Monza manager Salvatore Bocchetti addressed the media ahead of his team’s vital Serie A encounter with Hellas Verona, emphasizing the importance of the match amidst a busy transfer window for the club.
When asked about managing the team’s mentality during a turbulent week, Bocchetti stressed the need for calm and professionalism: “We know the importance of tomorrow’s game. We must remain calm and focused on our objective. We are professionals and must accept these situations. Tomorrow will be fundamental: little has changed since the Genoa game. We must look forward, without waiting for others’ results but focusing on ourselves.”
Regarding new signing Gaetano Castrovilli, Bocchetti dismissed concerns about the player’s enthusiasm: “Photos can be misleading… I spoke with him on the phone and he seemed very convinced and motivated. He’s a great professional and I’m happy to have him in the group.”
The manager deflected questions about the club’s transfer strategy, insisting his focus is solely on the upcoming match: “The market is not my responsibility: we will concentrate on tomorrow’s game. I don’t want to talk about the transfer market.”
When pressed about Monza’s ambitions to stay in Serie A, Bocchetti reiterated: “Verona is fundamental. We must distance ourselves from the market. With the players, I try to make them think only about tomorrow’s game, which is worth more than anything.”
Bocchetti provided an update on player availability, noting several absences: “Caldirola, Bondo, Birindelli and Akpa Akpro remain out, in addition to the usual Cragno, Pessina and Gagliardini. The new signings seem quite prepared, though they’ve just arrived and we have one last training session to assess them.”
The manager expressed satisfaction with Urbanski’s recent performances: “Absolutely positive. I’m happy with how he approached the game and he works well during the week. I like him!”
Reflecting on his personal connection to Verona, Bocchetti shared: “As both a player and coach, I spent wonderful years there: I will always be grateful. They gave me a lot of trust and I will always appreciate that. They will come here to play their game. Tomorrow could be a good step forward for us.”
