Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic has explained how a costly misunderstanding between Maduka Okoye and Nicolò Bertola contributed to his team’s 2-1 defeat against Torino in Serie A, Bold Sports reports.
The German tactician admitted that Udinese could have secured a point without the defensive error. However, he also expressed frustration with the team’s fourth consecutive league defeat and called for improvements in several areas.
Runjaic identifies Udinese’s defensive problems
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Runjaic acknowledged the decisive nature of the mistake but insisted that his team did not perform badly overall.
“Without that mistake between Bertola and Okoye, the match would probably have ended in a draw. We can’t be happy and we’re absolutely not satisfied with this fourth consecutive defeat, but the team didn’t play badly today. I have to accept the mistake, even though it clearly had a significant impact on the match and was decisive.”
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The Udinese coach also highlighted recurring problems with communication, aggression and awareness of danger. He believes these shortcomings have contributed to the team’s recent setbacks.
“Football is a very complicated sports. In the last two matches, we have had blackouts caused by a lack of awareness of danger, a lack of aggression and an absence of communication,” Runjaic explained.
His comments suggest that Udinese must address more than individual errors. The team needs better defensive coordination to avoid similar situations in upcoming fixtures.
Runjaic also pointed to an earlier defensive lapse involving Christian Kabasele against Cagliari. The reference reinforced his concern about repeated mistakes rather than an isolated incident.
How Maduka Okoye’s mistake decided the match
The incident occurred during Udinese’s Serie A meeting with Torino at the Olympic Stadium in Turin. Okoye collided with Bertola while attempting to deal with a ball inside the penalty area.
Their misunderstanding left the goal exposed. Torino substitute Sandro Kulenović took advantage and scored the winning goal in the 67th minute.
Torino secured all three points, leaving Udinese to reflect on another disappointing result. The defeat extended their losing run to four consecutive Serie A matches.
Although Okoye was directly involved in the decisive moment, Runjaic’s assessment also highlighted the collective responsibility for Udinese’s defensive problems.
Udinese face pressure to turn their form around
The latest defeat increases the urgency for Runjaic to find solutions. Better communication and greater awareness in defensive situations will be essential if Udinese hope to stop their losing streak.
For Okoye, the priority will be to respond to the setback and help his team regain defensive stability. Udinese must now focus on correcting their mistakes ahead of their next Serie A fixture.
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