Cremonese is preparing for the last league match before the national break: on Sunday, November 12, at 16.15, the grey-reds will face Brescia in the 13th round of the BKT series. Here are the statements of Mr. Giovanni Stroppa on the eve of the match.
He often spoke about the importance of physical condition. Over the course of a few weeks the team seems to be growing from this point of view…
“The athletic aspect has certainly improved a lot, otherwise we wouldn’t have played a high-level match against a team with the kind of engine that Spezia has. What matters is how we run forward and what we did in the last period is a source of satisfaction because we also needed to add our legs to this game.”
Brescia are one of the teams that have conceded the fewest goals, Cremonese have shown that they have clear ideas on how to make an impact in this sense. What race are you looking forward to?
“I can make two speeches: about what we can discover tomorrow, and about what happened before. They lost their last 4 games, but they always show that they are healthy and know how to perform well on the field in both phases. They have always worked very well defensively, but I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We, of course, have made progress both at the physical level and in terms of ideas, technical quality of work, and this needs to be confirmed. We will find character reactions from the team and environment we encounter. For the continuity that I demand from the team, we will have to make another qualitative leap: the character component will be fundamental for a better race, also on a technical level.”
In Brescia you will find quite a lively atmosphere…
“When the public expresses their opinion, it’s always nice: it’s part of our job. Some time ago I spoke about the reaction precisely because I think that these changes have certainly brought Brescia closer to their fans.”
Brescia have just made a change on the bench. Could there be any additional pitfalls when meeting this type of enemy?
“It’s a new situation and a different game system, although I don’t know what it will be like in the future. We have put forward some things to prepare for a different choice compared to the past, the unknowns are at the tactical level, but above all at the character level, because we will find a healthy team.”
How did the team react to Sarr’s injury? Have you spoken to Yungdal?
“It’s always sad when a guy gets injured, especially during training… But these things can happen in the professional world. He is an important step forward and will be out for the entire championship, but as is often said on such occasions, I am convinced that he will come back stronger than before. It’s good for Andreas that he has already played in the Italian Cup, playing an important match. He knows very well what situations he will have to face in the game and he is absolutely ready.”
Did you like how Vazquez and Buonaiuto steal recommendations from their opponents, constantly trading back and forth?
“It was my choice and I liked it, the main thing is that they always put effort into the business. Just like I like Tsadjut, Okereke in attack or others in the midfield role. There is a point to apply, but the older the kids get, the more I can afford to switch them. Characteristics can improve the score depending on the imagination and technique of the players at my disposal.”
Pickel explained that the group is becoming more and more united. Was the decision to confirm several players from last season justified?
“This is not the first time I have coached teams that were relegated the previous season. I saw the difficulty of focusing on players who were in a higher category. There are unknowns: sometimes things can go well, sometimes things can go badly, but what matters is the motives and path of the previous season. It may be that many believe that they belong to another category and struggle to reconnect with the one in which they find themselves. I, of course, found the group in difficulty, but very pleased, because from the first day I saw great motivation and was pleased with the application and attitude of the guys. This gives my management peace of mind and allows me to choose the best people.”
Cremonese appears to have become more accurate on goal after a period in which she struggled to capitalize on the many opportunities she had…
“Absolutely yes, we have talked about this many times. With Spezia we found ourselves in front of goal many times, but in different ways. And this is the main point”.
Since it’s such a heart-to-heart match, will the way you prepare for it change?
“No, it doesn’t change on my part. We prepared it as always, knowing what the atmosphere and responsibility of this match could be. But we have a way to go without diminishing the importance of tomorrow’s match.”
How important would it be to get a positive result in a match like this before the break?
“Overcoming this hurdle with three points will mean a lot, it will send a strong signal and, above all, continuity. But Brescia is a worthy opponent, even the numbers show this. They have one of the best defenses in the championship, the squad is competitive and the results achieved in the first days are not accidental. I emphasize how fundamental is the right aspect of character that we will face in tomorrow’s match: we will have to play a certain type of match, otherwise we will leave with broken bones.”
Are there any unavailable players other than Sarr?
“More or less the situation is the same as last week. We are assessing Abrego for fatigue and we don’t know if he will come with us while Mayer has recovered, so he will be there.”
Source: Tutto Mercato Web
I am Ben Stock and I work in Athletistic as an author. My specialty is covering football news and other related topics. I have been writing for this website since the past 2 years, crafting compelling stories with the latest updates in the sports world. My articles have gained widespread appreciation amongst readers due to their accuracy and depth of research.
