Emilio De Leo has claimed Bologna are prepared to cope without a long list of absent key members against Udinese but concedes that “it will require a lot of character”.
After their recent setback against Genoa in Serie A, the Rossoblu are preparing to face the Friuli without a host of their key members available.
And the list including important players like Gary Medel, Federico Santander and Roberto Soriano is a new experience for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s assistant De Leo.
Emilio De Leo has claimed Bologna are prepared to cope without a long list of absent key members against Udinese but concedes that “it will require a lot of character”.
After their recent setback against Genoa in Serie A, the Rossoblu are preparing to face the Friuli without a host of their key members available.
And the list including important players like Gary Medel, Federico Santander and Roberto Soriano is a new experience for Sinisa Mihajlovic’s assistant De Leo.
“Personally, it has never happened to me,” he said at a press conference. “We know that Udinese will come to play the match with their usual determination and their usual aggression, with their skills back in their game.
“Mihajlovic has stressed that it will take a lot of character and determination. We don’t ever ask for an alibi and we won’t to it this time either.
“This must be an opportunity to show how faithful this team are to their principles. Each of us will have to give something more, we have clear ideas, the ones who enter the pitch will know what to do.”
De Leo doesn’t want to reveal any of his tactics ahead of the match against the Friuli but points out that their younger players are well prepared to step up.
“We don’t need to do major changes, the ones who start will have to adapt,” he added. “As always, I won’t give away the formation.
“We could use [Gabriele] Corbo or [Musa] Juwara from the off. In addition, we could give some of the players from the youth team a chance. We have no worries from that point of view.”
Compared to the 3-0 defeat to Genoa, De Leo expects a similar game but with more physical duels in Udine.
“The Friuli are much more physical,” he told the reporters. “Their system is similar; they are very compact and will counter. They have great talent. We know what will await us, but we want to redeem our recent defeat.”
Bologna had won three on the bounce ahead of the game against the Griffone and De Leo has encouraged his men to get back on track.
“Working in a certain way has given us results,” he added. “In my opinion, we must consistently maintain our way of playing. Then we know that the management of physical resources will count, but I believe that we are always very aware and alert.”