Gianluca Vialli explained the Juventus mentality and why so many Italian Coaches thrive in England. “Victory comes as a relief.”
The former Bianconeri striker spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about why so many ex-Juve players went on to become tacticians.
“There is a very special work ethic in Turin and it is contagious. It’s the atmosphere you need in life and on the bench. The principle characteristic of Juve is keep your head down and work, show humility when winning.
Gianluca Vialli explained the Juventus mentality and why so many Italian Coaches thrive in England. “Victory comes as a relief.”
The former Bianconeri striker spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about why so many ex-Juve players went on to become tacticians.
“There is a very special work ethic in Turin and it is contagious. It’s the atmosphere you need in life and on the bench. The principle characteristic of Juve is keep your head down and work, show humility when winning.
“The club teaches you the importance of responsibility: it puts you in the right condition to prove what you can do, but you’ve got to give your best as well. At that point you win and can enjoy the honours.
“However, that enjoyment never lasts long, because you’ve got to win again in the next game. See, at Juventus success often feels like relief more than joy.
“You take that DNA with you. A great Coach must be a leader, but also create other leaders within a squad that reproduce your ideas, values and character.
“Conte, Massimo Carrera, Zinedine Zidane and I all had a great leader: Marcello Lippi.”
What does Vialli make of accusations that Juventus and their style of football is dull?
“In Barcelona they have a predilection for aesthetics, beauty and entertainment, whereas Juve are marvellously practical.
“I confess, in my many years with the Bianconeri nobody ever said: ‘Make sure you play well today.’ More often than not the phrase was: ‘Make sure we win today.’
Conte has gone on to Chelsea, while Carrera is currently flying high in Russia with Spartak Moscow.
“Even as players they put the ‘team’ above the ‘I’ and were true team representatives. It was evident Conte would end up as a Coach. He had great teachers from Giovanni Trapattoni and Lippi to Carlo Ancelotti.
“The great thing is he has found his own niche. He’s doing really well at Chelsea and realised English football is fun, but very different to our own. He mustn’t transform himself, but make a few minor adjustments.
“In England it’s by having a solid defence that you go far. That’s why the Italian tactical wisdom makes the difference in England.
“As for Carrera, he’s honest, generous and reliable. We’re still like brothers and communicate often.”