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Aquilani – The former youth coach of Fiorentina is ready for the most important challenge of his career: aiming for Serie A as the successor to Vivarini.

Aquilani: “Catanzaro, I’m Ready”

The former number 8 of Roma gave a long interview to Gazzetta dello Sport, where he talked about his next chapter in Serie B with the Calabrian club. Below are the words spoken by the new coach of Catanzaro.

What have you studied this year?

“Certainly, I haven’t been on vacation… It was educational. I followed Fabregas a lot, his Como intrigued me, he was very helpful, he hosted me. And then De Zerbi, I also went to him in Marseille, he’s a friend: the comparisons with them were very useful.”

It was a stagnant year like Allegri’s…

“I had him at Milan, with him you’re on the safe side.”

Instead, Catanzaro was in your destiny.

“Yes, it’s a story that has been going on for years. We had already talked after the promotion if Vivarini had left, then last year was a soap opera. This was the right year, it worked out.”

Your first sponsor is Iemmello, with whom you played at Sassuolo. And he’s the king of Catanzaro.

“I respect him, we discussed a lot, our bond was an additional reason for me to come here. He connects the team to the city, he has done great things and he carries weight, on and off the field, like Totti in Roma. Of course, with due proportions…”

What does the Catanzaro stage mean at this point in your career?

“I believe I have always taken the right steps. From the Primavera, despite winning everything or almost everything, it wasn’t easy to move up to B. Today I am more experienced and my ideas are even clearer.”

Joe Barone at Fiorentina had baptized you as the future Viola coach.

“It was a tough blow to lose him, Joe was more than just a director to me: he was a true reference point. He had outlined a project for me, so it was a blow, like losing a relative.”

The impact with Serie B in Pisa was not positive.

“No, I consider it extremely positive. A tough leap, with many difficulties, and I have learned from it.”

You missed the playoffs and Inzaghi, almost with the same team, was promoted directly to Serie A.

“No, let’s make it clear: it was a different team. Many players were with me as well, but due to injuries, I was able to train them little.”

What kind of football do you have in mind now?

“I’m not dogmatic. The idea is to have a team that proposes something, but I’ll wait for it to be done and then we’ll decide. Certainly today you need to be able to do everything and courage must not be lacking.”

How much has Spalletti shaped you?

“A lot, more than anyone, he is always evolving.”

Who else has influenced your growth?

“Jorge Jesus in Portugal, now he’s in Arabia. He turned on the light bulb for me on many things, like changing tactics during the game: he transmitted them in such a maniacal way that they stayed inside and were beneficial. And we’re talking about 10 years ago.”

You have played in Italy, England, Portugal, and Spain: can you make a mix of those schools?

“A stroke of luck. The work attitude in England is incredible, the ball always went at 200 miles per hour. In Spain, I saw real talent, I was in the Canaries and they played on the beach and on the field with the same mentality. And in Portugal, tactics are top-notch.”

Gasperini where can he take your Roma?

“He’s the right man: considering what he did with Atalanta, he was the best choice for Roma. The combination with Ranieri is a guarantee.”

And where can Aquilani take Catanzaro?

“There is a lot of enthusiasm, for a few years now it’s a club that is doing great things. And my ambitions are high too. But what counts are sacrifice and the desire to work, words alone are not enough.”

Catanzaro is coming off two playoffs with two different coaches: first Vivarini and then Caserta.

“It’s a stimulus. They reached it by starting quietly, with humility, then by playing well they deserved that achievement: we will have to follow the same path, even though each season has its own story.”

What do you expect from the transfer market?

“A couple of attacking wingers, people with enthusiasm. Once we are complete, we will see how to play, for now, we are working on principles and then we’ll see.”

Palermo, Venezia, Spezia, Empoli, Bari… And then?

“It’s a trap… Serie B is special, those who start to win may risk relegation and vice versa. So, keep your antennae up and watch out for traps.”

A colleague you will face willingly?

“Ignazio Abate, hopefully soon”.

Aquilani is ready for the big leap. Serie B is a league full of pitfalls, but as in the last season, Catanzaro dreams of winning the Play-Offs.