The sun is going through the windows to a picturesque training ground in Genoa. Patrick Vieira has just left the training field and enters the room with a big smile.
He has been here since November, but in less than six months, he took the club on the board relegation to the security of the table mid-table, while sailing on the direction during a takeover.
Genoa is the oldest football club in Italy, with a passionate fans base. Although Viei will admit that it was a big decision for him to take the post, he submitted the challenge.
“It was a big task,” he said Sky Sports News. “”And, of course, I made the time to make a decision, but I firmly believed that I had capacity and quality so that this football club remains in Serie A.
“I was impressed by their ambition to be relevant on the international scene, on and off the field. Serie A turned out to be a very competitive league attracting many Premier League players, like Scott Mctuminay, Kyle Walker, Tammy Abraham, to name just a few. That is why to join Genoa was a fascinating challenge.”
At 48, Vieira has already worked in clubs in four different countries – New York in the United States, Nice and Strasbourg in France, Crystal Palace in England and now Italian Genoa. He admits that everyone was a huge learning curve.
“I think that in every club I have gone, I had a huge reflection on myself as a coach, as a manager. And, today, I am a different coach, a different manager because these experiences make me think about what to do to improve, to challenge me and be better.”
Vieira is also quick to draw a clear line between his sparkling player career and his trainer, and hopes that he will still have the first stadiums in this chapter in his football life.
“When I decided to go on this trip, it was important for me to understand how long I wanted to be in work,” he said.
“And when I decided to coach myself, I was clear in my mind that I wanted to do it for a long time. But, to do this, you need to strengthen credibility, you need to create experience.
“HAS [Manchester] City, I was in the right time at the right time, and they gave me the opportunity to grow, understand the work and start with the U21, the development group, then have this kind of professional experience in New York.
“It really helped me build on the coaches on football that I want to play, the coach I want to be, and I take steps forward with all these experiences that I had so far.”
The Frenchman has played most of his career under Arsene Wenger, but also worked with Fabio Capello, Roberto Mancini and Jose Mourinho. All have made their mark on him, but he admits that he is really his own man.
Johan Vasquez obtained Genoa a 2-2 draw with the leaders of the Napoli League last weekend
“I want to be different from them,” he said. “Of course, these experiences that I had with them will help me be even a better coach.
“But I have my ideas, I have my personality and I want to be myself. I want to feel comfortable on the side of the field. I want to express myself with my strength and my ideas. And, of course, I want to be me.”
VEIRA adds: “I think that the modern coach must be innovative, must learn from himself about what he can improve, how do you want to play games, the tactical elements you want to use to improve players individually but also collectively.
“I had the chance to train in France, to train in England and today to be in Italy. So, to learn different cultures, the different languages, different types and football profiles. So these experiences will help me be even better.”
It has been more than two years since Vieira succeeded for the last time in the Premier League. He was dismissed by Crystal Palace after failing to rely on his first season in Selhurst Park when he guided them towards a 12th place in the league and a semi-final of the FA Cup.
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Director of Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner, confirmed that Adam Wharton had a chance of 90 pers
However, Vieira supports her former club to a surprise in the FA Cup final of this weekend against Manchester City. “They can do it,” he insists.
“I think that when you look at Crystal Palace, the manager, the organization, the way they play, I think it’s a team that can beat any team in the Premier League.
“They have the support that will be behind the team, they have the quality and they have what it takes to win the competition.
“Even if everyone expects Manchester City to win, I think it’s the favorites, but Palace can get something to win the cup.”
