Udinese...

"Our quality must be improved"

Guidolin: "Let's forget Turin and get ready to face the new test"

The match against Siena can be extremely dangerous and the coach, Francesco Guidolin, is aware of that, as he stated earlier today in his press conference: "We know it's going to be a complicated match - said the coach -, Siena have proved to to (two “tos”?) be as worth as the teams with 20 points. The Tuscan team are in good shape and play tactically well. Iachini has been doing great and even Cosmi, before him, had achieved good results by nullifying the penalization. They had to win against Sampdoria to keep the hope alive and they did so. We need to file (where?) the match at the Juventus Stadium and get ready for the new test to come".

Has last Saturday's knock-out weighed on you?

"It's been a heavy defeat and we felt it. The boys have worked with care and application (???), but they were just as committed in the days before the match in Turin. We'll need super concentration tomorrow to make as little mistakes as we can".

Do you think the recent issues involving the Montepaschi bank may influence the behaviour of Iachini's team?

"No, they won't influence the group at all. Siena are strong, full of character and temperament. They proved so last Sunday against Sampdoria".

How is the forward couple doing?

"Both Totò and Muriel are at disposal".

Where would you like your team to be improved (“Where would you like your team to improve”?)?

"We can progress in how we manage the ball. That can be the key of our season, I know it. We are doing OK physically speaking, but our quality must be improved indeed".

Do you think Pinzi and Allan can be in competition?

"There is no such thing. Competitiveness inside a group is positive. Now we have two more excellent players such as Merkel and Campos Toro. Allan and Pinzi can play both as midfielders and as shields (???) before the defenders".

Udinese...

Lazzari: "Need (“We”?) to play on the pitch factor"

"We experienced a total blackout in Turin. We need to start fresh"

 

The three assists in the matches against Fiorentina and Inter have brought back to the fans a renewed Andrea Lazzari, who represents the best midfielder able to serve captain Di Natale and Luisito Muriel. The midfielder, four days ahead of the match against Siena, takes stock of the situation of the squad.

How eager are you all to forget Turin?

"We really are. We experienced a total blackout at the Juventus Stadium. Padelli managed to resist at first, but then we got overwhelmed. We hope - and want - to take our revenge at once, but these poor figures make us realize the mistakes we made to try not to repeat them. The midfield? We often hear that matches are won through midfielders, and we didn't manage to lead the game there against Juventus, which is why we were punished".

You are playing at the Friuli on Sunday. How important can the "pitch factor" be?

"We need to play on home matches to try and get as many points as possible. I hope Totò can score his 150th goal on Sunday. A win would make us forget last Saturday's defeat".

Siena are not resigned (they lost their jobs?) though...

"It's true. Without the penalization, they would have 20 points. Then I know the coach, Iachini, and I know how much strength and character he can transmit to his squads. Moreover, they have some really strong players such as Felipe and Pozzi, who are just great".

Udinese...

Emmanuel Badu scores in Africa Cup

Ghana-Congo 2-2: the Ghanaian midfielder scores the first goal for the Black Stars  

Port Elizabeth - After the first-day 0-0 between Angola and Benatia's Morocco, another Udinese player has taken the field at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Emmanuel Badu was the protagonist of the incredible draw between Ghana and Congo, first match of the Group B.

The midfielder scored the goal on (“in the 40^th minute of the first half”?) 40 minutes of the first half, served by Kwadwo Asamoah. Asamoah himself scores (“scored”?) a second goal with a helpful hand from the crossbar (49), but when the three points seem (“seemed”?) to be in the pocket of the Black Stars, Congo re-open (“re-opened”?) the match through (??) Mputu. On 69 minutes “(On the 69^th minute”?) Mbokani, from the penalty spot, gives (“gave”?) one desperate point to the Leopards from Kinshasa.

Udinese...

Saturday night at the "old lady's"

The match against Juventus is going to be thrilling!

Three goals to Inter, three against Fiorentina and hopefully three to Juventus. We wish it was all predicted, all set, we wish Udinese could go there, at the Old Lady's stadium and take the lot: but we'll have to sweat, because Juventus are hungry and upset, yet not undefeatable.

Udinese are keen to face Juve. We would have never guessed Udinese would have overwhelmed two top clubs as Inter and Fiorentina. Proving to be so strong has made the group even stronger and self-confident.

And Guidolin will have to use that strength and confidence once again on Saturday. This opponent is perhaps the strongest of the Serie A. Udinese are ready, strongly driven and eager to face them.

