As Torino prepare to face Udinese in their final match of 2024, head coach Paolo Vanoli held a press conference to discuss the team’s current state and the importance of the upcoming game. After a disappointing home defeat against Bologna, Torino are looking to bounce back and secure vital points.
Vanoli began by addressing the condition of his squad: “We have recovered Milinkovic, who had an abdominal issue, and Njie, who suffered a knee injury yesterday. Both are with us now. Against Bologna, we demonstrated that we are physically ready. We know the importance of this match; there are crucial points available in these last two games of the first half of the season, and we are focused on Udine.”
When asked about Udinese’s form, he noted: “They come off an important result in Florence. Their players are strong and physical, so we need to be attentive. The challenge will be on set pieces; they have several players over six feet tall. Thauvin has scored three goals and has quality, and Lucca is also proving himself. For me, they are a complete team, and it’s no surprise that they pose a physical challenge.”
Reflecting on his early months at Torino, Vanoli said: “We need to look ahead and build for the future. A new cycle has begun. In the first part of the season, we had both positive and negative results as we find a new concept. We didn’t expect to encounter so many difficulties, but that’s part of the journey. Our objectives have changed; now we focus on securing important points as quickly as possible.”
On Ilic’s potential impact on the attack, he stated: “He has the qualities to help us offensively. What he’s doing now is his ideal role. We have many players with significant abilities who can take on defenders and deliver key passes, like Vlasic. However, we cannot dwell solely on quality; we need soul and strength. We must prioritize the team over individual talents.”
Discussing tactical demands for his wing-backs against Udinese, he explained: “To perform well defensively, we need to attack because that forces their wing-backs to track back. They also need to win one-on-one battles; we are improving in that area. I want our wing-backs to attack more to push their defenders back.”
Regarding Walukiewicz’s condition after a respiratory issue against Bologna, he said: “We’ll evaluate him; I hope to have him back for the next match.”
When asked about the importance of tomorrow’s game on a scale of 1 to 10, Vanoli declared: “11. You laughed in my face when I said securing points for salvation was a priority, but it means I’m not foolish. These two matches—first in Udine against a difficult team and then at Empoli—hold significant points.”
On his attackers’ performance, he remarked: “There isn’t one player who performs better when they come on; everyone needs to contribute more in front of goal. It’s not true that we aren’t shooting; we just need more aggression in our approach. Against Bologna, Karamoh had a great chance, and Sanabria missed opportunities due to a lack of reaction during pressing. That’s where we need to make a difference.”
When asked if there was any Udinese player he would take for his squad, Vanoli firmly replied: “None. Absolutely not.”
With defensive changes necessary due to injuries and suspensions, he stated: “With all these injuries and suspensions we’ve faced… whoever goes on the pitch must give 110%. We cannot fall behind against Bologna due to such errors; we need to roll up our sleeves and move forward.”
On his motivational approach with the team, Vanoli shared: “I showed the players our progress by comparing data from our first seven matches with our last ten. If we hide from reality, it means we’re making mistakes. I’ve learned that when you present reality clearly, they understand—it’s not just talk. Our primary goal was to secure points for salvation; that’s clear. We must demonstrate that on the pitch.”
In closing, Vanoli expressed his condolences regarding Gian Paolo Ormezzano’s passing: “I want to mention that the club requested and received permission from the league to wear black armbands in memory of Gian Paolo Ormezzano. I regret not having known him personally because I missed out on knowing someone so passionate about Torino. It’s a great loss; however, Piero Venera has shared how much Ormezzano loved Torino with me. I want to extend my condolences from the club to his family and say that tomorrow we will play with black armbands to honor such an important person.”
