Eusebio Di Francesco believes January could be a potentially season-defining month for his Sassuolo team, as Domenico Berardi returns.
The Neroverdi have lost their last three Serie A matches and lie 16th in what has been an injury-ravaged campaign, which has also seen them participate in the Europa League for the first time.
“It is a very important month, with three key matches," Di Francesco admitted at a Press conference ahead of today’s meeting with Torino. “With Pescara and Palermo it will be a direct head-to-head.
Eusebio Di Francesco believes January could be a potentially season-defining month for his Sassuolo team, as Domenico Berardi returns.
The Neroverdi have lost their last three Serie A matches and lie 16th in what has been an injury-ravaged campaign, which has also seen them participate in the Europa League for the first time.
“It is a very important month, with three key matches," Di Francesco admitted at a Press conference ahead of today’s meeting with Torino. “With Pescara and Palermo it will be a direct head-to-head.
“There is also the Coppa Italia, which we value, we want to go through. The targets of the season are to do well in the Coppa Italia and to stay up.
“After January we will know where we can finish."
The Sassuolo boss then confirmed that, provided there are no late issues, new loan signing Alberto Aquilani will start in midfield against the Granata.
"If they don't find any last minute problems he will start, he is a player I wanted for his experience and because of what injuries have taken away from us in midfield.
"He hasn't played consistently and he needs to adapt to my training, but he arrived two days before the others to prepare as well as possible."
There’s more good news, as Berardi is back in the squad – albeit on the bench – for the first time since August after shaking off a recurring inflammation.
Di Francesco then singled out Andrea Belotti as a player his team must deal with effectively if they are to get anything out of the game with Toro.
"They have very interesting players up front. Belotti has a menace and an incredible hunger, but we hope he is a little quieter [this weekend]."