Hellas Verona vs Sassuolo preview - Mandorlini calls for focus

Posted Saturday, April 25, 2015 by PA

Hellas Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini has warned his team not to lose focus ahead of Sunday's home game against Sassuolo.

Mandorlini and his players are in celebratory mood after Monday's 1-0 triumph at Fiorentina.

Mounir Obbadi's last-gasp goal halted Hellas' three-match winless run and lifted the Verona outfit to 14th place.

With seven games remaining and Hellas 13 points clear of the drop zone, Mandorlini believes his side has done enough to retain its top-flight status.

"This win comes at a crucial time of the season and it's very important for us," Mandorlini said to Italian TV station Rai. "I think we have done enough to defend our Serie A status.

"But there are still seven games left to play and we want to continue to do well.

"We can improve our position in the standings and we will try to finish as high as possible."

Mandorlini had reason to be happy as his team kept a clean sheet for the seventh time this season.

"It was just a great performance by my players," Mandorlini said. "They showed a lot of fighting spirit.

"Now we must give continuity to this result."

Sassuolo are 12th in the standings, level on 36 points with Sunday's opponents.

The Emilia-Romagna club held European hopefuls Torino to a 1-1 draw last weekend.

"We have a good advantage with respect to the bottom three but I want to see my team looking to go out for victory in every game," Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco said. "I want my players to show they are hungry for points and victories."

Sassuolo travel to Verona looking for their first win on the road since January 6.

Simone Zaza will lead Sassuolo's attack with the Italy international desperate to end his goalscoring drought on Sunday.

Zaza has not found the back of the net since February 1.

The visitors welcome back midfielder Simone Missiroli from suspension while defenders Marcello Gazzola and Cesare Natali are unavailable through injury.