Quotes from Alessandro
Del Piero
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"The only thing I'm worried
about is my leg."
(When he was
interviewed again about the use of drugs. January 27, 1999.)
"Yesterday, I was very depressed,
also because my knee hurt so much. But today I feel more relieved - because
waiting was worse."
(On his injury.
November 9, 1998.)
"I hope this is just the
start."
"I would love to have enjoyed
a night like this a few months ago (at the World Cup in France). I always
believed I would score again, but these goals took a long time coming.
A few too many games have passed for my liking."
(After the
Euro 2000 match Italy vs. Switzerland, where he scored both Italy goals.
October 12, 1998.)
"My physical shape is exclusively
the result of the hard work I have been put through over the years."
"Being brought into all this
has been annoying, but it has done nothing to affect my concentration."
"Now it is down to my lawyers
to take action against the person who has defamed me."
(On the doping
accusations made by Roma coach, Zdenek Zeman. August 14, 1998.)
"Maybe Baggio was right.
Maybe if I had scored against Norway everything would have been different."
"But how will we ever know?
I prefer not to torment myself. I too imagined this would be a wonderful
month and I too am deeply disappointed."
(On his 1998
World Cup performances.)
"Life goes on."
(After the
1998 World Cup match France vs. Italy, where Italians were sent home.)
"He (Zidane) is a great player,
and I hope he does not prove it against Italy."
"With Zidane supporting me
I had some great seasons with La Juve. I will miss him in the next match,
but he too may feel my absence."
"It will be the toughest
match for Italy, against the home team."
"They have individual talents
and an excellent teamwork. We will play at our best to win. We start with
equal chances."
(Before the
match France vs. Italy, on the World Cup.)
"The match against France will
be difficult because they're playing at home. Moreover, they are a very
good team, strong in midfield, and have excellent teamwork. I thought that
Paraguay would be the surprise winners, but France - Italy will be a very
interesting match. We'll need to push forward and give it our best shot.
Clearly, in every match two or three players may not be playing to their
full potential. I, though, am just getting better. I am composed and I
didn't take any antibiotics even though I got a bit congested in the plane
before the match. I'm in great physical condition, and even if I get kicked
a couple of times before the match I'm not going to complain. I'm used
to it; I'm an attacker. Zinedine Zidane is the guiding light of the France
team, just as I am for Italy. But no one can tell me that is Del Piero's
World Cup. There is no rivalry between Roberto Baggio and me. He is a great
guy who just wants the team to win. He even said that when I score a goal,
everything will go better for the "Squadra". It's just a question of confidence;
the attacker is alone to make his decision when trying to score. I may
have missed a chance, but I don't feel like I let down the team. I have
highs and lows just like anyone. I have been criticised, but if our coach
(Cesare Maldini) places his trust in me, then I will play to the best of
my abilities. Don't take me for the saviour of my homeland."
( All from
June 19,1998)
"It's true that I missed
some easy chances, but not because I'm unfit. I'm physically okay and ready
to play a full match."
"Regarding Roberto Baggio's
comments about my performance, that doesn't surprise me as he is a very
valuable teammate and I appreciate him very much. I made two mistakes,
but it wasn't easy playing the Norwegian defense line. It's true that,
up to now, it's Christian Vieri's World Cup; the fact that he scored the
winning goal makes it easier to forget my mistake. Despite everything,
I think I played a good match."
(About the
World Cup match Italy vs. Norway. June 17, 1998)
"I helped to keep Austrian
defenders under pressure and make them weary. Then Roberto (Baggio) entered
the field and knocked them out."
"I was lucky to leave the
field on my feet. Austrian defenders treated me like a ball. They kicked
me throughout."
"It was an intense and difficult
match. We expected this and it was difficult to qualify. I am sorry for
Alessandro Nesta, he was really unlucky. Despite everything I am satisfied
because we had some good patches during this match especially in defence;
we were able to counter-attack. We achieved our objective in winning the
match and finishing first. I am happy with my own performance and am not
at all envious of Christian Vieri being the leading scorer. I was delighted
with both his and Roberto Baggio's goal. What is important is that we are
all pulling together."
(After the
1998 World Cup match Italy vs Austria. June 23, 1998)
"Maybe we were not quite
so good at the start of the second half but that's also because they played
better."
"It was good to play 30 minutes.
I hope I will be back up to 90 minutes soon. I was pleased to play at last,
but most of all I'm pleased Italy won."
"I'm delighted to be back.
Was it a coincidence that Christian Vieri scored when I was on the pitch?
I don't think so. Roberto Baggio played well. I had one chance, I turned
the ball and Christain Vieri finished it off. The coach's advice to me
was clear: attack. I'm very happy for the team, even if we still have a
lot to do."
(After the
World Cup match Italy vs. Cameroon, his debut on the competition.
June 17, 1998.)
"The fact that Roberto has
done so well while I've been injured hasn't dented my confidence. And I
don't think that Maldini is thinking 'you play for 45 minutes and then
you play 45 minutes', it depends on how the match is going. But sincerely,
I don't know if I can play a full 90 minutes."
(Before the
match Italy vs. Cameroon. June 14, 1998.)
"I feel fine about it. I
feel like someone who’s one of his fans, in the sense that since I can’t
play, I’ll be supporting him. There’s no rivalry. I know him, we’ve played
together and we get on well."
(About the
possible rivalry between him and Roberto Baggio. June 9, 1998.)
"It's true, I feel good and
things are coming along nicely. But with injuries like this one, you have
to take it easy. We still don't know the exact time scales are yet."
"Whatever happens, we'll
have to wait a week before making a definitive judgement -- we've got to
see how the injury reacts to training. There's no certainty yet that I'll
be going to the World Cup finals."
"But I really hope I'm going
to make it."
(About the
posibilities of him making to the World Cup. May 28, 1998.)
"The football and the sport
are things from the men, but faith has a higher value."
(After going
to a church to celebrate the 25th Scudetto. May 11, 1998.)
"The referee saw it correctly.
It was a massive con-trick on my part. I was convinced that the English
defender would make contact with me, but in the end he didn't."
"I got up quickly to apologise
to the referee. It had been an instinctive act by me. It was a bizarre
moment though. I would have bet any amount of money on the defender making
contact."
"It was an unusual game for
us, but Glenn Hoddle's team played it to perfection. They sat back in their
half waiting for us, then hit us on the break. We seldom found a decent
opportunity to attack them."
(After
being booked for taking a dive on the match Italy vs. England. October
13, 1997.)
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