Paolo Zanetti presented himself as the new coach of Udinese in a press conference today. The new manager expressed his displeasure at the health situation of legendary owner Gino Pozzo, but underlined that his first objective is to bring the joy of playing on the pitch back to the club. Zanetti declared that he had already met Pozzo's wife and that he wanted to give new impetus to the team, which according to him has still unexplored potential.
In his first interview he reiterated the importance of work and mentality. “I don't want to upset what has already been built,” he said, referring to previous manager Runjaic, who left Udinese in a second-to-last position. Zanetti explained that, if the team does not improve, it risks relegation to Serie B, and expressed the need to increase the pace of the "machine" to save the team. He has already found a good feeling with midfielder Inler and said that the tactical approach will be flexible, switching from a 3‑5‑2 to a 3‑4‑2‑1 depending on needs.
Regarding the key players, Zanetti spoke about Zaniolo, Lovric and Ebosse. He underlined that the success of an individual depends on the group and that the objective is to create the right spaces for the strongest players. He also announced that, if necessary, he can change the hierarchies on the field, but that the team must prove its worth before making final decisions. The new coach closed his presentation by declaring that he has an eight-month contract, with an option to renew, but that his main aim is to demonstrate his worth and take Udinese towards a higher position in the table.
Finally, Zanetti spoke about his relationships with the club members. He mentioned his friendship with Paolo Poggi and Luca Gotti, two figures who helped him understand the club's culture. He also reported that he did not perceive any separation between the managers and the players, underlining that they all share the same desire to do well. With the season just starting, the pressure is high: the team must win the next match on Friday to avoid relegation, but the biggest challenge remains to raise Udinese to the level of competition the club deserves.