Udinese vs Palermo preview - Gasperini feeling pressure

Posted Saturday, December 15, 2012 by PA

Palermo head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is already feeling the pressure of a relegation battle as the Rosanero visit Udinese.

The Sicilians are outside of the Serie A drop zone on goal difference alone and currently tie 18th-placed Pescara on 14 points having lost two games in a row.

Ominously for Gasperini, Palermo are yet to win on their travels and have picked up just two points on the road ahead of their longest round trip of the season.

He told a pre-match press conference: "We go into this game on the back of two straight defeats against top-class opponents and Udinese will be looking for three points too.

"But we need wins to move away from the lower reaches of the table. Our position puts pressure on us and in these situations it doesn't matter whether you're playing at home or away.

"We have to be very careful. It will be a game against a strong, fit side and Udinese renew their squad year after year with players of great quality.

"But this is a match that is within our reach and we go into every game confident of doing well on the pitch."

An inability to score away from home is principally to blame for Palermo's travel sickness and Gasperini is considering recruiting a new striker in January.

"We are missing some elements but that doesn't mean we don't have a good base of players already," he added.

"We struggle to rotate the squad, though, so our intention is to fill the gaps."

Striker Abel Hernandez and midfielder Andrea Mantovani remain sidelined through injury while defender Michael Morganella serves a one-match ban.

Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin remains a popular figure with the Palermo fans, having guided the Sicilians to the top flight for the first time in 35 years back in 2005.

Perhaps out of respect for his former employers, the Zebrette coach stopped short of commenting on Palermo's current plight.

He told udinese.it: "I don't know, I'm only thinking about this match, the rest is history.

"The team is still of a high quality and (president Maurizio) Zamparini's achievements are massive.

"I thought Palermo played really well in their games against Inter and Juventus, so we have to be on our guard.

"We are meeting a very energetic team and that's what concerns me."

Udinese - who took just one fan to Sampdoria last time out - have concerns over the fitness of midfielder Giovanni Pasquale as they look to continue their dominance of a fixture they have won four times in a row.