because he has everything ahead of him today. Well,
if not a starter, let's say, in the
Dutch national team squad and I
think he can be
a central defender at certain times, but
I see his career more as a few
meters more open as a central defender
ideally, eh, but I see it more in
a team that plays a certain type of
football as a full-back and he
did it for me and it took a little bit of time
because to convince him, to
convince his agent and to
convince because then it was your
job there then it's the entourage that revolves
around him and then as I said the
club that saw him as a central defender
because clearly to play in Holland he
is probably a player who out of
34 games 20 games can play as a
central defender without any kind of
problem when the level rises a little
and thinking about the
European competitions yes he had quality in exiting the
ball and he had and has the ability to
cover the depth, but in everything
that then becomes a hand-to-hand duel
with players, in my opinion, of a
different physical and technical level, in my opinion
there, that is, I believe that it
was not, let's say, the his his
ideal piece and so, well, I did it, I
really started on the first day I
took him and I did it in the office, I
explained to him why, I explained to him from the
videos we had seen from how
we then play, because then
clearly it's one thing if you want a full-back who
plays as an outside striker
or in our way a little more
iboo what you need a player who
plays a lot inside the field and
who connects the play, who in any case makes an
offensive contribution and who
defensively can give you a certain type
of advantage. and he, I repeat, took
took
20 days to get online, then in the
first two official matches, in one
of the two, he scored, eh, he did,
I mean, he found a
clear gratification. Exact. Yes, yes. and slowly
this thing, well, it grew and,
well, it would be interesting to ask him
today where he would like to play, what
role he prefers and from this
movement, a need has clearly arisen
to find a
left-footed central defender and we made them play Yuri
Bass who in fact was the other name that was
born as a fifth
midfielder as a role. A player
of great intelligence, not of
great physicality, but of great
personality and great reading of the game and
paradoxically with this switch, no,
of positions and Sutalo found
great benefit because he found
a player with personality alongside him, despite
being very young, 2003. He is a player
who compensated, let's say, for some of
his shortcomings, a player who
takes great responsibility with the
ball, Sutalo is much more defensive,
despite having good quality when exiting the
ball and therefore, let's say, from the mix of
these three and the relationship of these
three plus Renchi, in January he went to
Roma and created, in short, a
defensive package that gave us solidity from a
defensive point of view and excellent things
from an offensive point of view. In addition to
this, as I was telling you, the work on
individual improvement, in the
specialization of the role, even at the
video level, I imagine, then up there,
as I told you, the great contribution
of my collaborators and that they
are the ones who
dedicate themselves most to one-to-one work. Then I intervene in
video meetings, I intervene sometimes,
obviously when I think there's a
need to push a
certain type of message a little, but in this case a
lot of the work is done by them
because then, as you well know and as you
can well imagine, there's little time to work
. I had three weeks there to
get most of the
things in place and then it's all about preparing for the
match and as you can imagine maybe
even the difference, that is, being Ajax
in the league makes you play a certain type
of match often in the Europa League
maybe different and therefore this
chip switch every 3 days and it must
be, I repeat,
organized and efficient to ensure that
whoever goes to get their hands on the chip. Yes,
yes, yes. know where to put it. And
in this, as I told you, my two
collaborators who worked with me
before, Daniele and Felippe, Dave who is the
person I found there, the group
of analysts and so on, I repeat,
I think we did a
surgical job. You also accepted your
operator before for, let's say,
injury recovery and also, I imagine,
prevention from a certain point of view,
reading the data you had 25%
fewer injuries than the
previous season. Playing more.
playing more, obviously. Exact. And
still playing maybe some
games at a higher intensity, no, at a
higher level. Um, I mean, how do you
work because in any case,
the players are actually assets for the
club, so if they get injured, not only do you
not have them on the pitch, you also don't have them
as a value. How do you work on
prevention, on
injury recovery, how do you try to lower it? it's
all a combination of things.
