Wolverhampton’s new manager Walter Zenga has given an interview to Extra Time, one of Gazzetta dello Sport’s supplements.
The Italian boss talked about the season ahead, his adaptation to England, and tough Championship opponents.
When asked about how is he doing with the language, Zenga said: “My English is from the road. From the grammatical point of view, it’s not perfect because I have not learned at school, but in everyday life. I began to chew it while in the United States and then, traveling the world, I expanded the vocabulary.
“The players understand me and that’s the most important thing. The press conferences are different. You have to use a better English and among the emotions of the situation and searching for the right word it’s more likely to make a mistake, but I think it’s normal.”
On the Championship, Zenga considers it very difficult, like any other coach from abroad: “It’s tough. Forty-six matches, played on Saturday and Sunday. When there isn’t the league, we have the League Cup and FA Cup. 50, 55 official matches is the usual. The intensity and speed are higher than in other leagues. You train very hard. There is also greater fairness: who goes to ground here has really taken a hit.”
The Italian says he’s already making the team adapt to his style of play: “I’m trying to impose concepts like the ball on the ground and the daily commitment to try and improve. Everyday is a challenge. Everyday something important can be done. Looking to the future is certainly wise, but I think it’s the day-to-day that improves a player.”
Asked about Wolves’ facilities, Zenga shows he’s a man who works on the pitch: “We have eight training fields, plus one synthetic and one indoor. We also have the two gyms, but I confess I believe little in this kind of work. The players have to work on the field. You have to be careful with weights.”
On the goals for the season: “I can’t hide it: promotion. This is a club that made the history of English football in the fifties and was important at the international level. The last decades have not been easy, but with the new owners we want to get back to the top.
“We know it will not be easy because you have to deal with Benitez’s Newcastle and Di Matteo’s Aston Villa. And then there are Derby County, Norwich, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and looks like a Premier League Two. For this reason you have to stick to the front group and be ready to do the sprint in March and April.”
