View from the opposition: Udinese

We're 28 games into the Serie A campaign now. What have you made of Udinese's season so far?

“It's been an up-and-down season and overall a disappointing one. The team's slow start can be partially put down to all the injuries they had early on but you would have expected them to do better in the second half of the season, especially after they strengthened in January.
Udinese had 22 points at the midway stage but have picked up just six points from nine games since then, winning only one - at home to basement side Verona. They've also produced several quite worrying displays from a mental and technical perspective, against Palermo, for
example, and last week's defeat to Frosinone. Udinese now sit just four points above the drop zone. They haven't found themselves in a position like this for 15 years.”

How have the summer signings fared and what's your assessment of the club's work in the January transfer window?

“The player everyone expected big things from was Colombian striker Duvan Zapata but unfortunately he spent three months on the sidelines after getting injured on 27 September. He'd made a promising start with three goals in six games and his long spell out was a huge blow for Udinese in attack. The other players who joined in the summer failed to
live up to expectations and some were moved on in January, such as former Roma man Marquinho and Chilean midfielder Manuel Iturra. The club replaced them with a number of experienced players such as midfielders Emil Hallfredsson and Zdravko Kuzmanovic as well as the highly rated young Croat Andrija Balic. Pablo Armero also returned to the club after
his spell in Brazil with Flamengo and Ryder Matos joined from Carpi. However, the expected upturn in fortunes hasn't materialised; in fact, they've played worse in the second half of the season.”

Who has been Udinese's best player so far?

“I think the two players who come out with some credit in what's been a disastrous season are Felipe and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu. The Brazilian defender is enjoying a new lease of life, having performed well at Siena and Parma in previous years, while the Ghanaian midfielder is having his best season since joining the club in 2010.”

What has been Udinese's best performance of the season and why?

“The away win at Torino just before the Christmas break. Colantuono's side produced a superb team performance that day. They were highly organised and showed flashes of individual brilliance too. At times it looked like the Udinese of [Francesco] Guidolin's days.”

What has been the worst match and what went wrong?

“There have been two – both away – against Carpi and Frosinone. Both teams are clearly weaker on paper but Udinese got their mental approach completely wrong. The defeats were thoroughly deserved because Udinese were never in either match.”

Which areas of the team have been the most and least effective so far?

“I think the defence is doing less badly than other areas. They've conceded 42 goals in 28 games but the defenders are trying to plug gaps exposed by a lack of cover from elsewhere. The attack is the most disappointing area. They've managed just 24 goals all season, their
lowest tally since Udinese returned to the top flight 20 years ago. It basically comes down to the fact that Antonio Di Natale is no longer scoring as many as he was up until last season – he's managed just one goal in 21 matches. He's 38 and playing less much less now, although
he's often one of the best players when he does play because he does a lot for the team. Zapata was Di Natale's heir apparent but his injury setback has put paid to any hopes of that actually being the case so far.”

Which side in Serie A has impressed you the most this year?

“Napoli. They might not have has much depth as Juventus or Roma but they're keeping up and are still in the running for the Scudetto. Maurizio Sarri has done a magnificent job and improved their game no end. He's getting the best out of certain players like Gonzalo Higuain
and Lorenzo Insigne.”

How do you rate Roma under Luciano Spalletti?

“We know all about Spalletti here in Friuli and in my modest opinion he's the best coach Udinese have had in 120 years of history. He's the only coach who managed to take the team into Europe in all three of the seasons he spent in the Udinese dugout, and he left people with a very positive impression about him and his coaching ability. It comes as no
surprise to me that he's had such a good impact in the capital since returning to the Roma hotseat. Spalletti also has a top-quality squad to work with and under his guidance they're showing what they're really capable of. They'll go a long way...”

Which Roma player should Udinese fans fear the most?

“I'd say Mohamed Salah because he's an excellent player who's also enjoying a decent run of form at the moment. Colantuono is actually thinking of bringing Giovanni Pasquale back into the team to stem the threat posed by Salah. He's an experienced defender and even though he hasn't played much this season Colantuono thinks he has the ability to
deal with the Egyptian's lightning pace.”

If you could add one Roma player to Udinese's squad, who would you pick
and why?

“I'd take Stephan El Shaarawy because, as I said, Udinese have struggled for goals this season. He'd come in handy with his ability to beat his man and find the net.”

What's your score prediction for Sunday's match?

“Roma are favourites because they've got the wind in their sails while Udinese are running into one problem after another. Udinese will also have to change things at the back because Ivan Piris is suspended while Felipe and Molla Wague are doubtful. I think it's safe to say that
Spalletti's side are clear favourites.”