So, first of all, the coach must
pay attention to it, therefore present it
as one of the key points to
achieve a sporting result,
because what
recent studies tell us is that having players
available or having players in the
infirmary creates a huge difference in
results. So I like to
choose either/or and be the one who gets
the lineup wrong and not have the
players go to the doctor. And so
this is first and foremost a
mix of aspects, so
training clearly impacts the player's performance, which, as I told you,
especially during the current season, is really
reduced to minutes on the
pitch, and therefore optimizing what you
do there is clearly a
collective part, and then having, so to speak, the
right supplements, right? So
the integration of work even sometimes
without the ball, physical work,
compensatory work, so everything
that is before training, everything
that is after training in the
gym and not wasting time. And
in some cases, we have to
invent spaces to be able to do
certain types of work. In some
things, I also have to be open to
removing the field work so as not to
reduce the load, let's say, so as not to overload
overload
the players' muscular structures
and also cognitive ones, because then again,
everything goes together and
then there is this part that is
invisible training and which is everything that revolves
around, so what the boys
eat, how they recover, how they sleep,
how psychologically they manage to
disconnect and reconnect quickly.
And for me, all these aspects here are
the things that, as I told you,
drive me crazy in a
positive sense, because in my opinion, where we can
still make a big difference in
these aspects here and therefore we need to
create a culture of work and
acceptance also on the part of the
players. Well, because if before, in fact,
between one match and another there were 7
days to recover, so you could
tolerate a physiological recovery,
maybe even check it. Yes, but but actually just about about that is, eh enough, it was
actually just about about that is, eh enough, it was enough to let the time pass to
enough to let the time pass to recover and today you have to work to
recover and today you have to work to recover and working to recover
recover and working to recover means
means eh ice baths, it means the
eh ice baths, it means the sauna, it means eh eating in certain
sauna, it means eh eating in certain spots, eating certain things and keeping
spots, eating certain things and keeping others away and it means sleeping a
others away and it means sleeping a certain number of hours at certain times.
certain number of hours at certain times. Today, I repeat, to perform at these
Today, I repeat, to perform at these levels and there is a real need to also
levels and there is a real need to also recover requires work which
recover requires work which is one thing and the other aspect is when
is one thing and the other aspect is when you can
you can and give the opportunity to disconnect and
and give the opportunity to disconnect and unplug. We did something that for me
unplug. We did something that for me a few years ago was crazy, eh, but during the
a few years ago was crazy, eh, but during the international breaks now we had many
international breaks now we had many players who went to the national team,
players who went to the national team, so it wasn't easy, but we
so it wasn't easy, but we gave many days off, 4 c
gave many days off, 4 c thing thing that and with the national team players
thing thing that and with the national team players we tried to invent days
we tried to invent days off during the season to give them time to
off during the season to give them time to breathe. I'll give you the example
breathe. I'll give you the example of Sutalo. He played in the European Championship,
of Sutalo. He played in the European Championship, the European Championship finished, he had two
the European Championship finished, he had two weeks, to tell the truth and he came
weeks, to tell the truth and he came back for a week and in the middle of the
back for a week and in the middle of the week he played his first friendly and
week he played his first friendly and after 5 days he played his first
after 5 days he played his first official match and from there he never
official match and from there he never stopped and he played with us and
stopped and he played with us and over 4,500 minutes plus with the national team
over 4,500 minutes plus with the national team he always played every match of
he always played every match of each one, that is, so he got to the end of
each one, that is, so he got to the end of the season and playing with us he
the season and playing with us he played 49. Yes, yes, yes. And add another
played 49. Yes, yes, yes. And add another 10-1 with the national team and now he's
10-1 with the national team and now he's playing again and when it will end, I mean there
playing again and when it will end, I mean there is never a break. And now we
is never a break. And now we saw Inter who reached the
saw Inter who reached the Champions League final, if I'm not
Champions League final, if I'm not mistaken it was the 57th 58th match, the
mistaken it was the 57th 58th match, the players finished the national team and after
players finished the national team and after the national team and finished and now the
the national team and finished and now the Club World Cup. I mean, for these
Club World Cup. I mean, for these guys, in some ways what's being asked of them is inhumane
guys, in some ways what's being asked of them is inhumane
and let me say that, well, nowadays it's become impossible not to think about
nowadays it's become impossible not to think about managing the players by letting them
managing the players by letting them recover and I think that in a few years there
recover and I think that in a few years there will be a regulation
will be a regulation from FIFA that will say players can
from FIFA that will say players can play a maximum of, okay, so many matches, so many
play a maximum of, okay, so many matches, so many games and so many minutes during the year.
