Chapter 91: Choices

Chapter 91: Choices

After 19 rounds of Serie A, Udinese has played against each of the other 19 teams and achieved a commendable record of 14 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses. However, those closely watching Udinese noticed that towards the end of the first half of the season, their performance seemed to wane.

Particularly after the winter break, Udinese went two rounds without a win, disappointing fans as it seemed their rhythm had been disrupted by the break. Yet, this was somewhat expected. Given Udinese's limited capabilities and squad depth, maintaining their earlier momentum was becoming increasingly difficult as the season progressed.

Confirming this view, Udinese stumbled again in the 20th and 21st rounds. In their first match of the second half of the season, Udinese hosted Lazio. Despite having a one-man advantage, they conceded an equalizer in the 90th minute from Hernanes, ending the game 3-3. On January 26th, Udinese drew 1-1 away at Parma.

After four consecutive winless games, Udinese's league position dropped to third, and they fell eight points behind league leaders Juventus. However, during this period, Udinese managed to secure a spot in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia by defeating AC Milan 2-1 at San Siro. Their semi-final opponent would be Fiorentina, with the potential final against the winner between Roma and Napoli.

With the closure of the winter transfer window in February, Udinese had only made three signings: 20-year-old Cameroonian forward Steve Mounié, 19-year-old Brazilian defender Santos, and 29-year-old Algerian midfielder Hassan Yebda, both of whom were acquired from their satellite club Granada. Udinese also offloaded five surplus players to streamline the squad.

These transactions did little to relieve the pressure mounting on the team as they faced competitions on three fronts: Serie A, the Europa League, and the Coppa Italia. The packed February schedule meant Udinese would have to play eight games, including Serie A, the Coppa Italia semi-finals, and the Europa League Round of 32, facing a match twice a week throughout the month.

Realizing the impossibility of competing on all fronts without sacrifices, Udinese's management, including Coach Guidolin and Captain Di Natale, was convened by Mr. Pozzo, the club owner, to discuss strategic directions. Mr. Pozzo proposed focusing on the Serie A, believing the team still had a shot at the title despite the recent setbacks.

While Udinese had been excellent early in the season, the post-winter dip meant they now trailed Juventus by eight points. Mr. Pozzo suggested that by concentrating solely on the league, Udinese could potentially improve their performance.

The response from the team management and Di Natale was cautiously optimistic. Despite Di Natale's eagerness for a league title at 37, Coach Guidolin was skeptical, knowing the outstanding performances from him and Bruno were more of an exception than the norm.

As discussions progressed, Bruno decided to voice his realistic outlook. He doubted Udinese's ability to overtake Juventus, who seemed unstoppable this season, potentially reaching over 100 points. He suggested that focusing on the Coppa Italia, where the path to the title was shorter and seemingly easier, might offer a more tangible chance for success. This strategy might also leave room to push in the Europa League, where the competition was not as fierce.

Bruno's input shifted the focus of the strategy meeting. It became clear that while the ambition for a league title was high, the practical route to securing silverware might lie through the Coppa Italia and perhaps an adventurous campaign in the Europa League.

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