Runjaic explains Alaba bench call: 'His last official game was three months ago'
Quick summary
Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaić has explained his decision to leave David Alaba on the bench, citing the defender's three-month absence from competitive football.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceKosta Runjaic is convinced David Alaba will soon be at his best for Udinese, but the former Real Madrid defender started on the bench against Torino on Monday night.
With quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb , the Udinese coach explained his decision to DAZN before kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Alaba joined as a free agent last month on a deal until June 2027, having been without a club since his Real Madrid contract expired in June. He insisted at his unveiling last week that he felt ready to play, but he has since admitted that he doesn’t yet have 90 minutes in his legs.
“I’m very happy that he signed and that he decided to come to us,” Runjaic said. “I believe Alaba will do us a lot of good thanks to his experience, his quality, his value and his human qualities, given that he’s integrated into the group quickly.”
Official: David Alaba joins Udinese (@udinesecalcio via X) Runjaic on Alaba’s fitness: ‘We need to manage him’ The coach warned, however, that Alaba’s lack of match practice means he has to be handled carefully.
“His last official game was three months ago, so we need to manage him. He’s an exemplary professional who made himself available straight away, and he’s ready on the bench. Maybe we’ll see him during the game, but I’m sure we’ll soon see him at his best.”
CAGLIARI, ITALY – MAY 09: Idrissa Gueye of Udinese celebrates his goal 0-2 during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Sant’Elia on May 09, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images) Udinese have won only once in five league games, and Runjaic used the three-week break to work on the details after defeat to Cagliari.
“It was a long break, especially after the Cagliari game, which didn’t make us happy. We had around 13 or 14 players every day to work on the details with, and we also played a friendly in Poland. It was the right balance between rest and hard work. Some players who were coming back from physical problems or injuries, like Arizala, Palma and Zanoli, have returned, although with Zanoli it was a minor fatigue issue and we preferred not to take any risks given his previous cruciate ligament injury.”
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What happened
Udinese boss Kosta Runjaić addressed questions about why David Alaba was not included in the starting lineup, stating that the Austrian defender's last official match was approximately three months ago. The explanation suggests Runjaić is being cautious with Alaba's return to match fitness, easing him back gradually rather than throwing him straight into action. Alaba, who joined Udinese in a move that surprised many observers, is still working his way back to full sharpness after a long layoff. Runjaić's comments indicate a measured approach to integrating the experienced defender into the squad.
Chance analysis
David Alaba's bench role at Udinese highlights the reality behind a high-profile signing made following a serious injury layoff. Three months without competitive minutes is a significant gap for any elite defender, particularly one returning from a major knee issue, and Runjaić's decision reflects the standard caution clubs apply in such situations. How quickly Alaba can regain his sharpness will shape Udinese's defensive outlook for the remainder of the season and determine whether the move ultimately pays off.
Alaba's lack of match fitness means he is unlikely to feature prominently for Udinese in the short term, reducing immediate defensive reinforcement from the signing.