Paulo Dybala (140 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dostoevsky
- Start date
Gazetta dello Sport interview
Targeting the Champions League
I would gladly sacrifice the Scudetto for the Champions League. In fact, that was my position last season too. Now the expectations have really grown, but the mentality remains the same: win everything.
Juve strongest team in this year?
In my opinion, it also was the case last year. I don’t think there was a stronger squad than Juve last season. It’s true Real Madrid won, but they did not prove themselves to be stronger than us.
If we had qualified, I believe we would have won the CL. There wasn't a team that was stronger than ours.
It gave us more strength and belief. The team went to win in Madrid with incredible determination and grit. My teammates told me that the Real players were really struggling, they would look at each other with confusion because they were in a situation they weren't used to.
Ronaldo
I think it was that game that pushed Ronaldo towards Juventus. That’s when he realised our strength and made his choice. He is very intelligent and sees things before others.
The thing that amazed us about Ronaldo is how normal he is. If you see him on social media and TV, you get a different idea of what he’s like, but really he’s the same as all of us.
He trains well, is 100 per cent concentrated in every training session, but jokes around like everyone else. He makes fun of Joao Cancelo and says his Italian is already better. Also, we made Cristiano start drinking mate with the rest of us South Americans.
Best in the world
Messi and Cristiano are beyond the norm. My objective is to be first among the humans. Of the other humans, I like Isco, because he never loses the ball, but Neymar and Mbappé are also excellent players.
Varane should win the Ballon d’Or for the trophies that he won but I think Modric will win it.
When I was a child, sitting in front of the campfire, I wished that I could win the Ballon d’Or. If you want to improve, you have to set high targets.
From Zidane I would take his elegance, like Federer, his class made it seem effortless. From Baggio his finishing, I still remember his goal that was assisted by Pirlo, for Brescia vs. Juve. And from Del Piero, his entire right foot.
4th Juventus player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League
I honestly wasn't aware of it and only realized that after the match had ended. For me it's an immense joy to be part of Juve's history.
The volley against Young Boys
In some situations, you only have an instant to think. When I saw the defender was going to miss the ball, I chose to go with the inside of the boot, because you have more control, otherwise it could go anywhere.
I also saw there was no time to take a touch, as the goalkeeper could’ve run out, so I tried to resolve it quickly.
Free-kicks
Last year, Mire and I had a pact: if it was towards the left side, he would take it, whereas on the right it would be me. When Ronaldo arrived, I texted Pjanic: 'Sorry Mire, but I think you won’t be taking many free kicks this year'.
All joking aside, we know how it works: on the left there’s Cristiano, we just stand there to make a good photograph. On penalties it’s a clear hierarchy: first Ronaldo, then me, and then Pjanic.
Adapting and maturing
Scudetto race is not over, it's still early, Napoli will fight till the end. But we are aware that if we want the Scudetto, it will be ours
Allegri gives me the freedom to move. Depending on who my teammates are at the time, he asks me to stay more open, tighter or to connect the team together.
I exchange ideas with Allegri, so based on the characteristics of the opposition, we figure out where we can find more spaces. In general, the difficulties of last season and the injury problems helped me to mature.
I learned so much at Juventus, for example how to talk to players before a game. Gigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, Dani Alves and many others were great teachers, but then you need the character to make yourself heard. Right now, I just have to continue learning. Buffon was a good confidante, now there’s Chiello.
#10 & Being a senior player at Juve
It's an honor. When Barzagli gave me the armband the first thought that came to mind was 'I'm now one of the senatori'. Thanks to my teammates, I've grown & learned a lot. I now understand why & what to say to others before a match.
It is a great responsibility wearing the Number 10 jersey, because you set the example for children & the entire world focuses even more on you. When the club proposed it to me, it wasn't a decision that I took in 10 mins. I reflected very well, I knew what I was going into, that at the second bad game I’d be criticised. I wouldn’t change anything.
Targeting the Champions League
I would gladly sacrifice the Scudetto for the Champions League. In fact, that was my position last season too. Now the expectations have really grown, but the mentality remains the same: win everything.
Juve strongest team in this year?
In my opinion, it also was the case last year. I don’t think there was a stronger squad than Juve last season. It’s true Real Madrid won, but they did not prove themselves to be stronger than us.
If we had qualified, I believe we would have won the CL. There wasn't a team that was stronger than ours.
It gave us more strength and belief. The team went to win in Madrid with incredible determination and grit. My teammates told me that the Real players were really struggling, they would look at each other with confusion because they were in a situation they weren't used to.
Ronaldo
I think it was that game that pushed Ronaldo towards Juventus. That’s when he realised our strength and made his choice. He is very intelligent and sees things before others.
The thing that amazed us about Ronaldo is how normal he is. If you see him on social media and TV, you get a different idea of what he’s like, but really he’s the same as all of us.
He trains well, is 100 per cent concentrated in every training session, but jokes around like everyone else. He makes fun of Joao Cancelo and says his Italian is already better. Also, we made Cristiano start drinking mate with the rest of us South Americans.
Best in the world
Messi and Cristiano are beyond the norm. My objective is to be first among the humans. Of the other humans, I like Isco, because he never loses the ball, but Neymar and Mbappé are also excellent players.
Varane should win the Ballon d’Or for the trophies that he won but I think Modric will win it.
When I was a child, sitting in front of the campfire, I wished that I could win the Ballon d’Or. If you want to improve, you have to set high targets.
From Zidane I would take his elegance, like Federer, his class made it seem effortless. From Baggio his finishing, I still remember his goal that was assisted by Pirlo, for Brescia vs. Juve. And from Del Piero, his entire right foot.
4th Juventus player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League
I honestly wasn't aware of it and only realized that after the match had ended. For me it's an immense joy to be part of Juve's history.
The volley against Young Boys
In some situations, you only have an instant to think. When I saw the defender was going to miss the ball, I chose to go with the inside of the boot, because you have more control, otherwise it could go anywhere.
I also saw there was no time to take a touch, as the goalkeeper could’ve run out, so I tried to resolve it quickly.
Free-kicks
Last year, Mire and I had a pact: if it was towards the left side, he would take it, whereas on the right it would be me. When Ronaldo arrived, I texted Pjanic: 'Sorry Mire, but I think you won’t be taking many free kicks this year'.
All joking aside, we know how it works: on the left there’s Cristiano, we just stand there to make a good photograph. On penalties it’s a clear hierarchy: first Ronaldo, then me, and then Pjanic.
Adapting and maturing
Scudetto race is not over, it's still early, Napoli will fight till the end. But we are aware that if we want the Scudetto, it will be ours
Allegri gives me the freedom to move. Depending on who my teammates are at the time, he asks me to stay more open, tighter or to connect the team together.
I exchange ideas with Allegri, so based on the characteristics of the opposition, we figure out where we can find more spaces. In general, the difficulties of last season and the injury problems helped me to mature.
I learned so much at Juventus, for example how to talk to players before a game. Gigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, Dani Alves and many others were great teachers, but then you need the character to make yourself heard. Right now, I just have to continue learning. Buffon was a good confidante, now there’s Chiello.
#10 & Being a senior player at Juve
It's an honor. When Barzagli gave me the armband the first thought that came to mind was 'I'm now one of the senatori'. Thanks to my teammates, I've grown & learned a lot. I now understand why & what to say to others before a match.
It is a great responsibility wearing the Number 10 jersey, because you set the example for children & the entire world focuses even more on you. When the club proposed it to me, it wasn't a decision that I took in 10 mins. I reflected very well, I knew what I was going into, that at the second bad game I’d be criticised. I wouldn’t change anything.
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