games and so many minutes during the year. For me it's 100% safe and until that's the case I
For me it's 100% safe and until that's the case I think it's my
think it's my responsibility to protect them, to
responsibility to protect them, to safeguard them and sometimes even make
safeguard them and sometimes even make difficult decisions, decisions that are difficult
difficult decisions, decisions that are difficult to justify. I know that our
to justify. I know that our job, we are justified for what
job, we are justified for what happens on Sunday is only
happens on Sunday is only Sunday.
Sunday. But my way of working is like, I
But my way of working is like, I enter a club thinking of
enter a club thinking of working there for 10 years and I really
working there for 10 years and I really feel very company-minded from this point
feel very company-minded from this point of view, even though I've changed
of view, even though I've changed teams so many times in recent years and yet
teams so many times in recent years and yet my way of thinking is that, I
my way of thinking is that, I try to manage the players as
try to manage the players as resources of the club and as I told you
resources of the club and as I told you I want these guys to be
I want these guys to be available as much as possible.
available as much as possible. For me, this is truly one of the first
For me, this is truly one of the first parameters, and clearly we need to
parameters, and clearly we need to convince them and make them understand that
convince them and make them understand that not playing a match that they
not playing a match that they clearly want to play
clearly want to play every match and every 90 minutes
every match and every 90 minutes is not possible. And so even when
is not possible. And so even when I call players to and from
I call players to and from a club, I explain to you how I do it
a club, I explain to you how I do it with clubs, I do it with players,
with clubs, I do it with players, make clear friendships, long-lasting friendships. But I
make clear friendships, long-lasting friendships. But I ask you the last two things.
ask you the last two things. First of all, can you repeat the number of
First of all, can you repeat the number of meetings you mentioned at the beginning? and
meetings you mentioned at the beginning? and 300
300 something like that, how they develop
something like that, how they develop and maybe even how much importance or in
and maybe even how much importance or in any case how much part
any case how much part technology plays. There are many meetings because they
technology plays. There are many meetings because they are clearly what compensate for
are clearly what compensate for the work that cannot be done on the field and
the work that cannot be done on the field and integrate it. In the sense that
integrate it. In the sense that I like to have training sessions that aren't too
I like to have training sessions that aren't too long and with very few breaks, so
long and with very few breaks, so to speed up this means that you have to
to speed up this means that you have to arrive on the pitch prepared, so
arrive on the pitch prepared, so all the work that we do and that
all the work that we do and that the staff does to be organized in the
the staff does to be organized in the location of the
location of the drills, the fluidity between one
drills, the fluidity between one pass and the next is interesting, to
pass and the next is interesting, to say a feedback I got from
say a feedback I got from Daniele Rugani, no, who told me how much
Daniele Rugani, no, who told me how much for him it was, that is, the moment in which
for him it was, that is, the moment in which they enter the pitch and the
they enter the pitch and the feeling of being hung up, that is, that
feeling of being hung up, that is, that then there is no more second of
then there is no more second of recovery, no, between one exercise and
recovery, no, between one exercise and the next it's like, in quotes, the pace and
the next it's like, in quotes, the pace and concentration of the 60-70 minutes
concentration of the 60-70 minutes depending on the day, but often sometimes
depending on the day, but often sometimes even under an hour, but in that the
even under an hour, but in that the density, here is the density of the training
density, here is the density of the training and for me it must be
and for me it must be off the charts and so this for me is
off the charts and so this for me is absolutely one of the
absolutely one of the clearest and most methodological principles and in this,
clearest and most methodological principles and in this, as I was telling you, the intensity of the
as I was telling you, the intensity of the staff in approaching the training It makes
staff in approaching the training It makes a difference, so how much force,
a difference, so how much force, how much energy and how much pressure you
how much energy and how much pressure you put on the structure to be able to
put on the structure to be able to perform at a certain
perform at a certain level. But I clearly told you
level. But I clearly told you that for this to happen at
that for this to happen at this pace, you have to be ready.
