🎙️ INTERVIEW | Fazzini on “Il Cagliari in Diretta”

Rossoblù midfielder Jacopo Fazzini was a guest on “Il Cagliari in Diretta”, the programme broadcast on Radiolina and Videolina. Here is an excerpt from his interview.

PASSION FOR MIDFIELD
“In football, I don’t have a particular idol, but when I was younger I loved watching Barcelona, who had Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets in midfield. Kaká was another player who made me fall in love with this sport. Why do I like playing in midfield? It has always felt natural to me. I remember that, when I was a kid, some wanted to play up front, others wanted to be in goal, while I always felt comfortable in the middle of the pitch. I’ve played in pretty much every midfield position: I like being at the heart of the game and getting a lot of touches. I put myself at the service of the team and the Coach.”

THE NUMBER 10
“This year I chose the number 10 shirt, which is a responsibility. I was coming off a somewhat difficult season at Fiorentina, an experience that, nevertheless, taught me a lot. I want to prove myself and make up for lost ground. There are expectations on me. Since the opportunity was there, I decided to take this important number, which I really like.”

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COACH
“I really get along well with the Coach. He’s helping me a lot: after games, we go over my mistakes together, what went well and the areas I need to improve. Defending is definitely one of the things I’m working on and, thanks to the Coach as well, I’ll be able to improve. We immediately developed a special bond; he knows how to get the best out of me. He understood me straight away. I think it’s difficult to find a coach who is so well prepared and, at the same time, has such strong values. We work hard with him on the pitch, while off the pitch the Coach brings everyone together and is great company. Today, after training at the training centre, he treated us to a barbecue.”

THE STRENGTH OF THE GROUP
“This group is made up of some truly fantastic guys. As soon as I arrived, they welcomed me in the best possible way. I settled in straight away. It’s a united, healthy group, and I think this is one of the key factors behind our good start to the season. This team has also shown that it knows how to suffer, but we have played every opponent without fear: we deserve the points we have in the table today. We’ve done well, but these are only the opening rounds. Now another chapter of the season begins, and we’ll be ready.”

THE NATIONAL TEAM
“I’m supporting Romano and Maldini. Playing for Italy is a goal for me and it motivates me, but I don’t want it to become an obsession. I’ve gone through all the youth national teams up to the U21s. I’m missing that final step. Representing your country is an emotion that is difficult to put into words.”

A DEGREE IN SPORTS SCIENCE
“When I was younger, I was torn between football and tennis: on my dad’s side of the family, they were all tennis players. After I turned 12, my passion for football took over, as it’s a team sport. In the summer, though, I still play the occasional game of tennis. Favourite tennis player? Obviously Federer. My passion for sport led me to get a degree in Sports Science. I graduated last year with a three-year degree. Who knows, maybe I’ll continue my studies further down the line.”

A SPECIAL DEDICATION
“I’m missing a goal; it’s one of those things that gives you confidence. But even in this case, I don’t see it as an obsession. My next goal? It will be for my sister—not just the next one, but the ones after that too. My sister has a very special place in my life; she has a rare disease. She is my strength, and everything I do is for her. Thanks to her, I’ve understood that the real problems in life are something else entirely—not making a mistake with an assist or a dribble.”