The former Roma sporting director is ready to get back in the game and fires up the week leading to Roma-Juventus: “That Juventus-Roma 3-2…”
A visionary executive, a talent scout, and a total football man, Walter Sabatini spoke at length to SMIT – Soccer Made in Italy. From his confidence about Italy’s participation in the World Cup to Juventus’ struggles, and a deep reflection on VAR, simulation, and the role of managers. An intense, passionate interview, true to his direct and philosophical style. With a memory that still burns and fuels the buildup to Roma-Juventus…
The full interview is available on SMIT’s YouTube channel.
Throughout the week, starting today, clips from the interview will be posted on SMIT’s official Instagram profile.
Director, let’s start with the question everyone in America is asking: will Italy make the World Cup?
Of course we will, absolutely. I also have an extraordinary memory of America. Besides having had an American president from Boston at Roma for six years, my strongest memory is a 1977 tour we did with Roma in the United States. It was wonderful. I had a great impression of the soccer that was being born at that time: it was still the era of Pelé, Beckenbauer and Chinaglia at the Cosmos. Even if it’s not the national sport, I see that soccer is growing rapidly: MLS stadiums are full, there’s real interest. It’s a movement that’s developing fast. But we’ll be at the World Cup, that’s for sure.
Italy has missed the last two editions. If they qualify, can they go there with their heads held high?
If we qualify, we’ll go with our heads held high. Naturally, we’re tied to the physical condition in which the players arrive at the playoff, which is the real decisive appointment. I’m very worried—not about the quality of our football—but about the fitness levels of our players. This season in Italy there’s been an impressive injury crisis. Every Sunday four or five players per team go down. An injured player, at best, needs a month to return and never reaches a major fixture in peak condition. He always gets there in a precarious state. That concerns me a lot. If we arrive physically sharp, we’re strong, despite the defeats suffered by Italian clubs in the Champions League.
We have to hope to reach the next appointment in top physical shape, because if we do, we’re truly strong.
Let’s turn to the present: can the Italian sides overturn their Champions League defeats?
It’s complicated for all of them, especially Juventus, but I have a vivid memory: Roma overturning Messi’s Barcelona at the Olimpico. A 3-0 to wipe out the 4-1 first-leg defeat. If that Roma side, which was very strong, managed to do it, then Juventus can turn it around against Galatasaray and Atalanta can produce a great performance against Dortmund. I’m always very optimistic. I trust our football and our players. The only thing that worries me is always fitness.
Did you expect Juventus’ February collapse?
No, absolutely not. Juventus had reached a very high level in terms of performance and quality of play. Spalletti’s work had produced immediate results. I didn’t expect such a setback. But now I expect a resurrection, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It’s in the manager’s DNA and in many of the players. There are some structural issues, a certain attacking fragility, but the quality of play was there and I think this crisis is temporary. They can recover proper condition.
Did Chivu at Inter surprise you?
No. Last year I often watched Parma and spoke with him during the week. Not that he needed my advice, but we exchanged views. I saw him keep Parma up playing good football, not parking the bus. I knew his value. I had no doubt he would do well at Inter. He knows the environment and has the right demeanor and words to lead such an important group.
After the Bastoni case, simulation has become a central issue in Italy.
Let’s leave Bastoni aside—he was even whistled in Lecce as if he were the only one to have ever dived in Italy. Let’s talk about simulation in general. It’s terrible. Diving is unsporting behavior, a small fraud. If I dive, I’m cheating. It’s like doping: something disgusting from a sporting standpoint. And it’s ridiculous, because today the pitch belongs to the cameras. They see everything. Hands to the face when the contact is on the chest—these are disgusting things. We also lose in Europe because we simulate. Northern European teams don’t dive, because the crowd despises that gesture. Simulation triggers weakness; it makes you lose matches. You win through performance, not through deception.
What’s your assessment of referees this season and especially VAR? Every week there are fierce controversies…
We insiders all need to calm down. VAR is a blessing for football. Its use can be debated and better coordinated, because sometimes the referee’s decision is completely overturned and that creates confusion. But VAR is a positive tool. If it had existed in my Roma days, maybe we would have won a couple of league titles. I’m thinking of that match in Turin, Juventus-Roma 3-2: three debatable goals. With VAR, at least two wouldn’t have stood. I feel protected by VAR.
