Tacchinardi - sky's the limit
Football Italia - December 1998
Alessio Tacchinardi only turned 23 in July. Yet the former Italy Under-21 hero can already boast eight major trophies in his cabinet including three Scudetti, a Champions' League winners' medal and a World Club Cup. He has been contributing to this collection while making 82 appearances in the last four Serie A seasons and a further 26 in four European Cup campaigns.
This year he's been given his chance of a regular starting place and, because of his ability to play equally well in midfield or at the back, has so far featured in most of Marcello Lippi's line-ups. With Alex Del Piero's long-term absence, he'll have an ever more vital role to play.
To many he is the prototype of the defensive-playmaking midfielder of the future, capable of assisting the forwards and helping his defenders. At his best he is just brilliant. Last year he played a great game at Parma where Juventus were two down at half time. He came off the bench in the 46th minute and within 14 minutes he'd scored then laid on the equaliser for Filippo Inzaghi. But may critics slate his lack of consistency. Lippi and the fans though have a different opinion of the player who has become a regular choice for the Coach and a real favorite with the supporters - especially the girls.
Tacchinardi was a championship winner and an elegant leader with Atalanta's famed Primavera squad and mad nine Serie A appearances with the Bergamo side over two seasons befor moving to Juve in 1994 while still a teenager. Although making 24 title and a further 16 the following year when they were runners-up to Milan, there were constant rumours of a move away from Turin with Lazio and Inter among the sides courting him. But he was still in the first team squad, making 19 appearances in 1996-97 as Juventus regained their Serie A crown and another 23 when they retained it last season. The young midfielder continued to defy his critics as he gave talented teammates like Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Angelo Di Livio, Antonio Conte, Fabio Pecchia and Edgar Davids fierce competition for a regular spot in th most hotly contested area of the Juve line-up.
Apart from the competition, it was Tacchinardi's ability to play anywhere in midfield plus his adaptability to several defensive roles that also counted against him. It seemed he was more useful as an all round substitute than as a starter in the opening eleven.
"With the arrival of Davids there's even less space for me but at this point it doesn't depend on me. The club has confirmed their faith and trust in me but it still doesn't help when you're stuck on the bench," he revealed last season. What worried him then was the prevalence of foreigners in the midfield of Serie A sides. "Lazio, Inter and Milan along with Juve have a lot of imports in the midfield. Are they better? For sure they are more experienced than I am but then they are older than my Italian colleagues or me," he said then. Happily for him, Tacchinardi is now getting that experience. And he's growing in stature. So when I (the writer) met up with him at the Juventus training ground I had an interesting chat with a very mature but self-conscious bloke.
Head-to-Head With Alessio
What kind of season is going to be for Juventus?
It's going to be very tough - especially without Alex - because all the other teams have reinforced themselves while our team has been bothered a lot by the doping rumours. If we win this year it's going to feel even better because it looks like it's us against the world. A lot of people want us to sink.
Juventus have not bought any new stars. Do you see it as an advantage or something that will force you to work harder?
Everybody has been talking about this since the summer. On the paper it might look as an advantage, but then it's always what really happens on the pitch that counts. Juventus are always very good at making timely purchases to change the course of things.
Like the purchase of Edgar Davids last year?
Exactly, with Edgar we made a great deal. Anyway it's still too early to draw conclusions about the team performance.
Lippi has talked about the necessity to find an objective. He says that without having a clear goal in mind the team could have concentration problems.
It's a weird season, right after the World Cup. At the summer camp we lacked many national team players and so we might have not had all the time we usually dedicate to work on the pre-season team chemistry. On the physical preparation side we also followed different training schedules. But week after week we are recovering on both aspects and there will soon come a time when everything will be OK.
Is there anything that troubles you and the team?
I just can't take being labeled 'thief' or 'druggie' as some rumours have depicted Juventus' players. It's a totally false image and one I cannot accept.
Some weeks ago Juventus' fans threw nuts and stadium seats over the Press Box at Stadio Delle Alpi. It was their way to protest against the attacks made by some of the media on the team.
I think football has come to a very sad period of its history, but I would like to defend the majority of our fans. I am talking about the people who sometimes don't even go on vacation so they can follow the team at the summer camp and those who are always by our side because they know that we care for the team. They don't deserve to have their club pilloried.
So it's a situation largely provoked by the media?
All fans read papers. If part of the Press is not even-handed in talking about issues such as doping, you might have some fans that overreact. I don't condone their behaviour but I am also to be against the attitude of some of the media towards some teams.
Back to playing matters. Do you think, after being playing as a midfielder and at times a defender, you have finally found your position?
I am comfortable with my position in the central midfield. I am also conscious this year is an important one for me.
How important really is it?
I would say it's a year where I think I will grow up and mature some more. But I don't see it as the decisive year, the turning point of my career. I think next year will be that way.
Is Juve's secret in the chemistry of the players or in the ability of Lippi to always field the right players in the right way?
I would say it's both. The group's chemistry is important and when I say group I mean everyone working at Juventus from the Coach, to the players, to our physical trainer and all the other guys. Lippi of course has been doing a great job and along with all the players has been able to keep the team on top for the last four years.
What do you think of the European Superleague project?
As a player I guess it's good because with the Superleague we could always play top-level games. On the other hand it's undeniable that the old Champion's Cup was more fascinating because only winners of the Leagues were allowed to compete in it.
What is your best feature and you worst defect?
Anyone has his strong and weak points. As a player I can say I am only 23 so I have al the time to mature and improve. I can't tell you my defects but I always demand a lot from myself.
Many Italian players, even young ones, have started to play abroad. What's your opinion about this?
I have always been in favour of having three foreign players fielded, so I am also in favour of Italians playing abroad. I don't like to see teams with seven or eight foreign players because that way there is really less room for young players. But what makes the football world go round are results so from a fan's viewpoint I don't think they actually care how many foreign players play in their team as long as it wins. Italians can also show abroad that they are sometimes better than they are considered in Italy.
What is the nicest compliment you have ever received?
My greatest satisfaction is to see my family happy and proud of me without necessary having them to tell me so. Actually I don't even like being told how good I am.
Are you or any of your teammates superstitious?
These days I am less superstitious than when I was 19 or 20. It's also funny to Know that your teammates all have their own 'rites' before and during games.
Who's a sports figure you admire outside football?
Michael Jordan. I have all his videotapes. I like him both for his winning mentality and of course for his incredible technical skills that are simply out of this world.
Any hobbies?
I like playing console games like PlayStation football and so on. Lately though I have started to watch more movies, especially action ones.
What about your dogs?
I have four Doberman and a little dog. The Doberman are in Crema at my family's house while the small one Snoopy is my flatmate.
Do you have a nickname?
Tacchella. Daniel Fonseca gave it to me and I like it.
And your favorite food?
Pizza with mozzarella di bufala. I eat tons of it at O'Saraceno, a restaurant-pizzeria where many Juventus players go after the games.
