Zdenek Zeman admits Francesco Totti is “like a son” and will “never change” his all-attack approach as Cagliari” data-scaytid=”4″>Cagliari visit his old club Roma.
Zdenek Zeman admits Francesco Totti is “like a son” and will “never change” his all-attack approach as Cagliari visit his old club Roma.
The Coach returns to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“The people of Rome have always shown me great affection,” said Zeman following his dismissal.
“We start from 0-0 and have to play our game, albeit aware that Roma are a great side who quite rightly are pushing for the Scudetto and Champions League.
“It’s not a game like all the others, of course. This is between my team and the city where I have lived for 20 years. I have no desire for revenge, though,” Zeman told La Repubblica.
“Totti is like a son to me. As a player, he is so unpredictable and can put the ball where you least expect it.”
So far this season Cagliari have stuttered, earning one point from two games against Sassuolo and Atalanta.
“In structural terms it is actually better for us to face a team that plays open football,” insisted Zeman.
“Rudi Garcia’s approach is to keep possession, more of a Guardiola or a Luis Enrique than a Zeman, whereas I think the more passes you make, the more chance you have of making a mistake. They do play the best football among the big clubs in Italy, though.
“Why did my Roma not work? I had internal issues. Not everyone had the same ideas or shared their views with me, both in the team and in the club. I won’t name names, though.”
Zeman famously had a terrible rapport with Daniele De Rossi, often dropping him to the bench. Have they spoken since his sacking?
“No. He is one of the few I don’t speak to. The fans were generally behind me, aside from a small group. Football unites and divides. At the end of the day the great thing is everyone has their own ideas.
“I am not sad that I didn’t win a Scudetto. I am happy with my career. You can even get relegated, as long as you did everything possible to avoid it and you recognise the opposition was better, so you applaud them. That is sport.
“Do I prefer to win 1-0 or 5-4? Still 5-4. Football is spectacle and people need to enjoy their time in the stadium, so without goals how are they going to have fun? I’ll never change that idea.”