Italian Strafalcioni!

08-05-2012

Udinese Tonight, Pinzi: “We are Rome (“We are IN Rome”?), now we want to see the pope”

Udinese midfielder Giampiero Pinzi was hosted at “Udinese Tonight” last night. Here are the main things he said:

How are you doing?
“I’m fine, I underwent some medicals and it’s just a severe contusion”.
Are you going to grit your teeth to play in Catania?  “If there is one chance out of a thousand, I will play, I want to take the pitch for the most important match of the season and of Udinese’s history”.
We are close to the Champions League (“Champions’ League”?), but we shouldn’t celebrate too soon, as Guidolin said... “The coach is right. It’s been an amazing season, more than last year, because we expected much less, we didn’t think we would have been fighting for the Champions League (see above?) once again... We are this close to a dream, because playing the play-off rounds would be a dream to us (“would be a dream for us”?), and it would be foolish to spoil all” (“to spoil it all”?).

You have changed your style in the past few years.. what is the reason for this evolution?  “I need to thank the coach Di Carlo, because when I was in Verona he transformed me into a more complete midfielder. I lacked some skills and now I have them. I can say I am a different midfielder from the one I was at the beginning of my career, I’ve learnt to play also ahead of the defence”.

You arrived in Udine in 2000. Can you tell us how it was?
“I felt a bit lost at first, I didn’t even know where Udine was, I wasn’t good in geography at school (laughs). In Rome it was hot, the first day I came here it was raining a lot. Then it all went well and I must admit the choice to come here has been the best I’ve ever made. I started feeling at home thanks to the fantastic group I’ve found and as long as the president turns me out (???) I won’t go anywhere!”.

Do you regret having missed the opportunity to bloom in your home town with your home team?
“I don’t. the only thing I regret is that I have never played a local derby, that would have been a dream to me (“for me”?). But I’m satisfied with the rest of my career, how it has developed here in Udine. I feel just great here”.

What has been the hardest part of this season?  “After the defeat in Siena we were really sad, we thought we wouldn’t have won anymore. Then we faced Inter. We thought we could have made it. But now we’re here and we’re playing for a place in the Champions League (see above) and destiny is in our hands”.

You are bound to Domizzi, who comes from Rome just like you. Also Maurizio has benefited from his experience here in Friuli..
“Maurizio is the most underestimated defender of Italian football. He’s a good defender but he’s also able to manage the play. Even if he’s not under the spotlights all the times, he’s one of the best defenders in Italy”.

Good luck to you and to the squad, in view of Catania’s match....
“Thanks. We’ll do our best to achieve this target, we all deserve it, the supporters and us. We are in Rome, now we want to see the pope”.