Udinese Coach Julio Velazquez is trying to “think positive” against Fiorentina, even after Rolando Mandragora’s ban for blasphemy.
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The Friulani fought back from 2-0 down to snatch a point at Parma, then squeezed past Sampdoria 1-0 and now visit a Viola side that hammered Chievo 6-1.
Udinese Coach Julio Velazquez is trying to “think positive” against Fiorentina, even after Rolando Mandragora’s ban for blasphemy.
It kicks off at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
The Friulani fought back from 2-0 down to snatch a point at Parma, then squeezed past Sampdoria 1-0 and now visit a Viola side that hammered Chievo 6-1.
“The bar is raised and these are the most difficult opponents we’ve faced so far, but we arrive in Florence with a very positive mentality,” assured Velazquez.
“My thoughts are always positive and we are coming here to win, then we’ll see what happens. Fiorentina are a young side with a lot of energy, so I must choose the right tactical system to neutralise their strengths.
“It’s true they won 6-1 last week, but if you watched the game, Chievo did have two or three big scoring opportunities.”
Udinese are forced into some changes after the controversial one-match ban for midfielder Mandragora, who was caught on camera uttering a blasphemous phrase – the worst type of swearing in the Italian language.
“We have to modify the midfield a little and we have several options we’ve been working on. It was surprising and new for me to see a player banned for blasphemy, but I always hold the utmost respect for these matters. The important thing is that the rules are applied the same way to everyone and not just in a few isolated cases.”
Udinese squad for Fiorentina: Nicolas, Musso, Scuffet; Ekong, Nuytinck, Opoku, Pezzella, Samir, Stryger-Larsen, Ter Avest, Wague; Behrami, D’Alessandro, De Paul, Fofana, Pontisso; Lasagna, Machis, Pussetto, Teodorczyk, Vizeu