The Monza after having drawn 0-0 in the last away match at Bologna, they will face another team that is particularly in form, namely theAtalanta who eliminated Liverpool in the Europa League quarter-finals this week. Coach Raffaele’s impressions in the press conference the day before Palladino on a challenge in which his team seeks further points to further improve an already very good ranking.
1.00pm – The press conference begins Raffaele Palladino.
Palladino, how can you frame the match against Atalanta?
“You have to be balanced when you face big teams with players who are also strong individually. In this second part of the season Monza was very usual and found balance even with a different tactical system. The path is beautiful, important and one of growth. Having achieved a result in Bologna gave us further awareness and positive energy. We will now face a great team like Atalanta, with a great coach and who comes from the Europa League success with Liverpool.”
How is Popovic and how is his integration going?
“I don’t know if the player will stay next season, the club will decide that. Physically he came from a period of inactivity and we preferred to add him to the Primavera where he is trying to find his space.”
How has Palladino changed over these years? Is Zerbin now finding the right continuity?
“Let’s start with Zerbin, because he is asserting himself in training and is now finding his match rhythm. He is doing well and is continuously performing, I knew his value both as a footballer and as a boy and I am happy about this. But Daniel Maldini, Mota Carvalho and now Ferraris who has been added to the first team were also good in that position. As far as I’m concerned, I was lucky to have joined this great company. I consider myself lucky, I have grown a lot. I was overwhelmed by this fantastic job, I am very ambitious and I always want the best from myself and my staff.”
Palladino, is yours a constant race in search of stimuli?
“It’s true, because football is about stimuli. The group is competitive and wants new challenges. He never wants to lose, and for this reason there is a great desire to get revenge and do well against Atalanta against whom we have never scored points. Maybe it will be the right opportunity to put a strong team with great individuality and trained in an optimal way in difficulty. In fact, the results can be seen, they are doing well in the league but also in Europe. We will play it as always.”
In which match did you see your football thinking best applied during your career?
“It would be simplistic to choose a single match, I prefer to look at the path where we have grown constantly. I saw a continuous improvement from Monza who, as newly promoted, managed to play great against any opponent. If I had to point out some matches in particular I would say the one we won against Inter last season and the one in which we beat Milan this year. But I repeat, as a coach I am interested in looking at the path as a whole.”
Speaking of incentives: is there a reward set for achieving a certain goal? How is the recovery of players who are not at their best going?
“I don’t offer cash prizes (laughs). The company takes care of setting the premiums. Mota Carvalho, Machin and Bettella will not be called up while Vignato and D’Ambrosio are recovered.”
1.17pm – The press conference has ended Raffaele Palladino.
Tags: Monza Palladino ambitious matches Inter Milan
