Zanetti: ‘We will face Juventus with humility and awareness of our identity’ / VIDEO

Verona - Statements from Yellow-Blue manager Paolo Zanetti, released on the eve of Hellas Verona-Juventus, the match valid for the 2nd fixture of 2024/25 Serie A Enilive, and scheduled for the day after tomorrow, Monday 26 August, at 8:45 PM at the ‘Bentegodi’ stadium.

Coach, after the victory against Napoli it has been a week in the spotlight for Verona, do you fear any distractions? "We mustn't be afraid, but we must be careful, and this is something we have worked on during the week. We have shown that we have ups and downs and we must not risk having them again. In the last two games we have gained experience, both negative and positive. Experience makes us understand how we have to go on the pitch, how to prepare for an important game with the right motivation. The week was very good, it could only be that way. Morale is high as it should be, but we must continue to be humble, if not even more so. We have a very difficult test ahead of us, on Monday we will play against a team that is physically fit and already broken in".

In attack, will we still see the change Mosquera for Tengstedt? "Last Sunday it was not the one who scored the goals, but the team won. There were those who ran a lot in the first half, and then the game evolved in the second half. I consider those who come in as important as those who start from the beginning. That's how it is in modern football. Guys play for places every week in training, they fight for a starting jersey, they win it or lose it. The choices are made according to the game and who is better, who has given me signals, I also look at the details. The one who is feeling better plays".

With Napoli you surprised for the tactical design put in place, how will you play on Monday? "Juventus is a very dynamic team in the build-up phase, with few points of reference, it is difficult to think about their positions on the pitch. They always play with five men in the offensive phase, but the players are interchangeable between them. They have a coach with interesting ideas, who destabilises the tactics that the opponent can imagine. For all these reasons we have to think about our way of defending. We cannot concede space, they have important players, with good legs, strong in the one-on-one, the distances will be fundamental".

Will we see Belahyane on the pitch from the first minute after his performance against Napoli? "I chose Reda at that time not because Dani is not ready, but because he has different characteristics. We needed a player who would enter the match immediately and he did. He entered the game well, on pressure, on second balls. It's the same for him as it is for the others: everyone plays and trains to win their place, and the coach sometimes has to give something back. We'll also make our assessments based on the opponent, the characteristics we need on Monday. He came in well and deserves to play".

A more difficult week after the win against Napoli to maintain balance? "I made a comparison to the team about what we had been six days before and six days after. As I also said after Cesena, the team has quality and ability, we must consolidate and make our own path of growth. We know our limits when we go on the pitch without the right condition. It is important after a result like this to consolidate our skills, have enthusiasm and believe in our work. If we faced Juve in a cocky manner we would get a slap in the face. Humility must be in first place, aware that we have our weapons to hurt everyone".

How do we face this Juventus side? "Our identity will be decisive, what we have to do. We cannot concede space, be long or not be aggressive. The idea of the game they have is to break down your way of defending a bit, so we will have to field an important team block, one that knows what has to be done, with a humble attitude. Not taking a goal becomes decisive for us".

How feels the team? "We are in good shape apart from Serdar, everyone is available. On a numerical level I'll have to make choices, I'm in a ‘positive’ difficulty. Many deserve a jersey, the players have done a good job. The game against Napoli - apart from Suat - didn't leave any after-effects, we're going forward with the right mental and physical condition".

Are you giving great confidence to Coppola, a boy from 2003 but with 50 Serie A appearances, what is he giving you? "I think Diego can become an important player for Italian football. He can really aspire to something big. He has a bit of everything and is a very intelligent player, always with the right attitude both during the week and in the game. He feels my trust and is responding well. He has to remain humble, focused, on the ball, him like everyone else. I think he's a young player who can aspire to an important future".

An opinion on Frese's game against Napoli? "I analysed his performance carefully. From a defensive point of view I think he never had such an important match. He had three situations with the ball where he got confused in a few minutes, but that could be. Beyond his mistakes, I liked his teammates who put a patch on it, which we hadn't done the week before. The team wanted to show everyone that they are working to become a team. The result is often a demonstration of what you do on the pitch. I showed the players their work to patch up a mistake, not Frese's mistakes, actions that showed the attitude of a team that didn't want to take goals. It means being a group. Frese at that moment had to be encouraged, other times I clubbed him, like with everyone, I have no preference for him. Now there is another game, for me he is a good player and he will continue to play if he deserves it".

Difficult to amalgamate this heterogeneous group? "It is difficult from a communicative point of view, but what counts then is the predisposition of the players. For example with Livramento I speak in English, but what I say he does, as with other players. He is a smart, predisposed, hungry kid with quality. What is really important is the relationship that is created between the players, their communication counts. Football is a combination of connections, technical and communicative. We are also growing in this, the boys are getting to know each other, it's part of the journey. The skill is in their making themselves available. The common language then is always that of the pitch".