New Salernitana coach Paulo Sousa makes his debut against Lazio tomorrow and confirms Spezia had also contacted him. ‘I want to see courage, otherwise you are going down.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Arechi on Sunday at 14.00 GMT and the Portuguese tactician steps in for Davide Nicola, who was sacked twice in under a month.

This time, the decision stuck from President Danilo Iervolino, who chose the former Fiorentina, Poland and Flamengo boss to revitalise their campaign.

“I wish to publicly thank the President and director of sport, as they want to bring Salernitana to a high level and I am very happy to help them achieve that,” said Sousa in his presentation press conference.

“Nicola worked here for a year, but I have my own ideas and it’ll take more than a week to change. I want my team to be tight, intense, with a strong mentality. The pressing must be our main characteristic, winning the ball back straight away, controlling the game and the tempo.

“I know full well how difficult it is to ask for these things against Lazio, but I ask everyone to put all that has happened in the past behind them.

“I consider Salernitana to be one of the best attacking squads in the league and need to make more of those characteristics. The system is relative, concepts matter more than numbers when it comes to tactics.”

Among the first questions Sousa must resolve is the goalkeeper, where Guillermo Ochoa impressed a great deal, but was returned to the bench after Luigi Sepe’s recovery.

“I spoke to both, they have different characteristics and I will choose on a game by game basis. Ochoa came all the way to Italy and left his family behind, so naturally he wants to play. I see him motivating the younger players and he has the right experience.”

The new coach is only on a contract until June, but there should be an automatic renewal if he manages to secure Serie A safety.

“I confirm that I strongly wanted to join Salernitana. It is also true that Spezia contacted me, along with clubs who could play in international competitions, but I am happy to be here. The attitude, ideas and style of football do not change if you are fighting for safety or the Scudetto I want to see courage, otherwise you are going down.”

The biggest problem at Salernitana this season has been their defence, conceding a massive 42 goals in just 22 Serie A games.

“I maintain the best form of defence is attack, so if we keep the ball, then we are less likely to concede,” added Sousa.

Franck Ribery had joined Nicola’s staff after retiring, realising that his body was no longer capable of delivering on the field, but still eager to remain with Salernitana.

Now he is continuing to work with new coach Sousa, who has kept most of Nicola’s men.

“Franck wants to become a coach and I will help him with my experience. I know Nicola achieved historic safety last season, I have played against his teams and I know he creates problems for the opposition, but the club took a different decision because the statistics show there are objective difficulties.

“It is a big challenge, but I accepted because I believe that I can help Salernitana first secure safety, then step up a level.”

There is a blow against Lazio, because top scorer Boulaye Dia is out injured and William Troost-Ekong has been diagnosed with a fracture at the top of his tibia.

Giulio Maggiore and Federico Fazio are also among the absentees.

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