“Football has changed today, but not in terms of the number of matches played: 10 years ago the players played 70/80 matches a year, so the figure is very close to the current one, but the intensity of the game has changed, it is much more physical and the footballer must be a 360° athlete, taking care of everything from nutrition to rest to sleep.” Talk like this Gianluca Zambrottain the long interview with Radio Serie A: “Time is a fundamental key to being able to prepare for matches from a tactical, athletic and mental point of view. If you want a strong team, you have to train hard; if you want an intense team, your training will have to be intense and so on.”
Ductility, the characteristic of Zambrotta. “I was a coach for a short period. For a coach it is important to have two/three players who can cover multiple roles. In the Como Primavera team I played second striker. I practically played everywhere. Even midfield three with Davids and Tacchinardi at Juventus. Lippi I think he made the right choice. Making me play low in the back four changed my career.”
The Barcelona of extraterrestrials. “In 2006 Messi (the best of his era for me) was a pure talent, already from another planet. Even the other three extraterrestrials, Xavi, Iniesta and Ronaldinho. Always cheerful, available, exceptional guys. The most difficult things are they made it easy with the ball. I was lucky to see them every day in training. I arrived after the World Cup, I was mentally and technically strong. I tried to mark Xavi once in training, I didn’t see a ball the difference even today. Quality always surpasses physicality. With Ronaldinho we also found ourselves at Milan.”
Bellanova and Spinazzola. “I ran, I went into space, I pushed. I see these characteristics in Bellanova. There are few like that. Another could be Spinazzola. The two of them are very close to how I was. Today, however, the full-back is much more technical and offensive. Theo Hernandez and Dimarco are the examples. I have already noticed this change in interpretation of the role in Guardiola’s Barcelona.”
Zambrotta’s present. “I am in the Technical Sector of the FIGC with Demetrio Albertini to support Directors, Coaches and Managers in the growth of our young people. I am Ambassador of Lega Serie A which I represent in the world. I was a bit of a pioneer together with Albertini and Locatelli in the diffusion of Padel in Italy and I have several projects that are progressing in the best possible way, including a sports center and a football school near Como, at my home”.