Q&A with Italy coach Roberto Donadoni

He passed a herculean test in replacing a great national hero in predecessor, Marcello Lippi. As an AC Milan player he won the lot.

And now, Roberto Donadoni, manager of the national Italian team in the post-Lippi era, is called to build on the excellence Italy showed in the qualifiers for the European championship.

Will he succeed? The coach is not one to be easily thrown off balance. A student of Sacchi and Capello, pure 'Bergamasco' (the small nice town in the north of Lombardia), he has his feet firmly planted on the ground, but this has not stopped him dreaming and his dream now is called 'Euro 2008', which he wants to win at all costs, even though 'it will be hard.'

Espnsoccernet.it exclusively interviewed Roberto Donadoni.

Coach Donadoni, hello, first let's calm the Italian fans: It is now the end of February, Is there any news on the expected extension of your contract?

Not yet, we had a meeting in mid-February and we laid down the basis for an agreement. I am waiting for a definite proposal to be formulated, but without haste, there is time. It is not an urgent requirement.

Recently, you said: 'I already have the group in my head for the European Championship.' Everything is ready then?

No way, I never said that, perhaps it was a journalistic interpretation. How can I already have everything entirely clear when there are still three more months of the leagues left? It would be absurd, the game is still open, I am waiting for the end of the season to decide.

Del Piero and with him the whole Juventus team has just made a public appeal. What effect did Alex's 'cry' have on you?

No problem, I feel fully autonomous in the choices that I make. I evaluate on the basis of what the players do. Del Piero has every chance of coming to the Euros, it depends above all on what is done in the upcoming months.

Again, my choices will be based on what the leagues tell me as well as by the type of players best suited for this team.

However, I would like those who are making appeals also to try and see things from the other point of view, that is, to tell me who the players are that should not be chosen.

Perhaps they would then realise that it is not so easy to choose and it is inevitable that someone will be unhappy. It is my job and I will follow my path.

And there is also Cassano, who is continuously improving, even against Inter.

For him it's the same story as for Del Piero; if he continues to do well he has every chance of being chosen for the Euros. Continuity is very important, a few matches are not enough, but Antonio knows that.

And other names, such as Gilardino, Borriello, without forgetting Palladino; which players do you keep under closer observation?

The names that you have mentioned have already had the occasion to be taken into consideration. I will also repeat for them that the last month of the league is the decisive one. The players must be healthy on the physical side, not just on the technical side.

The resumption of the Champions League has just refocused a problem on which you have expressed your opinion: 'too much play.'

Top players from the national team, such as the midfield trio from AC Milan; Pirlo, Gattuso and Ambrosini; seemed somewhat drained by the amount of matches played. Are you worried?

I must state beforehand that the names mentioned are important to the national team but they do not represent the complete options for the midfield, though it is true that we play too much.

It is a fact but as the manager for the national team what can I do but complain within certain limits? I will have to hope that they are all well, without too many ailments or accidents at the 11th hour.

As a player who was trained by Capello, new manager of England: what do you think the effect of 'Don Fabio' on England's players could be?

Capello is a great coach and certainly has every reason to do well in England.

I am pleased that an Italian coach has obtained recognition by sitting on the bench for one of the most glorious and fascinating teams in the world. He well deserved it, and I wish him well.

Another Italian coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, has just been named as coach of Ireland; another Italian who likes foreign countries.

I am convinced that Italian coaches, treated poorly too many times in the past at home and abroad, are excellent and these calls for them to train foreign national teams are the proof of that.

What do you think of teams like Inter who tend to put just one Italian on the playing field (Marco Materazzi)?

From the coach of the Italian national team, selfishly, I would like the victorious Inter of this era to put more Italians on the field, but I am a realist and I know that the current team policies do not look at the nationality of the players anymore, and this thing is not happening just in Italy. Arsenal, apart from young Walcott, do not have an Englishmen. So we must adapt.

So you appreciate Sepp Blatter's proposal, which asks for five players from the originating country to play in the various continental championships?

Yes, it is a good idea but I do not think that it would be accepted easily; the interests of the clubs unfortunately head in other directions, and usually, at the end they prevail forever.

Changing the subject. Paolo Maldini, also your old team mate from AC Milan, is playing his last season, and probably will leave a huge void. Who could be his heir?

Once a player like Paolo arrives, it is very unlikely that anyone can come close to him.

I am sorry he is quitting because even against Arsenal in the Champions League, he did extraordinary things. For Paolo, age doesn't count but only he knows what his body is saying, and if he has taken this decision that means that it was the right one.

Instead, who can be the new Roberto Donadoni? There are not many players with the skill to beat a man like you once did.

Comparisons really do not help anyone, apart from journalists or fans, who delight in them. I did not love them as a player and not even now as a coach; everyone has their own style and history.

As for my old role, however, after a period of transition I think that the offensive side - the old-style wingers - or, anyway, players who can beat men are back in fashion.

I will not mention names because you may then think that they are also in the running for Euro 2008 while I am speaking in general.

While, wishing you to remain a winner on the Italian bench for as long as possible, which team would you like to coach for in the future?

None in particular. This is my job, I am the coach, and as always, I will now build what is to be my future.

Doing well with Italy I will have more chances in the future to train important teams, no matter what country they are from though of course I hope to remain on this bench for a long time.

---

Any comments? Email Newsdesk

Click here to visit the Soccernet Store