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Trapattoni Struggles To Name First Irish Squad
New Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni announced his squad for the upcoming friendlies with Serbia and Columbia with great difficulty today in Dublin.
The veteran Italian coach, who is currently learning English, named his 28-man squad in a ’staccato’, but enthusiastic, manner at the press conference in FAI headquarters.
Although an interpreter was beside him throughout the press briefing, Trapattoni insisted on addressing the assembled journalists unaided, despite his tenuous grasp of the English language.
“Shy Givings (Shay Given) he iss, how you say… with injury? Yes. Robbie Ken (Robbie Keane) He is to go… for marriage. With beautiful wife! (laughs) That is very important, for him, for all young man.
“Rikard Don (Richard Dunne) iss have meetings.. with his clube, Manchester. So…they are to, uh, come later… to meet other player, after Portugal.”
The 69-year old continued to test the patience of the restless reporters as he tried to outline the positions of exiled players Stephen Ireland, Steve Finnan and Andy O’Brien:
“I speak to the players. I speak to their, uh, face-to-face. About how national team… need their football. Ah… need their football skill. I say ’stable door iss open… iss open for horses to come back’ – iss important. Yes?
The fate of Manchester City midfielder was of considerable interest to those gathered at Abbotstown. The 21-year old has not played for his country since his controversial withdrawal from the Irish squad last year.
“I tell him iss no worry, iss not important. Many man lose hair… uh, I say he no longer boy, he now man. Many man lose hair. Be proud, stand like man. Look to Berlusconi? Look to Liam Brady (laughs) If Eyeland wear uh… how you say…? Wig? Yes. Wig iss no problem for me. Only problem for me… is foot! Always only foot, for kicking, for score goal.”
Trapattoni then spent another half an hour attempting to correctly pronounce the difficult Irish names as he read out loud his squad list: “…Dam-ee-an Doof, Ah-den Muh-Ged-ee…”
At this point, the patience of one of the reporters present finally ran out when he directly asked Mr Trapattoni’s interpreter to “tell him to get on with it, will you? Does he know we have deadlines to meet?”.
However, this blunt request only succeeded in letting loose the famous Trapattoni temper. The Italian immediately sprung from his chair and leaned over the microphones to berate the bewildered journalist in his distinct pidgin English:
“Today, I must show Eyeland, must show Eyeland people – I must alone coach national team, must alone, me Trapattoni, coach the team! You understand? I coach team, I speak to press, I am, uh, how you say gaffer? Yes?
“You press people, always all the time say Trapattoni iss old man, iss too old now. Yes? Show you wrong little man, show you wrong! Coach not need walking stick, coach not need talking stick also! I do press talking, iss no problem, you understand? Yes.”
LEGEND
Trapattoni Struggles To Name First Irish Squad
New Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni announced his squad for the upcoming friendlies with Serbia and Columbia with great difficulty today in Dublin.
The veteran Italian coach, who is currently learning English, named his 28-man squad in a ’staccato’, but enthusiastic, manner at the press conference in FAI headquarters.
Although an interpreter was beside him throughout the press briefing, Trapattoni insisted on addressing the assembled journalists unaided, despite his tenuous grasp of the English language.
“Shy Givings (Shay Given) he iss, how you say… with injury? Yes. Robbie Ken (Robbie Keane) He is to go… for marriage. With beautiful wife! (laughs) That is very important, for him, for all young man.
“Rikard Don (Richard Dunne) iss have meetings.. with his clube, Manchester. So…they are to, uh, come later… to meet other player, after Portugal.”
The 69-year old continued to test the patience of the restless reporters as he tried to outline the positions of exiled players Stephen Ireland, Steve Finnan and Andy O’Brien:
“I speak to the players. I speak to their, uh, face-to-face. About how national team… need their football. Ah… need their football skill. I say ’stable door iss open… iss open for horses to come back’ – iss important. Yes?
The fate of Manchester City midfielder was of considerable interest to those gathered at Abbotstown. The 21-year old has not played for his country since his controversial withdrawal from the Irish squad last year.
“I tell him iss no worry, iss not important. Many man lose hair… uh, I say he no longer boy, he now man. Many man lose hair. Be proud, stand like man. Look to Berlusconi? Look to Liam Brady (laughs) If Eyeland wear uh… how you say…? Wig? Yes. Wig iss no problem for me. Only problem for me… is foot! Always only foot, for kicking, for score goal.”
Trapattoni then spent another half an hour attempting to correctly pronounce the difficult Irish names as he read out loud his squad list: “…Dam-ee-an Doof, Ah-den Muh-Ged-ee…”
At this point, the patience of one of the reporters present finally ran out when he directly asked Mr Trapattoni’s interpreter to “tell him to get on with it, will you? Does he know we have deadlines to meet?”.
However, this blunt request only succeeded in letting loose the famous Trapattoni temper. The Italian immediately sprung from his chair and leaned over the microphones to berate the bewildered journalist in his distinct pidgin English:
“Today, I must show Eyeland, must show Eyeland people – I must alone coach national team, must alone, me Trapattoni, coach the team! You understand? I coach team, I speak to press, I am, uh, how you say gaffer? Yes?
“You press people, always all the time say Trapattoni iss old man, iss too old now. Yes? Show you wrong little man, show you wrong! Coach not need walking stick, coach not need talking stick also! I do press talking, iss no problem, you understand? Yes.”
LEGEND
Last edited by Ade on Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:04 am; edited 2 times in total
