All eyes on Como. D'Aversa sounds the charge: "I want a hungry and determined team"

by Simone Cioni EMPOLI The break for the National it was a blessing and a curse at home Empoli. On the one hand, it has in fact allowed the Recovery of Viti, Fazzini and Solbakken, on the other hand, he has removed an important player like Ismajli, who after the low-grade lesion of the biceps femoris of the right thigh suffered in the national team, is unlikely to be available again before Easter. "However, we have also found a Cacace charged and full of enthusiasm after the qualification for the World Cup and we will have to be good at exploiting him - explains D'Aversa -. For those returning from a long layoff, we must instead evaluate well how to manage them, I have not decided yet, but even just the fact of having these possibilities on the bench to keep the intensity of the team high when perhaps it is starting to wane, is certainly very important". The Italian coach, then, is clear about what he expects from his boys. "I want to see a team that is hungry, determined and with the spirit of those who want to save themselves at all costs - he admits -. We know that we are going to face a team that has invested a lot and that, by everyone's account, plays the best football in Serie A, but we are also aware of our qualities, after all we have already shown that we can compete with anyone".

The Azzurri will face a tough match, in which the best version of Empoli will be needed. "We shouldn't be passive because when a team has the quality of Como you can't afford to give them space to think," insists the coach from Abruzzo. "We'll have to be aggressive and good at exploiting the spaces they leave us, especially when they apply high pressure man-to-man. While maintaining their playing principles, Como is now playing with more courage than in the first leg." And to exploit the spaces, lucidity and technical cleanliness will also be needed from the forwards, who have seemed a bit dull in the last period, Esposito hasn't scored in eight games and Colombo in seven. "It's true that they've been less brilliant in front of goal recently, but let's not forget that they've spent a lot because there were no alternatives to give them a breather – D'Aversa points out –. Now we're getting Solbakken back, who is very important to us. The boy is physically fine but it's clear that he needs to regain some courage in contact and in using his operated arm. How important is Fazzini's recovery? It's up to him to prove it in these last few games. For us, he's an important player who combines quality with great resistance."

Empoli's path to salvation is shaping up to be similar to last year's, but D'Aversa prefers not to make comparisons. "Every championship is different and this year's team is not the same as last year's - he concludes - then I would like to save myself for a few minutes, or better yet a few days earlier. For sure from now until the end we have to think one game at a time, taking to the field with the determination of those who want to take those points that are missing to reach the objective".