can’t hide it”?) I’m really pleased. There’s a good feeling between me and the club, as well as with the fans. It is the players who take the pitch and they are the ones who on Saturday night made an excellent second half with freshness (??), initiative and the right attitude: I’ll give this compliment to my squad”.

This squad seems to be mature. Success comes from sacrifice and details: what do you think of Ferronetti’s reaction?

“We didn’t give this signal in Parma (??), we have to keep calm. We played a great second half in Milan, we were getting things a bit complicated in the final part, not only for Ferronetti. I will have to evaluate a few things with our squad, a team focusing on great targets needs to handle these situations better. We need to grow more and continue working, developing a cure for details” )??).

Roma and Inter defeated without scoring a goal. Danilo’s performance was great.

“Everyone has done something for that, also the players who don’t play all the times (“all the time”?), who gives us the chance to work hard. Danilo has become integrated pretty soon, he’s serious and professional.

Udinese...

04-12-2011

San Siro, 7 years later the taboo is debunked

Seven years and none (None? Maybe "nine" would be a wee bit better?) months later, Udinese have defeated Inter at the “San Siro”.