Runjaic: 'Another big mistake, like against Cagliari' as Udinese slump to fourth straight defeat
Quick summary
Udinese manager Kosta Runjaic criticized his team's performance after a fourth consecutive defeat, comparing a key error to one made against Cagliari earlier in the season.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceKosta Runjaic took responsibility after another costly mistake condemned Udinese to a 2-1 defeat at Torino, their fourth straight loss.
With quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb , the Udinese coach compared the decisive error from goalkeeper Maduka Okoye to the one that cost his side against Cagliari before the international break.
“I’m always optimistic, that’s my approach to life,” Runjaic said. “We lost because of a big mistake, like against Cagliari. As head coach, I’m responsible too. It was a lack of communication and perception, and with mistakes like these you end up losing games.”
Substitute Sandro Kulenovic punished a goalkeeping error to win it for Torino midway through the second half, after Jurgen Ekkelenkamp had cancelled out Daniel Bragança’s opener before the interval.
GENOA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Kosta Runjaic, Head Coach of Udinese (L), looks on with Gokhan Inler, Sporting Director of Udinese (R), prior to the Serie A match between Genoa and Udinese at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 04, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Runjaic: ‘We have to encourage one another’ Runjaic also lamented his side’s lack of cutting edge, and pointed out that Torino’s opener came from a set piece.
“We didn’t score or create many chances. The defensive error is costly, but Torino’s first goal also came from a set piece. Congratulations to Torino. I’ll try to keep the team united and morale high. In the end, the result is that we lost, and we have to get through this moment by encouraging one another.”
Udinese remain on four points, but Runjaic took encouragement from the performances of Oumar Solet and Ekkelenkamp.
“Every game brings positives. There’s the return of Solet, who showed how important he is. Ekkelenkamp also confirmed his qualities, and now we’re waiting for a lot of players to come back.”
David Alaba made his debut off the bench with 18 minutes remaining. Before kick-off, Runjaic had explained that the former Real Madrid defender needed careful management after three months without a competitive game.
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What happened
Udinese are in a worrying run of form, having lost four matches in a row, prompting manager Kosta Runjaic to publicly call out a 'big mistake' reminiscent of an earlier loss to Cagliari. The coach's frustration highlights recurring defensive or tactical lapses that continue to cost his side points. With momentum shifting against them, Udinese face growing pressure to arrest the slide before their situation in the standings becomes more precarious.
Chance analysis
A fourth consecutive defeat is a clear signal of trouble at Udinese. Runjaic's public acknowledgment of a recurring mistake pattern suggests systemic rather than incidental problems — whether in concentration, game management, or tactical setup. For fans and neutral observers, this is a side that appears to be in a confidence spiral, and the manager's pointed language indicates internal concern about how errors are being repeated rather than corrected.
Udinese's fourth straight loss damages morale and likely drops them further down the Serie A table, increasing pressure on Runjaic.