Pagliuca, do you feel like the last of the Mohicans?
"I feel like one of the last. Don't forget about Baggio, Sensini, Costacurta, and Ballotta.

Surely you're still the oldest one at Bologna.
"I was not happy with Aldair. Who knows what he was thinking. I thought it was already done, who would have imagined he'd prefer Genoa? Apparently, they gave him more money."

In Aldair's place, would you have preferred Serie B or A?
"I would have stayed in A, but everyone is free to do as they please. I remind you that I have accepted a reduction of my salary by two-thirds rather than leaving Bologna."

And now you are only two games away from 500 in Serie A.
"It's a nice achievement. When I started, I never would have thought or hoped to arrive at this point."

Do the years weigh heavily upon you?
"Absolutely not. I wish people would come to see me during practice, they would see how much enthusiasm I still have for my work."

So you don't feel like you've reached the finish line.
"When I feel done, I will be the first to say 'enough'. And I think that time is still far away."

How far do you want to go?
"I want to play 571 games in Serie A. One more than Zoff. It will be hard, but I want to try. I hope Bologna will give me the chance."

Tell us, doesn't that seem like an illusion?
"Two and a half seasons are a lot, but two years ago I thought the same thing, and I have made it here."

Do you still believe in yourself?
"Listen: I still feel very strong, allow me to be a little presumptuous. I realize I don't have Buffon's age, but I can still give so much to my team."

Buffon, Toldo, and then? Would you put Pagliuca after them?
"Buffon, Toldo, De Sanctis, then other goalkeepers, Pagliuca among them."

Bologna, Sampdoria, Inter: there have only been three teams in your life in soccer. What does that mean?
"It means that I am loyal, that I fall in love with the team and make the presidents and the coaches fall in love with me."

Would you admit that you have never embraced Bologna fully?
"It's normal that they saw me as an enemy when I played for Samp or Inter, but ever since I have returned, I have always felt at home. Except for those that never accepted me."

Tell us the truth: were the two goals from Adriano last week really unstoppable?
"The first one, yes, I could not do anything. On the second one, Adriano shot from close range, I could have stopped it or not stopped it. But that happens, and I did not screw up completely."

From Adriano to Superpippo Inzaghi: another difficult game awaits you.
"I saw him against Wales, he is in great shape. I hope he also scores three goals against Serbia. Then on Sunday he will be a little emptied out. However, I'm more afraid of Shevchenko: he has scored on me more times than Inzaghi, and he always scores against Bologna."

At the end of last season, Bologna did really poorly against Milan in Milan.
"That's true, Milan won without much effort, and we were destroyed. This time it will be different. I am not saying that we are going to win at San Siro, but you can be sure we will show our worth."

Milan will probably miss the Brazilians.
"I would prefer them to miss Seedorf, Sheva, Inzaghi, Nesta, Rui Costa."

And maybe Pirlo, too?
"I saw him again at Milano Marittima, and we were joking against that penalty that made me lose my temper."

Pirlo did that to Buffon as well, in the Supercup final in New York.
"And I will say that he is a very good player with many good qualities."

Guidolin is gone and Mazzone is here: what do you think of that?
"After what happened, it was hard for Guidolin to continue. I understand his decision. I got along fine with Guidolin, and I'm getting along fine with Mazzone. Certainly, they have different personalities. Guidolin always keeps to himself, he does not let himself go, and maybe that was what the Bologna public was not happy about. Mazzone is a one-man show, he cracks a thousand jokes, he's very engaging."

Doesn't it seem to you like you're back at the Samp of Boskov's times?
"No, no. Boskov talked so much, he was never quiet, while Mazzone talks less and then every once in a while he will crack a joke that just kills you."

How far can Bologna go?
"It can be in the middle of the table."

Then you can't even dream about Europe?
"Well, how can I say it? There is hope, regardless."

Many critics say that Bologna will be fighting to avoid relegation until the last day.
"That's not a problem. Then again, last year they said we would be in the UEFA, and we didn't make it. Maybe they'll be wrong again."

How would you like to close your career?
"Achieving one of my objectives. With Bologna winning some trophy or with yours truly having played 571 games."

You are now leading a very young defense. How much are you worried?
"These young guys listen to what I say, but I can assure you they already have personalities of their own. No, I'm not anxious, but we'll always have to be alert. Take Saturday at San Siro, for example: we cannot allow any mistakes, because they will punish us for the smallest distraction."

Do you have anything you want to say to Gazzoni and the rest of management?
"He is right when he says that we belong in the Champions League as far as finances go. As things are now, the main objective of the bosses should be to avoid finishing off my Virtus. Of course, as a fan I might complain, but Gazzoni and his companions have done great work so far and deserve praise. The fact that Bologna is not hurting economically is a miracle in these times."

Perhaps with these words you have already been halfway confirmed for next year.
"I'm not a go-between. I want to be confirmed for my saves on the field. And I can do it. I must do it."

Otherwise Zoff will become unreachable.