Tag: Trapattoni

TRAP BACKS GOMEZ

Fiorentina recently managed to secure the signing of German international Mario Gomez for an undisclosed fee. The former Stuttgart striker has grown frustrated of life at the Allianz Arena after spending most of the last season on the bench at Bayern Munich. Hence, he was extremely concerned about the chances of him being in the German squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This has led to his move to the Italian club, who have been creating waves after the arrival of Vincenzo Montella.

He took over the club only last season and almost netted them a top three place at the end of the season. It has been several years since Fiorentina were last seen in the Champions league, but there is a real belief within the fans that the club can achieve something special after the arrival of Gomez. During his spell at Bayern Munich, he managed to score 113 goals in just 174 matches. At 27 years of age, he is at the peak of his career. Trapattoni, who saw enough of Gomez while managing Stuttgart, has said that he has all the ability to make Fiorentina a great club once again.

Gomez was in the Stuttgart second-team when Trapattoni was managing the first-team.

“He was in the second team of Stuttgart. A clever boy, twice a week for hours he and I were to see the technical and tactical aspects for improvement and I’m happy with his career. When [Uli] Hoeness and [Karl-Heinz] Rummenigge called me to ask an opinion I did not hesitate a moment in recommending him. Improvements? He’s physically gifted, and mobile despite its size. He had to improve with the left foot, which he did. Mario can perform what is the aspiration of Fiorentina,” said Trapattoni, whose team will next face Wales in a friendly match.

TRAP UNHAPPY WITH LONG

The Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has criticised the claims made by the striker Shane Long that his fitness is not up to the mark. Republic of Ireland were set to face Serbia in a friendly match on Wednesday. Shane Long was in the squad as one of the recognised members of the first team. However, he pulled out of training in the final few moments claiming that his calf has been giving a lot of problems in recent times. As a result, Giovanni Trapattoni had no other alternative but to include Simon Cox as his replacement prior to the match.

After the match, the Republic of Ireland manager criticised the claims made by the striker saying that he was not fit ahead of this match. Republic of Ireland could only manage a 1-1 draw and the manager was visibly frustrated that he was not able to use his first-team player in the match. Giovanni Trapattoni also confirmed that Shane Long would have started the match had not been for the fitness fiasco in the final few moments leading up to the preparation. As a result of not feeling his preferred starting line-up, Trapattoni was unable to get the desired result in this friendly match.

“He said ‘I have pain’ and now he says he is fit – that is idiotic. He is no baby. The doctor was worried, and they did a scan in hospital. For me, it is impossible to understand this. He could say, ‘I am ready’, before the game,” said Giovanni Trapattoni after the match. It is thought that the striker made this decision not to be part of the friendly match in order to be fit in time for the opening match of the Premier league season. The West Brom striker will be facing Liverpool on the opening day.

TRAPATTONI FACES TOUGH DECISIONS

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has said that he is facing a lot of tough decisions when it comes to choosing his squad for the Euro 2012. There are only a few weeks left before the start of the competition in June. Ireland are in the group containing heavyweights like Spain and Italy. Even though not many have given them a chance to progress into the next round, Giovanni Trapattoni believes that he will be able to get the best out of his players in order to qualify for the next round. One of the biggest indicators of his team for the Euro 2012 came in the form of a comment that appeared to suggest that the 73-year-old Italian will favour the players who were part of the qualifying rounds.

Ireland will first be heading out to Italy to take part in the pretournament camp. Trapattoni will be taking a 23 man squad for the pretournament camp. The Italian said that it is especially tough on the players who will miss out on the squad, but he has no other choice than to take the best 23. Trapattoni said that there were around 28 brilliant players for Ireland, but only 23 will be making that final squad. Sunderland winger James McLean is expected to be a shock inclusion in the squad after his impressive performances for his club.

“We have 27 or 28 players and it will be a great pity, a great pity, when we have to decide on the 23, to decide on this player or that player. We have time until a few days before the tournament starts and we can change if there is injury, and then maybe we could do with these extra players. I have two or three decisions to make,” said Trapattoni ahead of the conclusion of the club season.