It is not the 3-4-2-1, the retouched formula with the double attacking midfielder in which Roberto Pereyra and Lazar Samaradzic are headed for confirmation behind Lorenzo Lucca, but rather the defence, the doubt that is gripping Gabriele Cioffi on the eve of the derby salvation tomorrow evening in Verona, where the Bianconeri will be accompanied by over a thousand fans in a Bentegodi stadium which is close to being sold out (24 thousand tickets have already been sold). A rearguard in which the Udinese coach wanted to see clearly during the week, given that in the exercises Thomas Kristensen was often alternated with Lautaro Giannetti in the left central role, as if the coach wanted to make the Dane understand that ownership, especially in these times, is not like the “usual” t-shirt good to wear for every occasion, but an item to be chosen carefully to match with criteria.
It will be from the list given to the referee Marco Guida di Torre Annunziata that we will understand whether Cioffi only wanted to keep Kristensen on edge, first unexpectedly appointed as a starter with Inter, and then reconfirmed with Roma, or whether in reality he really thought about Giannetti , but in the meantime it is certain that he has already achieved an effect, because it is reasonable to think that the expert Argentine defender has already reactivated himself thinking of returning to the starting line-up after the permanent bench spent with Sassuolo, Inter and Roma, after the last 90 minutes which date back to 0-2 with Torino.
An Argentinian in the derby is always a guarantee of “garra”, attention, temperament and ability to withstand the pressure that Udinese will have to show tomorrow against an opponent who will put them on the pace by trusting in the environment. In short, for Zebretta there could be another match very similar to the one lost at Marassi at the end of February against Genoa, right there where Kristensen had appeared with ten consecutive starts before failing, proving that he couldn’t handle the pressure with two yellow cards. (one in each half) which left the team numerically inferior after 4′ of the second half.
This is what Cioffi is thinking about, as he sees many pitfalls in Verona’s 4-2-3-1, considering the skills of Suslov, Folorunsho and Lazovic in support of Noslin, an advanced reference in attack. The line of three attacking midfielders, in fact, has an important prerogative and therefore a danger for Udinese in the quick transition of the ball and in finishing from outside.
This is why during the week the coach not only tried the defense “blocked” by the central defenders, but also the more dynamic one with Joao Ferreira on the right of Jaka Bijol, and with Nehuen Perez on the left. However, this is not the defensive line that should begin in Verona, where Kristensen remains ahead in the run-off with Giannetti to complete the line with Perez on the right and Bijol in the center.
Confirmations arrive instead in the other departments, with Kingsley Ehizibue and Hassane Kamara on the outside in a midfield that will see Walace and Martin Payero protect captain Pereyra and Samardzic behind Lucca. Oier Zarraga also came into play in the tests at Bruseschi, but Payero is definitely favored over the Spaniard to join Walace.
Tags: Udinese Cioffis choice defense ahead Verona
