Latvia head coach Paolo Nicolato expects a physical and demanding encounter when his side face Lithuania in the Baltic Cup semi-final on Saturday in Kaunas.
Speaking after Latvia’s official pre-match training session at Darius and Girenas Stadium, Nicolato stressed the importance of the occasion despite a lengthy injury list that has forced several changes to his squad.
Asked about the significance of the Latvia-Lithuania rivalry, the Italian coach said every possible source of motivation is welcome. “Honestly, every detail is important for me,” Nicolato said. “We have to give everything on the pitch because every match is a good opportunity to improve and make progress. That is exactly what I want to see from the players.”
Nicolato also highlighted the importance of competing physically against Lithuania, an area he believes his team must continue to develop. “In every game I want to see fighting spirit from our team. That is very valuable for us. We need to be better in duels because sometimes we are not strong enough in that aspect of the game. That is why matches like this are important.”
Latvia arrive in Kaunas without several key players, but Nicolato views the situation as an opportunity for others to step forward. “It is difficult to say exactly what we can expect from our team because we are in a rather unusual situation with many players unavailable,” he admitted. “But I am very curious to see the younger players and those who will get their opportunity. As for Lithuania, I think they are a good team. Their coach is doing a good job. Their style of play is interesting and they adapt well to different opponents. I expect a very competitive match.”
Midfielder Lūkass Vapne echoed his coach’s sentiments and believes motivation will not be an issue in one of Baltic football’s traditional rivalries.
“A derby is a derby, so nobody will need extra motivation,” Vapne said. “In every game you want to fight for victory and this will be a great opportunity to do that. As far as I know there will be a large crowd, so the atmosphere should feel very similar to a World Cup qualifying match.”
The midfielder revealed that Nicolato has repeatedly emphasised the importance of winning individual battles throughout the training camp. “The coach has been telling us all week that duels are a very important part of the game. I think he wants to see how we respond to that message. We need to do everything possible to get a positive result.”
Despite the absences, Vapne believes the situation could have a positive effect on the squad by creating opportunities for players who have featured less regularly. “Sometimes it is not necessarily a bad thing when several players are missing,” he said. “Those who have played less will be hungry to prove themselves. Of course, the understanding between players may not be at the highest possible level, but sometimes situations like this can work in the team’s favour. Tomorrow we will see how it affects us.”
Source: http://lff.lv/zinas/19017/p-nikolato-ar-lielu-zinkari-verosu-jaunos-speletajus/
