Gabriel Batistuta tells the "Viola" readers about the "incident"; his fears, and the solidarity of all those people from around the world. This for him is more important that winning "Il Pallone d'Oro" prize, that for whatever strange reason, some people have kept from him.

He talks about Fiorentina and the changes that took place with the arrival of Trapattoni. The things he admires in his new coach: his "charisma", his experience, and above all his determination. Also tells about his relation with the Cechi Gori Family and his rapport with the city of Florence. Rapport that has not been without some friction. But most of all the confidence he has in his teammates.

He's positive that they will keep working toward winning the "scudetto". When he was injured during the Fiorentina-Milan match, in the middle of all the pain, the thought that came to his mind was: "There's going to be a big "Festa" at the end of the season and I will not be a part of it." But now that the worst is over, he's just waiting for that match where he'll be able to play.

"The run, the pain, the fall, and in the middle of all that pain, the only thought that goes through my mind was that there's going to be a big celebration and I will not be a part of it. Meanwhile the whole stadium went mute, some covered their eyes and in all their minds they were locked, like in an archive, their illusion of Fiorentina being able to win the "scudetto". Bati's thoughts were the opposite. Many things went through his mind: He thought the championship for him was over; that his opportunity to break Angelillo's record was lost. Fear for all that could go wrong. And....Why!!! Why now, Why this year that we are so close to celebrate that big "Festa" and I will not be a part of It."

Gabriel tells us about his incident and of the emotions he felt that day. His words filled the "Viola" fans with hope. Because if Batistuta during his moments of pain still believed that the big "Festa" will take place, why should we not believe. So take your hands from your eyes, the dream is still alive, it is not only an illusion.

Conte: Have you given any thought that maybe without Batistuta the big "Festa" will never take place?
Bati: Definetly not. At that moment I thought of a "Festa" without me, not of a "Festa" that will never take place.

Conte: Lets talk now about Trapattoni, a man that seems to have Fiorentina under his control. What makes him different?
Bati: His charisma, his experience. Even when he talks of simple everyday things he has all our attention. Some things he says when said by another could provoke laughter, not from Trapattoni. He is in a league of his own.

Conte: You speak of Trapattoni with great respect....
Bati: Yes, but I've always felt respect towards my coaches. I'll try to describe him to you. You see,when he has an objective nothing can deter him from it. With everything going on with Fiorentin another person with less character would have left. Not Trapattoni, he's always clear headed, even when things seem very bleak. He has the ability to bring things back to normal. For him there's always a way.

Conte: Trapattoni seems to have a special rapport with you that goes beyond you being the captain?
Bati: When we are on the pitch, we are all equal, that's the way it should be. But when the training is over, we talk about things he wants me to transmit to the team, and many times he asks for my advice.

Conte: To asked for advice could be a display of humility.....
Bati: "Trapattoni knows how to be unassuming."

Conte: What is different in the Fiorentina of today?
Bati: First of all the coach. Now we have Trapattoni, he has changed the mentality of Fiorentina. Outside the playing field some things have changed, others remain the same.

Conte: Of your decision to remain in Florence with Fiorentina what has changed for you?
Bati: This was a very difficult decision for me. It's no secret that I've been very happy here, and it has been my dream to win something big with Fiorentina, but in the last few years I came to realize that due to Fiorentina's mentality these goals were almost impossible to achieve.

Conte: Now, You believe otherwise....
Bati: Yes, now I believe, because of Trapattoni. He's a coach who's familiar with winning. He brought with him players with the same winning mentality. Trapattoni does not talk about winnig the "scudetto" but he inspires you to give your best. Winning or not, that will be seen in the end, but it is a great feeling being able to be part of a team with a winning mentality. This gives me great satisfaction.

Conte: Even Batistuta the man, seems different, you're more conscious of your looks.....
Bati: Beside a different hair-cut everything is the same. I've always been like this. Even though my wife says: "I'm like the good wine........" But if we look back when I arrived in Florence, yes, I have changed, I was 20 years old back then, recently married. Just leaving behind my teenage years.

