Swansea City manager Francesco Guidolin is enjoying his Premier League experience. “Here there’s still room for fairy tales, but the climate…”
The former Udinese Coach had retired from management due to stress two years ago, but returned to the bench in Wales and has just signed a new contract.
“There is something different in British football, a strong call, and I am happy to have answered it,” Guidolin told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Swansea City manager Francesco Guidolin is enjoying his Premier League experience. “Here there’s still room for fairy tales, but the climate…”
The former Udinese Coach had retired from management due to stress two years ago, but returned to the bench in Wales and has just signed a new contract.
“There is something different in British football, a strong call, and I am happy to have answered it,” Guidolin told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Many clubs had asked after me in Italy, and I thank them, but I am convinced I made the best choice both for my life and my career.
“Will Swansea have a Leicester City-like fairy tale? It already has its fairy tale, as until three or four years ago Swansea trained on horrible pitches and the players didn’t even have their own locker room. They got changed in a public gym.
“They earned promotion to the Premier League in these conditions, but now there is a fine training centre and the climb has been fantastic. Last season there was a slight setback, they felt the urge to change something and this is why I was called.
“We secured safety, which was not to be taken for granted. Getting back on track would be a good result. The idea is to reach 40 points and safety, then see if we can achieve something else.
“Here fairy tales are more plausible. In Italy Empoli can play well, but they’ll never win the League. In the Premier League it ca happen more frequently that you meet the big teams in a bad moment and they are beatable. I must say Leicester winning the League is an event that will remain extremely rare.
“Leicester winning the Premier League is like a second tier rider winning the Tour de France: impossible, and yet Claudio Ranieri did it,” added the cycling fanatic.
How did Guidolin go about changing Swansea mid-season?
“First of all I needed points and at the start you need patience. You can’t expect to arrive and suddenly impose different habits. If the players eat eggs, bacon and beans for breakfast and an hour later in training they zip around at pace, then that’s ok.
“I wouldn’t have said that 20 years ago, but you gain wisdom with age. At least I hope so. I am a little better at dealing with stress now and Wales deserves credit, as I immediately felt at ease. After four months the fans dedicated a chant to me, it generated such strong emotions to hear it.
“If I could, I’d change the climate in Wales. Compared to Swansea, London is like the Caribbean. You can’t go cycling because it’s too windy, but there are marvellous paths to walk and run along. That way I don’t miss my beloved bike.
“I am ready to move house, as there is a place outside the city called Mumbles and I really like it. I am ready to live where you meet sheep and cows behind the door.”
Alberto Paloschi is at Swansea City, so has Guidolin requested any other Italians?
“I gave some names to the President, but obviously I can’t tell you who I requested. A defender? No, no, you’re way off.”