Davide Nicola said he played Simone Verdi for tactical reasons against Juventus and insisted Torino ‘believed’ they could beat their local rivals.
The Derby della Mole between Toro and the Old Lady at the Stadio Grande Torino ended in a 2-2 draw, but the home side threatened to claim all the spoils on Saturday.
Davide Nicola said he played Simone Verdi for tactical reasons against Juventus and insisted Torino ‘believed’ they could beat their local rivals.
The Derby della Mole between Toro and the Old Lady at the Stadio Grande Torino ended in a 2-2 draw, but the home side threatened to claim all the spoils on Saturday.
“We believed in it very much,” Nicola told DAZN. “We knew that Juventus would push a lot on the flanks, and we prepared for the game knowing their strengths.”
Nicola explained studying Juventus’ strengths made him pick Verdi in the starting line-up and claims the former Napoli forward can have a future as a midfielder.
“That’s why we chose Verdi, who could play both as an attacking midfielder and a pure winger in the possession phase.”
“Simone has extraordinary qualities, but in our way of being on the pitch, it could have been difficult to place him.
“I think that he could be a midfielder in the future, he has tactical intelligence, aerobic capacity and can dictate the last pass.
“If he believes it too, a new phase can open up for Verdi.”