Conte: As a grown man, how do you see Florence now?
Bati: Beautiful....as beautiful as ever

Conte: But there's been difficult moments.....
Bati: It's true, because I've always said what I think, people sometimes feel uncomfortable with this. When I said that I wanted to leave Fiorentina, the people felt betrayed and I felt betrayed because I know and they know that I've given Fiorentina the maximun always. Many times people say to me: "You will never win anything big if you stay ..." But when it was Me who said those same words, when I talked about playing somewhere else, about wanting to experience something new, everyone went ballistic. There were people who stopped talking to me, people who turned their backs to me. But some have come around, and I could say that, the people of Florence think the best of me because I've always given and still give the maximum. Besides all this, they are begining to know me not only as Batistuta the player but as Batistuta the man. This is very important to me, because I've never pretended or lied to anyone.

Conte: Your rapport with Vittorio Cecchi Gori, has it changed with the years?
Bati: He has always thought of me as someone special, maybe because he was the one who brought me to Florence. He considers me something of his. In this he is wrong, because I belong to no one, I just work for Fiorentina. Besides this, I'm very close to the Cecchi Gori family, but I don't feel like some kind of a family jewel. In general the president and I appreciate and enjoy a very friendly and joyable relationship. When he needs to confide in someone, I'm usually one of the first to whom he talks to.

Conte: You are one of the few from which Cecchi Gori accepts any criticism.....
Bati: Because of this, he appreciates me more, he has said this to me many times. Sometimes he gets mad at me and says: "Bati, you should not have said that in public...." But later on he realizes that what I said was for the well being of the team. So I know he wishes me well and I wish him well because he's a good person and I wish his dream of winning big in the "calcio" will come true.

Conte: You just turned thirty, is it true that you don't like to celebrate your birthdays?
Bati: I'm not one of those who gives too much importance to ones own birthday. I've never given much importance to parties either. For example: The end of the year party, I can't think a month before what I'll be doing that night. My life I live independently to any dates. Sometimes I get into discussions when I state my feelings of the year 2000, for me it's another year, the same, the same as last etc....

Conte: Are you still thinking of playing away from Italy at the end of your career?
Bati: If the contract I have signed runs to its conclusion, that means that I will end my career in Florence. By this time I will be thirty four years old, this will make it difficult for me to follow a new experience in soccer.

Conte: What about England?
Bati: I've put and end to that. We enlisted Thiago in an English speaking school but it was not a positive experience for him, so we change him to an Italian school and he's very happy. After all he is an italian.

Conte: Batistuta, What about "Il Pallone d'Oro, an old story. What do you have to say to those who give it?
Bati: I thought this year I would be in one of the first three places, maybe even fourth. I ended up being in sixth or seventh place, I can't remember now. There has to be something else besides playing well for you to be elected. Not that I'm putting down Zidane or Ronaldo, but I don't know what that thing is. Many times I have thought about this, but not after my injury. I've been receiving messages from all over the world, from people I've never known, messages full of love and affection, this is more important that finding out what is the thing you need beside playing well to win "Il Pallone d'Oro".

Conte:Who have called?
Bati: Lots and lots of people has called. Some famous others not so, all wishing me well. I"ll mention two names to you, Renato Zero, Eros Ramazzotti. Ramazzotti told me that even though he is a Juve fan, he has always admired me as a player. This, is my "Pallone d'Oro"!!!!

Conte: How will Fiorentina be without Batistuta?
Bati: I hope Fiorentina can show everyone that Fiorentina is not dependent on Batistuta. It is not that I'm being modest, but that I know that Fiorentina, to be in the that place it is now, is a good team. I've scored a lot of goals, I know, but Fiorentina's defense has been very effective, and others have scored goals besides me. I can be of help to Fiorentina but this does not mean that without me Fiorentina can't survive.

Conte: Your teammates said that you will surelly be missed on the pitch but even more so out of it......
Bati: They are talking about the way I live the time before a match. Maybe at that time I'm able to transmit some things to them, but eventhough I won't be playing, I'll be there for whatever is needed and later on I'll return to the pitch, because I don't want to miss the big "Festa".

I'd like to thank the "Viola" magazine for this little ad on the Feb issue of the magazine. Thanks guys! For more info on subscription visit the "Viola" website at http://www.edai.it/viola.html

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