An Interview With Andrea Dossena Andrea Dossena has had a mixed start to his Liverpool career, showing promising signs when going forward but equally worrying ones when he has to defend. Back in Italy, however, there are few doubts about the player who became Liverpool’s most expensive defender when he joined from Udinese last July. A regular in Marcello Lippi’s new look national team, so highly rated is Dossena that questions have been asked about why a player of his ability had to go abroad to further his career. That matter was at the core of a recent interview by Christian Giordano for the weekly magazine Guerin Sportivo, which I have translated here: Andrea, how does it feel? It is all different, both on and off the pitch. Starting from the stadia that are more beautiful and advanced. The way the game is played is also different. I watched Inter against Roma on television: they played with the ball on the ground. Here the game is much more physical, you run more and there is less time to think. Afraid of not making it? I wouldn’t say that I don’t feel up to it, but it takes time to get used to it. In Glasgow against Rangers I understood that here you can get away with everything with the referees: they only blow for tackles with two feet or worse. And training is completely different. There’s neither the running nor the repetition that I was used to. It is only an hour with the ball, but it is very intense. I can’t understand how they do it: compared to us they do half the work but run twice as much. It is a question of mentality, how they approach the game. If we Italians ran as much as they did, we’d be world champions every time. Difficulties outside football? The normal adaptation problems. Everything is new both in football and in life. Together with my wife (whom he married just before leaving for England) we have bought a house in the centre. I understand English and can make myself understood. Two or three times a week we take lessons before going for training. I already knew something and I get better every day. With Benitez you talk in Italian? No, English. Just as he does with the rest. He talks four languages but shouts in neither one. He occasionally gives me some pointers in Italian. Perhaps on how to handle pressure? This year you have to win the Premier League. We are Liverpool. Pressure is normal. It was there in the preliminary round of the Champions League and it is there in the league that they’ve been waiting for since 1990. But it is pressure that you don’t mind. The important thing is being healthy. Football is secondary. What do you miss the most? The simple things that then become the vital things. The way of life, going out to eat. Little habits that you need. You only realize how much they mater when you lose them. I’ve signed for four years, I hope that my wife manages to settle. Are you managing in the team? Everyone is willing to help, starting from Gerrard. The supporters appreciate those who do their utmost so I haven’t had any problems. I don’t forget how I got here. In football it is easy to go up yet even easier to go down. Compared with Udine I’ve changed my position: with Marino I played higher up the pitch and we often played with three in the centre of defence. Benitez wants me to play in the more traditional left-back role in a four man defence. Given also the lack of decent left backs, how come an Italian international had to leave Italy? I didn’t chose to leave. The big teams had other plans whilst Benitez called and asked me: “Andrea, are you ready?†We settled everything within a week. From Lodi to Anfield, your story seems like a fairy tale. With a happy ending?I started at Fanfulla and moved to Verona when I was fourteen. If I’ve arrived so far it is thanks to the hard work and sacrifice. We’re doing will but I want to live day by day. http://aliverpoolthing.blogspot.com/...a-dossena.html
am sensing alot of negativity in that interview,he seems to be struggling alot to make the transition,which probably reflect his performances.
I'm not sure its negative, but you can sense perhaps he understands he hasnt had the the best of starts, and realises that the style of football, life and training is really different than back in Italy, or at least wants us to know that is why hes taking some time to adjust. Interesting if he tries any two footed challenges this season!
A settling period is understandable, what isn't is the amount of balls he ballons over the bar when attempting a cross he needs to improve his service in the box big time
His new name is metaljocks cos he's so slow!!! He has started so bad, he needs to get it together asap or we've wasted 7mill.
Before he signed I asked an Italian mate about him and he said he would be a squad player and not a first 11 man . This interview can be taken in many ways mostly due to his lack of English Id guess . So far he hasnt been great but I think calling him rubbish is OTT.
that italian mate didnt see him make seria a team of the season lasy year. Part of the problem is that players are now judged less than ten league games into the season
hes italian hes a defender he s got just get the pace of the prem and fit into the way we play between himself and arailio? i think we have a good ballance.
Its not a case of him being judged too early, he really has been shocking. If he plays out of his skin for the rest of the season Ill be the first to hold my hands up and say I was wrong but he needs to get it together sooner rather than later.
Dont fancy either of our options at left full..jury still out for me on Dossena but think he needs time to adjust as he seems to say himself, a good read all the same.
He's in a new counrty, a new team, a new style of play, it's bound to take time to settle, we might even have to wait unil next season to see the best of Andrea Dossena we just have to be patient and give the lad a chance
FAO Judas Souness...... this quote from you was at 9.04 pm yesterday, And 32mins earlier , at 8.22pm yesterday you said in the "Finnan interview" thread "Dossena has impressed, he is better with the ball on the ground than Riise." Are you Andy Goram?
Give him a chance.Evra was shocking when he first arrived and now hes fantastic.we didnt see the best of agger until his second season too.so just give the guy a few months to get used to a new country and footballing environment before we give him a bollocking.would love to see insua get a run at some stage though!
Dossena I said last night on another thread that I reckon we sell him to a mid table Italian team next year for 2mil. I cant think off many Italians who done well in any forgein league (maybe just Zola). Think Rafa was a bit rash buying him - stinks of desperation IMO.
Watchin a lot of the reserves on lfctv and Insua looks promising and a better natural defender than both Fab and Dossena but I dont see Rafa goin down this route yet and bringing him in, too early for the lad. I was always a big fan of Warnock and he's done very well at Blackburn, i'd have him back in the new yr.
Apparently there is another interview or version of that where he is talking about the money aspect and the credit crunch, and it has not gone down well at all with the fans.