Udinese coach speaks ahead of the Lecce home game
By Udinese
Coach Kosta Runjaic delivered a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s match against Lecce, kicking off at 15:00 CEST. Below is some of what our boss had to say.
Last time out in Cremona
“Against Cremonese we had some good moments and some less good ones. It was a good draw, and we need to build on what we did well. It’s a question of attitude – we prefer to focus on the positives as a basis for improvement. We learned a lot from the Cremonese match. We went behind after four minutes from a set piece, then around the half-hour mark they had several chances. We didn’t play well in the first half, but we held firm. In the second half we responded, and I’m satisfied with that.
“I want a team that gives everything to win, even if it means taking risks. I see a certain desire in my players which is crucial going into the upcoming matches. I’m sure we’ll do well against Lecce – a positive result would be great for us and the fans. In Serie A every match is tough because teams defend resolutely. We need to improve at the back and learn to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way.”
Karlstrom
“It’s difficult to compare two different seasons. [Jesper] Karlstrom is once again showing consistency in his performances this campaign, though perhaps he hasn’t very good at certain points, such as for Milan’s second goal – he made a certain decision, it didn’t work out, and we conceded. You have to make the right decisions during matches, and sometimes it’s better to take fewer risks. I’m pleased with him – he’s our captain and he needs to improve in that regard, too. Maybe the new responsibilities of the role are unconsciously impacting his performances, but I’m optimistic for him.
“The important thing is that the players’ performances are consistent, and the results can be built from there. It’s to be expected that not everyone is on top form yet, such as Nicolo Zaniolo and others, but they’ve got time to improve.”
The team’s mentality
“I think the team’s mentality is right, but many factors influence a match. Against Cremonese we started with good energy, but then we conceded a goal from a set piece. We talked about it after – we should have defended differently in that scenario. When you go behind the game changes. They had their chances, but I’m satisfied with our reaction away against a team who are not easy to face and who will pick up a lot of points at home.
“There’s a lot of competition in Serie A. In my opinion the league is tougher than last season because there are so many tough matches. One of our aims is to do well at home. We need our fans and we’ve got to harness their energy to make things difficult for our opponents. In 2024/25 we won seven games at home. The record in recent seasons is eight, but we can still improve, and if we do, we’ll be as good as any opponent. The important thing is to have the right energy and the right willpower.”
Competition in midfield
“The situation is positive. We’ve got a lot of options, and when you have so many not everyone can play. We’ve got Karlstrom who can certainly improve, and he knows it. We’ve got [Arthur] Atta, who’s improved a lot and had a chance against Cremonese that he didn’t take – he wasn’t happy about it. We want to press high up the pitch, so it requires a lot of running and cooperation from everyone when not in possession – those are the foundations for this approach.
“All the midfielders at our disposal are suited to our system. Compared to how we’ve played in the past we’re aiming to see more of the ball. However, we also need to understand what to do with the ball. [Sandi] Lovric is experienced and can play well as a central midfielder, even if he’s not at his best in one-on-one situations. [Jurgen] Ekkelenkamp did well in pre-season but then got injured. He’s now coming back to fitness. Let’s not forget [Lennon] Miller as well, who’s a very talented lad.
“Against Cremonese we were on the right track, but we have to ensure the players make the right decisions at the right time, and that’s not always easy, especially against teams that sit back. We’re learning and some of our players still need to integrate. [Jakub] Piotrowski did well in some parts of the game, but he needs to improve with the ball at his feet. The midfielder must act as the glue between defence and attack”
Bravo
“[Iker] Bravo could be a difference-maker, but the same goes for our other forwards. All of our players can make important contributions, but when they get their chances they have to perform up to standard. In Serie A you’ve got to be at a certain level and prove that you deserve your place. Iker is a top guy. He hasn’t been with us for a few weeks and so he hasn’t trained much. However, he’s available and we’ll see if and how much he plays. It depends on many factors, and I don’t even want to give any indications in advance. It takes certain performances to achieve certain results, and in the long run, performing as a team is what counts. I’m satisfied with how things are going in that regard – this team never gives up and always fights to win. We haven’t managed that at home yet, and our aim is to do so tomorrow.”
Lecce
“Lecce have a clear system – they want to see a lot of the ball. However, we’ve got to focus on ourselves. We’re seeking to implement our playing principles, be brave, play on the front foot and win 50/50s right from the start. Lecce have got full-backs who push forward and can be dangerous. We need to defend well, but more importantly, we need to focus on ourselves. We’ve got to put in a good performance and if we succeed in doing this then we’ll get a good result. However, we must also be aware that it won’t be easy.”
Solet
“In order to attack well we need our wingers to be firing on all cylinders, but you need to strike a balance. Me and [Oumar] Solet talked about what needs to be improved in his game, but it’s up to him to make the right decisions during a match. He’s capable of making a huge contribution. Unfortunately against Cremonese he made a mistake late in the game, and I can’t imagine what this press conference would’ve been like had they scored, but he did well at times. The goal is to cut down on those mistakes as much as we can, but it’s not just him. Every game is tough – we need to be less naive and keep things simpler at times on the pitch.”
