Cristiano GiuntoliFootball director of Juventusconfesses in a long interview at the Sports Festival, organized in Trento by Gazzetta dello Sport.
HE PULLMAN – “What does it remind me of? Very long trips from Prato, to go and see Juventus. I was a child who dreamed a lot. My passion was born in my grandfather’s bar, where there was a lot of talk about sport, cycling… There were people who made passion a reason for living”.
MOST LOVED JUVE – “Platini’s, Tardelli’s, Boniek’s… I knew the lineup by heart. But Lippi’s was an extraordinary Juve, which should be remembered among so many great ones: that represents the right spirit.”
MOST BEAUTIFUL VICTORY – “They all have great charm, in all categories. Even in Serie B with Carpi, last year with Napoli… But the most important one will always be the next one.”
A PLAYER WHO WOULD LIKE BACK ON THE PITCH – “I think of Del Piero, Baggio, Platini… They marked an era in world football, we must be proud of them. To say just one is too little.”
THE PHOTO OF A FRIENDLY MATCH – “I remember Juventus-Imperia, before the match Iuliano’s famous penalty-non-penalty. I wasn’t a good example as a defender (laughs, ed.). In the friendly I was very emotional, I also brought my father who was very emotional, it was a beautiful moment in my life.”
THE FATHER – “He was a fanatic, I had a more 360 degree vision. He was a great fan, maybe I miss sharing certain moments with him.”
ANECDOTE ABOUT ALBIOL – “I played many matches among the amateurs, in Serie C. It helps to understand the mistake, to make an evaluation. In every match there are good performances and others less so. I remember once with Albiol, he made two mistakes and was desperate. I said that in my opinion he was wrong because in my opinion he wanted to make up for the lack of a teammate. He asked me how I had managed to notice, I told him that I had played 400 games in the North (laughs, ed.). The player must be judged by who is able to understand.”
THE CHOICE OF FOOTBALL – “It was my greatest passion, my mother wasn’t so happy. But I chose a tortuous path, full of question marks (after having completed 19 Architecture exams, ed.). My father supported me more, but he too he was worried because there was no certainty of a future. But my passion was enough to make up for all the uncertainties.”
THE VOCATION OF THE DS – “I had become a point of reference for the coaches, the directors, my teammates, I was managing without realizing it. By nature I am an aggregator, I was already doing management. Not the market, but I gave some suggestions. I was a natural point of reference, then at 24 I had the ambition of being a manager: my mother reminded me of it, she keeps everything. I don’t really like to appear, now I represent an important club and it’s right that I make myself heard but I like to give more strength to us, to the others. I think it’s the most correct way, Juventus coincidentally begins with “you” – tu – and ends with “us” – we -: it encompasses a lot of what I think of the team group”.
THE CARPI MIRACLE – “President Bonaccini was very important, we built a good situation that allowed me to learn about football from the basics, from gardening. Then when you get to the top of an important club you can say you know everything. We created an incredible situation, in In my head there was the desire to go to Serie B, but along the way we arrived in Serie A. An extraordinary journey.”
BOND WITH ALLEGRI – “I’m from Agliana, where he started coaching. Historical courses and events…”.
FLOP PLAYER – “More than one, you make a lot of mistakes even if you try not to. There are many dynamics, when you take a player it’s like a girlfriend: you think she’s the right one, then you take her to dinner but when you bring her home you realize it’s not right well, that doesn’t wash, doesn’t iron (laughs, ed.). You have to be careful, understand all the parameters: it’s a difficult role, I’ve made many mistakes but also positive things from there.”
CHOICE OF A PLAYER – “We have to take in a lot of information, I like to talk to each other, understand the family’s origins, their previous life. To make less mistakes you have to take in a lot of information, watch videos, cross-reference details with collaborators, go and see it. Then you go through emotions, you try to understand the essence, the gut feeling. In recent times it’s fashionable to deal with numbers, I use them more to compare the emotions and information I have collected”.
NIGHT CALLS TO COACHES – “But no, it depends… I don’t go to bed early, in the evening I think a lot and I happen to call my collaborators, even the coach: that’s the moment when I can look beyond. Cheerful? I’ve been with him since early in the morning, There’s no need…”.
SCUDETTO IN NAPLES – “Great satisfaction. With Sarri we found a team already created with Benitez, there was a first cycle. The second was born along the way, we worked from afar on a clear score which gave great results. A long planning, Di Lorenzo and Zielinski are arrived a long time ago, Mario Rui, all players who had been there for a long time. Spalletti was good but so was Gattuso… You also need luck to arrive at the right time. Even the previous year there were injuries that took away serenity and points, but we could already aim for the scudetto.”
WITH LAURENTIS – “He was extraordinary with me, a visionary. He gave me confidence, an incredible act of courage in catching a glimpse of this young manager. He’s not what he appears, he’s always been very nice to me. We worked every day, he taught me so much. A wonderful relationship, I thank him.”
