By Parkboy
August 13 2005

Trapattoni Press Conference: Talking tactics, Barcelona, Soldo and VfB Stuttgart. “Why should fielding three, four or five attacking players make a difference? Real Madrid always plays with five attacking players, but why do Barcelona always win?” Giovanni Trapattoni the 66 year old former Italian national coach has signed a two year deal with Stuttgart and this will be his second German club after two spells with Bayern Munich, the second of which led to the Bundesliga title.

‘Trap’ stepped down as Benfica coach after winning their first Portuguese championship for them in 11 years. So to say great things are expected in the Southern German city is something of an understatement. After all he has won 14 trophies as a manager and reports say the glint is still in those eyes. He has coached at both Milan clubs and Juventus along with a string of other top jobs.

He has talked in the past about the hard upbringing and the harsh life of his parents, “My parents had a tough life and probably not much to smile about”. He makes a point of making smiling a first step in his interaction with his players and the people around him. He told the press conference that his new players at Stuttgart “Must show more mentality”. It is well know that the trap puts great store by the spirit and attitude of players, even sometimes to the detriment of picking the most gifted. This is one of the criticisms still levelled at him from his time as the national coach.

“We must show more mentality whether we are in possession or not…they (the players) are not allowed to be scared, we must always believe in a positive results”.
Trapattoni was making sure at this his first big press conference to the assembled German media that it is his job to install a winning mentality and that this was his primary task. Over the years his knowledge of systems and tactics and positioning can hardly be doubted, but what he always comes back to is attitude and a positive winning mentality. There is no more fearful/inspiring sight for a player than seeing ‘the trap’ bellowing and waving with his sleeves rolled up. Hopping and skipping around the touchline as if were made of hot coals.

Looking to put the 1-1 Duisberg result behind him, the Italian coach talked about his desires for the future and what this would involve, “They still have to learn what the club and what I expect from them. Therefore we need patience, but I also know patience is limited in football”. Having to field some questions about the side lacking creativity, he made the poignant comments regarding the different set ups at Barcelona and Real Madrid.

One of the players substituted against Duisberg was his captain Soldo, a trademark talking point decision, especially considering Stuttgart were down to ten men and it was the first game of the season. His response, “Zvoni is like a father to the players and at times you have to see how things work out without him around”. Classic Trapattoni - never shirking difficult decisions. Interesting times ahead. Koln and the most interesting player in Germany at the moment: Podolski - await.