Cesena vs Udinese preview - Guidolin urges Udinese to keep cool

Posted Sunday, February 13, 2011 by PA

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin is warning his team not be dazzled by the prospect of European football as they prepare to visit Cesena on Sunday.

The Friuli outfit have climbed up to a lofty sixth place in the Serie A standings and have already reached the all-important figure of 40 points - commonly seen as the number needed to avoid relegation.

That liberates Udinese to concentrate on other objectives, but Guidolin wants his men to think only of Serie A and not potential trips abroad.

"Things are going well for us but it's not possible to keep up this run until the end," said Guidolin. "My team has always played good football even when results did not go our way.

"We are happy now and we want to try to keep our current position in the standings until the end, which would guarantee us European football next season.

"But we have to remain humble and not look too far ahead.

"We just need to put the same determination and courage that we have shown in recent games and wait until the end to see where that takes us."

The Friuli outfit beat Sampdoria 2-0 last weekend to go level on points with Palermo.

Udinese travel to Cesena this weekend eager to extend their seven-match unbeaten run.

The Bianconeri have not lost since December 19, a 3-2 defeat at Lazio.

It is no surprise that rivals Cesena expect a battle on Sunday.

The promoted side go into this weekend's encounter on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Napoli.

The result dropped Cesena to second-bottom, two points from safety.

"Udinese are a very strong team," said Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo. "They have a fierce striking force and we will have to be patient and try to hit them in the counter-attack."

Massimo Ficcadenti's Cesena have not won since January 6.