SENSE OF FAMILY – “Am I a father for the players? We’ve already talked about it a few times, my job is for the youth, but this doesn’t mean that we have to be more or less demanding. But I think that we are very demanding in training and they also deserve to rest. Rest as I see it is mental, doing things that you normally can’t do. Yes, five players went on a small journey together. If they are well off the field, they will be able to do better on the pitch. I think that Sergi Roberto and Goldaniga also went away together, I don’t know where. There’s a nice environment, but those who come away from here and see the guys breathe a healthy atmosphere. Could it be done even in a big city? This is a culture that we have to carry over time, doing lots of things together, getting used to doing certain things. As a player, I felt that something needed to change here, but I felt it was an incredible environment, with Cerri and the others… then when things aren’t going well you have to say it.
ONE MONTH IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – “What if we notice? Not so much now but a month ago. I heard something in the last break, for the last call-ups, maybe Jean Butez expected to go and it didn’t happen, he was disappointed. Van der Brempt was in the pre-call-ups, Baturina went… I think they are already intelligent and aware that the better they do here, the more opportunities they will have to go to the national team. It depends on them, not just on us. But now I don’t hear anything, the boys are focused on these two weeks that are missing.”
ROSE FOR EUROPE – “Numerically we are missing two points, we are very close to Europe yes, but we need to do that little bit more. Let’s hope it happens, yes. We will certainly need to have a very strong, short team, then in January there is always carte blanche to use, even if we didn’t do it this year. I prefer to start less, with a lot of strength, two per role, after January we’ll see where we are and how much we can push. I think it’s important to maintain competitiveness and unity. For the real group that being selfish as a coach with 30 players would be top, but for the environment it’s worse. There are 10-15 players who never play. I think so.
HOURS – “I don’t like the 12.30 match so much. Three hours before we eat. When we play at 3pm we activate in the morning, the players do stretching, mobility, two against two and then we eat and rest. If we play in the evening, I rest.”
ITALIANS IN THE COMO YOUTH TEAM – “I’m very happy. When we use all these guys it seems to me that there is value. Above all I see U17 and Primavera, if possible Cassano from the U17 will come with us, he came to train with us during the week and we liked him a lot. For positive ideas. He has given me great satisfaction, he is a playmaker, yesterday he played the match with us and Perrone was with a broken nose. Under 17 plays in the playoffs and I’m sorry, but if I can bring him I will. I can’t say he’s ready, but he understands football that we want to bring here. A lot of guys train with us during the week, but when we see a player who stands out we’re open to it.”
VERONA ALREADY REGETED – “Yes, but there is dignity. Nobody wants to lose a game just to lose it. You’re sad and sorry because you’re relegated but nobody gives us anything. In a low block against Juventus they created counterattacks, then they defended the whole match. We have to be prepared for a similar match last week. Today, scoring a goal in a low block is the most difficult thing. We have to be hungry for performance and to score goals. We have to be positive, but if we go to the pitch thinking it’s an easy match…”.
ARSENAL IN THE CL FINAL AFTER 20 YEARS – “That defeat made me learn a lot later. I was 19 years old then, it was the first time and after that there would be my first World Cup. I went away from that match and said: ‘Wow, what a satisfaction to play in a Champions League final. I will definitely win it because I’m young’. Years pass and I retire, it’s the only thing I’ve never won. There are regrets, it shows you that in football – as in life – you have to fight. If you wait too long it never comes. A knockout that made me made me learn, even if I would have preferred to win it. Defeats make you grow and improve. Is there an analogy with the Italian Cup semi-final with Inter? Doublebut he may also not win anything. So it would be a failure? For one match, one goal? I don’t see it that way. For me they are having a great season, Arteta too. Season of the Madonna”.
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