Andrea Cambiaso, interview: “Scudetto, Juve is there”

In 3D, Andrea Cambiaso was seen for the first time in Brussels a year ago: Italy visits Belgium, Luciano Spalletti, the Azzurri coach at the time, brings the Juventus joker to the press conference and describes him as a “player who sees the pitch not only vertically and horizontally, but in a circular way…”.

A 3D player, never heard of before.

“I took it as a compliment, as something different to describe my characteristics: I think that, today, football is going in that direction, occupying the spaces that can be created on the pitch.”

A year later, Spalletti took over a slightly wounded Juventus with the mission of putting them back on track: from the 3D blue to the 3D black and white.

“Pure passion: the coach is this and much more.”

Passion and communication.

“He gets into your head, he gets to you: sometimes he can be original in what he tells us, but he always gets the point across. In just a few days he has brought a lot of new things to the group. And compared to what I knew in the national team he has changed a lot.”

Juve can register for the Scudetto match, he said.

“Right and, I would say, logical. When he told us in the changing rooms, at Continassa, we all went after him: before Cremona we were six points behind the top, after Cremona we have four. A question of numbers…”.

Question of quality and strength: who do you see as more credible in a championship with slow progress?

“Napoli and Inter. Napoli because they are the reigning champions, Inter because of what they have shown in recent years. Behind us we are also fighting in an open, very open fight… and if the fight is open, very open, anything can happen.”

Let’s go back to Spalletti. Passion, communication and…

“Attention to detail, in every moment of the work: from the goal kick to the throw-in to the starting whistle. He lives on football twenty-four hours a day, I think he watches thousands of matches, his method is a modern method of teaching football.”

Let’s go back to the three-dimensional game vision. Besides Cambiaso, who sees it this way?

“Many. If I have to name one, I’d say Calafiori: he starts as a full-back and you find him in attack. And in his Arsenal it goes like this in general: I follow them, I study them, I like them. And if you asked Spalletti I’m sure he too would answer: yes, I watch the Gunners’ matches.”

“The other night in Chelsea there was Cucurella everywhere.”

A little outside, a little to the right, then to the left. Without forgetting the midfield: how are you born multi-purpose?

“For me it was a question of instinct: since I was little I have held multiple roles or positions and, for this reason, I believe I have developed a certain knowledge not linked to a single movement.”

Anyone who does many different things in a game risks becoming distorted in the long run. Have you ever thought about it?

“I was talking about it right now with Mac (McKennie, ed) who underlined to me how having the ability to be everywhere can go hand in hand with not excelling in something particular.”

So is the risk real?

“I don’t think so: for me it’s a positive aspect because the coach is put in the best conditions to make his choices.”

How far does Andrea Cambiaso feel?

“I don’t feel like I’ve arrived, it wouldn’t make sense: I started my career in Serie A later than other teammates, see Kenan, or those who do my profession: if you start at 21 you’re almost at the beginning. I’ve come a long way, but I have a lot to do: I see ample room for improvement ahead of me.”

A leap backwards. How close were you to packing your bags for Manchester, home for City?

“There was an interest last January, nothing more: I wasn’t close to saying goodbye to Juventus, I didn’t make any proclamations in this sense, on the contrary. Flattered, yes, other stories, no.”

Cambiaso is no longer the same because he has the Premier League on his mind: what was going through his head when he came across this insistent chatter?

“They were annoying, but that’s how our world goes and you can’t do anything about it: it was clear that it wasn’t the reason for my decline in form, but, perhaps, if I had been on the other side I would have thought so too. Oh well…”.

How much has Vlahovic changed?

“Dusan is a driving force, someone who plays for the team and with the team. In recent times I have seen him more serene and calm, but he has never lost a moment to demonstrate his attachment to the cause. Scoring goals, for a center forward, is worth a lot, but he has always scored goals.”

A thought for the new arrivals…

“Quality and professionalism: this applies to everyone. If I have to choose one, then I say Edon (Zhegrova, ed): he impressed me when we faced him last Champions League against Lille, then he confirmed what I thought of him. Spalletti is right, that “wedge” in one-on-one situations is lethal.”

“Challenge to be won, at any cost. I won’t deny that I am more attached to the Genoa team as I am a Genoa fan, but with Toro it is a very heartfelt event. Also because, for them, it is worth a season, for us it offers very precious points up for grabs.”

In the Champions League it is forbidden to make mistakes between now and the end of January.

“We have to win them all, the possibility of error has been drastically reduced.”

Has the university entered its day?

“I would have liked to. But I’m someone who, if he decides to do something, has to do it in the best possible way, I would have lacked time. I’m reading Novak, the story of a great man like Djokovic: there’s more to it than talent.”

Do you go around with “headphones” on your head to say it to Spalletti?

“Only when I arrive at the stadium. I know that when he was coach he complained about those who walked along the streets of Coverciano with “headphones” on their heads: maybe I’ll wear small earphones even in those few minutes that I listen to music (he smiles, ed). What do I listen to? “Guasto d’amore” by Bresh, a great Genoa fan”.

Andrea Cambiaso’s 3D football is on air.