Legendary Austrian goalkeeper Michael Konsel gave an exclusive interview to FCInterNews, sharing anecdotes and stories from his time in playing in Italy with Roma and Venezia.
What are you currently working with?
“I work for Sky Austria as a TV pundit, I write for the most important national newspaper and I hold an agenda that concerns my interests firsthand.”
What do you remember about your experience as a player with Roma?
“We are talking about two exceptional years in the Giallorossi. A high level. A nice team. With important teammates like Aldair, Cafù, Delvecchio and a young but already strong Francesco Totti.”
You were bought from Rapid Vienna in 1997. A few years earlier, in 1990, you had already savored Italian football by challenging Inter in the Uefa Cup?
“I remember the way well. At home we won 2-1. And I was a penalty by Brehme. It is clear that I spoke with him just last year. We found ourselves by chance at a holiday in a hut, close to the ski resorts of Kitzbuhel. We joked about the match. He scored a decisive penalty in the final of the World Cup in Italy in 1990. But a few months later I managed to save his shot. This is an unforgettable save for me.”
But back to the things that did not go very well …
“Uff, a very strange match. I was sent off and we were at the last minute of regulation time and we missed the qualifying goal. Such a shame. Inter was then a squad with many champions. For us, however, we were a great team, especially at home and thanks to the public, it was a surprise to beat them.”
How do you see the February clash between Rapid Vienna and Inter today?
“In football everything can happen. But the Nerazzurri are favorites and I think they will pass through. Right now Rapid has so many problems. They’re doing very bad in the league, where they also lost the Derby 6-1, but did well in the Europa League. Some individuality exists. Knasmüllner, the former of the match is very good technically. I also like Murg and the Captain, Schwab. But the team’s amalgam is missing. Singularly it’s one thing, in general, however, something is missing right now, even if, as I said, in the Europa League they have achieved good results.”
What do you think of your former coach Spalletti?
“I’ll show you something. He was the one to call me to convince me to move to Venezia. He wanted me because I knew how to play with my feet. The coach was already a great professional at the time. Untiring worker. It was clear that he would have made his way and would have come to lead a top team. He is a very good person, a bit special, in the good sense of the term: a character. With a giant heart and with whom I had a good working relationship, although it did not last so long with Zamparini as President. I will certainly call him and see him in Vienna. I will be pleased to say hello.”
