Torino manager Paolo Vanoli addressed the media ahead of his team’s Serie A match against Venezia. Here are the key points from his press conference:
“It was a short week, but Venezia had the same. We’ve been good at quickly recovering our energy. We’re expecting a tough match against a team I know well.”
“We’ll need to assess the condition of new arrivals, if they’re not called up for national duty. Having many internationals is fortunate for a team, it means the level has increased. On the other hand, you find yourself with fewer players, but that’s football.”
“We’re playing against a team that’s playing in front of their fans for the first time. They’re coming off an important season, as it was for me, and they’ll want to prove they can stay in Serie A. From our side, I want to see a step up in mentality. These are the games where concentration needs to be increased. We must be hungry at the right level.”
“I’m pleased to return to a stadium where three months ago we celebrated an important milestone. When the referee blows the whistle, we must focus on the performance and achieving results at all costs.”
“You talk about numbers, I talk about principles. The difference is made by the characteristics of the players. Vlasic is a universal player who can play many roles. In today’s football, a player is intelligent if he knows how to adapt.”
“I emphasize the mental aspect not just for this game, but always. How you train is how you play. We need to grow especially in this. We’ll face a team that can give us trouble, but I want a team that puts itself on the same level, with humility and hunger, to play an important match.”
“If they deserve it, they’ll play. They are important elements that have their characteristics and strengthen the squad. I’ll get to know them better as soon as possible and understand their characteristics, including human ones.”
“I certainly prefer a left-footed player, but it depends on the market and if we can get there. If not, there are right-footed players who know how to adapt.”
“When building a team, you can’t have just eleven elements. You need to build a team that’s competitive in every role because this improves the aspect of mentality.”
Vanoli concluded by praising the depth of his attacking options and the importance of having players ready to contribute, even in limited minutes.
