Venezia are preparing for their away match against Parma, a direct clash amidst numerous transfer rumours, and the official announcement of Alessio Zerbin’s arrival from Napoli coming just hours ago. Coach Eusebio Di Francesco spoke at a press conference to preview the match, highlighting the danger that Parma can pose them.
Regarding the new signing Zerbin and the upcoming opponent, Di Francesco stated, “We welcome Zerbin, he has the characteristics to play as a wingback, can play on both right and left sides, with dynamism and pace. We wanted him from the start, I hoped to have him even earlier. He trained today, I’m not sure if he can start, but he’ll be on the bench.” On Parma, he added, “They have the ability to quickly turn a defensive action into an offensive one with players like Cancellieri, Man, Bonny, Mihaila, Sohm, Almqvist and others. Even during the game, they can change their setup and remain dangerous. That’s their best weapon.”
When asked about injuries, Di Francesco was cautious, saying, “You’ll see tomorrow, we’re trying to make some adjustments, but I think there will be a few more absences. I can’t tell you who, how or why, there are obvious reasons, but we’ll try to recover someone.”
Addressing the challenges of working during an open transfer window, Di Francesco showed resilience: “I believe I have broad shoulders, all sorts of things happen during this period, I assure you, but we’re ready. The more rational we are about certain situations, the better.”
On Parma’s strong offensive transitions, Di Francesco emphasized the need for balance: “Saying so would be like saying we attack with 2 and defend with 8, which I don’t think is possible and would give strength to the opponents. The balance lies in the fact that if one pushes forward, another must cover.”
Regarding potential lineup changes, Di Francesco hinted at flexibility: “Bjarkason could start. He’s among the candidates, like Zerbin. Versatile? We use versatile players even more in these matches.”
When asked about defensive concerns, Di Francesco revealed ongoing challenges: “Two or one [defenders], it also depends on what happens overnight. Sverko played with a fever last week. He was more doubtful than Altare, who then got injured, I’ve said it all.”
On the possibility of using youth team defenders, Di Francesco was cautious: “I believe a lot in young players, but they need time. At this moment, I don’t see players ready to face this championship. Only Chiesurin will be among the called-up players.”
Discussing returning players like Haps and Candela, Di Francesco praised their professionalism: “Yes, they can be useful. They are players of great seriousness above all.”
Finally, on new signing Condé, Di Francesco noted, “He needs to acquire better physical condition and higher knowledge, in terms of rhythm and intensity. He needs to increase intensity in the game and training. Obviously, he’s not quite ready to start yet, but he can give us a hand during the game as he did against Inter.”
