Torino winger Valentino Lazaro believes new coach Paolo Vanoli can help the Granata return to European football. The Austrian international was speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport about the teams pre-season preparation, his own struggles off the pitch and his hopes for the upcoming campaign;
When a new coach arrives, do you players go to look at his past as a footballer?
“Yes, of course. But behavior as a player is different from that as a coach. There’s always a difference between the two careers, it may be that on the field one did things that he doesn’t do on the bench.”
Vanoli was a wide defender like you. Does this fact affect your relationship?
“Yes, he always talks a lot with us wing-backs, left or right. His vision of the role is significant. It’s important for me because I can learn a lot from him, in many details. I already knew Vanoli from Inter, he was in Conte’s staff, he brought his way of working here too. And for my position it’s a great help.”
Vanoli used to score. Even a goal in the ’99 UEFA Cup final, with Parma. Is that why you also started scoring immediately in friendlies?
“Yeah (laughs). From the first day in Turin, the coach clearly said he wants to see more goals from the wing-backs. He says he had seen last year’s matches and expected more from us. With his style of play we are more dangerous in the goal area, he asks me to enter more into the field, I can provide assists and score. I’m happy that it worked in Metz.”
Another characteristic of your role is the proximity to the bench for one half: how do you experience it?
“I’m used to it. Especially in Italy, coaches are very fiery: I’ve had Conte, Juric, now Vanoli, in Portugal Juan Jesus. Types who talk a lot. I try to take the positive side, criticisms are never personal, but serve to help the team. It’s fine with me, it’s not a stress.”
Do you think you’ve finally planted your roots?
“Yes, I love Italy and Turin. I didn’t have easy periods after Inter, I played for good clubs, but it was always a loan. You can never really feel at home, well received. This is my third year at Torino, I’m very comfortable here and I think that with this technical staff, with their seriousness, we can really take a step forward. Because I want to return to Europe.”
How can this decisive step be taken?
“In my opinion, we had the qualities even in the past season, but the final addition of mentality was missing. The new coach can bring it. Everyone knows what it means to play for Torino, there’s a giant opportunity for everyone to improve, to show attractive, successful football: it’s our goal and we have the possibilities.”
How did you come out of your dark period to find your current serenity?
“It wasn’t easy: I had a rapid career, at 16 I was already a professional in Salzburg, then the Bundesliga, then Inter and then the slowdown: I wasn’t playing and the loans started. It was hard, I got help from a mental coach, I never gave up and never stopped believing in my qualities. I waited for my chance, I found a team like Torino where I can play for a long time. It worked and I’m very grateful to the club, I want to give everything back on the field, for the club and the fans.”
But do you prefer to play on the right or left?
“I’ve played everywhere: right, left, front or back. I follow the coach. On the right it’s a bit easier to cross immediately, on the left I have to cut inside. But I can do everything. If I were a coach I might put myself on the right, but it’s also good to change.”
The feelings on Vanoli’s new ideas ?
“We’ve taken steps forward in France, after the work in retreat. Vanoli asks us a lot, he has passion. We need this if we want to improve.”
In the training retreat, you also tried free kicks. Are you a candidate to be one of the takers?
“Yes, I’ve always scored from free kicks, but we have many who take them well, Ilic, Ricci or Linetty. Set pieces are useful: they decide difficult matches.”
