New Pescara Coach Giovanni Stroppa warns fans he will not just be following Zdenek Zeman’s footsteps. “It is impossible” to recreate his philosophy.
New Pescara Coach Giovanni Stroppa warns fans he will not just be following Zdenek Zeman’s footsteps. “It is impossible” to recreate his philosophy.
The former Milan player and Sudtirol boss prepares for his debut Serie A campaign as a tactician, taking over from Zeman’s promotion-winning reign.
“When Pescara called me, I couldn’t believe it,” Stroppa told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
“I am not inventing anything, but what I do know I want to transmit fully to my team. And, with a little arrogance, I say that I think I’ll manage that. In any case, let it be clear that the difference is made by the players who step on to the field.
“Being compared to Zeman is a great compliment. I love him to bits, but I don’t imitate him, because it is quite simply impossible.
“You can try to imitate his style of football, but never the philosophy. His constant attacking and forward-thinking approach has a logic to it, while those who try to imitate only end up being unbalanced.”
Considering Stroppa has never even worked in Serie B, let alone the top flight, and Pescara have lost stars of their promotion campaign like Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne and Ciro Immobile, many expect relegation.
“That is wonderful for me,” smiled the Coach. “You can’t imagine how much it excites me to prove the sceptics wrong.
“Verratti’s move to PSG was an economic issue. When certain clubs offer wages like that, how are you supposed to hold on to them?”