Walter Zenga continues his managerial career outside the Italian border, although his dream is to coach Inter. But the chance to return to Italy never showed up: “In Italy, no, and Bozzo, my agent, was somewhat apologetic for it and I said to him, ‘Beppe, presidents there don’t realize who is a good coach.’ Actually, during the last period I have been around the world and spoken to thousands of clubs, Saudi Arabia, USA, Genclerbirligi in Turkey, some team in in China. To Middlesbrough I would walked on foot , but they didn’t take me.”
No national team?
“Kazakhstan and Azerbajdzjan. Both, however, began with the question: “Walter, what do you earn?’ I said: ‘But why do you want me?’ If the first question is about money we’ve gotten off to a bad start.”
An idea that comes from negative experiences?
“Once they offered me big money in Qatar, but twice in my life I have followed the money and twice I’ve had to pay with my own mistakes. Today, I would never leave the fabled Red Star.”
Speaking of missed opportunities, Inter have been taken over by Indonesians, one of the few countries where the coach Zenga has no friends. Bad luck, sometimes…
“It’s not important. I will coach Inter in another life. I, however, like Thohir, it would be ridiculous if it bothered me that he was a foreigner. Instead, it’s good that Moratti, like Prisco, included me in their ideal Inter team.”
Let’s play a game: we combine a feeling with a game. Let’s start with satisfaction.
“I limit myself to Italy. Palermo – Catania 0-4 and Palermo – Juve 2-0 were equally meritorious. Cavani was already a phenomenon, during the week he complained: ‘Mister, I want to play as a striker.’ Then on Sunday, he was a left back without having asked him.”
Joy.
“Salvation with Catania!”
Anger.
“Bologna – Palermo 3-1, bad attitude. Kjaer made two embarrassing mistakes.”
And now, what is the beauty of football?
“Now I’ll do like Thohir who surprised by choosing Ventola: I like the way Klopp uses the attackers in the defense and I’m curious of Anderlecht’s training model. Among goalkeepers Neuer is an evolution of the species.”
Your mania for set pieces is still there?
“Of course. Inter – Catania in 2008 is still one of my best games. On our first corner Mourinho used a zone defense, on the second man-to-man, and the third a combination of zone and man-to-man defense. It was he that adapted to us.”
Which is the best system ?
“One in which two players stand in front of the keeper and look at him, not the ball. The defenders understand nothing. Gianni Vio, who I worked with for many years, he did it with twins, the best.”
Do you like the UAE?
“Everbody is very nice. When I came to the club I met a guy with dishdasha, the typical white dress. He started asking questions and I talked and talked, I only stopped when I saw that our team manager signaled to me. Puzzled, I went over to him and said: ‘I’m explaining my ideas for a board member. ‘He started to laugh, I had told everything to a regular supporter.”
Other difficulties ?
“None, except those with my four-year-old daughter. At school they already study Arabic, sometimes I talk Italian, and she responds in English. Maybe we ‘re exaggerating.”
Source: fcinternews.it
