Thiago Motta: 'Gasperini better than Ancelotti and Mourinho'
ByFootballItalia
Published 17/09/2016 at 08:12 GMT
PSG midfielder Thiago Motta stands up to critics and reveals “I worked with Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, but nobody like Gian Piero Gasperini.”
Italy's midfielder Thiago Motta (R) and Ireland's midfielder Jeffrey Hendrick vie for the ball during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Italy and Ireland at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, on June 22, 2016.
Image credit: AFP
The Brazilian-born player chose to wear the Azzurri jersey after time spent at Genoa and Inter, but has been in Paris since 2012.
“When I arrived in Spain for Barcelona, I was already Italian due to my origins,” he told the Corriere dello Sport.
“At Genoa they told me I could target a place in the national team, but I didn’t believe them. It was a privilege and from Genoa to Inter I did get that chance. Do I feel more Italian than Brazilian? I do now, absolutely.”
Thiago Motta’s presence in the Italy squad for Euro 2016 was one of the biggest criticisms levelled at Antonio Conte, but he stands up for himself.
“It’s true that I am a bit slow, but I have other characteristics. I don’t think Ancelotti or Conte would’ve used me if I was that bad. I’ve made mistakes in games, but I don’t know where this judgment of my talent comes from.
“I worked with Coaches like Mourinho, Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez, but nobody like Gasperini. He taught me so much on a human, technical and tactical level.”
Thiago Motta left Inter for Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 under something of a cloud.
“I was happy there, but certain people didn’t agree with me. I specifically mean Marco Branca, who was director of sport at the time with Lele Oriali. He did not agree with the fact I was at Inter.
“I didn’t feel the same confidence in me and, with the chance to go to PSG, I told myself I could go where there was a future for me. (Former President Massimo) Moratti was always a gentleman with me. He listened to what I had to say and we reached a deal.”
What does the future hold for Thiago Motta?
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Thiago Motta, le milieu de terrain du PSG, le 16 août 2015, au Parc des Princes.
Image credit: AFP
“I’d like to become a Coach after I retire. I have seen a lot of football and there’s no better place than midfield to read all the phases of a game.”
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