Forza Bologna! magazine 12/2000

Interview b y Gianfranco Civolani

I have already said it and written it, but it pleases me to repeat: finally Bologna has a goalkeeper who is originally from Bologna. The others? Not counting Barocelli (fifties) and Pilato (90/91), look at the greatest ones: Gianni was from Liguria, Ferrari from Reggia, Ceresoli from Bergamo, Negri and Vanz from Mantua, Zinetti from Brescia, Vavassori from Turin, Antonioli from Milan. Nevertheless, at the tender age of nineteen, the young Gianluca Pagliuca was forced to leave Bologna.
-How come?
-In the Bologna of the eighties, Zinetti was the first goalkeeper, and his second was Cavalieri. I was in the youth team, and one day the manager, Govermato, told me that Sampdoria was interested in me and that they would like to take a look at me at Torino di Viareggia. I went, apparently I did well, and Samp offered Bologna 300 million lira, which at the time was a good number. That's how I ended up going to Genoa.
-What were your first impressions of that place?
-I was distressed. I lived at Bogliasco with Ganz.
-The one who later scored so many goals on you ?
-Yes, that one. Whenever I could, I escaped to Bologna in my little Panda. Later I bought a Golf, which saved some time.
-You ran back to your mother ?
-To my old friends and to my mother. She was separated from my father, and I stayed with her.
-Have you seen your father since ?
-Of course. He has remarried, he lives in Bologna, and we have a decent relationship.
-At Samp you wore the number twelve shirt..
-At first, yes, but then pretty quickly I became the starting goalkeeper and started my real career...
-A most distinguished one.
-I've won one championship, one Cup Winners' Cup, some other things, and I was a finalist in the Champions Cup, and at Inter I won the UEFA Cup. I've also played in three World Cups, Italy '90 as a relief keeper, and two more as the starting goalkeeper.
-Why did we lose in '94 and '98?
-In '94 against Brazil we deserved to lose.
-They weren't all that.
-In the final they did little, and we did even less. In '98 we lost because of Di Biagio's penalty that hit the crossbar, or rather because of fifteen centimeters, on that shot of his in overtime that was out by a hair. If it had gone in, we would have won in '98.
-Sampdoria: Mantovani.
-He was more than a father to me. He had heart disease and used to say to me that I am the best guarantee of his health. He loved me very much.
-Tell me about the two gentlemen called Mancini and Vialli.
-Two great friends.
-What is the difference between the two?
-Mancini was a great solo player, Vialli worked more for the team. Vialli was very well liked by everyone, but I know for a fact that they got rid of him in London because everybody detested him.
-Inter: why was it such a mess?
-If Inter had renewed contracts for me, Bergomi and Simeone, everything would have been allright. But Lippi did not want me, and leaving Inter was very hard for me.
-But you came to Bologna.
-I didn't listen to my mother. At Bologna the fans booed me because of one ugly gesture that they said I made one Sunday when I was playing for Samp.
-They said, or did you really make it?
-I confess, I did. Nobody's perfect.
-What did your mother say?
-She begged me not to come to Bologna, and even my friends said that it was not a good idea to go play where the fans hated me. But I have always been a fan of Bologna, and finally I had a chance to make my dream of playing in this team come true. So I decided to challenge the fans, and in the end I have won that challenge.
-How is the situation with goalkeepers in Italy ?
-I would say we're doing well. I like Pelizzoli, who plays in Atalanta. And as far as reliability and continuity, I would say Peruzzi still is most trustworthy.
-And Pagliuca?
-Pagliuca minds his business.
-Which is?
-I believe I can still count myself among the 5-6 best Italian goalkeepers.
-And in the world ?
-I haven't seen any wonders. Schmeichel was awesome, but that was a few years ago.
-Was it easier to play before than it is now ?
-Yes and no. Now the goalkeeper is expected to do things that once… but all goalkeepers now train to use their feet, because clearly the game has changed.
-But is it true that you leave the line very seldom ?
-No, it's not true, I come out of the goal as much as many others.
-Tell me about your life.
-I have a villa in Crespellano and a house on Santo Stefano street. I'd like to come to live in this house with my girlfriend from Mantua. I have many friends, I like tennis, I like basketball a lot, I have been a Virtus fan since the times of Caglieris and Villalta - as you see I have a normal life.
-And the money that you've earned ?
-I've invested in real estate. I bought a house in Milan, and another in Genoa. They cost a bundle, and then if you want to get into renovations, you just keep spending.
-What about the journalists' marks, do they influence you?
-I read them, agree or disagree. And if I don't agree with the mark a journalist has given me, I confront him to argue. In a civilized manner, but that's what I've always done.
-Politically, where do you stand?
-I like Fini because I recognize myself in the ideas he expresses.
-Let's talk about Bologna: what are its objectives?
-To fight Udinese and Fiorentina for a berth in the UEFA Cup.
-And Inter will finish behind?
-If Inter finishes in front of us, it will mean that we're not doing too great.
-How is it going now, though?
-We won't finish in Champions League, but we won't finish tenth either.
-Would you be happy with the Intertoto cup?
-No, I'd like something more.
-Pagliuca at forty.
-I want to play at least a couple more seasons, maybe reach 500 games in Serie A, as I have already got 400. And then I would like very much to coach young players, especially goalkeepers.
-So you will stay in soccer.
-It is my world.
-A wonderful world or so-so?
-It is my world, and I'm fine here.

Translated by J.Tarasova