Udinese are seeking redemption after suffering two consecutive defeats as they prepare to face Atalanta away at Gewiss Stadium. Head coach Kosta Runjaic addressed the media in a press conference, emphasizing his team’s readiness to compete against a formidable opponent.
Runjaic acknowledged the challenge posed by Atalanta, stating, “There are never easy matches; Atalanta is an absolutely valuable team. They played an extraordinary game against Stuttgart, showcasing principles and ideas with great discipline on the field. You can see the years of work behind them. They have great quality and perform well in both phases of the game. They are in excellent form, and we know what awaits us. However, I wouldn’t define Atalanta as the toughest opponent we could face. We need to try to withstand their pressure, respond with fire to fire, and assert ourselves in duels while never forgetting our playing principles.”
When asked about preparations for facing top teams like Atalanta, Runjaic emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and energy: “I believe our team is smart enough to understand when we play well and when we don’t. As a coach, I communicate clearly with my players. We must not lose our way; it will be crucial to stay in the game and bring energy against Atalanta. If we don’t do that, things can go wrong, as we saw against Juventus. When we don’t perform at our best, we lose duels and second balls, making it difficult against these teams. Every opponent can put us in trouble if we don’t give everything; against Atalanta, we need to give 100% to play a good match.”
Regarding tactical adjustments, Runjaic suggested that a more offensive formation could be on the table: “It is certainly a possibility. We want a stable formation as a base on which to make changes. The formation can vary depending on the opponent. What matters is that the intensity remains consistent. There are different options we want to explore, including switching to a four-man defense.”
On injury updates, Runjaic provided insights into player conditions: “Thauvin has been absent for a couple of weeks; he wasn’t at 100% in the last match against Juventus and still feels some pain but will improve further. Kristensen has rejoined the team; he participated in part of the training with us before continuing with separate running work. Next week he will be fully available for the group.”
He also commented on Ekkelenkamp’s progress: “He has prepared well this week and is in good shape compared to before facing Venezia. Tomorrow we will see if he starts from the beginning; I can’t say yet if he will be a starter, but he is running well and active in training.”
Regarding Alexis Sanchez’s recovery, Runjaic noted: “The recovery times have lengthened. It’s hard to predict when he will be available again. He is working hard every day and is eager to return to the pitch.”
Runjaic expressed his thoughts on potentially switching to a four-man defense: “Yes, I am considering it, but it requires specific work; players need to know each other well. I seek a certain level of team spirit where we fight until the end of matches and give everything without giving up during games.”
He also reflected on Udinese’s development process: “We can learn from Atalanta’s history; they were low in the standings in 2014-2015 but played exceptionally well the following year, establishing themselves among the top teams through their principles.”
