Udinese group technical director Gianluca Nani spoke following the team`s recent defeat against Monza. He shared his thoughts on the match performance, the season overall, and addressed the situation concerning player Alexis Sanchez.
Nani acknowledged that the performance against Monza was not good and stated that the club, players, and staff all share responsibility. He admitted they knew it would be a tricky game and had discussed it with the players beforehand, but they failed to achieve their objective of winning, which is disappointing for the fans. He noted that losing to a relegated team can happen and is part of football`s unpredictability, offering congratulations to Monza. While believing Udinese is a superior team, he conceded that various factors contributed to the loss, emphasizing that ultimately, the team`s collective strength is paramount. He confirmed that the match would be analyzed to identify errors and areas for improvement. Despite having a generally strong season and securing safety well in advance, Nani stressed that such results cannot be accepted lightly if the club aims to progress.
Regarding Alexis Sanchez and head coach Kosta Runjaic, Nani dismissed the idea of a personal issue between them. He clarified that any decisions concerning Sanchez are based purely on the coach`s technical evaluations. Nani expressed high regard for Sanchez, valuing his contribution to Udine and his current abilities, while also acknowledging the player`s unfortunate injury struggles this season. He reiterated that the coach makes the technical decisions. Sanchez is under contract and will remain part of the squad, though he noted that future market developments are always a possibility. He concluded that there is nothing particularly complex about Sanchez`s situation requiring special analysis.
Nani underscored the club`s constant desire for improvement. He described the current season as being at a medium-high level but stressed the importance of analyzing mistakes to facilitate growth. He framed the loss not as a tragedy but as a crucial learning opportunity. He mentioned the team has had positive periods throughout the season and that inconsistent results, like the one against Monza, are part of a championship campaign. He urged remembering the club`s position last season to appreciate the current achievements while simultaneously committing to raising performance standards further. Nani admitted he dislikes losing and believes that analyzing defeats, understanding what went wrong, is the necessary starting point for recovery and improvement.
He highlighted Udinese`s continuous efforts to improve under the Pozzo ownership, mentioning the highly-regarded stadium in Europe, the club`s recognition as forward-thinking in many areas, particularly scouting. The objective, he reiterated, is to keep raising the bar. Citing Leicester City`s improbable title win as an example, Nani emphasized not setting limitations on ambition. He stressed the need to understand the club`s reality while pushing for maximum ambition and potential, personally demanding the utmost effort. He stated that the loss to Monza was not due to a lack of will or underestimating the opponent, noting that such defeats can even cost a team titles (like Roma`s Scudetto loss). While mentioning a potentially missed foul on Kamara, he quickly dismissed appealing to external factors, insisting the focus must remain on self-improvement. He confirmed that the team met its season objectives with relative ease: early safety, playing proactive football, and developing young players. The current frustration over the Monza game, he argued, demonstrates that they are not content and aspire to achieve more. He would intervene if the players weren`t taking things seriously, but noted that the players and coach are the most upset. A calm analysis of the game is needed, he concluded, to serve as a foundation for making fewer mistakes moving forward.