this pace, you have to be ready. So in our, our meetings,
So in our, our meetings, let's say, pre-training are about
let's say, pre-training are about preparing for the opponent, about how to
preparing for the opponent, about how to say explanation of what we will
say explanation of what we will do on the pitch to prepare to
do on the pitch to prepare to work on ourselves, to work on the
work on ourselves, to work on the match and on the preparation for
match and on the preparation for the match and therefore always with this mix
the match and therefore always with this mix between how to say the part linked to the
between how to say the part linked to the game model and the situations in
game model and the situations in standard quotation marks and then what is linked
standard quotation marks and then what is linked to the match strategy.
plan B and variables during training and as I was telling you also
training and as I was telling you also in the part of the video meetings
in the part of the video meetings there is a part that I do, a
there is a part that I do, a part that my
part that my collaborators do with respect to some
collaborators do with respect to some specific things collectively and then an
specific things collectively and then an individual part. So the guys,
individual part. So the guys, well, they work a lot on video,
well, they work a lot on video, with meetings that sometimes last 5
with meetings that sometimes last 5 minutes and sometimes they last an hour.
minutes and sometimes they last an hour. depending on that, let's say, we don't have
depending on that, let's say, we don't have standard things and and I repeat, we have to be
standard things and and I repeat, we have to be clearly very flexible with respect
clearly very flexible with respect and it's the only thing, in short, on which
and it's the only thing, in short, on which we really ask for great availability
we really ask for great availability because we try to understand the players and
because we try to understand the players and there is really, as I said, we try
there is really, as I said, we try to, that is, when we are there there is
to, that is, when we are there there is work to be done, they have to
work to be done, they have to know this and it is very clear that in the morning
know this and it is very clear that in the morning when they have coffee and
when they have coffee and breakfast they know that the hours they are at the
breakfast they know that the hours they are at the sports centre are working hours. Okay.
sports centre are working hours. Okay. And so everything that is physical, eh
And so everything that is physical, eh preparation, videos and so
preparation, videos and so on, the training and then when
on, the training and then when we are there we work. Then when I can and
we are there we work. Then when I can and we can invent moments to
we can invent moments to indulge, to disconnect, we are truly
indulge, to disconnect, we are truly very happy because, I repeat, I don't believe that
very happy because, I repeat, I don't believe that or it is possible that the week can be
or it is possible that the week can be like this. I believe much more in the
like this. I believe much more in the variability, no, of the general also to
variability, no, of the general also to maintain tension. Exact. Exact. And
maintain tension. Exact. Exact. And then because I repeat, in this case it's how I
then because I repeat, in this case it's how I work too, that is,
work too, that is, I think that absolute linearity at a certain point
I think that absolute linearity at a certain point leads to a decline, instead you need to
leads to a decline, instead you need to push to 2000, let go, push to
push to 2000, let go, push to 2000, let go. This is football.
