Udinese coach Andrea Sottil is ‘surprised’ Destiny Udogie was not called up by Italy’s senior squad and aims to ‘keep the enthusiasm going’ as they host Inter.
It kicks off at the Dacia Arena on Sunday at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT).
Going into this weekend, the Friulani are surprisingly in fourth place and one point ahead of Inter in the Serie A table.
“We are enjoying this moment, there’s enthusiasm and we want to keep it going,” said Sottil in his press conference.
“I always felt the team was competitive and these sensations transformed into results. They improved game by game, we created a tactical symbiosis and we mustn’t rest on our laurels now.
“The past is irrelevant, only the present matters and that right now is Inter. We must be very aggressive and play vertical football. Possession is all well and good, but it mustn’t be sterile, it has to create the spaces.”
Udinese are currently in front of Inter in the Serie A table, but Sottil will not hear suggestions they could try to protect that lead.
“I am not interested in the table right now, because we need to focus on what still needs to be done, not what we already achieved. We mustn’t get too comfortable. Our ingredients are sacrifice, hunger, determination, working hard for your teammate and being ferocious in the tackle.”
Inter are struggling in Serie A and the Champions League, with Hakan Calhanoglu added to the absentee list after a hamstring injury.
“I don’t want to hear anyone say Inter are in crisis,” continued Sottil. “They probably have the most complete squad in Serie A, they will come here playing to win and we certainly won’t just sit there and watch them.”
Jaka Bijol and Jean-Victor Makengo are available again, while Beto is now ready to start after recovering from a muscular issue.
The Udinese coach was irritated by news that future Tottenham full-back Udogie and goalkeeper Marco Silvestri were not included in Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad for the Nations League matches against England and Hungary.
“These decisions surprised me. I respect Mancini’s choices, but I was still surprised. I think Udogie is one of the best full-backs in the league, he proves that all the time. As for Silvestri, I consider him one of the best goalkeepers in Italy.”
Udogie has been included in the Italy Under-21 squad instead.
I too am surprised.
I figured DiMarco would be first choice at LB but why not build for the future and bring along Destiny instead of Emerson as second choice?