LIKE A FATHER – “I found good players, Koulibaly stayed for 7 years and you almost become a father. Then when there’s a moment of separation it’s difficult, painful. They also bring onto the pitch the feelings of those who are with them, I thank him and Mertens, Insigne, Callejon, Pepe Reina: they were all very correct, it wasn’t easy to leave but perhaps it was also for their own good. You work with feelings, there is esteem, affection. Football is made up of motivations, which sometimes we find in young boys”.
FEELING WITH COACHES – “I was lucky enough to meet great men, it wasn’t difficult. The luck of a club is having a great coach but also the strength to protect him, he’s a lonely man, I like to be close to him and help him. To do that you have to understand how think, give him suggestions to understand what the right path might be for everyone. I really believe in the relationship with the coaches.”
ALLEGRI – “How did he surprise me? With the great personality that unites him with the greats. To obtain results everyone must be convinced that what is being done is the right thing, he has the character to do it. What surprised me is the application, dedication to work as if it were the first day”.
ROUTE TO JUVE – “We are evaluating all the guys we have available, we are also succeeding. In my opinion, the path is the right one, there are still a few months before January and we need to understand if there is any opportunity”.
WHAT CONVINCED HIM – “The passion for Juve, in addition to the charm and the coat of arms. Juve is always Juve, we will go back to doing what we have always done, it will take time. A good challenge, we want to play competitive but also sustainable football. I think it is a duty and fair towards the Italian people, the fans, who are fighting.”
NOW AT THE TOP? – “We don’t put limits on ourselves, we want to do the right things as soon as possible.”
DNA JEWELERY – “The work culture, there are very good collaborators and I thank them. There is a club that wants to do important things, thinking that everyday life gives you that brick to build the house. Then the great strength, which will allow us to bring it back to where it deserves. We must continue to cultivate it. Great availability from everyone, I arrived alone and they welcomed me like a brother. There is desire, application, determination, we must raise these values to power.”
ITALIAN LOCKDOWN – “There are already many guys who will have to bring Juve’s secret jobs to those who come from abroad. Having a hard core is always positive, we will try to increase it. In this market we must also think about abroad, to less traveled markets, to sustainability”.
L’ARABIA – “Let’s look at it in a positive way, they are injections of money into Europe. They are more resources arriving, then we will see the consequences in the near future. But now it is a positive thing”.
NEXT GEN – “Very important from a technical point of view, to avoid having crazy expenses, but also because foreigners can acquire that sense of belonging necessary to become great. They find themselves in the first team after having already breathed that air, it’s very important for the future Yildiz, Huijsen, Soulè, Iling… They did a great job in selecting them, we are very confident. Example not followed closely? I don’t know, there is a need for investments and after Covid it was difficult. Now there is Atalanta and I hope that others will also face this reality.”
NOT JUST THE RESULT – “The objective is always to win, there is no escape from there. Then you have to analyze the races, when you haven’t won there are still good things to consider. Some things work and others don’t, that’s where we need to intervene. We don’t want to just be lucky , then we will have great satisfaction. The team is much younger, but there is also more intensity and aggression. We have played games of great aggression, we have to bring it to long periods in the same match. The will is to do something more, we are happy but we can always improve. The numbers are also better for performances but we want to do better, the path is the right one.”
FIGHT IN SERIES A – “There are projects that started before, Milan, Inter, Napoli itself… We want to grow, return to the Champions League, last year we were third but we are not in the Champions League. Bringing Juve to the Champions League would help increase the value of the players and the their self-esteem. Let’s not do flights of fancy, just get to the top 4. Then in the spring we’ll see.”
BEANS – “We are very sorry, we are close to him. We notified the Federal Prosecutor’s Office at the time, the player and his lawyers immediately made themselves available. Our task is not to punish him but to re-educate him, the competent authorities will take care of it. Here we have great responsibilities for the future.”
WITH MILAN – “It will be very nice. Are you starting from the bench? No, now I’m in the stands, the role dictates it to me. Maybe you suffer more but I try to stay clear enough, you don’t have to live on your stomach evaluating the matches, you need calm to have a clear picture “.
360 DEGREE CONTROL – “An extra eye is always useful, I’m curious and I try to talk about everything. An owner must know everything, it’s right to have a comparison on all sectors because you have to have the picture in hand. The difference is made by attention to detail , so it’s easier for things to go better.”
A SAN SIRO – “We must maintain this direction, wanting to do things without fear. Then a team of young people must demonstrate their personality, the desire to win. An important crossroads not for points but for self-esteem, we are looking for an awareness that we don’t yet have and that a match so he can give.”
THE ROSE – “We think we have high-level players, we want to grow with them. Sometimes this football makes for quick steps but it takes patience, we have to put them in a position to express themselves. The mood we create is important for the results, we have to make the most of the characteristics of the team squad”.
CHURCH AND VLAHOVIC – “I don’t know, we’ll see in the next few hours. Vlahovic is better, he’s made some progress with the team and we think we can field him.”
JANUARY MARKET – “Some haven’t expressed themselves yet, I’m thinking of Iling and Nicolussi… Then we’ll see if there are opportunities, it’s never easy. I don’t promise anything but we will be vigilant and attentive.”
2023-10-15 09:45:00
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