Lino Banfi: "This City Deserves This Euphoria. The Best Roma Will Be Needed in the Champions League"

Lino Banfi, a devoted supporter of AS Roma, recently shared his thoughts in an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport, expressing his delight over his beloved team's excellent start to the season.

Banfi: "This City Deserves This Euphoria. The Best Roma Will Be Needed in the Champions League"

Here are his words:

Firstly, how does it feel up there, even though it's only the fourth matchday?
"Wonderful, this city deserves this euphoria. I feel like the entire atmosphere is truly united with this coach and this group of fantastic lads I had the chance to meet at Trigoria a few months ago. Then I know that in Verona, they celebrated by throwing Gasp in the air and telling him the line from my film 'You took me for a...'. "

Indeed, how did you find Gasperini?
"Even though he's from the north, he's someone who has adapted well, he's understood the city. When I went to Trigoria, he told me: 'Come Lino, hide here, we'll play a prank on the players.' When I came out, Pellegrini was moved, and Dybala hugged me, saying he'd love to celebrate a goal one day by shouting my 'Porca Puttena'. "

Perhaps as early as tomorrow in Istanbul.
"But the thought is enough for me. The best Roma will be needed in the Champions League. It's a match in a heated stadium, but if Roma plays like they did against Atalanta, they can do it. In fact, I'd advise Gasp to use a two-zone defense; he knows what I'm talking about."

How did you experience the end of Saturday's match against Atalanta?
"I was in Venice where I received an important career award, I was already emotional about that. Then I heard how it went, and I became even more emotional. I've reached 90 years old and I still crave these emotions. I hope this is the right year, also for Oronzo Pugliese."

Excuse me?
"A short while ago, I was going to Puglia to present my book and I received a call from a strange number. I thought it was a call center. Then I heard, 'How much I'd love to call you Dad.' It was Oronzo Pugliese's son, thanking me for how I represented his father in 'L'Allenatore nel Pallone'. Oronzo cared deeply about Roma, and so do I."

Malen like Aristoteles?
"Even more so. This is a miracle sent by God. He has a face more like an actor than a footballer, but if he doesn't score at least two goals, he'll 'get upset.' He transmits confidence, serenity. You know that with him, you always start 1-0 up."

And among the new signings, who do you like?
"Rodrigo Mora. He's short but has something magical. Let me tell you something: he reminds me of Cerezo. He knows how to use his legs, where to send the ball. I really like him. At 19, he could be my great-grandchild."

On your last day at Trigoria, you went to visit Bruno Conti...
"What a fantastic person Bruno is. Falcao and I went and reminisced about the days of 'L'Allenatore nel Pallone.' He will always remain a great part of Roma's history. Whoever detests me because of that film is another matter."

Who?
"De Sisti. Every time he tells me: 'I played in the World Cups, I won as a player and as a coach, but everyone stops me on the street for that famous line in your film, 'I'll punch De Sisti and break his collarbone too!' He says it laughing, of course."

So, can we say that this is the right year, that Roma is ready for the Scudetto?
"Perhaps it's still too early to say, but Gasperini has created a strong group and knows how to make teams play well. All the ingredients are there, even though Inter is running strong. As a fan, I've seen two. That of 1982 and that of 2001. I keep the first one in my heart, also because we had just won the World Cup. Consider that at my mother's funeral, everyone was anxious because we were playing the semi-final against Poland. At one point, I said: 'Go on, go, I'll take care of it.' They all ran off, the rascals."

Lino Banfi, a devoted supporter of AS Roma, recently shared his thoughts in an interview with La Gazzetta Dello Sport, expressing his delight over his beloved team's excellent start to the season.

Banfi: "This City Deserves This Euphoria. The Best Roma Will Be Needed in the Champions League"

Here are his words:

Firstly, how does it feel up there, even though it's only the fourth matchday?
"Wonderful, this city deserves this euphoria. I feel like the entire atmosphere is truly united with this coach and this group of fantastic lads I had the chance to meet at Trigoria a few months ago. Then I know that in Verona, they celebrated by throwing Gasp in the air and telling him the line from my film 'You took me for a...'. "

Indeed, how did you find Gasperini?
"Even though he's from the north, he's someone who has adapted well, he's understood the city. When I went to Trigoria, he told me: 'Come Lino, hide here, we'll play a prank on the players.' When I came out, Pellegrini was moved, and Dybala hugged me, saying he'd love to celebrate a goal one day by shouting my 'Porca Puttena'. "

Perhaps as early as tomorrow in Istanbul.
"But the thought is enough for me. The best Roma will be needed in the Champions League. It's a match in a heated stadium, but if Roma plays like they did against Atalanta, they can do it. In fact, I'd advise Gasp to use a two-zone defense; he knows what I'm talking about."

How did you experience the end of Saturday's match against Atalanta?
"I was in Venice where I received an important career award, I was already emotional about that. Then I heard how it went, and I became even more emotional. I've reached 90 years old and I still crave these emotions. I hope this is the right year, also for Oronzo Pugliese."

Excuse me?
"A short while ago, I was going to Puglia to present my book and I received a call from a strange number. I thought it was a call center. Then I heard, 'How much I'd love to call you Dad.' It was Oronzo Pugliese's son, thanking me for how I represented his father in 'L'Allenatore nel Pallone'. Oronzo cared deeply about Roma, and so do I."

Malen like Aristoteles?
"Even more so. This is a miracle sent by God. He has a face more like an actor than a footballer, but if he doesn't score at least two goals, he'll 'get upset.' He transmits confidence, serenity. You know that with him, you always start 1-0 up."

And among the new signings, who do you like?
"Rodrigo Mora. He's short but has something magical. Let me tell you something: he reminds me of Cerezo. He knows how to use his legs, where to send the ball. I really like him. At 19, he could be my great-grandchild."

On your last day at Trigoria, you went to visit Bruno Conti...
"What a fantastic person Bruno is. Falcao and I went and reminisced about the days of 'L'Allenatore nel Pallone.' He will always remain a great part of Roma's history. Whoever detests me because of that film is another matter."

Who?
"De Sisti. Every time he tells me: 'I played in the World Cups, I won as a player and as a coach, but everyone stops me on the street for that famous line in your film, 'I'll punch De Sisti and break his collarbone too!' He says it laughing, of course."

So, can we say that this is the right year, that Roma is ready for the Scudetto?
"Perhaps it's still too early to say, but Gasperini has created a strong group and knows how to make teams play well. All the ingredients are there, even though Inter is running strong. As a fan, I've seen two. That of 1982 and that of 2001. I keep the first one in my heart, also because we had just won the World Cup. Consider that at my mother's funeral, everyone was anxious because we were playing the semi-final against Poland. At one point, I said: 'Go on, go, I'll take care of it.' They all ran off, the rascals."