Celta open the doors of the Madroa to LFP.es (III)

"Bielsa taught me that nothing has been learned; that everything is yet to be discovered", reflects Eduardo Berizzo (13-11-1969, Cruz Alta –Argentina-), Celta’s manager, whose masterclass in coaching came from Marcelo. Perhaps this is why he does not hesitate when he describes himself: "My defining feature is my burning passion for football". And he warns his team: "We have to make the Balaídos a place where we command respect".

LFP.es: What is Eduardo Berizzo like as a coach?
E.Berizzo: I am responsible, concerned, passionate… With time you find your way of doing things but everything comes from the passion and enthusiasm you put into your work. I think my defining feature is that I have a burning passion for football and I want keep doing things better.

LFP.es: Was being Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant with Chile jumping into the deep end?
E.Berizzo: Yes, but it was a great opportunity to work together with a coach such as Bielsa, of his standard and with his knowledge. It was a great learning curve. I met him because I played under him as a footballer, but I was not familiar with the laboratory of his ideas from the inside. I can say that I was lucky to have lived alongside one of the great managers in the world. He was a kind of guide; someone who taught me how to start managing.

"Bielsa was a kind of guide; someone who taught me how to start managing"

LFP.es: If you think about that time and about now, what did you take from it?
E.Berizzo: He taught me that you have to try and do things well, to constantly search for the idea that improves the work and be very vigorous in your work. He taught me that nothing has been learned; that everything is yet to be discovered; to work honestly and not make just one image from that honesty, but the roots and the axis of a profession that he has dignified.

LFP.es: When the time came, were you panicked about going from assistant to the boss of the dugout?
E.Berizzo: No, not panicked, but there is a big difference between being the manager and running the group and not being the leader. There is a big difference between the roles that I had to learn very quickly, but panic and fear are emotions I feel in other areas, not in my job. 

LFP.es: When Celta came knocking, what did you feel, taking into account that you had played at the club?
E.Berizzo: Celta is a different team for me, because I connected with the city and with the fans as a player. I had some extreme experiences here: we played in the Champions League, we were relegated, we went back up… In four or five years I experienced everything you can in my profession. I felt very lucky with the idea of being part of the club when the possibility came up. And when it was finalised I felt the responsibility of doing well, because you always have to do that and even more so because of my past here.

"My past as a Celta player meant that I had an even greater responsibility to do well"

LFP.es: People like labelling things in football and as you are Argentinian the contrasting styles of Menotti and Bilardo come to mind. Which style does Berizzo prefer?
E.Berizzo: I like to take control of a match. I do not like to be dominated. I like to assume the leading role and I understand that as having the ball for as long as possible. When I don’t have it I want to win it back from the opponent in order to have it again. From there I like freshness, mobility, dynamics and careful use of the ball; I want us to be a team that is difficult for our opponents to read.

"Sometimes the result confuses everything, for both sides"

LFP.es: When you concede a goal in the dying minutes, like against Real, what does the loss points mean, do you feel worse as a manager than a defender?
E.Berizzo: I feel worse because it is at the end, but you have to recognise what happens on the pitch, because sometimes the result confuses everything, for both sides. Football ends up giving back what it takes away. You shouldn’t get angry with the situation. You have to carry on and start again every seven days, imagining that we have to get back what we lost.

LFP.es: Last season the balance of results in the Balaídos was 6 victories, 7 draws and 6 defeats. Does making your ground into a fortress make you nervous or give you peace of mind?
E.Berizzo: Yes, winning at home is essential for the whole team. It fills you and the people who support you with confidence. I found a great connection between the team and the fans and that is the merit of last season. The Balaídos should be where we command respect.

LFP.es: Finally, if you could make a wish for the end of the season, what would it be?
E.Berizzo: To finish as high as possible, above everyone if possible.