Monza coach Ivan Juric discussed his side's preparations and their upcoming opponents at the pre-match press conference ahead of their clash against Lazio.
Following their victory over Sassuolo, Monza will travel to the Stadio Olimpico to face Lazio, managed by Gennaro Gattuso. Lazio currently sits joint-top of the league alongside Roma and Inter Milan. During the international break, Juric recalled some players and analysed Lazio's tactical approach ahead of the fixture.
Juric said: "Lazio have excellent players with strong attacking capabilities. They deserve their current position and are well-organised defensively. I think Lazio is the fastest team in the league."
On Gattuso, Juric said: "There are highs and lows in any career. He is a coach who fears nothing and has performed well abroad. I admire him both as a person and as a coach."
During the international break, Monza played a friendly against French Ligue 1 side Brest, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Juric commented: "The friendly was very useful for us, and the team still has plenty of room for improvement. The players gained additional minutes, and we hope to perform at the standard we demonstrate in training."
Juric will also return to the Stadio Olimpico, where he previously coached Roma. Reflecting on that experience, he said: "Perhaps I wasn't ready for that level of challenge at the time."
With 48 hours until kickoff against Lazio, Juric is still assessing his starting XI. When asked whether Noel Throgate, Ngonge, and new signing Ceballos could feature, he said: "It's very likely they will play. After the friendly, I believe they are ready."
Regarding the victory over Sassuolo, Juric said: "We were very clinical in front of goal that evening, but we can still improve. I can feel the chemistry within the squad, and we can continue to develop."
Finally, Juric responded to comments from Giuseppe Cruciani about Monza's low home attendance: "That's what the figures show, but even when the team is struggling, I can feel the fans' support. I can sense the passion they bring to the stadium, and of course, we hope to attract larger crowds. For me, the Monza fans are special."
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com