Vieira: It s my fault to part with Mourinho. I have conflicts with Ibrahimovic in training but still friends

Genoa coach Vieira was interviewed recently and talked about a series of topics such as his past with Mourinho at Inter Milan, his relationship with Ibrahimovic, his coaching philosophy and family.

Before defeating Empoli in the Italian Cup, the team had just lost to Bologna in the league to advance. I saw a team that always seeks cooperation and hopes to continue to put pressure. It's an important event: A club that wants to grow must have ambitions and be committed to going as far as possible in the Cup. Is the goal of the

league to relegate?

There is nothing to be ashamed of. When I first came last season, relegation seemed like an impossible task. The players are very clear that this will be a tough year and their attitude is very positive now. Therefore, regarding relegation as a goal does not mean that we have no ambitions.

Of course, we must not forget young people. Is there really a lack of genius in today's football world?

Geniuses also need to grow under the team's system. I think of our young players Calbonni, Venturino, Echarto and Fini: they must understand that being talent alone is far from enough. But they need time and space to make mistakes. We are willing to accept that they make mistakes, even if they will cost us points. If we go to buy a player who overlaps with Venturino's position tomorrow, it will undoubtedly send him a negative signal.

Judging from the relationship with the players, what kind of coach is Vieira?

Frank and honest. My players know that they can come to my office to communicate at any time. I will also tell them some unpleasant advice frankly.

You must have learned a lot from the great coaches you have worked with: Wenger, Capello, Mancini, Mourinho.

Their trait is to be yourself, and I don't need to imitate: Wenger is more diplomatic, while Mourinho and Mancini are less sleek.

You ended up with Mourinho at Inter Milan.

I left in January, just a few months before the team won the triple. But that was my fault, not his.

You wanted to get more playing time at the time.

He always tells me everything frankly. Our relationship was tense at one time, but we were open to each other. When we met again, we greeted him warmly. Now that I have become a coach myself, I can better understand his perspective and position at that time.

You didn't want to be a coach at first, is that true?

Yes, I just wanted to travel the world with my family.

What happened later?

I stayed in Manchester City for two years, and the young people there respected me and listened to my opinions. I realized that coaching may be the way I should go.

Although this means staying away from family.

My 5-year-old twins are about to graduate from kindergarten, and their eldest daughter is almost 14 years old: they both live in Strasbourg, France.

Do you miss them?

At this age, you always want to witness their growth with your own eyes. Every time I reunited with them for a while, I felt like I missed some of the clips of their lives.

Ibrahimovic once said: "Vieira is the teammate I have learned the most."

Both of us are full of competition in our hearts, even in training. The same goes for our other teammates: Juventus’s Buffon, Cannavaro and Toulam, and Inter Milan’s Cambiaso, Sanetti and Stankovic.

There have also been many conflicts between you and Ibrahimovic.

This is part of football, but we are very good friends in private. In the world of football, things on the court are left on the court, and nothing can be targeted at individuals. In order to improve the team's level, we must strictly demand our teammates.

You participated in the 2006 World Cup final, Zidane's Matrazi's game.

Sometimes people get hot. I feel sorry for Zidane and for France: if he were still on the court, we could have won the game. If I could choose to play a game again, that would be that one. However, the Italian team's performance in the 2000 European Cup final is worthy of victory.

Which coach do you want to work with the most?

Klopp.

Have they looked for you before Inter Milan chose Zivo?

I read and heard a lot of rumors, but no news came directly to me. And I just wanted to work in Genoa, and for the fans here: they were so great.

Is Ferraris Stadium really that special? The enthusiasm of the

Genoa fans is incredible, and the atmosphere created there reminds me of England.

Julio Velasco (famous volleyball coach) once said: "The coach must kill the player in his heart."

I completely agree. This is the hardest thing to do. I don't like talking about my past, I have to be convincing as a coach. I've locked that Vieira as a player into the cabinet and threw the key away.