Walter Mazzarri: “I always stand by my players, they lead me to victory” | OneFootball

Walter Mazzarri, former Napoli coach and a manager with over twenty years of experience, has spoken again in a video interview for the Only Fanta column of Gazzetta dello Sport.

Walter Mazzarri opens up: “I always defend my players. They are the ones who bring me victory”

A conversation full of reflections on modern football, his experiences, and the future, without giving up a sincere look at the human relationship with his players.

The passion for football never fades

Mazzarri explains how, despite his break from coaching, his dedication remains intact: “I never stopped watching football. I’ve been coaching for 23 years and I can’t help but follow it every day. Sometimes I watched two matches at the same time. I’ve also coached in the Premier League, but Italy is Italy. Every now and then agents from abroad call me, so I watch other leagues too.”

An attitude that confirms his methodical and studious nature, always a distinctive trait of his work.

Today’s football and too many 0-0 draws

On criticism of the modern game, Mazzarri is clear: “A 0-0 can come even after a great match. Sometimes there’s too much talk about the obsession with playing the ball horizontally. In my day, if we made a horizontal pass, the coach would get angry. Today everything is very different and I understand that sometimes fans get bored.”

“I miss coaching, but only on my terms”

The coach admits that he would like to return to the bench, but only by following specific criteria: “I miss coaching, but only if I can do things the way I did in the first sixteen years of my career. I regret accepting situations I wouldn’t have accepted before. If I came back, I’d return as the Mazzarri of old.”

Opportunities abroad and thoughtful choices

The coach reveals: “Many have sought me out, but after 23 years I think I’ve earned the right to choose. Some teams contacted me, but there were problems related to war in those areas. In one place where they wanted me at all costs, a bomb was dropped. I can afford to choose more carefully.”

Criticism and defending the players

A particular passage concerns the way Mazzarri managed difficult moments: “They accused me of making excuses. In reality, I took responsibility to protect my players. They are the ones who help me win. Sometimes I used excuses to avoid them being attacked. Today I see colleagues who publicly criticize their own players. I don’t need to look good on camera: I need to protect the team.”

He continues: “In a difficult moment, I go into the press room and defend everyone. Then on Tuesday, in the locker room, I say what needs to be said. But without cameras.”

The watch gesture: from protest to symbol

The iconic gesture with which Mazzarri asked for added time is now part of football pop culture: “I wanted to recover lost time or speed up the final whistle. Against us, they often invented all sorts of things to stop us. That gesture is now at the San Paolo stadium. It’s become a meme and, in this sense, it even pleases me.”

Rotation, squad quality, and differences between eras

Mazzarri clarifies a frequently discussed point about his way of managing the lineup: “When I prepare tactics, I do it with 22 players, not just the starting eleven. But if you don’t have an alternative to Lavezzi, it’s difficult. The difference is made by quality: if the substitute doesn’t have the same characteristics, the level drops. Today’s squads are much deeper and more complete compared to my time.”

A special bond with his men

The relationship with Napoli’s players remains one of the most beautiful chapters of his career: “Maggio, Lavezzi, and Cavani had a wonderful relationship with me. If they have to talk about me, they do so with gratitude. I think I was the only one to stay four years with De Laurentiis. Sarri stayed three, and even other coaches, despite winning, stayed less than me.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.