Long interview with Vincenzo Italiano in the pages of La Gazzetta dello Sport on newsstands today.
LAZIO – “The 5-0 goal was the epitome of a group that is all rowing on the same side. That it is all involved, in an action carried forward by three out of four new players. Of a group that, who is playing and who is not, is united, and that is a very, very good signal to look for in this final season because we have a series of matches one tougher than the other, from the championship to the Italian Cup semifinal.”
POST THIAGO MOTTA – “Everyone thought it was going to be a ‘Mission Impossible’: that’s what it said on the messages I was getting. This was the hottest bench in the universe. What was my response? I after talking to everyone in the society calmed down. I knew about the eventual difficulties as it really happened, but escorted by fellow travelers who could give me a big hand not to do too much … damage. How much did the Champions to be played affect? Fifty to sixty percent. Trying to test myself, challenging this competition of details, the most difficult.”
DORTMUND – “I saw people rejoicing as if we had won the Champions League. It was a victory that came after a comeback, with an attitude of the team that wanted to give themselves and the people their first victory. I choose that one and not the 5-0 win against Lazio because although we were eliminated, it’s like we raised the Cup, all that was missing were the carousels in the streets.”
FIORENTINA – “The three years in Florence are somewhat tainted by those finals, but so many people know what and how many things went by on that journey. Clearly losing them tarnishes something, but they were three great years. Clear that the coach is judged by the results, but what they asked of me I gave, in fact maybe more. For me the path counts a lot: here it seems that those who go out in the round of 16 are better and those who lose the finals are goats. No no….”
COPPA ITALIA – “I’m thinking about it. In the meantime, we have to win the semifinal and it won’t be easy: Empoli has beaten all teams away from home; I have never won there, neither in A nor in B. It’s 180′ and it has to be played. That said, to think that I can bring 30-35 thousand Bolognesi to Rome and in my first year here for me would be a dream that we all have, something priceless.”
ITALIAN – “I am this, myself. There are times when I feel I behave the way I do in some victories, it depends on my state of mind. As soon as you take your head off the goal a little bit, in soccer you take the blows. I was convinced that I was continuing to fight for something important, but there with 9 games to go, well, I would have called anyone crazy. Renewal? With honesty I have to say that nothing has been discussed yet. But … there is all my availability.”
GROWTH – “Soccer is like an orange tree. Sowing is easier than harvesting, and harvesting translates into goals: Coppa Italia, semifinal and maybe final; and in the league trying to aim for the maximum. To sow took us a second, but to see the fruits depends on the weather, water, insects, sun, rain. Now the key word will be humility. The hardest thing so far has been convincing a group that to their great soccer you could put a little something extra. Being credible, getting them on your side: it wasn’t … right away.”
SINGLES – “I have to talk about team growth. A growth that brings Orsolini in double figures for the third year, Ndoye worked every day to get to score 7 goals, but also the youngsters: Castro, Dominguez, Fabbian, guys with quality and character. Growing up means being valued by the group. They did well: there is the work of the coach, but also their availability.”
