UDINE. Few places in the world invite you to dream like Venice and who knows how many of the two thousand Friulians celebrating on the vaporetti will have thought for a moment how nice it would be to go back to other seas.
The allusion is obviously to Europe and to the exodus of the Friulian supporters ready to start again en masse across the border, an objective that remains out of reach for this season but which could be pursued again in the future, just as suggested by Cyril Thereau, who together with Duvan Zapata formed the last pair of Juventus forwards to double-digit in 2016, before the penalty converted to Penzo by Deulofeu, which rose to 10, with Beto at 11.
The Frenchman, who scored 40 goals in his three years at Udinese from 2014 to 2017, has in fact concentrated his analysis on the importance of the goals secured by the attackers, a gold mine on which to build more than salvation.
Thereau, Udinese is virtually safe after the Venice blitz, with the prospect of a crescendo ending.
«I saw why I always follow it and I am particularly happy with this result which invites new goals. Europe is now unattainable, but a final that puts pressure serves to lay the foundations for the future, and I say this as a direct interested party because Udinese just missed chasing Europe and looking for a goal that would make me stay focused. and under pressure to the last ».
You talked about bases, so could Europe be prosecutable in the future?
«I go step by step. The first consideration is that looking for the cups in Italy is difficult, just look at how much Fiorentina has invested who are playing well and fighting, but it is not even known if they will hit their target.
In my day, there were always some great players who staked, not now, but Udinese are setting important foundations, first they did it with the three-man defense that gives solidity, and now with the forwards.
And the past teaches us that when Di Natale was there, traveling with thirty goals a year, Udinese frequented Europe ».
The champion up front is still missing, but in the meantime Beto and Deulofeu have reached her and Zapata in double figures who in 2016 reached 12 and 10 respectively.
«Well, let’s say that finding a man with thirty goals is now very difficult, but having two strikers who guarantee many more each is fundamental for setting the future.
And this is precisely the point, because I experienced the transition after Di Natale, which was not easy at all, but the Bruno Fernandes, the Muriel, the Thereau, the Zapata arrived in Udine, only it took time, once upon a time. that some have not had and that others have not deserved, especially seeing the career they later made ».
Does that mean that Beto and Deulofeu should be detained?
«Yes, and in fact now the difficulty will be keeping them. I am a fan of Marseille, and since January we have been talking about Deulofeu at the OM, and he continues to talk about him again ».
Do you like Catalan 10?
«Yes, even if despite having good periods, I always have the feeling that he is struggling to do an entire season as a top player. It was a promise in Barcelona, he had some problems, but now you can see that he is fine ».
Can Beto become the new Zapata?
«He has a bit of Duvan, but he can become one if he learns to play like Zapata did in Atalanta, improving his technical qualities. I had the impression that in his transformation path Zapata has benefited a lot from Gasperini’s schemes, so he also counts the way he plays ».
Thereau, what did you put in your memory album with Udinese?
«A lot of affection and a model club that does not let the players lack for anything. I would have liked to have arrived earlier to partner with Di Natale when he was at the top and then I was sorry for how I left, even the things I said to Delneri, but in Udine they know the esteem I have for everyone. They were my best three years ». –
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