Former Juve man Miralem Pjanic is happy to see youngsters Fabio Miretti and Nicolo Fagioli getting playing time but warns that midfielders need to know how to be daring. Pjanic spoke with TuttoSport about the changing role of the midfielder and how Juve have struggled to find a regista to replace him and Andrea Pirlo before:
Pirlo, then Pjanic… Since you left, Juventus have struggled to find a regista. Now Allegri is focusing on a ‘reinvented’ Locatelli, although there’s Paredes who is making up space. Does he have any advice to give?
“I also grew up listening to what the coach asked me about that position. Before me there was Pirlo, I found the peak of my career in that position there: we won the Scudettos, we went to the Champions League final. I think the players in the direction must take their responsibility, know that they are in a very important role for the team: they have to invent, manoeuvre, even make mistakes, but they have to make certain decisions on the field to create superiority.
They have to be daring, ask for the ball, distribute it, play forward, find the outlet. Allegri says precisely what is needed, it will be up to them to listen to him. I remember that he did a specific job with me: he gave me indications, he showed me videos with the staff, he spoke to me in training. Also because as a player in front of the defence I also had to help my teammates to cut the passing lines, to recover balls… Allegri made the most of my qualities. Now he can do the same job with whoever is there: midfielders have talent and potential, but the difference between a champion and a ‘normal’ player also lies in the desire and determination you put into it.
On the other hand, let’s not forget the youngsters: today there is Fagioli, I always liked him even when I was there and he was in the youth academy. I am happy that he has more space. I haven’t met Miretti but I like him because when he has the ball he always has his head up and looks forward, he plays forward, he doesn’t make trivial passes’.
Will we be able to see you again in Italy?
‘Yes! I will be back, I love Italy. I’m very fond of it. I’ll be back at the Stadium soon. The January market? I don’t know: for now no one has called me.
Of course, life has been a great challenge overcome. Now you lives in Dubai, practically in a dream country. And to think that it all started in Bosnia, with the war, then the flight, the sacrifices…
‘I know how hard I worked to get to certain levels: I put a lot of passion into it. Today I am on another continent, but I am still doing what I like: I love football, I follow it. Even when I stop I will stay in this world. All this has been a dream. I played in the biggest European teams: in France, in Italy, in France, in Turkey. They were very pleasant experiences knowing the path I took: from Bosnia, escaping the war, going to Luxembourg. I started from a small country with not even half a million inhabitants and ended up playing for Lyon, Roma, Juventus, Barcelona, Besiktas. It was a great revenge for me and my family. Today I stay here and try to pass on certain values to my son as well’.
