An Italian international on 38 occasions, Alberto Aquilani is now working to find a place as a coach in Italian football. The former midfielder, who played for AS Roma, Liverpool, Juventus and AC Milan, worked in particular with Massimiliano Allegri, Rafael Benitez, and Luciano Spalletti. But it is Roberto De Zerbi, whom he has followed since his time at Foggia, who inspires him the most.
“He’s a coach who thinks differentlyhe explained to Provence. I find myself very much in his ideas which he defends with tenacity. He's a coach who stimulates you and for me, he's a source of inspiration. Since the start of his career, he has evolved a lot. Foggia was a team, Sassuolo was different, like Shakhtar, Brighton or OM. He adapts to the squad he has, he wants his team to offer something, with players who know what to do. He knows that football is played on details, so he is manic. He likes to have control of the game, possession, to dominate the match. Many coaches reason like this, but he is very consistent: whether things go well or badly, he moves forward and plots his path. I like it all a lot. »
“He is also an innovator”
Aquilani also appreciates his ability to adapt. De Zerbi knew how to do it in Ligue 1: “He has structured his team with the desire to have the ball but he is not stupid: he has fast players who can unlock matches, so he takes advantage of it. » The former midfielder believes that the most important point of the RDZ method is linked to its ability to get into the players' heads: “For me, this is Roberto's most important characteristic. (…) Transmitting his idea to the players, making them believe that this is the right way to win and putting it to music on the pitch (…), that’s where he is very strong. But he is also an innovator. »
Like Filippo Galli, Alberto Aquilani judges “obviously it divides” among transalpine technicians: “There are those who like the football he offers, and there are those, many, who advocate football from another time, more conservative, defensive. » This is also the case in France, even if there is no question of comparing the tactic of the bus to that of the Italian catenaccio…
