Gabriele Cioffi, the head coach of Udinese, has addressed the media in a press conference ahead of tomorrow evening’s match against Torino. In an eventful discussion, Cioffi discussed his team’s performance and his return to Udinese.
Addressing the issue of penalty decisions, Cioffi was rather vociferous. He felt that undue fear was created around the decisions, some of which were understandable, others less so. He referenced a penalty conceded in a match against Verona stating, “There was a shot with the arm along the body, it is a penalty, but it is a move that can happen.”
As for controversial penalties in the games against Inter Milan and Sassuolo, Cioffi declined to comment on the former but said mistakes need to be analysed from the latter. He emphasised the impact of these decisions on the outcomes and acknowledged the need for scrutiny.
“The points affect and are missing, rightly there is talk of mistakes,” Cioffi said. Referring to a handball foul and a spectacular effort from Ngonge, he commented, “On the first it is a mistake to be aware of…, then yes, on the third maybe there is a mistake.”
Cioffi underlined the need to focus on what is working, work on it assiduously, consistently and with confidence, insisting that the performance is there, beneath the surface details.
If one were to delve into the details, Cioffi believes, a supporter might question it all. However, in his view, while there may be a seeming storm brewing, they are heading in the right direction.
Reflecting on his return to Udinese, Cioffi revealed, “It’s exactly as I expected it. The team has potential… the amount of work has doubled, but it’s a challenge we will all win together with the boys. That’s exactly how I expected it.”