"Keen to be back in Udine"

  Campos Toro: "Udinese can play good football"

 

He is back in Udine after the first part of the season, spent in Siena, with the same enthusiasm  he had during this summer's training camp in Arta Terme. Matias Daniel Campos Toro, the latest reinforcement for Francesco Guidolin's squad, has signed a four-year contract for Udinese.

Matias, welcome back to Friuli...

"Thanks, I'm really glad and keen to be back in Udine. I made my summer training with this team, before going to Siena, and I really hoped to come back as soon as possible. Promises? Nothing particular. Udinese are the ideal squad for a young player: a talented group led by a great coach who can teach me a lot. I just have to work hard and be ready. Here is my promise: I will do my all every day in training and, if called, on matches".

What are your features?

"I have always been playing on the left flank. Doesn't matter if I play as defender or midfielder. I play wherever the coach wants me to, I just need to stay left!" (he laughs, editor's note).

You've had a bit of Serie A in Siena. What do you think of our championship?

"It's tough. Siena and Udinese cannot be compared. Here you play a more propositive football, the squad tackles more and, technically, has some high-quality players. I am sure I will feel extremely at ease".

Udinese...

"We can be harmful when we use our qualities"

"I need to look beyond the score: we can do better"  

Udinese (“Udinese’s”?) coach takes stock of the stunning win over Vincenzo Montella's Fiorentina: "We did (“We had a good start”?) a good start, then we conceded a goal. We managed to put things right at the end of the first half so we could arrange the second half differently. This is the second consecutive tormented win. What has changed after the break? We would play every three days before (“Before we would play every three days”?). Now we have a whole week to work with calm (literal translation of: “lavorare con calma”) and all my players are available".  At the end of the match a bit of tension was felt between you and Montella... "We solved it at once. Vincenzo complained because I had complained about some of the referee's decisions. I am not calm when I am on the bench, but as I leave the pitch I try to be responsible again. We should accept the pitch's response, by doing so we can help our referees".

Sixth consecutive positive result. Europe is not a dream anymore...

"We are still focused on our goal, which is to avoid relegation. We have beaten Fiorentina, our position is slightly better and we can be more relaxed. But a coach needs to watch beyond the final score and understand that something better can be done. We can be harmful when we take advantage of our own qualities".

Do you have any doubts on the forward couple Muriel-Di Natale?

"My concerns are well-based, they don't work with possession and Totò doesn't have to do so if he wants to be quick at scoring. Luis has some specific features (????), he has the will to mature and to learn. He is helping us a lot in scoring, but he needs to help us during the passive phase of the game too".

How are you going to prepare for Turin's match?

"We have to do our all against Juventus, or we won't come out alive. We know their strength and their attitude. They will be eager to beat us".

Udinese...

Guidolin: "No to closed-door training sessions"

Udinese (“Udinese’s football manager”?) football manager: the best training pitch

right now is no. 4

A clarification to all the fans has been made earlier today by Francesco Guidolin via the Club's official website with reference to the choice of training on a different pitch than (“rather than on”?) the usual "central" pitch at the Dino Bruseschi sports centre.
"We don't mean to hold closed-door training sessions - said the football manager - and we don't mean to "hide" the daily work at the Bruseschi. We feel indeed pleased to involve our fans - few or many as they may be - who come to our training sessions. But unfortunately our best training ground is not pitch no. 2, where our training sessions are usually held, but no. 4, which is the furthest from the sports centre entry (“entrance”?). According to the squad's needs, I promise I'll try and allow the fans to come and see the training sessions also on pitch no. 4, but I can't grant it. I just want to say to the fans: see you soon. We will be back at our usual ground soon".

Basta: Di Natale? One of the world's best players"

The Serbian player - interviewed by goal.com - takes stock of his past, present and future.

