Live TMW
1.45pm – Good afternoon, friends of TUTTOmercatoWEB! In a few minutes the press conference of Empoli coach Davide Nicola will take place, which will present the difficult match against Atalanta.
1.58pm – The conference begins
How is the team doing and where has your attention been focused?
“The week was about us, our abilities and depending on the opponent. Atalanta have great quality and physicality, they have scored more than 380 goals in five years and are very fearsome. We looked for those few weak points that could have”
You are the second best defense in the league. How satisfied are you?
“The defensive concept for us is team-based, we don’t just train the defense because the defensive aspect starts from the first line of pressure which is that of the attackers. We work globally and then stimulate individually. We have not concentrated exclusively on the defensive part, but we tried to increase our aggression and have a taste for immediate ball recovery. Sometimes we do it better, sometimes less so, and we insist on this, just as we insist on the offensive part, because when you recover the ball you have to be able to create of the prerequisites. We work on this every day, perfection will never arrive but the ability to repeat behaviors are the prerequisites for performing better as a team and individually.”
Having to analyze Atalanta, what do you like most?
“The identity that they managed to sow, without settling and always being positive. They have such a vast squad that they can change several players. They have great coordination between them, Atalanta has become a point of reference for those who love football I like to focus on my team and the ability we have to demonstrate our identity. I am interested in whether my team can be competitive, we are at a point where we cannot make calculations. The path that is most rewarding is the how. I want the team to be sure of what they are doing”
Five games to go, how much do you think about it?
“Despite everything you might think, the single match becomes decisive because nothing is taken for granted. Keeping your attention on the single match means checking the week you’ve had and giving it importance regardless of the opponent. The first match that arrives is the more importantly, the opponent certainly forces you to improve and read all situations in the best way.”