FROSINONE – After the morning training, Mr. Di Francesco’s press conference on the day before leaving for the last away match of the season.
Mister, selling it to enter the conference room came to mind when he showed up with the absence slip. The situation seems a little better. Apart from Mazzitelli and Turati. What are Romagnoli’s conditions?
“Today Romagnoli trained with the team for the first time, he should be available, he will carry out his last training session and we hope to have him with us. Just as we hope to be able to bring Mazzitelli too, at least on the bench because we need our captain alongside the team. While as regards Turati we won’t have him until the end of the season. However, Brescianini and Bonifazi who stopped today need to be evaluated. But that sheet full of injured people isn’t there. It’s normal, however, that I also have many players who are not in top condition despite their availability. But today it is important to have the boys around, to be united for this final rush of 180’”.
We are 180′ from the end, everything is open. What are your emotions, your sensations of a season?
“I would like to express these thoughts at the end of the championship in a carefree way and also with a good glass of wine. It would certainly be pleasant because it would mean that everything went as we hoped. I have to say that this team tried to give me everything they had. It is normal that there are growth paths to follow, especially in young people. Ours is a team that has also been able to change its skin also due to the difficulties resulting from the many injuries we have had. Today, however, more than anything else, rather than looking back at what has been, I would look at those details that will be fundamental within the remaining 180 minutes. For example: with Inter you hit the crossbar, you have 2-3 clear chances and then you lose 5-0, a result that seems a bit paradoxical in relation to how the match itself unfolded. But this makes you understand what Serie A is and the attention that must be paid to detail.”
Is there any particular aspect that could weigh on us between now and next Sunday in Monza?
“I wouldn’t go and look at the defects in the first place. I’ve always talked about raising attention. In the last race, regardless of the result, we lowered it. This is why I ask you to always stay inside the game. We have worked a lot this week on this aspect. I assure you that there were some details that in the previous weeks made the difference in this sense. And what we have done we must bring back to the race. Starting with attention, we will be able to gain the satisfaction we had set ourselves at the beginning of the season.”
Shouldn’t contemporaneity be applied with common sense when composing calendars?
“I totally agree. But given that common sense in our world leaves the time it finds, also because it then becomes of an individual nature, they decided this way and now we will continue like this until the end of this season. I am in favor of keeping the competitions running at the same time, so as not to give rise to or advantages of any kind. There will, I believe, be the time and the way to talk about it. I believe in the common sense of everything, in ethics, in the seriousness of work, in morality, in professionalism, but this rule can also be changed in perspective. And it would be even better for the last 2-3 days. Subconsciously you approach matches differently, with the freedom of being able to play matches differently and this isn’t really fair in the end. But now let’s focus on this ending.”
If Mazzitelli isn’t there, do you like an idea that sees Gelli alongside Barrenechea with Brescianini up front in support of Soulé and Cheddira or lowering Brescianini and inserting one of Harruoi or Reinier?
“These are the two options I worked on and left everyone with doubts. I believe that giving certainties to young people can make them lower their guard. This week I have implemented dualisms that can also be useful while racing. Dualisms also linked to someone’s conditions. However, you will see many players called up who will not be the available royals.”
You always said that we depend on ourselves. In these two games, should we also look at the others?
“Mostly we have to think about ourselves. But we can’t help but ‘throw it out’ with an eye and an ear to the others. But first of all we must think about doing our best even if we are also tied to the results of other direct competitors.”
How is the team mentally? And what do you expect from Monza?
“I tell you that last Saturday after the match we trained and I told the boys to immediately clean up from the 0-5. If we continue to talk about that defeat we risk losing again. What changed anyway? Did we lose 2-0, playing with the same players and risking some suspensions? Or did we keep the same system to risk getting a warning to Okoli who was nervous, to Zortea or to others? Everything can be justifiable even if it is not acceptable to lose in that way. But it’s over, let’s look forward. From the head’s point of view I saw them well. Monza? He is coached by an emerging player, Palladino is among the most interesting coaches in our championship. It’s a team that has nothing to lose and has the objective of reaching 50 points.”
The first victory of the season away from home could arrive on Sunday. Could this be a kind of redemption?
“I see people making spells… But it’s not a question of redemption at all. We have an objective, it is obvious to achieve an important result. We will play for this. But depending on the situation, a draw could also be a draw, just as it could be very important to get the three points. I don’t like the certainties you provide, beyond all the superstitions. It is clear that we must try to win, as we have always tried to do even if we have not succeeded many times. This is a match to be played with a lot of intelligence compared to many other matches.”
Compared to the first leg, what mistakes should not be made? And who fears more than Monza?
“They have many important players, but Djuric is a dangerous element if you bring him into the penalty area. Since his arrival, Monza has also changed the way it plays. They have this extra weapon. And then I also really like Colpani. Or Valentin Carboni himself. They are the ones who can determine a lot. But they have collective strength.”
Frosinone Calcio Press Office