2000, let go. This is football. So, to close, I'll quote you a phrase
So, to close, I'll quote you a phrase that one of your former players said, who
that one of your former players said, who asked, let's say, about you
asked, let's say, about you , he said: "In Italy, people think
, he said: "In Italy, people think that experience can only be gained
that experience can only be gained here." A path like yours, perhaps
here." A path like yours, perhaps , is understood quite a bit, but
, is understood quite a bit, but perhaps, no, you rely a lot on your
perhaps, no, you rely a lot on your experience in Serie A, in Italy
experience in Serie A, in Italy compared to those that we are
compared to those that we are perhaps not yet ready for, no, for these
perhaps not yet ready for, no, for these slightly more multicultural paths, they
slightly more multicultural paths, they pass the term. What? That is, how do you
pass the term. What? That is, how do you see it, how do you perceive it? I think it's the
see it, how do you perceive it? I think it's the same thing that happens for
same thing that happens for players too, right? Yes, yes, there's definitely
players too, right? Yes, yes, there's definitely always a bit of it if he hasn't played in
always a bit of it if he hasn't played in Italy. So, I think that
Italy. So, I think that football today, I repeat, at all
football today, I repeat, at all levels, especially when you play in
levels, especially when you play in European competitions, brings with it
European competitions, brings with it stimuli and tactical,
stimuli and tactical, psychological and pressure comparisons. Well,
psychological and pressure comparisons. Well, so let it be, but this is also a
so let it be, but this is also a little bit in France, that is, in France
little bit in France, that is, in France the desire to have
the desire to have French coaches in Holland, to have
French coaches in Holland, to have Dutch coaches and a little bit in Italy, in short, to
Dutch coaches and a little bit in Italy, in short, to have Italian coaches or coaches who have
have Italian coaches or coaches who have worked in Italy. I think this
worked in Italy. I think this is, well, it's understandable in some ways
is, well, it's understandable in some ways because the connection is very, very
because the connection is very, very direct, he's already
direct, he's already worked here, he knows and that's
worked here, he knows and that's important. In fact, in my
important. In fact, in my staff I have always wanted a person who
staff I have always wanted a person who knew the championship and had
knew the championship and had experience. So it
experience. So it happened in Türkiye, it happened in
happened in Türkiye, it happened in France to have a former player who
France to have a former player who then became a member of my staff. Well,
then became a member of my staff. Well, that could help us to
that could help us to understand and the same thing
understand and the same thing happened in Holland and this in my opinion
happened in Holland and this in my opinion helps a lot and because in any case it helps you
helps a lot and because in any case it helps you to understand where you are going to play, the
to understand where you are going to play, the type of pitch,
type of pitch, the type of environment you are going to
the type of environment you are going to face and the truth is that the
face and the truth is that the fact of having worked in many
fact of having worked in many different championships has given me, I believe,
different championships has given me, I believe, great flexibility from this point
great flexibility from this point of view and I repeat I feel very comfortable
of view and I repeat I feel very comfortable in thinking of working
in thinking of working in a new one in a new championship that I have
in a new one in a new championship that I have never done. Then if you tell me
never done. Then if you tell me clearly tomorrow you will return to coach in
clearly tomorrow you will return to coach in Turkey or you will return to coach in Holland,
Turkey or you will return to coach in Holland, having the experience of what or in
having the experience of what or in France having the experience of what it
France having the experience of what it means to play in a stadium or to
means to play in a stadium or to know more, clearly that is
know more, clearly that is an advantage. Certain. It's a small
an advantage. Certain. It's a small advantage that you
advantage that you clearly have, but as I told you
clearly have, but as I told you on the other hand, having had
on the other hand, having had the opportunity to already work in three
the opportunity to already work in three different leagues and in any case Serie A, having
different leagues and in any case Serie A, having done it as a collaborator, eh, in
done it as a collaborator, eh, in Italy and therefore for 3 years, in any
Italy and therefore for 3 years, in any case having seen absolutely, in
case having seen absolutely, in any case, there is a certain, a certain
any case, there is a certain, a certain knowledge of certain dynamics and and
knowledge of certain dynamics and and however, here, in my opinion, what
however, here, in my opinion, what counts most of all, I repeat, this is
