REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Giovanni Trapattoni knows what it takes to win a European Cup.
After all, the Italian is part of an elite group of only six footballers who have won the continent’s most prestigious club honour as both a player and a manager.
And, as Manchester United and Barcelona prepare to go head-to-head on Saturday evening for the title of “Champions of Europe 2011,” Trap has been giving his opinion on what fans can expect from “a final featuring the two best teams in Europe.”
The 72-year-old, who tasted European glory in Wembley during his playing days with AC Milan in 1963, expects the game to be dominated by a battle between the creative flair which has become the hallmark of the Spanish champions and the strength and industry of their English opponents.
“From a technical point of view, the two are different – a very strong Anglo-Saxon team against a Barcelona team rich in imagination and brilliant technique,” Trapattoni said.
Manchester United have that special English character; they’re used to very skilful but also tough battles. Barcelona, on the other hand, play a beautiful game.
Over the course of his 37-year managerial career, Trapattoni has learned a number of valuable lessons about the mentality and mindset with which teams should approach major showdowns such as Saturday’s final.
As football’s talking heads and pundits use the days leading up to a game to analyse the respective strengths and weaknesses of both sides, there is a risk that teams may focus more on their opponents than on their own abilities, a mistake which the former Italian national coach is quick to warn against.
“The differences between wining and losing at such a high level can be the smallest mistake, or the slightest lapse of concentration,” he said.
“It will be important for the teams to have the right approach. This depends on whether you have confidence in your own ability or if you are scared of making mistakes.”
Of course, among all of the compelling storylines surrounding this year’s final, one which stands out is the battle of the bosses – two-time European Cup winner Alex Ferguson versus one of the game’s brightest managerial starlets, Pep Guardiola.
Sir Alex is the same age as me and has won the lot. He is used to this kind of match, so he has the experience, and that is very important. He knows about the character and mentality of his players also.
However, with Guardiola already sitting alongside Trapattoni in the illustrious sextet of those who have won the European Cup as both player and manager, the Italian feels that he is perfectly ready for the task despite his youth.
Pep “is a young, up-and-coming coach,” he said. “He lacks that experience, but has great quality in his team and he doesn’t get nervous.”
But, when all the talking is done and the football is played, which of the two clubs does Trap feel will be lifting their fourth European Cup in Wembley on Saturday night?
“I think if Barcelona get to play their football, they will win the title, although experience tells me that in 90 minutes like this, anything can happen.”
