Match eve for Cremonese, playing against Bari tomorrow within the friendly walls of ‘Zini’, in the match valid for the 8th day of the Serie B championship which will kick off at 3:00 pm. Speaking to the press, as can be read on the official channels of the Lombard club, Mister Giovanni Stroppa: “The reaction of the players in Brescia was there and therefore the week went very well. I expected a different interpretation of the training, even if the commitment was never lacking. The first half in Brescia annoyed us, I’m happy that the boys immediately felt the response on the pitch in the second half and we worked in the best way along those lines. So I expect the same competitive determination, the same attitude and the same attention because tomorrow is a difficult match against a difficult opponent. They will also be difficult in the duels, which will be able to make the difference as well as the technical aspect. We will not have to concede anything for free: the match in Brescia, in addition to the lack of aggression in the first half, showed trivial errors that cost us. high price.”
However, it seems that the team is still not able to best express its potential: “The only thing I can say is that we are in line with what could have been a progression of work and performances. With ifs and buts, no it doesn’t matter, but winning in Brescia would have put us in second place. We need to refocus, do things well and not make mistakes, for example in front of goal which cost us the championship last year despite great performances. We need to improve and level up underneath all aspects, starting from the character aspect that was lacking against Brescia. I can’t explain it, but I take responsibility for it. We have to take to the field with a different attitude, acting more like ‘workers’, getting our hands dirty as Conte said“.
A note therefore goes to the opponent: “Bari has taken on a strong identity, they have many substitutions and are dangerous up front. They work man-wise across the pitch, it will be a match of duels. How can we avoid the opponents’ double marking? We have to play with one touch less, if you are doubled or tripled you have to be better at freeing yourself from the ball. If the person in possession is marked, there will be numerical superiority on the other side and we have to exploit it, as we have done on some occasions.”
In conclusion, a note to the squad: “Castagnetti will not be there, Ravanelli and Lochoshvili are back. Johnsen received a blow to the rib against Brescia and therefore will not be called up. We will see if we can recover him immediately after the break. For the starting eleven I have to figure out whether to start Buonaiuto from the start or have him take over, he’s had a good 25 minutes and is training very well, I’ll evaluate Vandeputte as fifth in midfield on the left at the moment, he doesn’t have the energy to play there. Instead, he can play as a winger on the left, sometimes inside the pitch and sometimes more open like he did in Brescia and Catanzaro. It seems limiting to make him play full-back.”