Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic expressed optimism and excitement ahead of his team’s upcoming Serie A clash against AC Milan. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Runjaic provided updates on player fitness and shared his thoughts on the formidable challenge that awaits his side at the San Siro.
“We’ve made good use of the break, especially the first week, training intensively,” Runjaic began. “Almost all players had two days off over the weekend, so we’ve utilized our time well.” The manager confirmed that Martin Payero and Sandi Lovric have fully recovered and will be available for selection.
However, Florian Thauvin is still dealing with a minor rib injury sustained from an uncalled foul in the match against Inter. “He’s still in some pain and can’t train with the team yet. He’s undergoing physiotherapy and is in the gym every day, but he’s not 100% ready to play,” Runjaic explained.
On a positive note, the coach shared that Thomas Kristensen will return to team training next week, and Alexis Sanchez is also making good progress. “I hope to see him with the group very soon,” Runjaic added.
Addressing the challenge of facing AC Milan, Runjaic emphasized the need for a collective effort. “Every match is unique in itself. Playing against Milan after the break is a good opportunity to earn points. We’ll do everything to make life difficult for them and prevent them from showcasing their great quality. We must cover spaces, be compact and attentive.”
The manager acknowledged Milan’s individual talent, particularly in attack. “They may not be in their best moment, but they have great individuals. In the offensive phase, they have some of the strongest players in Serie A,” he noted.
Runjaic expressed satisfaction with his team’s performances so far but stressed the need for improvement. “We need to be more courageous at the start of the game, bring more energy to the field. We didn’t do that against Roma, but we’ve learned from that match.”
The Udinese boss also provided insights on several players, including Pizarro, who is still working on regaining match fitness, and Iker Bravo, who has impressed in training. Runjaic praised Lorenzo Lucca’s recent national team debut and emphasized the importance of Brenner continuing to improve.
When asked about containing Milan’s star attackers Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, Runjaic acknowledged the difficulty of the task. “When they pick up speed, they cause problems for any team. There’s no recipe to stop them, but what we can do is leave few spaces, work together, stay compact, and avoid making simple mistakes.”
