“The danger now is to be blocked by fear but Udinese knows how to find the right energy”

Luca Modolo, the sports psychologist until May in black and white, speaks “Delicate moments last year too and the team made a square”

THE INTERVIEW

Until May he was the sport psychologist of Udinese, working in the technical staff of a Luca Gotti who was therefore orphaned of this professional figure, while in Turin they still remember him for the “Juventus Soccer School” project founded together with his colleague Beppe Vercelli , the mental coach with whom Max Allegri is confronting these days to revive the Agnelli home team. It is also for these reasons that Luca Modolo has the titles to analyze the moment of Udinese, called to the truth match against Sassuolo.

Modolo, his colleague Vercelli reported on the cover the role of the mental coach after the close dialogues with Allegri.

«Vercelli has been with Juve for fifteen years and has an excellent relationship with Allegri. Rather, I am still surprised why these consultations are viewed with suspicion and curiosity. All the big clubs have a mental coach, not to mention the American NBA ».

Why can the sports psychologist be important?

“Many coaches and managers think it is easy to motivate, while the professional’s eye recognizes the signals, understands how the players react to certain communicative stimuli and grasp feedback that can be underestimated.”

Udinese, whom you know well, are experiencing a delicate situation …

«The mistake not to make now is to be blocked by fear, which can become a self-sabotage mechanism and a trap if it is not exploited for what it actually teaches us, or to act better and believe in ourselves by training resilience. The classic example is Michael Jordan, who has become the most resilient sportsman having become the best in the world after being cut from the basketball team in high school ».

Speaking of victories, Udinese has been missing success for almost two months, a period of time that you have not experienced in your experience with Juventus.

“True, but there were some delicate moments last year and the team came out of it making a square and confronting each other in dialogues in which everyone admitted their responsibilities, speaking clearly and thus creating the right energies”.

Having worked with it, how will Gotti live this week, which is also very delicate for him?

«I believe with the right serenity, energy and determination to win against Sassuolo, and I am convinced that Udinese will make a great performance. History teaches us that when Udinese arrives with water in their throats, a spring is triggered and reacts, even if these are delicate situations because there is pressure in the environment and anxiety does not contribute to the balance ».

How are balances and continuity sought?

“Unfortunately, the results affect, but the projects must be defended with trust and resilience by believing in the people with whom we worked well, otherwise fear will take over and change direction. Having worked closely with us, I believe Gotti and his staff are top club level and will come out of it. I have no doubts about their programming skills and I have no doubts about the people with whom Udinese will be able to get great satisfaction ».

Which players will give more in these situations?

“The Nuytincks, the Deulofeu and the Pereyra are certainties from which to start again.” –