Does the pain of the lost Scudetto at Roma still linger?
It’s a pain that never fades. It explodes inside me as if it happened yesterday. It’s something that mutilated me. We were a team that deserved the title. I was talking about it the other day with De Rossi: winning teams have a great midfield. And that Roma side had Pjanić, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Strootman, Keita—a powerhouse midfield. Teams win if they dominate midfield. And we were truly strong. Of course, we were up against an extraordinary Juventus that one year topped 100 points. Credit to them. But when they played against us, they never celebrated before kickoff.
Speaking of De Rossi: at Genoa, is he in the right place to complete his development as a coach?
Perfect place. Genoa resembles him: a generous fanbase, deeply in love with the team. He’s doing great things. I watched the last match: almost embarrassing signs of growth. Genoa play attractive, coherent football. But let’s remember: managers don’t win, players win. Coaches can train perfectly, but players win matches.
Today’s Roma seems, in terms of squad construction, the closest to your football philosophy.
It’s a balanced squad. Ricky Massara is more balanced and more polite than me, maybe less bold. He worked within Financial Fair Play constraints but had an intelligent transfer window. He brought in interesting youngsters. Venturino is a fearless kid, ready right away: he comes on and contributes. A player has to be fearless. Without that edge, there’s no future. Vaz is a raw diamond, but he’ll do very well, even if his impact hasn’t been huge yet—I’m certain. He just needs to adapt to Serie A tempo and timing. Ghilardi is making giant strides: it’s not easy to earn a starting spot at Roma.
You had a special eye for defenders: from Marquinhos to Benatia to Manolas.
I was very fortunate. Marquinhos was an 18-year-old starter thanks to Zeman; today he’s captain of Paris Saint-Germain. Benatia was a leader, he scored goals, he had charisma. Yes, luck was on my side there. But football without luck can’t be played. Without luck you play—but you lose.
Is Malen’s impact in Serie A tied to a lower competitive level compared to the Premier League?
Absolutely not. Malen is performing like this because he’s top class. A Dutch international, clinical in front of goal, determined, fearless. In the Premier League attackers are often favored because there are major defensive mistakes. But he’s strong in his own right. He’s a bold player, and that’s a blessing for Roma.
In Italy do we talk too much about managers and not enough about players?
Absolutely yes. Football is a narrative. Every match is a story. We mustn’t mythologize figures. If a manager slams his jacket on the bench, it changes nothing: a player doesn’t control the ball better because of that. The protagonists are the players. Managers are important, but they don’t win with gestures. Sometimes certain theatrics are done to be talked about, not to help the team.
Are there top-level coaches who are outdated?
No. Today’s coaches are scholars. They arrive at the training ground at 7 a.m., they study everything: opponents, countermeasures, individual improvement. They have match analysts, scientific data. The coach who shows up ten minutes before kickoff and improvises no longer exists. Football has evolved toward indispensable global analysis.
So you don’t agree with those who accuse Mourinho, Allegri or Conte of not being up to date with modern football metrics…
It’s not credible… People believe it’s true, but it’s not.
Ultimately, what is football for Walter Sabatini?
Football is a simple game, and that’s why it’s successful. It’s built on 17 rules that everyone knows. If you roll a ball near a child who has just learned to walk, he kicks it. No one tells him to. It’s instinct. The ball shines as an instrument of joy. Football must entertain and bring happiness. We have a moral obligation: to give joy to people. It’s difficult today, with wars and worries, but in the stadium there must be joy. If the team plays well and wins, people rejoice. If it’s a damp rag, they don’t.
Will we see you back in an executive role soon?
I hope so—for football’s sake, as well as mine. I have the presumption to think that football still needs me. So maybe it’s time for someone out there to wake up…
L’articolo Walter Sabatini – exclusive : “Italy will go to America with its head held high. With VAR, my Roma would have won two Scudetti…” (VIDEO) proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
