By Georgiy Kudinov, Boris Tosunyan
One of the best-known managers in modern football Giovanni Trapattoni now heads Salzburg Austria, the champions of Austrian Bundesliga. The team sealed the victory long before the end of the campaign and no wonder the triumph is associated with the name of Salzburg's manager. The football legend shared his views on Russian football with Sport Express.
- Football in Russia is rich in traditions. The names of the great Soviet players such as Yashin, Chislenko and Voronin have left a significant mark on European football. I was capped for Italy seventeen times and tough I had to play a number of really formidable opponents the USSR clashes stand out. We lost the USSR team at a European Championships game 0:2 in 1963. I remember Chislenko scored one of the goals. What a team you had then! Soviet players got Pascotti so worked so that he was sent off the field. We hoped to take a revenge in Rome but did not manage to overcome the USSR in the return-game either. Your keeper Lev Yashin then caught Sandro Mazzola's penalty. And Mazzola is one of the best players in the history of Italian football.
Voronin was a great utility-player. He was so talented and hard-working that could be competitive in any foreign championship. Even now Voronin would be quite competitive in Serie A. In midsixties Voronin, then playing for Dinamo, showed an outstanding display against Inter then managed by Helenio Herrera and showing magnificent performance. Italian football specialists still remeber Voronin.
I remeber Eduard Streltsov who Italy faced in 1966 in a friendly. I was amazed to learn the story of his life. He must have been a very skilled and talented player since he managed to return to the game after what he had gone through.
- When you were at the helm of Benfica, CSKA beat your team on their way to UEFA Cup triumph. Do you remember those days?
- I remember what happened fourty years ago so naturally CSKA clash is still in my memory. CSKA were fairly stronger than we were and they deserved the overall triumph. Gazzaev is a very good coach. I remember CSKA had skilled Russian players and outstanding Brazilians in the squad then. In the final CSKA beat another Portugal team Sporting in Lisbon. So hats off to CSKA! However, they are not the only good team in Russia. Spartak and Lokomotiv once were really dangerous on the international scene.
- In the USSR times, Dinamo Kyiv and Dinamo Tbilissi also grabbed the title. But that was a different era and a different country. What can you say about the days of Valery Lobanovsky?
- Lobanovsky was a great coach! He knew his onions perfectly and was a versatile and very educated person on the whole. He did a lot to Russian and European football.
- The Russian national side is now managed bu Guss Hiddink. He once led Korea to a victory over Italy, of which you were then the manager...
- These days are gone. They can't reprimand me always for that match. Joking apart, Hiddink is a wonderful and experienced manager, who is probably one of the best specialists in Europe if we talk about the ability to motivate the team. He shares his knowledge not only with the players but with the coaches working alongside him. Thus, I think Hiddink is a godsend for Russia. However, I can imagine what hard times he had when he took the reins of the Russian side. His appointment must have caused much discontent among his Russian counterparts. If you come from abroad people want to get the result here and now. Otherwise you will be roundly criticized and there will be much talk about your possible discharge. I know very well what it feels like and that is why I wish Hiddink every possible success. He led Korea and Australia to success and Russian football traditions are far richer so I have no doubts Hiddink will fulfill the task.
- The Ukraine/Poland bid has been named the hosts of Euro 2012. How would you comment on the failure of Italy's bid which was tipped as the strongest?
- A lot of Italians think that the bidding process was not fair. But I do not agree. I have been working for quite a time far from home and I know how Europeans react on the outrageous incidents occurring in Italy. The Moggigate scandal, the death of a policeman at a Serie A match, a terrible refereeing scandal exasperated Europeans. It is only natural that UEFA executive committee decided that Italy did not deserve to host the competition. In addition, UEFA now concentrates on Eastern Europe so it fall in line with the organization's policies to shoulder the responsibility on Ukraine and Poland.
- Italy won't host Euro 2012. Do you think Italy will take part in the competition?
- I have no doubts that Roberto Danadoni's will take part in the final tournament. Though it is too early to say how far they will get.
- What do you think of Marcello Lippi's decision to step down after he took led Italy to the gold in 2006.
- Marcello made a great thing for our country so I can't judge his decsions. I can't sit on my hands, that's part of my nature to contantly be on the move.
- Will you still be Salzburg manager the next season?
- There are no grounds for any of the parties to break off my Salzburg contract. We are a good team and I think it is within our powers to survive Champions League qualifying round.