Dusan Basta, fourth season (“the fourth season”?) with Udinese, is a veteran of the squad. For a team quite used to changing and starting again every year, the Serbian player, together with captain Di Natale, represents a guarantee. The Friuli stadium is his second home and the right flank his habitat: he is one of the best interpreters of the role this year, as the Fantasy Football players know (6,27 (“6.27”?) average vote, 7 in his appearance against Inter). This season did not start well for him and Udinese, but they seem to have overturned it.
How strong was the disappointment for the elimination from the Champions League (“Champions’ League”?) play-offs? What did you need and how did you react?
"We felt extremely disappointed, of course, because after the forth (“fourth”?) place in the previous season we had managed to make a miracle and end the following season even better, at the third place (“at third place”?) , and to get another chance to try and make it to the Champions League (“Champions’ League”?). We tried to put an end to it immediately and to focus on the championship, but it wasn't easy. Something was still burning inside as I believe was noticed (“was seen”?) in the first matches".
You had even scored... But talking about goals, last year you were a merciless scorer, this year less: what is different?
"I was, but it was an exception, not a rule. I am not a striker. I have scored in Braga and Siena this year, I was out for injury a lot so as far as I am concerned I am happy like this. Let Totò and the others score".
Isla and Asamoah, two benchmarks of Udinese, went (???). How do you make up for these goodbyes?
"I think moaning is useless, both in life and football. In Udine we are used to this trend. It's the belief of the club to sell two or three players and substitute them with quality young ones. It's always been so (“It’s always been like this”?), and the result can be seen".
Many say Muriel is still to be discovered: how far can he go? Does he make any record-breaker things?
"He is limitless, but I don't like making too many compliments to him, I suggest he stay (“he remain”?) humble and keep working with the intensity and good will shown in the last months. With those qualities, future can be his for sure" (“the future can be his”?).
Di Natale is a true record-breaker: a world beater who has had less than he deserved?
"If we talk about technique and class, Totò is surely one of the best players in Italy and Europe. The rest is up to him. He chose to stay in this town, in this team, and this choice of his should be respected and admired".
What about you? Did you have what you wanted? Did you expect more, how far do you want to go? What are your short-term goals and your dreams?
"I am happy to play for Udinese and to be in the Serie A. At first, especially during the first year with Lecce, I didn't play much, then I came to the Friuli, I earned a first-string player shirt and got injured so I had to recover for more than a year. Now things are going great and the only thing I ask to my destiny is good health".
What do you think of the elimination from the Europa League: better that way, in order to avoid distractions in a  tough championship?
"Indeed, after a year and a half when we would play every three days, now we have the chance to rest a bit and work with calm (???) during the week, but we feel sorry for the elimination. We play the championship to reach the best possible place and to try and get a chance to play in Europe the following season. We haven't made it this year, and this hurts to all of us".
What is the worst issue you had in settling in to Italy and Italian football? And the Italian thing (???) you could never give up now?

"Nothing in particular. When I was in Serbia and the journalists would ask me in which championship I would have liked to play, I would always answer the Serie A. Because I like Italy and Italian football. When I first got here I couldn't speak Italian, but I was eager to learn, I was tactically unprepared, but I was eager to learn from the coach and my team-mates. I could never renounce to Italian food. It's the top for an athlete".

Thinking back of your past, how do you feel seeing the Red Star in trouble?

"I feel terribly sorry. I have always been a fan of the Red Star, and as a child I dreamt of wearing that shirt. These last few years are not as expected, as Partizan seem to win all the times (“all the time”?), but I hope fate can turn".

The Serbian national team is often referred to as a splendid thing left undone. Full of great players but unable to achieve much: why is that?
"It's quite unbelievable. If you take a look at the squads and evaluate the single players I think we can be defined as one of the strongest national teams of Europe, yet we never achieve what we want. Honestly, I don't know why is that (“I don’t know why that is”?). I have been asking myself the same question, but I can't find the answer".

Udinese...

Guidolin: "Totò's shot was crucial for the match outcome"

  "We have passed the first test of a tough 2013: before considering Juve, let's focus on Fiorentina".

Coach Guidolin celebrates his 500th appearance on a Serie A bench in the best way by winning 3-0 over Inter: "The match was intense and tougher than the final result says. It's a good result, but it was uncertain until the end. There are many similarities between my squad and Stramaccioni's. Inter got more chances until the first goal. Di Natale's shot was crucial for the match outcome, I think the first to strike would have won the lot" (??).
Are we going to see the couple Di Natale-Muriel soon?
It depends on Luis. He was born in 1991, he can grow a lot more and he needs to learn to be a modern forward and to behave tactically. Totò's potential is not in doubt, we are discovering Muriel's now. The Colombian player is doing better after 4 months of inactivity.
Did you expect to end the first leg with 27 points?
This isn't an easy season. We keep being watchful, but 27 points are a good result. We are close to our goal.

What can be expected from 2013?
It won't be an easy season. We will play Fiorentina and Juventus. We have passed the first test. I don't even want to think of Juventus, let's focus on Fiorentina first.
We saw you yelling at your players even in the final minutes of the game....
We have conceded too many goals for this season, if there is the chance to keep that goal untouched, I can't see why not do it. I don't like easiness (???).