Interview about the national team

From "Guerin Sportivo", reprinted in a Japanese magazine. May 1999.

Two years ago, no, twelve years ago, Pagliuca's game was already No.1.
He has had at least one super save per game. Maybe he is the best
goalkeeper in Serie A, but the present manager of the azzurri ignores
him as if he didn't exist. Maybe Gianluca Pagliuca is too spirited and
lacking in loyalty. Otherwise Dino Zoff's behavior will remain the
biggest mystery of this century. This season, Pagliuca is keeping up his
good shape as usual. He averages higher scores than other goalkeepers
in the three biggest sports newspapers. Fortunately, Gianluca has been
able to continue leading Inter's defense without getting discouraged by
Dino Zoff's unfair treatment. As the last wall of Inter's defense which
is full of holes, he is doing his best, and his words show a stronger
attitude than usual.
Interviewer(I):What do you think you should do to make Zoff notice you,
Gianluca?
Pagliuca(P):I don't want to talk about it.
I:But I'm puzzled why you won't speak about it.
P:I feel disgusted. Can you understand? I get irritated whenever I
talk about the national team. I've said all that I want to say, but
nothing has changed, has it?
I:You are not chosen even as the third goalkeeper of the azzurri, are
you?
P:Zoff decided by our age.
I:It can't be right. Zoff is the man who won the World Cup when he was
40 years old.
P:Then I don't know. Please tell me why I'm not included in the
national team.
I:If Zoff were to call you up (to the national team), what would be your
reply?
P:He never calls me. You can argue with me, but I myself think that
I'm the No.1 goalkeeper in Italy. You will understand that when you see
my marks.
I:A rumor is going around that Buffon is going to be transferred to
Inter. What do you think about that?
P:It is an unfounded rumor. Somebody started a rumor that I'm saying
that I want to play with Manchester United. That was the beginning of a
misunderstanding. Then, people knowingly began to talk about it. As a
result, we have this disturbance.
I:Tell me the truth.
P:I'm renewing the contract with Inter. The contract is until the year
2002. I've heard what Moratti says, as well as the other bosses. They
said 'we aren't going to give your position to any other goalkeeper'.
I:Don't you want to play with Manchester United?
P:I don't feel like going to Manchester United at all so far. I'm not
sure what I will do after 2002 when the contract with Inter expires. It
will be interesting in the future to play abroad, but for now I want to
stay the top-ranked goalkeeper in Serie A. I want to play here as long
as I can play at this high level.
I:Buffon said that a scout from Manchester United came to the game
between Inter and Parma.
P:Do I have to talk about other people?
I:It seems that you don't feel like talking about Buffon, do you?
P:I'm not interested in him. It is more than 100% certain that I'll
play for Inter next season. I have one thing that I want to tell you.
I:What is it?
P:In the world of soccer, it doesn't matter how much we have contributed
to the team in the past, we always have to show what we have. If we make a
mistake two games in a row, we'll be not chosen to start. Remember
Chimenti? He was playing very well, but he made a mistake in the game against
Cagliari, and then Konsel was in goal next week.
I:Why you are always getting angry on the pitch, Gianluca?
P:Actually, I got angry with the team's play after being scored on twice
in the game against Venezia (Jan 10th, 1999, 6-2 for Inter). We didn't have the
balance of defense and offense at all. All the team members were trying to get
6th goal, rather than preventing Venezia from scoring a third.
I:You get angry in other games, too.
P:That is how I am. I'm not a person who can remain impassive after
being scored upon. Some goalkeepers stay calm, and some goalkeepers are
weak, but who has more right to get angry than goalkeepers? I get angry
and yell at people. Of course, I know that a person who was scolded
would feel bad. When I'm scolded, I get angry, too, but I can't play if
I am restraining my anger.
I:Can you understand Sebastiano Rossi?
P:To a certain degree, but he went too far to grab a player by the
neck. There is a limit for any show of spirit.
I:Does Lucescu say anything to you about your yelling at defenders?
P:He says nothing, rather....
I:Rather what?
P:He likes us to show our attitude up front. He tells all of us
to show more spirit. Last season, we played tenaciously, with a great attitude,
so we could play games and win. I think we have to have games like that. We
