Serie A, Saturday previews at 3pm:
Empoli-Genoa
LIVE
Udinese-Monza
LIVE
Eve.
Nicola 'as a former Genoa player I only think about Empoli'
"I am aligned with the idea of Empoli's transfer market, which is always virtuous. I believe that whoever leaves does not weaken the group, the important thing is precisely the group that makes the player perform better. The idea was to do little or nothing, because I really believe in the players I have available. Obviously integrating some players who are in the box and can't wait to join us."
Thus Davide Nicola, on the eve of the match against Genoa.
A match that comes a few days before the transfer window closes.
Baldanzi's departure was certainly the most striking, he had scored not even a week ago in Turin with Juventus: "I think it's simple for me to say hello and thank him, but this applies to the whole environment - he adds - We're happy for him because Rome is a great opportunity and I'm also happy for De Rossi, my great friend, who will have him. It's normal that he took off in this way, because he's a boy with great moral values before being an excellent player."
With Genoa tomorrow, Empoli will try to continue their victory over Monza and on a par with Juve: "From this point of view, every match hides difficulties but also opportunities - observes Nicola -. The management of the match is different for each opponent, the expression of reading and management of a match will take place in a more conscious way as we move forward. We have introduced things that are fundamental for us, the Turin match gave us important indications. Genoa is a qualitative team that plays organized football They defend with a low block, they are skilled at counterattacks, I think they have done a great job. Mister Gilardino plays practical but fast football, based on the quality of the individuals. It is no coincidence that they have the points they have, we have to take this race to grow further".
Nicola will face his former colors in front of 4,000 Ligurian fans: "Nowadays I struggle to remember my past as a footballer - he continues -, but in 2020 we achieved a great result, in the year of Covid as a coach. Clearly now I dedicate myself body at Empoli, tomorrow the challenge will count for us as it is a reason for growth for us. I have great respect for Genoa but the emotion is aimed at my team."
On the training front, Destro returns to the bench, where the new signing Niang will also sit.
For the rest he should play the same eleven seen in Turin.
Eve.
Gilardino "Scurvy Empoli, let's be ready"
Treacherous trip to Empoli for Alberto Gilardino's Genoa, fresh from two consecutive victories against Salernitana and Lecce.
"We are coming off the back of two victories but to give continuity to the results we must raise the mental bar for tomorrow's match. We are facing a grumpy team who have scored 4 points with Monza and Juventus and have significantly changed their way of playing. We must be very ready for this challenge."
Gilardino, who will not be on the bench due to disqualification, finds Frendrup and Badelj again and will also be able to count on the return of Martin.
"Matturro, Haps, Ankeye and Messias are not available while Martin will come on the bench - explained the rossoblù coach - It will be a match with a very high competitive level. I had the opportunity to follow Nicola when he coached Salernitana: he has great spirit, great determination and compactness defensive. But we must and have the obligation to be ready for a challenge of this type. We know what match awaits us and we must, through sacrifice and suffering, bring out our qualities."
A Genoa now in mid-table but with a goal still to be reached.
"I am happy and happy with the boys I have at my disposal. The objective remains to think about one game at a time every week. It is normal that on my part and on the boys' part there is determination, there is desire and ambition to reach the first objective as soon as possible which is the fundamental one of 40 points. But it is not simple nor obvious. We are in a good ranking position, it means that we are doing a very good job. But the desire, the determination, the ambition must be such as to give us continuity to help us achieve the first seasonal objective."
Eve.
Cioffi, the closing of the corner punishment too severe
"The closure of the Curva Nord for two matches is too severe a punishment, considering that the few culprits were identified immediately. But we respect the decision."
Gabriele Cioffi said this in a press conference on the eve of the home match against Monza.
"The team is fine - assured the Friulian coach -. We know we are in a difficult moment and when there is awareness of the difficulty there is a solution".
Captain Pereyra is fully recovered: "The ailment he had has been overcome: perhaps during the match he can move back as midfielder or be moved to the wing".
Still to be decided who will play on the right wing between Ebosele and Ehizibue.
The closing of the transfer window was greeted with a "Deo gratias" from the coach.
"Many young people went to play and this is good, but it hasn't been easy to manage this month - he admitted - A valuable player has arrived, like Lautaro Giannetti, who has to wait for his chance sitting on the river bank. To him I add Nehuen Perez and Lazar Samardzic: for the qualities they have, I consider their stays an acquisition."
According to Cioffi, the Bianconeri, despite an unfavorable calendar, "had a medium-high performance, including the match against Atalanta. The reaction was not as hoped, because they fell back a lot".
"We have been under pressure since November, but the team has come out of more difficult moments. We are aware of what we have to do: we have to win", the imperative for tomorrow.
Monza "is more vertical than the one we encountered in the first round - concluded Cioffi -, but they have a double face, they can completely change their register thanks to the new purchases. I imagine they will wait for us to be a little shorter to start again and then they will count on second balls. They will try to manage the game at certain moments and we will have to be ready not to let them do that."
Eve.
Palladino, Udinese's ranking is a liar
According to Monza coach Raffaele Palladino, tomorrow's match against Udinese will be a "very physical match. Udinese are among the most physical teams in the championship, they play very direct, with a lot of deep attack. They defend well, low, it is not easy to adopt a strategy against them. We must try to put our qualities and characteristics into play. It will be a battle, they are coming off good performances and their ranking is a liar."
For Palladino, the 3pm match in Udine "will be very difficult. We are trying to prepare it well and we will be ready to play dirty".
To return to an image dear to the football news of recent weeks, Palladino says that Monza will not be so much a hunter of those ahead in the standings, but a hare for those chasing: "Monza must look to tomorrow's match", continues the trainer.
"We must not look above, but behind. Because they push so hard and this also helps us to push, without thinking about what will happen in one or two months, because we would risk losing focus".
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA