Gianfranco Zola is widely expected to take over as West Ham manager this week with the Italian’s charm, playing reputation and promise to deliver entertaining football a winner over other candidates.
Zola, Speaking to the Daily Mail:
“I only know one way to play: on the floor, attacking football, the way things should be done. I want to excite people, that is why we play isn’t it?
The Under-21s play the way football should be played. I try to put a smile on their faces and I can tell you they put a smile on mine with the way they play.”
What I want to know is, will West Ham fans smile when their players fail to ‘play’ the ball out of defence and concede a silly goal?
“I know there is a rivalry between Chelsea and West Ham, but that is not a problem. My playing career is my past.
This is a new adventure for me. I spent seven years at Chelsea and they were seven of the best years of my career, I loved playing there but the fans must understand that I have a new career now and my playing career is in the past.
The temptation to manage in England is too much, I love London, I love the lifestyle. Whenever I think of London, it has good memories.”
Zola made his reputation in English football at Chelsea – can he forge his managerial reputation at West Ham and get them playing winning, entertaining football?