can do it, because we did it last season.
I:Do you mean it is 'belief' that is lacking this season at Inter?
P:We have failed at the start. Unconsciously we were too relaxed,
because we were second last season. At the last moment we lost the scudetto that
we could almost get. It was a mistake for us to think that we almost
got it.
I:This season the battle is more confused than last year, isn't it?
P:The number of teams fighting for the scudetto has increased. The time
when big three teams fought for the scudetto has become a thing of the
past. I think that the situation when 7 or 8 teams fight for the
scudetto will continue for a while.
I:The provincial teams have become strong, haven't they?
P:We will get a severe blow if we make light of them. The provincial
teams are very solidly built.
I:Do you still believe in Inter's scudetto?
P:Yes, but we have to play with continuity. From now on we always have
to fight as if we were in the final. We can make the most of last
season's lesson, I repeat it again and again.
I:Is it hard for Inter not to have Ronaldo?
P:Not to have Ronaldo means simply that we don't have him, but also that
we don't have something we can rely on. Opponents will feel easier. We
can only break their rhythm by having Ronaldo. Ronaldo can be a strong
weapon in our mental arsenal.
I:What's wrong with Ronaldo?
P:He is not in the condition to play soccer constantly. He is now
doing physical therapy with trainer Petroni. We all wish him a speedy
recovery.
I:Please tell me your opinion about Simoni.
P:It is very regrettable that he was dismissed. I wanted him to stay at
Inter. The only thing that I don't like about him is his statement in
the interview. He said 'a certain player kicked me out', didn't he?
I:Do you know who that is?
P:No, but all the players were supportive of him. All of us wanted him
to stay.
I:How about the locker room, Gianluca? Is everything in order in the
team?
P:I’ve seen a lot of locker rooms in the 12 years as a profesional
player. There are always inside quarrels in teams. I used to often have
quarrels with Mancini or Vierchowod in the season when we got the
scudetto at Sampdoria. However, we got the scudetto.
I:You didn't answer my question. I'm asking you about Inter's locker
room.
P:Everyone does the things that they want to do. Players from South
America seem to get along well within their community. They have dinner
together. Married players go out only with their wives and children.
Single players go out together.
I:What do you think about three forwards?
P:I wouldn't care if there were to be four forwards. It is OK as long
as the defense covers tightly.
I:Inter played with three forwards in the game against Bologna. How was
it?
P:It was the worst. There are games where we should play with three
forwards and games where we should not. In which games should we have three
forwards? The home games where we want 3 points at any cost.
I:It is outragerous in the game against Lazio at Olimpico.
P:It's a bad joke.
I:Lippi is coming this June.
P:Maybe.
I:I see, I see, but if Lippi were to come to Inter, will you be pleased?
P:I respect him, because although he is a manager who won everything, he
dares to be the target of controversy. What is more, he is going to put
himself in an unstable positon, giving up a steady state of things.
I:What do you think about Juventus fans who are blaming Lippi for their
team’s failure?
P:As I have mentioned, I think in the world of soccer past contributions
don’t matter.
I:Can you answer my question? I have something that I want you to tell
me very much.
P:OK, if I know the answer.
I:It is your secret of saving. How can you prevent shots like that from
going in the goal?
P:Peruzzi and Buffon are very good at coming out to get balls on the
ground. My advantages are reflexes and speed. You also need insight.
I:In the game in Moscow (the game against Spartak Moscow in the
Champions League), you stopped a back pass on the goal line. How do you
practice to make such a play?
P:It is experience. I've handled soccer balls for 32 years, and I've
practiced seriously.
I:What mark would you give Inter for the season?
P:I wonder if it should be 5 or 6. I didn’t let in goals in important
games in the season I got the scudetto in Sampdoria. I think that not
to give away a goal means to help the victory.
I:The last question, Gianluca. If you were to appoint your successor?
P:I think that is Sereni. He is the same type of goalkeeper as I am.
The type Zoff doesn't like.

Translated from Japanese by Kaori Hirota.
English text editing by Julia Tarasova.