Fabio Quagliarella is happy with continuity at Torino, hopes for an Italy recall and reflects on similarities between Giampiero Ventura and Antonio Conte.
The striker is into a second spell with Toro and is enjoying a run back in the first team, after an indifferent final few seasons at Juventus that saw him generally used from the bench.
Fabio Quagliarella is happy with continuity at Torino, hopes for an Italy recall and reflects on similarities between Giampiero Ventura and Antonio Conte.
The striker is into a second spell with Toro and is enjoying a run back in the first team, after an indifferent final few seasons at Juventus that saw him generally used from the bench.
“It’s normal for any player that a certain continuity can help build confidence, to relax, to rediscover their physical shape as quickly as possible,” Quagliarella has told Tuttosport today.
“It is nice to be a protagonist, as I always say. It is not that those on the bench are not important, but playing often helps you to improve and if, in addition to this, the results also arrive, then it is the best.”
Quagliarella was also handed a surprise recall to the Italian national team, thanks to his former Juve boss Antonio Conte.
“I was hoping for it because the Coach knows me very well having played three years with him. I know what he asks of an attacker.
“If I will be called up again I don’t know, I hope so, but everything will depend on Torino. It is clear that playing more and doing well gives you the best chance of being called.”
The forward compared and contrasted Ventura and Conte’s approach.
“The difference is simple, Conte asks to pressure high, Ventura does not and if you lose possession you have to return to your position in midfield and recover the ball from there.
“They are very similar, on the other hand, in focusing on the details. They know perfectly well of the importance of dead-ball situations and that there is maximum attention given to these both in defending and attacking.”
Ventura recently switched back to a three-man defence with the Granata, working to a 3-4-1-2 shape.
“It is a system we tried only two days prior to Cagliari, and that we had not tested very often before playing the Sardinians.
“But knowing the group and the availability of the players, always ready to do as the Coach asks, we only needed two days to figure out certain situations.
“I think that it is a formation that will be repeated on other occasions and in accordance with the teams that we come up against.”
This week sees Torino host FC Copenhagen in the Europa League, a familiar opponent for Quagliarella, from last year’s Champions League meetings with Juventus.
“I remember those games. They are a team with enthusiasm on their side, and they will arrive in Turin with nothing to lose.
“They take to the field with the objective of scoring goals. We must be clear-headed, bold and alert, especially in taking the opportunities that come our way.
“Certainly they will not be an easy opponent to deal with.”