Walter Mazzarri argues Simone Zaza might be ready to start for Italy, but he “doesn’t have the tempo” to lead Torino against Udinese.
It kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“We’ve prepared knowing this will not be easy, as Udinese already beat Sampdoria on their home turf,” said the Granata boss in his Press conference.
Walter Mazzarri argues Simone Zaza might be ready to start for Italy, but he “doesn’t have the tempo” to lead Torino against Udinese.
It kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“We’ve prepared knowing this will not be easy, as Udinese already beat Sampdoria on their home turf,” said the Granata boss in his Press conference.
“We need focus and ferocity to stop them getting comfortable. Just like with players, at times you can have young talents as Coaches too and that’s Julio Velazquez at Udinese. When I study teams, I think about how the players perform, not their Coaches. The main job of a Coach is to get the best out of his players and ensure they don’t argue.”
Ever since Torino signed Simone Zaza on transfer deadline day, people have been waiting for the partnership with Andrea Belotti.
“Players have to realise that at Torino they will always be in competition for places. Nobody can be sure of their spot and everyone can have the ambition of playing in the starting XI, as that is how you keep the quality level up.
“I have experience of this and at clubs where I was able to drill that mentality in, we had great results, even better than we’d expect on paper.
“The important thing is that those in good shape play, and that also means whether the rest of the team can support three forwards or two.
“We could play the 3-4-3 with two genuine strikers or with two trequartisti by pushing the wingers up to create width.”
Ola Aina has recovered from a muscular problem, but Alex Berenguer is more likely to start as a wing-back, while Cristian Ansaldi and Lyanco are long-term absentees.
Curiously, Zaza played 90 minutes for Italy in the Nations League defeat to Portugal, whereas Toro don’t consider him ready.
“I am interested in tempo and we had to go at full pelt against Roma and Inter,” added Mazzarri.
“For now, Zaza doesn’t have that tempo. Italy didn’t win their game, whereas we really need to win.”
Torino squad for Udinese: Ichazo, Rosati, Sirigu; Aina, Bremer, De Silvestri, Djidji, Izzo, Moretti, N’Koulou; Baselli, Berenguer, Lukic, Meite, Parigini, Rincon, Soriano; Belotti, Damascan, Edera, Falque Zaza