BOLOGNA – “The first time I saw him as a coach of the opposing team, my heart skipped a beat. It was almost two years ago, he was at Fiorentina,” says Gianluca Pagliuca. “After spending eight years in the same locker room, having shared joy and sorrow, “Mancio” for me was and still is a companion in arms. I am the only one still playing from that famous Samp team. I can’t imagine him as just a coach.”

Eight years at Samp, a generation of players, with an enviable trophy case.
“Eight fantastic years. We won so much, we grew, we confirmed ourselves as international champions. When I arrived at Samp, “Mancio” and Vialli were already stars, they were the reference points, together with Vierchowod and other aces. We always had a great rapport, even if we did have some arguments. In three or four occassions the face-offs were even more serious, but, several days later, everything quieted down and we went back to getting along splendidly. We understood each other also as former Bologna players, a part of that always remained in our hearts.”

Arguments that showed the singularity of your characters.
“Mancio has always had a very strong will, he knows what he wants, how to get it, and how to behave to achieve his goal. He is a little bit introversive, he tells the truth, but when he opens his mouth, he doesn’t say anything shocking. As a captain-coach, he had a great rapport with the referees, he earned their respect. Vialli, on the other hand, was more approachable and friendly, but even he could be very stubborn at times. We won the championship, the Cupwinners’ Cup, the Supercup, the Italian Cup, we got to the final of Champions League. If we did not have class, character, persistence, and desire to give of ourselves, we never would have been able to touch those. Mancini can be considered the embodiment of those eight unique seasons.”

The pairing of Mancini and Pagliuca was about to be repeated at Inter.
“It was all done, and then the deal unraveled. It would have been nice to play with Mancio again, but maybe it was better for him to go to Lazio. At Inter, he would not have been able to have the double role of captain and field coach, and, after the pre-season, the role of the coach as well. At that time, Inter was going strong, we reached the final of the UEFA Cup and the following year we could have won everything. Mancini would not have had the space that he deserved. At Lazio, on the other hand, he was appreciated as a person and coach and he gave it his all. He has always been very precise, methodical, he watched every little thing, and that’s why he played for twenty years at the highest level.”

What are the differences between player Mancini and coach Mancini?
“I know the player very well. He was often very agitated, argued with everybody, he was very demanding, but also approachable. There has always been deep mutual respect between us. As a coach, I can only judge him from the outside. I have heard some indirect reports, and he seems much more reflexive and serene. They tell me that he’s very well prepared and knows how to run the team very well. The teams that he has coached mirror these impressions. Fiorentina and Lazio yielded organization and a beautiful game. You can see his hand in that. And let’s not forget that it’s always very difficult to coach a team that is headed for bankruptcy or one that has been through it.”

Despite Lazio’s financial problems, Lazio played a great championship, showing high-quality game.
“It has a first-rate group of players. From the keepers to the strikers they are all confirmed champions. Their defense is tough, and there’s Stam, who is a colossus. In the midfield, they have a lot of national team players, and in front we have to contend with Lopez, Chiesa, Corradi, Simone Inzaghi. It has produced the most beautiful game in Serie A and it will get fourth place, which will assure it a place in Champions League. If they did not lose at lease six points with missed penalties, they could even have been second.”

To be fourth, Lazio will need to get points at Bologna.
“I’m sorry for Mancio, but he won’t take anything home from Bologna. After that, he can go on, and I wish him the best in the two games that remain. Lazio has a great group of players and on paper it has no weak points, but I’m sure that Bologna will come up with something to wear them out. Now that we are certain we’ll stay in Serie A we are calm, and we’ll play with a level head. And we also have Signori. He had been the soul of Lazio, he knows everything about it, and he knows how to beat it.”