Ahead of the pivotal clash against Lecce, Empoli head coach Roberto D’Aversa spoke to the media about the importance of the upcoming match, which is crucial for both teams’ survival in Serie A.
D’Aversa emphasized the need for focus as his team gears up for the encounter: “Our thoughts must be entirely on tomorrow’s match. Since they changed coaches, Lecce has added something to their game. We are not facing the same team we played in the first half of the season. This is a delicate match, and we need to have the will and determination to achieve a favorable result. All our energy must be directed towards tomorrow.”
When asked about player availability, D’Aversa provided an update on Fazzini: “Unfortunately, there are dynamics related to the transfer market that I don’t fully understand. However, he has trained with us and is among the convocations. He is an important player who I couldn’t have with us in Venice, so we need to evaluate his playing time while hoping he doesn’t suffer any psychological setbacks. I’ve spoken with him, and he seems quite calm.”
Reflecting on what it takes to return to winning ways, D’Aversa noted that despite recent defeats, his players have consistently shown good performances: “Even in losses, the players have always delivered strong performances. We must be clear about our situation. We went to Venice with 19 players, including three from the youth team, and we’ve been in emergency mode for a while due to injuries. The performances have always been there; now we need to work on improving this aspect.”
D’Aversa also highlighted the lessons learned from their previous match against Lecce: “In the first encounter, we had the chance to close out the game but ended up settling for a draw after conceding late. I don’t look for excuses; tomorrow’s match will be difficult.”
As for his squad’s ability to challenge opponents effectively, he remarked: “Venezia has made it tough for important teams at home, and we’ve managed to put them under pressure as well. This shows the good work being done by the players.”
Looking ahead to the match against Lecce, D’Aversa expressed his desire to see a strong performance: “We need to show personality and determination. We played exceptionally well in terms of duels and ball recovery against Venezia. We want to carry that into tomorrow’s game.”
With transfer speculation looming over the club, D’Aversa acknowledged that discussions about potential signings are ongoing but emphasized focusing on current players: “Esposito has shown significant technical quality but needs to work on consistency. He must continue improving without becoming complacent.”
