Experienced goalkeeper Marco Silvestri presented: "There is a desire to do something important"

by Niccolò Pistolesi EMPOLI "We have the ability and we can manage to recover". He is sure of it Marco Silvestri, thirty-three year old goalkeeper with over 160 appearances in Serie A arrived at Empoli in the winter transfer window within the exchange that instead brought Perisan to Sampdoria. The Emilian goalkeeper immediately settled into the new Azzurri reality, with a mad desire to make his own contribution. "I'm very happy to be here, the negotiation was quite unexpected because as far as I know Empoli and Sampdoria had an agreement for another player - he begins - then Empoli asked for me and I'm very happy about it. I accepted immediately without pretensions because it's a huge opportunity, I arrived with great enthusiasm and I want to give my contribution in whatever way I'm asked and in whatever way I can".

The strength of this Empoli and the extraordinary first part of the season were the result of the work of D'Aversa and a united and cohesive group. Aspects that Marco Silvestri himself has underlined and highlighted. "I found a crazy group, truly fantastic. I felt at ease from the first second I entered the locker room". The Italian goalkeeper can boast a lot of experience in the Italian championship, his attitude as a leader can be important to lift morale from the latest difficulties. "In these weeks I have tried to be as positive as possible and to give advice. If I am asked to lend a hand in the starting eleven, fine, otherwise I will try to give my contribution as I can".

In the last two games Empoli has suffered two defeats. However, the performance has never been lacking, closing the first half in Turin with an early lead and drawing the first 45' against Milan with a sensational post hit by Colombo. "In these two games in which I was on the bench I saw a team that played very well. We did it with Juventus and in the last game with Milan in which we could have brought home some points. It's a shame about Colombo's post, the way he kicked it is a ball that is more likely to go in than out. There is quality and a desire to do something important. In the long run this will bring results, I find it hard to believe that a team that played like this with Milan will continue not to get them".

The next seasonal match will see D'Aversa's team involved againstUdinese, one of the surprises of this Serie A. In Udine the Azzurri have the chance to get back to scoring points after having faced a series of opponents belonging to the upper part of the table: a significant match for Silvestri, who had his last experience in Serie A in Udine before going down to the cadet league with the Sampdoria jersey. "Udinese is physically strong and plays good football, an excellent team for individuals and as a team. It will be a difficult match - explains the goalkeeper - especially on a physical level, we will have to fight a lot but I think that with our qualities we can put them in difficulty and bother them. We must be calm and carefree, and only think about bringing home some points", concluded Marco Silvestri.