Genoa coach Patrick Vieira recently spoke at the Sports Festival held at the Social Theatre in Trento, sharing his reflections on both his past and present career.
Recalling Capello and Juventus
When asked if Fabio Capello had changed upon Vieira reuniting with him at Juventus, he replied: “He was exactly the same, always angry (laughs). Jokes aside, he still had the same grit, the same desire to win, and the same competitive spirit.”
On the strength of his Juventus team compared to his Arsenal side, Vieira admitted: “That`s a very tough question. That Juventus team was incredibly strong. I believe half of the players in the 2006 World Cup final were from Juve. I regretted leaving; I was very happy in Turin, but due to what happened to Juventus, I had to leave.”
Unlike Del Piero and Buffon, Vieira did not follow Juventus to Serie B. When asked if he ever considered staying, he replied: “No. I didn`t want to play in Serie B. I had only been there for a year, whereas Buffon, Trezeguet, and others had a longer history with the club. My decision not to stay was purely for sporting reasons. I had the opportunity to join Inter and decided to accept.”
Regarding his move to Inter, a decision not favored by Juventus fans, he commented: “In football, unfortunately, you have to make choices, and at that moment, that was my choice.”
When asked if he considers the 2006 Scudetto (Serie A title) to be his, Vieira retorted: “What do you think?” To the negative response, he asserted: “Actually, yes. It counts because we were the strongest team and we won it on the pitch, focusing solely on the game. The rest was difficult for us to control.”
His Inter Milan Experience
Regarding his time at Inter, he stated: “I arrived at Inter at the right moment. Under Mancini, there was a group of players with a strong hunger to win, eager to elevate the club to another level. I was fortunate to play with champions like Stankovic, Zanetti, and Figo, among many others.”
Describing Mancini, he said: “Mancini was a coach who always supported his players. He had a clear idea of the game he wanted from the team and was very tactically prepared. We had the freedom to take responsibility on the field, to make decisions. This was very important.”
On Mourinho, he stated: “He was the most prepared of them all. From a tactical and management perspective, he always had a plan A, plan B, and even a plan C. Players were given all the information needed to execute his demands.”
Regarding discussions with Mourinho, he said: “Yes. We never fought, but I wasn`t playing much, and for a player who has won a lot, it`s not easy to accept and understand those decisions. We had 2-3 discussions with Mourinho; the good thing is that he never hides. Then it`s up to you to deal with the truth he tells you, but it remains the truth. Players like Cambiasso, Stankovic, Motta, and others did a lot of work for the team, and for me, it was difficult to accept. Now that I`m on the other side, I understand it better.”
The Infamous Zidane Headbutt
On the Zidane headbutt incident, he recalled: “I was on the bench and didn`t see what happened live. But speaking with Zidane afterwards, I have to say he didn`t deserve to end his final game that way. On the pitch, unfortunately, you can lose your temper at certain moments. And then, Materazzi is Materazzi (laughs).”
Asked if France would have won with 11 players, he replied: “I don`t know. Italy was very organized and prepared to endure. I believe that once it reached extra time, Italy was aiming for penalties.”
On whether he ever discussed the Zidane headbutt with Materazzi, he said: “No. When I arrived at Inter, I got to know him better, and he`s truly different from what you might imagine from the outside. He`s very likable, an extraordinary person. He`s a different Marco off the pitch.”
Does he find it strange that Zidane and Materazzi haven`t reconciled after 20 years? “Yes, it is strange.”
Genoa`s Present and Future Vision
Despite a tough start to the season for Genoa, Vieira comments on the long-term vision: “If we look at the current league table, we can say we are behind in terms of points. However, we must consider the overall picture: beyond the points, there`s the style of play. We`ve held our own against every team and deserved more points. There`s also the project: we now have stability with the president and management, and clear ideas about what we want to achieve. Genoa`s history shows many players emerging from the youth sector. We have talented youngsters, but we must accept that they need time to grow and make mistakes. Marcandalli, Ekhator, Venturini, Fini, Otoa are examples of talents who are developing, and we must give them the necessary time.”
Regarding the success of the Primavera (youth) team and his confidence in the club`s future: “Yes, the club is working for the future, but unfortunately, we also need to consider the points, which provide the serenity necessary for our work. That said, I observe the work the club is doing with the youth sector and its facilities, and this makes me confident about the future. There is a long-term project, and we must create the space for these young players to play.”
On the potential Venturino-Ekhator partnership for the national team: “We hope so. They have this fire within them, and it`s important for us that they continue to have it. To do so, they need to feel part of a project, and therefore they must play. It`s also important for them to understand that we, as a club and staff, can do half the work, but the other half is up to them. If their attitude remains this way, then they can achieve great satisfaction.”
Regarding the struggles of Colombo and Valentin Carboni: “Don`t forget that Carboni is coming back from an injury and hadn`t played for a long time. As for Colombo, he arrived in a team context that isn`t yet fully settled. Unfortunately, in today`s football, people only look at goals, but sometimes we forget the work he`s doing for the team. He works incredibly hard. If we, as a collective, are good and create more, then the goals will come. It`s more of a collective problem than an individual one.”
Vieira reflects on Genoa`s playing philosophy, especially against strong opponents like Napoli, and the temptation to play more defensively: “Yes, if we only think about the match against Napoli, it can be costly. But looking at the entire league and the club`s long-term DNA, I believe our approach brings more points. Genoa cannot afford to be a team that simply gives up.”
A fan asked for an explanation regarding the match against Lazio: “Sometimes a game can go wrong; tactically, we lost a bit of our structure. Lazio`s quality, combined with our shortcomings, put us in difficulty. There was a moment when we could have scored a goal that might have changed the game, but we didn`t capitalize on it. The message that game left us is that team balance is important, as seen in the subsequent match against Napoli.”
On Norton-Cuffy, he commented: “The U21 European Championship boosted his confidence. Today, he is among the best in his position in Italy.”
Regarding a difficult opposing coach: “A club that works well like Bologna has a coach I admire very much. He has humility. Bologna can serve as an example for Genoa.”
On his life in Genoa: “I don`t go to the sea very often due to lack of time, but I live very well in this city. I feel good; I enjoy dining in restaurants near the sea. I like seeing the people who love this city and engaging with them.”
On the prospect of a derby match: “For football and for Genoa, a derby is always a wonderful event to play.”
