First week of work and training: how is it going, Gianluca?
"I should say very well. We're working a lot and with good results, we have great enthusiasm and a good armony between us. Now we just have to keep on this way".

You're the oldest one of the group, but you're always full of energy.
"If a 36-year old player is still playing in Serie A, it means that enthusiasm and willness are still here. And that's definitely my case".

And now you're going to play soon your 500th match in Serie A.
"That's right: I need just 3 matches to reach this target. Just twenty players, more or less, have been able to do it: that's a great one satisfaction. About me, I'll play till my body will consent me to do it".

But now there is Manninger: how did you find him, in these days?
"Alexander is a very good goalkeeper, and recently he had two hard seasons: he got a lot of stimulations and reasons to play good. But in the same way as he did, also Orlandoni and Coppola had declared that they were coming to Bologna to play; looks like it's not so easy with me there".

But in your opinion should both goalkeepers start from the same line?
"Generally, I think that there has to be some kind of hierarchy. Starting from the same level could be counter-productive and get us nervous: in any case, be aware of it, that's not our case. I still remember that Cinquini said, when Coppola signed for Bologna, it was going to be a hard fight between me and Nando to play: at the end it didn't work that way; that's a sign that it's very hard to kick me out of the goal".

Let's talk about your agreement: this one is its last year.
"Now it's too soon to talk about it. First of all let's try to do our best in the upcoming season: let's get concentrated on this, then we'll think about the rest. The good thing of all of this is that generally players of last year of agreement are able to give a little bit more than usual on the field: I hope it will be the same to me".

What will be the role of Bologna in the next Championship?
"Like Sampdoria, we can stay in touch with the best teams, right behind them: we can be the great surprise of this season".

Guglielminpietro said that he's dreming about Champions League.
"I would be glad even reaching a place in UEFA Cup: it would be a great result. But first of all we have to defeat a large number of competitors to get this result: together with the greatest teams of Serie A there are also Parma, Udinese and Sampdoria; they have the right means to reach a place in Europe".

And Bologna FC must necessarily not sink in the final part of the season.
"That's sure: this year we start with a well defined target: to not repeat some kind of ending season. Last year, after Christmas, we completely decreased, phisically and mentally. Once that we reached 27 points in the the first leg of Championship, we started to make big dreams; then, in second leg we did even risk to fall down in Serie B. Particularly, after our victory at Parma I don't know what happened: surely we all did mistakes, but we didn't do it on purpose, falling down in the last matches. They were just single episodes, and we don't want them to happen again".

How much is it important to keep Cruz at Bologna?
"Julio is a deciding player. Even in difficult moments he never gets lost and always finds the way to give his own best to the team. There's no doubt: he's a great champion and I'm very glad that he will play with us even next year".

How did you find Dalla Bona till now?
"Very determined: he's that kind of midfielder who never give up. He checks for the ball with the right level of badness, and he also has a good sight on the opponent goal: he can hurt a lot, from the distance, and he tries often to shoot".

Let's change sport. What's happening to Virtus?
"Undoubtedly it's hurting me a big lot to see my team in that condition: it's an unbelievable situation, stabbing me at heart. Now the arrival of Scariolo is very important: he's a great coach, I know him also because he's an Inter fan, I'm gald that he came to Bologna, it's a good beginning. A contribute of mine to my favourite basketball team? I could just be a consultant: I would be glad, but nothing more than this!".