Zanetti: "Roma is a team full of quality, now is the time to push even harder" / VIDEO
Verona – Statements from Hellas Verona's coach Paolo Zanetti, released today on the eve of Roma-Hellas Verona, a match valid for the 33rd round of Serie A Enilive 2024/25, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 20:45, at the 'Olimpico' stadium.
What is your relationship with Ranieri and what do you think of him? "It will be the first time I face a living legend like Ranieri on the pitch. He’s ending his career in style, doing something incredible again, and he is an extraordinary role model, both on and off the field. He embodies elegance and intelligence like no one else. He’s a model for young coaches like me".
How are Suslov, Niasse, and the other injured players doing? "We’re getting Sarr back, who missed only one training session. Then, Serdar, Niasse, and Suslov have been training as well. Now they just need to get some minutes under their belt, but they are all 100% recovered, except for Tengstedt".
How would you describe the partnership between Livramento and Mosquera at this point in the season? "They are players with potential, like Sarr, and they are growing through daily work to reach the level of Serie A, one of the top 3 leagues in Europe. They need to improve in terms of numbers, goals, but as far as their contribution to the game, sacrifice, and balance, we are already at an important level compared to the beginning of the season. Now, they are all well integrated into the team, and this is the right path. It's also up to the team to create conditions for the strikers to score, but they must always remember that their hunger for goals should come first".
What does it feel like to go from being a coach on the verge of being sacked to one who is now confirmed for next season? "It’s not so unusual in my job. What matters is the result, and I am here for that, although in my mind, it’s not just about that. It’s also about valuing players and young talents, shaping players with potential and helping them grow. There’s a time component in this job, and there isn’t much of it. What happened to me has happened to many others. It’s happened to me in the past, and it will happen again in the future. You always have to believe in your work and in your players, and the club has always believed in me".
You’ve had several injuries this season, but now the squad seems almost complete for the end of the season. How important is that? "The squad is large. If we had been complete, it would have been at a higher level than we’ve shown due to injuries to key players. We’ve always focused on a team concept where everyone must feel part of the project and feel important enough to cover for the absences. Now we are recovering key players, but they need to get back to their best, regain intensity to take their place, because the players who stepped in have done so fantastically, like Bernede, Dawidowicz, and Niasse. These players have given us a huge boost, and that creates competition, which is crucial to keep the team's level high daily and to achieve the survival goal, which is not yet secured. We are facing a team that hasn’t lost in 16 matches, and then we’ll have a crucial direct clash. Now we need to push even more".
Roma is a team built for the Champions League, how can Verona respond to the quality of the Giallorossi? "Roma have top players and a fantastic coach, which is evident in recent performances. It’s a team that, with this coach, would be in second place. We need to focus on ourselves, maintain performance consistency, and show that we are solid. We must go to Rome with humility but also try to play well, not just be spectators, and give our best in both phases to try to bring home the points we need".
Who is the player you’ve missed the most in building the team? "I believe there were a few things missing. At one point in the season, we lacked mentality, but then that changed, and these guys became fundamental. That’s when we became a true team. Right now, my mentality is represented by the team. Maybe we’ve lacked something in midfield, where we’ve had to adapt other players, like Suslov, Bernede, Dawidowicz, and Kastanos, but naturally, with Duda, Serdar, and Harroui, it was a midfield that we never had. We wanted to build a team around them without taking too many risks, but with the team concept, we’ve managed to cover for those gaps".
Do the players talk more to each other on the pitch now? "Of course. Now they talk about football, help each other, make the right runs, and communicate about marking men, especially in the defensive phase. Communication is crucial, and we’ve grown a lot in this regard, focusing on young players with great room for improvement who learn from their mistakes. The guys have gotten to know each other, and it takes time to become a team. Even due to some bad performances, we’ve understood what not to do, and from a basic team concept, we’ve become a real team. You can see it on the pitch now, and that’s a result of the bonds formed both on and off the field".
Looking at the numbers, Verona now concedes fewer goals, scores less, but still managed 13 points in the second half of the season. Is this a sign of maturity? "In the first part of the season, we had quite a few wins, one every three games, but we kept losing in between. Now the average is the same, but with a different kind of stability. We’ve reduced the number of goals conceded but found more balance. Now the goal is to increase our offensive numbers while maintaining these defensive numbers. We’re actually creating more chances now, but scoring less, so we need to keep going this way because the path we’ve set is the right one".
Is it correct to say that you’ve improved athletically as well? Was the insertion of Valentini in defense or Dawidowicz in midfield more important? "Both players are important. Duda can also play in Dawidowicz's role, but with Pawel, he can be freer to press forward, while Dawidowicz prefers to cover the defense in that position. Valentini has brought a lot: his quality as a player and his character. He doesn’t miss a training session, and we really needed a player like him. Physically, we’re doing well, but in reality, we’re running less, but we’re doing it better than in previous matches, where we defended differently. Now we’re more balanced, and our runs are more effective. Physically, the team is in good shape, but it could be even better with the returning players".
How is Lazovic coping with the fact that he's not starting? Could the young players get more opportunities in this final part of the season? "The young players, if the opportunity arises, will play. Right now, the goal is to achieve the objective without any preconceptions about age. Naturally, Lazovic is upset when he doesn’t play. He had a slight case of pubalgia, while Bradaric has grown a lot in the meantime. I appreciate how he helps Bradaric and the work he does as captain. Even though he's not a starter, he has a great attitude and gives a lot to the team, both on and off the pitch".