UDINE. Seven years in Bergamo on the Atalanta bench and then seven and a half months at the helm of Udinese, in the troubled 2015-’16 season, are enough for Stefano Colantuono to look with affection into the home of Dea and Zebretta, expected on Saturday for a direct confrontation for the resumption of the championship. The double ex, back without constraints after his recent experience as director of the technical area at Sambenedettese, has “done the cards” to his former teams, anticipating the challenge.
Colantuono, let’s start from the end, or rather from the season finale in which Udinese wants to aim for eighth place.
«Since salvation has now been achieved, I would say that he can try, but he will have to walk at a great pace and do a good row to recover points at Sassuolo, who has already made an important growth path, and at Verona. Then there are also Bologna and Sampdoria, teams with which the bianconeri will be able to play safely ».
Meanwhile, Udinese will restart from Atalanta, against whom it is always difficult to play …
«Guardiola’s joke about last year’s Goddess is always relevant. Facing Atalanta is like going to the dentist and perhaps now it is even more annoying because they are the most European Italian team of all in terms of rhythm, intensity and characteristics.
Their game is about pressing, with the central players climbing high in the middle of the field and aiming not to give references with the midfielders who swap positions, which also Zapata does in attack despite being the offensive terminal. They have good players and great technique ».
In your opinion, what should be done and not done against the Goddess?
“You have to face it as much as possible and present yourself with the right head from the start, but also have great intensity and precision in the dribble phase because they come to take you very high and if they steal the ball they are able to go into the goal with three steps.
So be careful in the dribble, but also be ready to put great quality and precision in the counterattacks that they allow because by attacking a bit of the pitch behind them they give it ».
You had Zapata in Udine, whose progress is visible to all …
«Let’s remember that to me, and to Udinese, Duvan missed a lot due to the injury he remedied in Bologna at the start of the championship. Now Zapata is technically advanced and above all he is more aware of his means, then he sees the door more easily and is simply among the best. For me it is the one that most resembles Lukaku in terms of characteristics and performance ».
The other former Juventus player Muriel, on the other hand, has been linked to Inter for the future.
«Luis has always been talked about well, but before that he lacked the continuity he has now acquired in Bergamo, where I believe they have had a lot of merit for his explosion. Muriel can score in a top club, but it will do well not to forget that Atalanta is already a top club. Gasperini also recalled this in a recent interview ».
You who worked on it in Bergamo, would you have imagined the results obtained in recent years?
“Honestly, not these goals, but the Percassi had very clear ideas already when I was there. They consolidated at the beginning and then they found in Gasperini the man who changed world and perspectives, allowing them to achieve results and capital gains that now allow Atalanta to buy players that were unattainable before, while maintaining one of the best balance sheets in Serie A ».
Instead Gotti in Udine is still waiting for reconfirmation …
“I see no reason why the relationship between the parties should not continue, given that Gotti has demonstrated knowledge and skills, and is in line with all the objectives set by the company, then we will see in the last ten days”.
Those in which a quick second striker would be convenient for how Udinese are playing.
«True, but in the absence of Pereyra under the striker it was and is a good choice, given that Roberto is one of those players who know our league well, and that they find the position themselves. Indeed, I would say that against Atalanta he is the right man, as he already demonstrated in the first leg ». –
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