counts most of all, I repeat, this is for the coaches but also for the
for the coaches but also for the players, open-mindedness. And I believe
players, open-mindedness. And I believe that for a coach
that for a coach when you go into a new context, the
when you go into a new context, the truth is that you bring, if you manage to
truth is that you bring, if you manage to bring in 80% of what
bring in 80% of what you have in mind, it's a great, it's a
you have in mind, it's a great, it's a great result and then in that is the
great result and then in that is the ability to adapt and the ability to
ability to adapt and the ability to connect with the new environment,
connect with the new environment, with the new dynamics and that 20% is
with the new dynamics and that 20% is what will make you achieve or not
what will make you achieve or not achieve the objectives from my point of
achieve the objectives from my point of view and as I told you, having a
view and as I told you, having a staff with many passports and being
staff with many passports and being very open to integrating figures already
very open to integrating figures already in the company. Well, up until now, at least
in the company. Well, up until now, at least , it has always created
, it has always created very,
very, very interesting, very stimulating dynamics that have
very interesting, very stimulating dynamics that have helped us, you know, to achieve more in the various
helped us, you know, to achieve more in the various environments than what was
environments than what was asked of us at the beginning of the
asked of us at the beginning of the season and above all to create, you know
season and above all to create, you know , memories and
, memories and recollections, you know, that we carry with us
recollections, you know, that we carry with us and are, as always, you know, the
and are, as always, you know, the thing that in the end we work for
thing that in the end we work for and that is truly the fuel that
and that is truly the fuel that makes us push every day on the pitch.
makes us push every day on the pitch. As a next step, what do you
As a next step, what do you expect from yourself? What would you like?
expect from yourself? What would you like? What are you looking for? So, what I
What are you looking for? So, what I hope for first of all is to remain
hope for first of all is to remain open as I have been up
open as I have been up until today and for me clearly it is
until today and for me clearly it is to find a context that is
to find a context that is willing to work
willing to work with the same principles and with the
with the same principles and with the same and with the same, let's say,
same and with the same, let's say, intensity. Well, this for me is the
intensity. Well, this for me is the thing that
thing that really, well, even in my
really, well, even in my evaluations these days, you know,
evaluations these days, you know, in relation to the possibilities that have
in relation to the possibilities that have occurred. This is a
occurred. This is a criterion that I always put on the table
criterion that I always put on the table and that I keep very much in mind, as I
and that I keep very much in mind, as I told you, in recent years I have gained,
told you, in recent years I have gained, well, a good amount of
well, a good amount of life experiences and now, well, the
life experiences and now, well, the important thing is not to
important thing is not to rush, but to choose and choose
rush, but to choose and choose well, well, what is the
well, well, what is the next step, I repeat, wherever,
next step, I repeat, wherever, wherever it is and regardless of the
wherever it is and regardless of the brand or regardless of
brand or regardless of the prestige of the championship
the prestige of the championship or the company, but really to
or the company, but really to have the feeling that we can
have the feeling that we can work in a certain way and, as I
work in a certain way and, as I told you, and take from each other what
told you, and take from each other what are the things we like, but
are the things we like, but above all to clarify what are
above all to clarify what are potentially the aspects of
potentially the aspects of possible conflict and then conflict,
possible conflict and then conflict, I repeat, is part of every type of
I repeat, is part of every type of relationship, but how this, well,
relationship, but how this, well, can then be, in quotes, mitigated and
can then be, in quotes, mitigated and above all oriented towards the
above all oriented towards the final performance which then, as I
final performance which then, as I told you, is what, well,
told you, is what, well, the small
the small details, the small points that then make
details, the small points that then make the seasons remembered
the seasons remembered successfully, often come into play. or rather, they
successfully, often come into play. or rather, they create
create slightly different situations. A thousand thanks. Thank you.
slightly different situations. A thousand thanks. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. This is a great piece of football. No.
[Music] M.
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