Spal: Arena praises Nador and Awua for defensive solidity against Sassari

After the Sassari race, the returning Sand was happy to receive the compliments for his performance and for having contributed to keeping a clean sheet. But the Apulian defender explained that in reality much of the credit should be attributed to the two midfielders of the day. Two players surprisingly fielded by Mr. Baldini and capable – through excellent dirty work – of reducing the dangers around Galeotti and the three central defenders to a minimum. Steven Nador e Theophilus Awua have taken advantage of the opportunity, and now they are candidates for a leading role in the final part of the season. It must be said that in the football idea of ​​the Massa coach, neither the Togolese nor the Nigerian represent first choices in the midfield. But at a time when the Spal needed solidity and concreteness in the non-possession phase, the choice fell on them, and the coach did not regret it. Of course, the injured Paghera and the suspended Radrezza were missing, but the various Zammarini, Haoudi and El Kaddouri were skilled and enlisted, remaining on the bench from the first to the last minute. Therefore, the choice of mister Baldini was clear, who preferred substance to good feet.

And from the words spoken by Arena in the post-match it is clear that the defenders also appreciated it. However, there is also the other side of the coin, because with Nador and Awua there was more filtering, but the quality left much to be desired. The Togolese is able to set up, but he is certainly not a purebred director, while the Nigerian struggles a lot to dribble. So, often and willingly it was Arena and Fiordaliso who built the game starting from the defense, also and above all skipping the midline to directly trigger the strikers. You can play like this too, there is absolutely no shame in it. Also because at this moment only the points count. But we must consider that facing Torres is different than facing Pontedera, when it will probably be up to Spal to make the game.

In the last few days the white and blues will necessarily have to try to win, so the technical staff will have to weigh their choices carefully. Especially in midfield, where Radrezza will return next Saturday but not yet Paghera. The latter is considered a key player in Baldini's game economy, perhaps the only one capable of combining defense and construction. But the former Brescia midfielder is not yet ready to play at full capacity, so much so that yesterday when training resumed he did not work with the team. It is not excluded that he could return to the list of those called up, but it is unlikely that he will play from the first minute. Just like Zammarini, Haoudi and El Kaddouri, the three excellent excluded from Sassari. They are useful pawns for possible rotations, but they seem to have lost ground in the hierarchies of Baldini, who instead since he arrived has practically never given up on the quality of Radrezza. Will the playmaker return to his place against Pontedera or will we continue along the path traced in Sardinia in the name of compactness between defense and midfield with Nador and Awua?

Stefano Manfredini