Carlos Tevez says it’s a ‘pleasure’ to have Andrea Pirlo as a teammate, but names Paul Scholes as the best he’s played with.
The Argentinian striker has given a long interview to El Pais in his homeland where he discussed his upbringing, Juventus and the Champions League.
“When I was a child I used to play with pebbles,” Tevez told the publication.
Carlos Tevez says it’s a ‘pleasure’ to have Andrea Pirlo as a teammate, but names Paul Scholes as the best he’s played with.
The Argentinian striker has given a long interview to El Pais in his homeland where he discussed his upbringing, Juventus and the Champions League.
“When I was a child I used to play with pebbles,” Tevez told the publication.
“I never collected figurines of players, because I was very poor and I couldn’t afford them. Like all Argentinians I loved Diego [Maradona], but it’s impossible to equal God.
“I also really liked [Gabriel] Batistuta, being like him was much more attainable.
“I would not change my childhood for anything in the world, it helped me to become a righteous person and know what’s really important in life.
“As a child I was afraid of being kidnapped, I lived in the barrio, where crimes and drugs were the norm, and I’ve always had the utmost respect for the police.
“I learned by the rules of the street, that taught me how to be a man. School taught me very little, unlike the streets.”
Tevez has spent the last two seasons in Turin with Juventus, and says it’s not true that Serie A is weaker than the other top European leagues.
“We drew against the team which is second-last in the table [Cesena], it’s not easy for us to win games.
“Our opponents get a lot of men behind the ball and it’s very difficult to score. Serie A teams are very tactical, they defend very tightly, with five people or more.
“In England you don’t often see a defence with five men in it, the same is true of Spain. Here it’s different, it’s really difficult to score. You have to use your brains.“
"Juve is my second home, they’ve always treated me well, from the President right down, they’ve always made me happy. I’m doing well, and I feel like I’m in peak fitness as you can see from what I do on the field.
“Wearing Del Piero’s shirt? It’s a big responsibility, but not particularly for me, because I’ve always felt at home here.
“Adapting to Italy was difficult, especially in regard to the training, it’s very different here than in England, Brazil or Argentina.
“They’re very professional in Italy, they live for football. In England I’d already be home by 12 [in the afternoon].”
The former West Ham United man then discussed the differences between current Coach Massimiliano Allegri, and his predecessor Antonio Conte.
“With Allegri, I have more freedom of movement than under Conte. Under the previous Coach, we played with two strikers, in fixed positions and close together," Tevez explained.
“Under Allegri we only have a fixed position when we don’t have the ball, but we’re more free to play the way we want to play when we attack.
“Conte was demanding, a winner. You couldn’t relax for a second with him, either in training or during the game.
“Winning was everything for him, there was nothing else. Allegri is more relaxed, he gives us a rest, especially after a victory.
“Conte was already thinking about the next game after a win.
“This year, we play differently in the Champions League compared to last year; we’re mentally and physically prepared.
“This team is ready to take on anyone.
“Borussia? They’re a team with experience, they know these types of situations and how to play these games.
“What emotions do I get from football? Everything: joy, sadness, hatred, anger despair… the last time I cried was this summer, when we [Argentina] lost the World Cup [final].
“Playing with Pirlo is such a pleasure, one day I’ll be able to say: ‘I played with Pirlo’.
“The best I’ve played with, however, is Paul Scholes.”