Zdenek Zeman was typically forthright, calling Roma “boring,” saying he “hates Tiki-Taka” and why he chose Cagliari.
The chain-smoking prophet of the 4-3-3 is known for his all-attack brand of football, believes horizontal passes are a waste of time and famously declared “possession is futile.”
Zdenek Zeman was typically forthright, calling Roma “boring,” saying he “hates Tiki-Taka” and why he chose Cagliari.
The chain-smoking prophet of the 4-3-3 is known for his all-attack brand of football, believes horizontal passes are a waste of time and famously declared “possession is futile.”
He sat down with Tuttosport for a lengthy interview and, as ever, did not hold back with his opinions.
“I chose Cagliari because they called me. If someone else had called, I’d probably be elsewhere. President Giulini is young and I hope he can get to know the football world. My Scudetto would be finishing in the top eight with the Rossoblu.”
While many consider Roma to play the best football in Serie A and Juventus the most effective, Zeman has different ideas.
“Everyone must maintain their own history and mentality. We have nothing to do with the Germans or the English and must set out own traditions without trying to copy others. The training regimes are very different abroad, though.
“Juventus are not having a crisis under Allegri. It’s the same team, but in Italy they have run into an increasingly strong rival in Roma and they were never that effective in Europe under Conte either.
“I think Rudi Garcia at times focuses too much on possession without seeking more goals, as Roma did against Chievo.
“Pep Guardiola is currently the best Coach in the world, even if I hate Tiki-Taka, because I have a very different vision of football. The problem is not him, but those who try to copy him without having the right players.”
Zeman is the mentor of many young talents and his Pescara side that gained promotion from Serie B included Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti.
“Italian football cannot afford the best players because of economic problems and the mistakes made in the past. Before you could say Serie A brought in three foreigners, but they’d be of real quality. Now they bring in 30 who don’t make much difference.
“Immobile was wise to go to Germany, but more than that I am disappointed Juventus didn’t keep him, considering he was Capocannoniere.”
There has also been an influx of foreign club owners, such as American James Pallotta at Roma and Indonesian Erick Thohir at Inter.
“Thohir is not an Inter fan and he only bought the club for financial reasons, not out of passion, like all the foreign Presidents who came here. They have ulterior motives. I had been close to Inter when Moratti took over in 1994-95, but had already given my word to Lazio.”
Zeman famously criticised Juventus and the ‘system’ for many years before Calciopoli and felt vindicated by the scandal.
“Is football cleaner now than 10 years ago? Today there are no longer people who frequent the courts. There has always been controversy between Juve and Roma, even before Calciopoli, as the rivalry is a tradition.
“Juve-Roma was watched by everyone last month. There were some irregular goals on one side and regular on the other. On the one hand people complain, on the other they are happy.
“Would I go to dinner with Andrea Agnelli? I’d go with anyone, then we’d have to see if the discussions were on level terms.”