By Ricardo Mituti

Rome is a place with a historical vocation for grandeur. For many centuries, it was a place to be admired by the rest of the world. In football, however, there were rare moments when the Eternal City reached this heights, either for competitors or admirers, yet one of them occurred under the leadership of a Brazilian: Paulo Roberto Falcão.

The former Seleção midfielder was the main player for Associazione Sportiva Roma in the first half of the 1980s, the most successful period in the history of the popular club from Italy’s capital. That is why, three decades later, reverence for the elegant player also seems eternal.

On a recent trip to the city to pay homage to Francesco Totti, the former player and coach of the Seleção was presented at the event with devotion:

“They said there was one Rome before him and one after. On August 10, 1980, he arrived from Porto Alegre to change the course of history and changed everything. Today, he returns from Brazil to fulfill a desire that unites Rome, his fans and Francesco Totti. We’re going to welcome Paulo Roberto Falcão in the Eternal City. “

The second best player at the 1982 World Cup spoke to Yellow and Green Football about Roma and an array of other topics. Recently, he made a presentation to an audience of Brazilian coaches, which included Tite, the current national team manager. The former player spoke of how he views the work of Pep Guardiola as a reference. Additionally, the 65-year-old idol also admitted his desire to manage a European team.

After all was said and done, who were Roma paying homage to: you or Totti?

Totti (laughs). I was invited by the directors to give him a commemorative shirt in honour of his inclusion to the club’s Hall of Fame, which I have also been a part of since 2012. I had the honour of doing so at a large party held shortly before the game between Roma and Real Madrid, in the Olympic Stadium, in the Champions League. And, to my surprise and emotion, I was presented in a very respectful way, in recognition of the history I built there, with the achievements of the Serie A title (1982/83), two Copa Italias (1980/81 and 1983/84) and second place in the 1984 European Cup.

Did you take the chance to make any professional exchanges?

Whenever I travel I try to exchange information with football professionals. I try to keep connected and updated with everything that is happening, in Brazil and abroad, so that I can implement in my work aspects that differentiate me from other coaches. On this trip to Italy, I also recorded a testimonial for a documentary about Paolo Rossi [ex-Italian striker who scored three goals that eliminated Brazil in the 1982 World Cup], which is being produced and should be released in 2019.

And speaking of work, did you receive any proposals this year (to work as a coach)?

Yes. Some teams came midway through the Brazilian Série A season, but I was not interested. I’ve had some complicated career experiences. When I can’t set up my team, my coaching staff, everything gets more difficult. Picking up jobs halfway is a lot harder. That’s why I decided to decline.

Can you at least mention which clubs came to you?

For ethical reasons, I’d rather not cite them.

Is Europe a possibility for you as a coach?

I’m not closed to that possibility. Even because I have a European culture, as a football professional. My teams are very European.

And what are your prospects for 2019? Are you considering returning to TV punditry, if there is no proposal as a coach? Would being a football executive be an alternative?

I still don’t know what next season will bring me. Honestly, I have not thought of any role other than coaching. For now, I don’t see myself back on TV. As for being a club executive, I don’t know. I’d have to weigh the freedom to work, the real objectives of the club, where I would begin and end my autonomy. Anyway, working in a position like that has a great number of factors.

Last December you talked to several Brazilian coaches at a CBF private event. How was that experience?

It was a privilege. I talked to 65 top coaches – Tite among them. My intention wasn’t to teach. I wanted to talk and exchange ideas. I showed them a video of the 1974 Netherlands team, and everyone was speechless, especially the younger ones. The 1974 Netherlands team was the last great tactical revolution in world football. You should have seen the young lads’ faces of admiration. Then I started talking about ball possession, taking Barcelona’s Guardiola as a reference. I showed them the video of a game against Manchester United. I said that, to me, ball possession that interested me was that with objectivity. The one that starts with the defender, passes to the midfielder and returns to the defender, is deceit, it is false ball possession. I also talked about tactical culture, something we still lack, compared to Europeans.

Do you think your fellow coaches liked your presentation?

The guys cheered. That aside, at age 65, I show that I can be modern in football. After all, what is it to be modern: is it innovative concepts, differentiated training or computer work? I believe that what gives us experience is years of work.

Tite was at this event. In your opinion, is the coach of the national team under pressure in 2019 to win the Copa America?

The responsibility is all of Brazil. Tite himself said that at the event. And even if he had not said it, that’s right: we have to win. This is what is expected of Brazil. The pressure is part of football. And, yes, we are the favourites. But this is before we start. Then we have to show this on the field and live up to expectations.

And what should we expect from Neymar, our main player?

Without a doubt, he’s our best player. And expectations are always on the one that makes the difference. Neymar is a “gambler” who decides games. I think he improved a bit in relation to his behavior, falling all the time, as was said often during the World Cup. And it’s important that he realises it. For him and for his career, this is fundamental. Neymar was always a nice, cheerful, easy-going guy. Everyone here in Brazil has always liked him – including his opponents. But in Europe and in the Seleção, I think he has lost the possibility of being loved all over the world, despite being a good lad. And this he can’t lose. However, it only depends on him. Luckily, I get the impression he has realised that. And this is good for him and for us.

There is another player that many people compare to you in Brazil: Barcelona’s Arthur, from Barcelona. Have you been following him?

I know Arthur from Grêmio. He appeared very well here and stood out. The expectation is that now, playing in Europe, he can grow tactically. But unfortunately I haven’t been able to follow him as I would like to.

What about Italian football, have you been able to watch this season’s games?

Less than I would like to. But, of course, I want to pay special attention to Roma and Juventus because of [Cristiano] Ronaldo. He was hired for the team to try to conquer Champions League, just as PSG got Buffon. Both clubs sought players accustomed to big knock-out games – although they already had some in their squads. In Italy, anyway, I think Juventus would be a favourite, with or without Cristiano. Now, unmistakably, he’ll make a difference in international competitions.

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