Udinese's defeat against Lecce raised suspicions that Kosta Runjaic's adventure on the bench of the Friulian club was now over. The coach, who had presented himself with the aim of giving new life to a squad that did not seem to reflect the expectations of Gino Pozzo and the management, was unable to produce consistent results or make the most of the young talents made available. Despite this, the administration decided to give him another chance, but the match against Milan seems to represent the last opportunity for him, both inside and outside the club. If the answers do not arrive, the farewell now seems inevitable, since the Udine project still has a lot of value and risks suffering an unexpected slowdown.
In today's Tuttomercatoweb podcast, journalist Marco Conterio delved into the situation with Valerio Bertotto, former Udinese manager from 1993 to 2006. Bertotto expressed his disappointment with the performance of the last match, calling it "in serious difficulty" and "completely at the mercy of Lecce". He stressed that, given the club's capacity and potential, the current position is unacceptable and wished for a speedy recovery. According to him, the team did not show the necessary attitude to seek the result, which left a "bitter" impression.
Regarding the relationship between Runjaic and the team, Bertotto stated that "everyone expected, given the good previous results, to make a further upgrade and move up a level". The failure to achieve these objectives has generated discontent among players and club officials. Bertotto stressed that the lack of progress is a shame, as the Udine project still has much to offer.
Runjaic's future remains uncertain. The club has decided not to rule out his stay, but the next match against Milan could be decisive. If positive results are not achieved, the coach's farewell seems to have already become a concrete prospect. Udinese, with its potential and its history, risks suffering an unexpected slowdown if it is unable to get back on track. The next step will therefore be to monitor Runjaic's performance in the match against Milan and evaluate the club's future decisions.