Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic gave an interview to the microphones of Sport1. The Udinese coach returned to talk about the “Lucca case,” but not only…
His words.
ON THE LUCCA RIGORE EPISODE AGAINST LECCE. “Look at the images, I was calm the whole time. I still had to react…A player cannot decide alone. So I replaced him, but he kicked the penalty perfectly. Lucca himself quoted the refrain of an Italian song to explain himself. A beautiful one by the way, by Lucio Corsi. A late but important insight.”
HOW DID THE TEAMMATES REACT? “I think the boys reacted calmly to this unexpected situation. It was also important that they continued to play focused after the 1-0 and the substitution. The atmosphere in the stands and on the field was explosive.”
WHEN A FOOTBALL PLAYER TRUSTS IN HIMSELF IS POSITIVE, BUT… “Yes, but a team can only be successful if everyone follows the rules. I think that’s clear to everyone now. I usually try to resolve difficult situations with calmness and empathy. But I work with twenty-five young men, and there are always critical moments when I have to remind each one clearly and incisively of the common goals. It is important to resolve these situations in such a way that no resentment remains.”
DID YOU TALK ABOUT IT IN THE LOCKER ROOM? “Of course, everyone involved talked among themselves. We had the necessary discussion in the locker room and I also made the necessary announcement: now it’s all done and dusted. A detail, nothing more. The matter is settled.”
HOW COME HE DECIDED TO ACCEPT UDINESE. “Udinese’s ownership had become aware of my job. Having never gone beyond twelfth place in Serie A in the last ten years, the Friulian club deliberately looked for someone outside the Italian football scene who could come to the position with new and fresh ideas.”
HOW SATISFIED HE IS WITH HIS EXPERIENCE SO FAR WITH THE BIANCONERI. “Compared to last years, we are in a much better position in terms of points and statistics, such as ball possession. So we are moving in the right direction. We are along the way, but the longest stretch is yet to come.”
THE SERIES A IS SUFFERING IN EUROPE IN LAST PERIOD… “For me, it has suffered only in isolated cases. Overall, Serie A remains one of the four strongest leagues in the world. Just remember how Atalanta dominated Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League final. The league continues to dictate trends, especially in terms of tactics: whether it is Atalanta with its radical man-marking all over the field or Inter, where defenders deliberately move into offensive positions when in possession of the ball. Every game here is very challenging for a coach to prepare for.”
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