Program: Interview with Batistuta on Swedish TV
What wasn't allowed to happen- happened. Without him Fiorentina lost the leading in Serie A.
JB: We have seen a great will to play...How have you been feeling since you returned from your injury?
Mention his name and all people of Tuscany will smile with their proudest and sunniest smile. In Florence he is present in almost every neighbourhood, but it's not many individual players, who has made themselves so reminded in their absence and mean so much to the team as Batistuta does. The Argentine goalstriker is back again and with him also the hope and belief.
JB: Was it a dream you had as a child to become a great goalscorer?
JG: What is your secret?
JB: When the goals doesn't come in match after match...how do you persuade yourself to make it return again?
He made entry in Serie A in 1991, only 22 years old and is since then symbol for "Viola", who has a chance on a new cup-title. But Batistuta is dreaming of giving the people of Florence a new league-title for the first time since 1969.
Gabriel tells us that Florence has become a second home for him, and he has managed to tackle the so lonely job and the big attention besides all.
GB: You should only do what you are able to do!
If they want you to play, it means that the trainer thinks that you have something to give the rest of the team. If you see yourself as a Savior of the team, and that they can't win without you...then it's you who will create more attention and preasure, an in sight it won't give positive results.
Batistuta is one of the 90's best striker. He won the title in '95 and he is on his way to doing it again.
JB: Crespo in Parma and you in Fiorentina...will it be an argentinian goalstriker this year in Italy?
He has got self-confidence and the distance.
Savior or not, Bati-gol could just be the whole difference.
Date: April 12th, '99
Transcribed & translated by: Maria Morfiadaki
Reporter: JB
Gabriel: GB
GB: Bad! (laughing) No, first of all it feels good to be back, but not being able to give everything, is hard, especially for a person like me. It's hard to know that you can give more but feeling limited.
GB: No, I have always liked to score goals and always played in the offensive. Sometimes I was a goalkeeper too. But what fascinated me was to score goals. But I played for fun, I never thought of becoming a great goalscorer.
GB: Eating a lot! I'm 183 cm (laughing).
No, the secret is...I don't think you can learn to score goals. I think that a few just got this ability. I sometimes find myself in situations, which nobody could ever have thaugt me to find. It's just a talent, nothing else.
GB: I hardly remember the latest match. Even those games I have scored many goals! Each match is a new chapter, and I want to win every match, even though it's just training. You will be on the right way before kick-off if you have this basic way of thinking.
GB: (Thinking) -It will surely be me! (laughing)