Udine coach Kosta Runjaic stated in yesterday's press conference that David Alaba will be a key element in the team's defense, but that his use will be limited due to the physical conditions of both players.
Runjaic explained that Alaba is a multi-purpose player: he has already played in midfield, as a central defender and as a full-back. “We consider him for the three-man defense in all three roles, he is capable of playing vertically, talks a lot and knows how to provide organisation, something we have lacked recently,” said the coach. The German coach added that the team has only been training together since Thursday, so each player's working situation is different. "Alaba was well impressed and his story speaks for him. He knows how to make the right decisions in the match and now he will be put to the test in the match", he concluded.
However, Runjaic pointed out that Alaba is not yet in top form, as is Keinan Davis. “Starting with both starters would mean having two forced changes during the match,” admitted the coach. “Yes, it's true – he continued – Davis can play but not for ninety minutes and we must also learn from what happened to Zaniolo”. The coach then explained that Davis has trained as a group in the last two training sessions and has shown how important he is for the team.
Alaba, another left-footed player like Ebosse, offers further tactical solutions. “We cannot be satisfied with the points collected but I am optimistic about the margins for improvement,” declared Runjaic. “We will go to Turin for the three points, we must work well as a team.”
With the match against Torino scheduled, Udinese aims to exploit Alaba's versatility without compromising defensive solidity. The coach expressed confidence in the team's ability to improve and obtain the necessary points for the classification. The final result will depend on the management of the formations and the form of the key players.