match between Zilina and Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Israelis had more to their game, but allowed their opponents too much space. The Slovaks were better organized and quick on the counterattack. The fixture was being played at a neutral venue and this probably helped Zilina, who in securing a draw were the surprise winners of the tie. So now we knew who our opponents would be. For my part, and with all due respect, I had seen enough to know that if we avoided doing anything silly we would go through to the group stages. This was the same day that the signings of Joe Cole and Seba Veron were announced. Could I sleep more easily now?
More training, and then I was off on another trip. That Saturday, Liverpool were entertaining Valencia, and for me this was an occasion not to be missed. The excuse – a perfect one – was to take a look at the Reds, who we would be playing the week afterwards in the first fixture of the new Premiership season. In reality I was killing two birds with one stone, as they say, since it was also a chance to see my former club Valencia again. Ah yes, the best wish I can make for myself is that when looking back some day, the memories of my time in London will be as happy as those of the time spent at the Mestalla Stadium. The Valencia job was something that happened almost by chance, when I rather set off into the unknown to replace Jorge Valdano, who had been sacked (and who now, of course, is general manager at Real Madrid and one of the most influential men in football). It turned out to be one of the most wonderful experiences of my career, and of my life. The club, but more especially the people of Valencia, captured my heart. Life can be magically unpredictable and irrational, but for whatever reason, they took to me straight away (and perhaps it was fate that led me to return to them). True enough, we won only a Spanish Cup while I was there for my first spell, but for a footballing town that had won nothing for so long, it was a significant success. I initiated the policy of loaning young players out to pick up experience in the lower divisions, just as I ended up doing at Chelsea. I did this, for example, with youngsters like Albelda, Gerard and Curro Torres, who were to return a few years later as key components of the subsequent La Liga-winning side. They appreciated at Valencia that I had laid the foundations for a new era at the club, and I have always regretted not having stayed longer the first time to reap what I had sown. I left because of a misunderstanding with the club. I had the feeling that Valencia did not want to invest in the squad. To win a La Liga title, two or three more players were needed to make the step up in quality, and at that particular time the club could not spend.
And so I found myself going to Atletico Madrid. This was a difficult experience as Atletico had hit a sticky patch at the time, but there were absolutely no regrets as I enjoyed working with the colourful and eccentric Jesus Gil and his family, even if I never finished the job I went there to do. As far as Valencia is concerned, perhaps in a certain sense I was happy to have been wrong, because they went on to some great achievements, winning a La Liga title and a Spanish Super Cup, and have appeared in no less than two Champions League finals, and as a supporter of theirs I was delighted. I am sure there are many in Valencia who support Chelsea too.
I was able to meet up again at the Liverpool game with, among others, Dr Jorge Candel, who is not only one of the best doctors I have ever come across in my career but also a wonderful person, and with Amedeo Carboni, a player who should be an example for any professional to follow. He’s nearing 40 now, but has always been one of the best defenders in the game and is absolutely indispensable. Not only on the field but, as the saying goes, for his influence in the dressing room as well. Off the pitch, he is surrounded by marvellous women – no lie, this, because besides having a special partner in his wife Giacinta, he can also boast four adorable daughters!
Valencia won the match against Liverpool 2 – 0, and I was happy for a number of reasons. Among other things, I received a splendid piece of news the same day. We had completed our purchase of Adrian Mutu from Parma. Maybe Adrian was not particularly well known in England at the time, but in Italy people were well aware of his worth. In my eyes, he was just the man we needed: a forward, though without being an out-and-out striker. I was looking for a fast and tough player who would never stand still; a player with superior ability to score goals, but equally, one who knows how to deliver the final pass. He had all these qualities, what we in Italy call a ‘second striker’. He had just had a good year with Parma, for whom he also scored plenty of goals, but now we were offering him the chance to make a big leap in quality with us. We paid a lot for him, almost £16 million, but I know he was also worth a lot. A thought occurred to me on the way back to London. We were in Italy when Glen Johnson was signed. I was on a flight to Malaysia when they told me that the negotiations with Duff and Bridge had been concluded. I was in Budapest to watch the Zilina game when Veron and Cole were brought in, and now here I was at Liverpool when the Mutu signing was agreed. And remembering that I had received a call in France, on my way from Rome to London, telling me that Chelsea Football Club had been bought by Abramovich, I can only come to the conclusion that I ought to travel much more in this life!
My little joke, of course. These must just be coincidences.
In my mind, I was already thinking about the formation I would put out against Liverpool the following Saturday, though without realizing that in the case of Mutu, who in the line-up of my thoughts would be one of the starting eleven, it was going to be a race against the clock from that moment on. Everything was squared with the British authorities in three days, and a work permit secured. At the Italian end, things were a little more complicated on the transfer front. Problems with faxes, a public holiday in mid-August (can it really be true that we Italians are always on holiday?), red tape … anyway, it was not long before I realized I would probably not be picking Mutu to play at Anfield.
Before Liverpool though, we had to start thinking seriously about Europe, because at last, after all the transfers, the friendlies, the fine words and the expectations, this was the start of the real business.
We set off very early on the Tuesday morning. Rendezvous at Harlington 7.10 am, then on to Gatwick to take a flight for Slovakia at 11 am. Two hours’ flying time followed by a coach ride of nearly three hours, and we were at Zilina. Arriving at five in the afternoon, we were soon on the field for the customary final pre-match training session. We found the temperature quite pleasant. Hot, but not suffocating. The match was the important thing, but no less important to me was the general attitude of the squad. For the first time here, I would be sending star players to sit out the game up in the stands, and it was only right that I should make things clear. Since I had brought everyone along with me, and this was our official debut, it was the best time. And so, I gathered all the players together the evening before the match to say a few words, especially to the older campaigners, as I had already spoken plainly to the newcomers before they signed.
To build a team, matches must be lived to the full. Not only wins, but defeats too, as these help to shape the character of the squad. In the end, a team is like a family and the hard moments should serve to bring everyone together. A defeat provides an important moment in which to take stock, and a base on which to build the wins that will come later. I wanted them to reflect on this as well, before we went into the first real competitive fixture of our season.
‘Boys,’ I said, ‘one way or another, on the park or on the bench, you all knew where you were. But now you’ll have to take on board the fact that it all starts from scratch. You’ve got to get used to the idea of having another manager.
‘Imagine this is Eriksson speaking, or another international team manager. Then it won’t be too difficult for you. What would you do? Try and put yourself about a bit so as to get noticed? I don’t want you to show me anything I already know about. What you’re worth, I mean. But remember that when I put you on the bench or in the stand – and it’s something that will happen to all of you – it doesn’t mean you’re out of favour.
‘The squad has changed just as the aims of the club have changed, and rotation is going to be a fact of life. Bear in mind that if you’re here, new or old, it’s because I want you along, so we can accomplish something big. If you all understand this, it will be the first step on the road to achieving the targets we’ve set ourselves.’
I had given them straight talking and I knew they had all understood, and that they all appreciated the situation. And I knew they would all pull faces when left out. Unfortunate … but they would simply have to get used to a new reality.