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Sebastien Frey (Parma)
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Back to Inter?
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 "Everyone’s really saying that they want me back at Inter?" Sebastien Frey finds it hard to believe, but deep down he would relish a move back to the Nerazzurri. "If they call me then I’m ready," the Frenchman admitted to Dominique Antognoni. At Parma Frey has become captain since Matteo Ferrari’s departure, but the weight of not playing for one of Europe’s top clubs in the Champions’ League has had a detrimental effect on his chances with the French national team.
Although Parma are struggling at the wrong end of the Serie A table, it’s not as if Frey has been going through a negative period. He knows that sooner or later things will change. In the meantime, he is just enjoying life with his family, waiting for that call from a big club and the French national Coach.
Seba, after a long summer for Parma you decided to remain at the club. Why?
I was here, waiting for a concrete offer to come in. It didn’t so I stayed.
Arsenal and Inter were both linked with your services. What happened?
Arsenal showed an initial interest but then Arsene Wenger didn’t contact me again. With regards to Inter it was a similar story. There were a lot of negotiations with very little outcome.
Francesco Toldo, however, is already 34…
I know. That is why I am remaining calm. Next year I think many clubs will be changing ‘keepers because of the fact that many are reaching the end of their careers.
Some say that Toldo should have left Inter in the summer.
I realise that Francesco doesn’t save as he once used to, perhaps not achieving the miracles he did at say Euro 2000, but then that happens when you’re a ‘keeper. If the squad doesn’t help you then it’s easy to be targeted for letting in goals. Of course, we all go through rough patches as well. Sometimes you can’t stop saving shots, other times every one goes in.
In your opinion, is Gianluigi Buffon still the best ‘keeper in the world?
Over the last year and a half he has struggled and so have Juventus. I’m not sure if he is still the phenomenon he once was.
Which of the young Italian ‘keepers do you think we should keep an eye on?
Marco Amelia. He is the future. But after Buffon, I think that Italy will struggle to find anyone of world class standard.
Would you attribute Parma’s poor start to the number of youngsters at the club?
Maybe, but they are all youngsters of quality. The foreigners are practically all members of their respective national teams. In a few months we will be a solid group, quick and unpredictable. We just need to get to know each other better.
How would you define this year for Parma?
Year nought. We are only at the start of a journey. Obviously we won’t be fighting for Lo Scudetto but in our own way we will do well.
Spoken like a true captain.
The real captain is actually Giuseppe Cardone. However, he is injured. Maybe it was right that I was next in line because of my age. But that doesn’t matter to me much. What matters is that I have the respect of the team, who recognise me as a leader.
How would you describe Silvio Baldini?
He is a great Coach, but above all a true man. He has values, such as sincerity, that you don’t frequently come across in today’s football world.
Some of the youngsters have said that Baldini shouts too much.
He does it for the good of the team. If we aren’t concentrating and need waking up, or if we are making errors, what should he do? Just laugh it off?
Alberto Gilardino has struggled to find the back of the net recently. Why?
It’s incredible. Gila has only been playing at the top for eight months. He is very young and he works extremely hard. He can’t always score. He needs to be left in peace. But I am certain of one thing – he is a great. He will become one of the top five attackers in world football.
Perhaps between the national team and Parma he has been given too much responsibility too soon.
He has only been playing at certain levels for a few months. It’s not his fault if Marcello Lippi hasn’t got other strikers at his disposal and that Parma are counting on him. I always say to him before we go on to the pitch "stay calm and remember that you are inferior to nobody." This is an important year for Alberto. He has to confirm himself and I think he will do just that.
How do you see the start of the season?
There is definitely a strong wind blowing from the South. Messina and Palermo are being carried on a wave of enthusiasm, while Lecce are a model of organisation.
With regards to the French national team, you have remained excluded even by the new Coach Raymond Domenech.
I expected that. When he coached the Under-21 side we had many arguments. However, if one day he calls me up, I would gladly talk to him and sort out our differences. In fact, we would probably become good friends.
How is it possible that you have remained out of the French side for so long?
I haven’t been playing in the Champions’ League and I haven’t won Lo Scudetto. I can’t do more than be the best ‘keeper in Serie A. I just don’t know what else I can do.
Who will win Lo Scudetto?
Juventus or Milan. They are true squads - solid, with winning mentalities. They play well and know how to face the important games.
Juve will be without David Trezeguet for three months.
David is a fantastic striker. Juve will feel his loss because there are few attackers like him in the world. He scores whenever and wherever. But he had to have the operation. He is not like Christian Vieri. He is more fragile. I hope that he manages to sort out all his problems.
Is it true that in Italy the team that concedes the least amount of goals will win Serie A?
Absolutely not. Winning 4-2 is worth more than a 0-0 draw, is it not?
So, Inter could win the League?
I still think it will be one of Milan or Juve. They know how to win. At Inter I still remember what it was like to be whistled after two errors and nobody defends you. Having said that, I do have some excellent memories from my time with Inter and I would love to return to a club of such status. Who wouldn’t want to play for Inter? We’ll see what happens in the future.
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