The 43-year-old has taken charge of the Friuli club following the departure of Kosta Runjaic, signing an eight-month contract until the end of June 2027.
Zanetti admitted during his unveiling that he had been approached by Udinese before, but was reluctant to abandon the tactical approach he favoured at the time.
"I arrive here with a varied range of experience. I was close to this job in the past, but I had always played with a different system from the one usually used here and I didn't feel comfortable accepting it.
"Now, however, I have gained a lot of experience. I have won and lost using many different systems."
The new coach is conscious that immediately changing Udinese's tactical identity would risk disrupting a squad built around particular formations.
"Completely changing this team would be a shock to the system. I cannot rule out doing it at some point, because I will have to try everything, but right now I need to consolidate."
Zanetti intends initially to work with the 3-5-2 and 3-4-2-1 formations, while retaining the flexibility to make adjustments if circumstances demand them.
"The team has been built to switch between a 3-5-2 and a 3-4-2-1, and that is what we will do. I have the foundations and the ability to change things if necessary."
He also insisted that individual reputations would not determine selection, with the collective performance taking priority. That approach applies to players such as Nicolò Zaniolo, Sandi Lovrić and Enzo Ebosse.
"I understand that people want to talk about individuals, but I look at the group. There are no players in this team who can win matches on their own. Very few in Serie A can do that.
"The team has to function properly for a good player to express himself. I want to give Zaniolo the right spaces and the right movements from his team-mates. The same applies to everyone, including Lovrić."
Zanetti added that the hierarchy within the squad would be determined by performances rather than reputation.
"The players who are starters have earned that on the pitch. But if something needs to change, I will have to change too, because my objective is to take Udinese as high as possible."
His commitment to the challenge was underlined by the terms of his appointment. Zanetti revealed that he had left three members of his previous staff behind and had declined the opportunity to include an option to extend his contract.
"I am here with an eight-month contract, having left three members of my staff at home. I am here to earn everything. I was also offered an option to renew, but I didn't want to include it. I am here to prove myself and bring out everything these players have. If we manage that, the results will come."