As Venezia gear up for a challenging match against Juventus, head coach Eusebio Di Francesco spoke to the media about the team’s preparations and mindset ahead of the encounter. The match is set to take place tomorrow at the Allianz Stadium, and Di Francesco is focused on securing crucial points for his side.
When asked about the team’s training and injury status, Di Francesco confirmed that there would be no changes in the list of unavailable players. “From the point of view of absentees, there are no modifications; they remain the same. After the last training session, I will finalize the list. Haps had been out due to illness, but overall we will have the same squad as last week,” he stated.
Reflecting on the club’s support, Di Francesco expressed appreciation for the trust placed in him. “It’s nice to receive recognition related to our work; obviously, we are not rewarded by results yet. It’s a fact, but we continue to work seriously, aiming to develop young players and give the team an identity. In this journey, having the support of the club is undeniably important,” he remarked.
Di Francesco acknowledged Juventus’s recent strong performance, particularly their victory over Manchester City. “Even before facing City, we knew they were strong; they are a solid team, especially at home. Historically, that’s how it is. It’s a difficult match, but something positive can come from it,” he said.
Discussing tactics for facing Juventus, he noted their possession-based style under their coach but highlighted their ability to win through direct attacks as shown in their match against City. “We must be good at not letting ourselves be overwhelmed,” he emphasized.
On individual player performance, Di Francesco addressed Candela’s struggles, stating that errors are a collective issue rather than just one player’s fault. “We have made many mistakes, not just him. We share these errors as a team. He needs to understand that through hard work on his shortcomings, he can improve,” he explained.
Recalling last year’s match against Juventus, where a late goal from Rugani was particularly frustrating for him, Di Francesco reflected on how his team had been dangerous despite Juventus’s dominance. “We have players skilled at counterattacks; we may not have many, but we are better at bringing multiple players into the box to provide good balls for Pohjanpalo,” he said.
Regarding the partnership between Oristanio and Pohjanpalo, Di Francesco noted their potential for improvement and emphasized the need for them to capitalize on scoring opportunities. “They are doing something interesting; in the end, they should convert more chances. The last match was unique in that we lacked determination in front of goal,” he stated.
Looking ahead to the match against Juventus, Di Francesco stressed the importance of focusing on attitude rather than specific outcomes. “I don’t like talking about points or gifts; we need to concentrate on our approach and minimize distractions during matches,” he mentioned.
Finally, when asked about Nicolussi Caviglia’s readiness for this significant game, Di Francesco shared his ongoing work with him on technical and tactical aspects while encouraging him to take on more leadership responsibilities on the field.
