Collecchio, 18 October 2024 - Head Coach Fabio Pecchia gave his thoughts during his press conference ahead of the eighth league match again Como, which he gave in the press room at Mutti Training Centre Collecchio.

FANS AT THE STADIUM

'We must give credit to the three very brave people who filed the appeal and we should congratulate them, we're really happy to have the fans at our side just like for the Bologna game when they came in their numbers. In terms of the players, we'll probably be without Osorio after the internationals. But all the others are ready to go and fit'.

A TEAM THAT STICKS BY ITS PRINCIPLES

'You can play football in many ways, you tend to pursue what you believe in most. We are two teams that want to play in different ways. I said it earlier this week, it will be a great game on Saturday, because we're two teams that want to show our qualities on the pitch. In some ways, this is what happened at Bologna, facing a team that has a very clear and precise idea of how they want to play. Each team played to their strengths and to win the game. Seeing the team play in this way means we are exceeding our expectations. The team hasn't lost its identity, playing against teams with different levels of experience and structures, the likes of which we have played. We have continued to do the things we know how to, there's a bit of regret because there's matches that we should've won. The mood in the camp tells me that we could've taken something more'.

THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL BREAK

'These breaks are not too convenient, there are a lot of players away and you always hope that they mange to play and return in top condition. Here, at Collecchio, we've had two positive weeks because the team have worked very hard, it's never straightforward when you work towards a game 15 days away. But there's always an eye on things that happen outside of the camp, given that we had eight players away. Those under my control are confident and applying themselves in the right way'.

THE LIKELY TEAM

'Finishing with 11 players would already be a step forward, this has an effect on the display and the result. We can't concede like this, we've had a few of these situations. There needs to be even more attention on our part. We're already without Osorio, as he came back late from the break and Circati is injured, so it's like having one man less. This creates a bit of unease but we are all ready to be called on to give something extra. I prefer being able to select the whole team, because sometimes it raises the level of the training sessions. The lineup? There's always doubts, doubt follows us. The choices are based on the individual performances of the players, with so many scattered around Europe and many now returning. I have to take into account the fact that there's a lot of games. I'll need to consider this.'

COMO AND FABREGAS

'Como? We are two teams with visions, two newly promoted sides, that can't be compared. With a philosophy which is totally different to ours. We are the same group as we were last year, they've changed a lot. There's maybe two players there who played in Serie B. There's highs and lows, but this is Serie A and in recent matches they've found a stability which is clear and precise, with top quality player, a good dose of youth mixed in with experienced players. The match has been and will be played in a certain way. Fabregas? Everyone has their eye on him, he has a team with a precise idea. He worked with a team last year taking them under his wing and getting promotion. He has clear ideas and I'm looking forward to taking him and his team on, because, for someone his age, he's a coach with very clear ideas'.

LIES NEED TO BE CONDEMNED

'The rumours? The lies that have come out in the last 15 days have bored me a bit. Opinions are part of the game, they follow every manager wherever they go. But, when things are written that have absolutely no truth, this bothers me a lot and we need to condemn these things that come out with no truth attached. Everything else is not too important at the moment, our objective and mine is the Como match'.