Ahead of Sunday’s clash in Palermo, coach Luca D’Angelo addressed the media in the customary pre-match press conference: “When the work you’ve done is praised, it’s naturally satisfying and gratifying, but at the same time, we must remain focused. The journey is still long, and the only way to stay on this path is to keep working with the right mindset, just as we have so far. We can’t rest on compliments; instead, we need to keep pushing forward with what we’re doing.
Kouda’s injury is unfortunately more serious than it initially appeared right after the match. He’ll need at least another couple of weeks to recover. Bandinelli is doing well. I had hoped to bring him on late against Südtirol, but Vignali’s cramps forced a change of plans.
Palermo is a strong team, with a capable coach and solid ownership, so it will undoubtedly be a tough match in a large and passionate stadium. We’ll need to be very sharp mentally and tactically because Palermo frequently changes their attacking approach throughout the game.
Nikolaou? He’s a great person and an excellent player. I hold him in high regard for everything he did last season, and I’ll be glad to see him again. He was the right captain during a very challenging time.
Pio Esposito is delivering more than last year, partly because the team as a whole has improved. But in general, his contribution to our build-up play is crucial, beyond just scoring goals. It’s the work he does throughout the match that makes the difference for me. Our defensive solidity begins with our forwards, and every player on the field has a role to play in that phase. This is something I see in all my players, they’re always ready to sacrifice themselves in both phases of play. Up front, too, everyone shows the right attitude. For example, I think back to the high pressing by Čolak that forced the Südtirol own goal, his pressure was pivotal in causing the goalkeeper’s error.
Aggressiveness is undoubtedly a key aspect of our playing style, and we’re more comfortable setting up that way. This is partly because we have players who excel in one-on-one defending. Ultimately, though, a team’s style of play is dictated by the characteristics of its players.
Degli Innocenti? He’s been doing very well. At first, he was behind in terms of fitness since he joined the group late, but he has always trained hard. His weekly efforts and performances have earned him the playing time he’s getting. Overall, everyone contributes, whether starting or coming off the bench, and I can only thank them because that’s essential for a team like ours.
As for Palermo, they are undoubtedly a technical team. We’ve prepared some things, and we’ll see if we can execute them, but our core playing philosophy remains the same. While we can make minor adjustments, we won’t stray too far from our identity.
Soleri? Of course, he’s not thrilled about the recent time spent as a substitute, but we know him. He’s a serious professional who always trains well. His opportunity to start will come again. With five forwards, someone will inevitably be left out each time, but fortunately, everyone prioritizes the team above all else, and that’s what truly matters".
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