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The Torino coach, Paolo Vanoli, spoke at a press conference on the eve of the home match against Empoli, scheduled for Saturday at 8:45 pm.

Paolo Vanoli, coach of Torino, spoke at a press conference just over 24 hours before the home game against Empoli coached by D’Aversa. It will be a tough match for the Granata who will have to curb the three points desires of the Tuscan team, currently in the relegation zone.

PAOLO VANOLI’S OUTRAGED SCREAM ( PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI )

Torino, Vanoli’s words

How has the week been?

“Pretty good, except for some unexpected issues to evaluate during the final training session. We hope to have Lazaro in the group: he suffered a bad tackle, we’ll see in the final session. Then we have to see Sanabria and Walukiewicz who took a knock, but for the Polish player there shouldn’t be any problems.”

What kind of game are you expecting?

“We have to stay focused. In the last few games, all teams will have various motivations, especially those fighting to stay in Serie A. At Parma we saw it in the second half. Empoli is in a negative moment in terms of results, but in terms of performance, they are alive and stay in the game, in addition to the feat against Juve. In the first leg, they had a fantastic round, a young team can have downs. But even against Roma it was 1-0 until the end, they conceded a goal in the first 20 seconds. They are dangerous away from home, they are a good team at attacking in open field and we saw it in the Coppa Italia right here. We’ll have to be careful about the mental aspect, the mentality. It’s a step we have to take.”

Returning to the Great Torino…

“The fans are an important part, we saw it in Monza and Parma. I have always said: we must not disappoint the fans, sometimes results come and sometimes they don’t. In the return, the desire and determination were shown and the people showed us affection at home and away. We have to take advantage of that.”

Are there indispensable players for Torino? And will you try something new?

“I don’t like to experiment, the goal is to have an important end to the season. Based on the squad you have, there may be variations but not for experimenting, but to get results. We have to fight to have ambitions, and we have many. And this will serve us for the future to see who is for Toro. We were good at getting out of a difficult situation, now we have to continue. Experimenting seems like we don’t have goals, it annoys me. In Parma, the word presumptuous annoyed me…If I make changes, it’s because I saw certain things or certain characteristics are needed.”

Do you think of reintroducing the two attacking midfielders? Is this the Toro idea for the future?

“We changed because there was a need. We had to wait for the timing, at the beginning there was talk of a five-man defense…The timing is determined by circumstances. Now the new players have given energy and quality, this is the way. Then what will happen tomorrow, I don’t know…I look, I outline an idea. When I arrived I had an idea and then I had to change it. We are carrying forward this idea, now we think about Empoli.”

What are the motivations in this end of the season?

“They may concern the standings, or those who want to keep this shirt and give something. I came here to try to do something important: I want this ability from my players. One goal is to change mentality, to want to build something. Sometimes the standings give it, or the desire to stay in Turin to build something. We are all under scrutiny, including myself.”

Coco has had some slips…

“If you want to be a Torino player, you have to rise above criticism. Otherwise, you are not…One must be able to accept criticism: here a lot is expected, you have to be good at ignoring it. I gave Coco the example of Maripan, his expulsion against Inter and the mistake against Fiorentina…Maripan has the personality to let it slide off. I am convinced that Coco is strong, we made an investment.”

Empoli scores much more away…

“They do better away from home because they have players with pace and know how to counterattack well. We have to be very careful: attacking a five-man defense is not easy, sometimes you get carried away by enthusiasm and leave space. We have to understand the moments and the game, it’s an important step in mentality. In Parma, we didn’t understand how the opponents came back into the game.”

What are the other things you ask of the players in the last ten games?

“For now, I have noted the aspect of mentality: it will make the difference in all the teams you face. Last year, in Serie B, I made a mistake: we lost direct promotion because of this. In the last game against Spezia we were winning 1-0 at halftime, Como was losing and we were mathematically promoted, I focused on Como and not on Spezia who was fighting for the play-offs.

They beat us, we didn’t know how to react to the mental aspect of a Spezia that had to give everything. And on this, I made a mistake. And that’s what we have to understand in the last 10 games: if you go ahead against Empoli, you have to know they will give everything and we have to stay focused. Or, on the contrary, if you fall behind, you’ll need patience. That’s what we lack, but we are on the right track.”

Are you afraid that next year you will have to start with a different squad? Or have you received reassurances from the club about the project?

“There has been a hint about this, but today I only think about Empoli. The future perspective from me and the players depends on the next ten games. I want mentally ready people, we have to show it. Then the club and the director will look further ahead.”

How can you replace Lazaro?

“We don’t have a player like him in the squad, who can play that role and give us balance. Pedersen is a player who in this system I see more in a four, Dembele has grown and I consider him as a right-back. It’s something I’m evaluating, also Karamoh is capable of doing it but he expresses himself better on his weaker foot. Karamoh helped us a lot in difficult times, he can play that role. But there are other solutions that I have to see. We hope to recover Lazaro, he gives us balance. And Salama can play that role, but our league is tactical and he has to learn certain situations. If I have to find a difficulty today, it’s precisely replacing Lazaro: we’ll see, I have something in mind.”

Waiting for Spalletti’s decisions, what is Casadei working on? What is the next step?

“He is a young guy, he has shown potential but he still has to grow to reach high levels. He has important characteristics, the ones that were missing in our midfield, and he can improve in timing of runs and in-game. Sometimes he is too high above the ball, sometimes he has to understand when to make the run…He has to learn to see the play first. But he is a player who has imposed himself with determination in a tough league, he deserves a big compliment. The new players have brought energy and I believe we can do things.”

Could Casadei also be a potential replacement for Lazaro?

“He doesn’t have his characteristics…Today, the players are good and prepared, they shouldn’t be fixated on just one role. He is a player who I prefer to look for goal in terms of runs, if moved to the attacking midfield, he would be penalized because he would play more with his back to the goal. He’s not Vlasic who can turn with one touch…Finding a substitute for Lazaro in this squad with those characteristics is not easy.”

And Elmas on the right?

“He has played in many roles, even as a false nine. When you are technically strong, you recognize the spaces and he can cover them. Sometimes, considering his history and I was criticized for taking him out at Parma, but it’s been over a year and a half since he played. To make him perform at his best, you have to have balance, you have to keep him fit especially because he is observing Ramadan. It’s a possibility, but sometimes it’s better to keep him where he is making a difference.”

Can Masina play in the center?

“He is training well, he is a player I count on. I see him more as a central defender: he was born as a fifth and with a soft arm, at the beginning he played a lot and did well. He is giving us a lot. Lazaro, Walukiewicz, and Sanabria told me: ‘Mister, we are here’. And that’s satisfying. Maybe we won’t make it, but this is already a victory. And that’s the spirit we have to have, putting ourselves ahead of everything. I don’t know if they will recover, but that’s nice. It means we are there, then sometimes there is disappointment for throwing away two points in Parma, or even in Bologna, but it’s part of the growth. And it’s up to me to help them grow.”