I make no apologies for being sentimental about football. Not one. I grew up in a different era and we all had fav players and cottoned onto them for life. I had the likes of Agboola, Marco, Armstrong and Vennison for the lads. Platini, Maradona etc for others. Van Basten and Gullit for the Milan team. I latched on to each and got emotionally attached. So many others I could go on for ever.
With Dan Neil I have done the same. I have down the years with players. I could talk about Gazza forever. Rigg is the next. That makes me bias, absolutely. But for me it is why the game is so beutiful. I love football players. They give me so much pleasure. They are like artists or musicians. They give me such joy. I only ever coached because I wanted to see talent given a fair crack. And I mean talent not anything else.
I naturally want to see these players play. It is a love affair for me. If they arent right for my club I cant love them less. Italy is the romantic home of football, along with Brazil. If I can watch Dan play anywhere other than us it will be there. Every game I can.