Santa Sandra from Japan

*****

A boy, who joined the sub-team of Lazio at 8 years old and decided to
pursue his career as a defender at 13 years old, has grown up to be
one of the world top-class center backs.  He won the title of
European Champion last year and has started training to get more
titles in the new season.  Let删s hear from Alessandro Nesta -
the 别Expert of Defense刹.

Has devoted his career to Lazio.  Alessandro Nesta, who bid farewell
to Biancocereste, came to Milan from Rome just before the start of
the last season.  He got the title of European Champion in Rossonero -
 he gave a wry grin saying that he had been most worried whether
Rossonero would suit him.  The 别Expert of Defense刹 who
faces his
second year in AC Milan is definitely one of the leading stars in the
world of Calcio in the 03-04 season.

World Soccer Digest EXTRA (别EXTRA刹):
Alessandro, have you already got the image of the new season?

Alessandro Nesta (别AN刹):
Of course.  The new season will be an unforgettable and great season
to me, because I will be able to start with keeping many goals in my
mind.  In Azzurri we are at the final stage at the qualifying matches
of Euro 2004 to be held in Portugal and in Milan we have definite
goals as well.  To tell the truth, before the camp started, our goal
was to get 6 titles.  Unfortunately, we lost the title of
别Italian Super Cup刹, but we still have chances to get 5
titles -
UEFA Super Cup against Porto, Serie A, Champions League,
Intercontinental Cup to be played against Boca Junior in Japan and
Coppa Italia.  The most exciting one will be the Intercontinental
Cup, because I will not be able to have so many chances to play for
this Cup in my life, and I really would like to win.

EXTRA:
Different from the last season, you were able to join AC Milan删s
camp from the beginning.  How is your condition compared with that of
a year ago?

AN:
It is totally different.  I was able to take a 50-day vacation prior
to the start of the summer camp and was refreshed both physically and
mentally.  It was my first time to have such a long vacation.
Probably because of that, on a mental side, I was able to concentrate
on training without hesitation or worldly thoughts.  On a physical
side, it was the same; I was able to manage the same training menu
with other members.  It was far different from last year.  The run
trying at the camp was a bit tough, though.

EXTRA:
It was said that Milan删s defense has shown its weakness in some
of the preseason matches.  You were scored 2 goals by Barcelona, 1
goal each by Juventus and Inter at the irregular tournament in Ancona
and 2 goals by Juventus at the Berlusconi Cup.  Did Ancelotti say
anything about this?

AN:
He was angry.  He said that it was not that the opponents did well
but that we lacked our concentration.  Actually we had the same level
of training as last year and the training menu at the camp was the
same.  We also have very few changes in members.  Considering these,
I think this is a temporary problem.  We were able to play that well
at each game several months ago.  It is difficult to conclude that
Milan删s team level has suddenly gone down.

EXTRA:
Then, to win both the championship at the Champions League and your
long-sought Scudetto, what is necessary for you and for the team?

AN:
I know very well, from my experience, how difficult it is to get two
titles - Scudetto and the Big Ear.  But the recent Milan bears the
resemblance to the strong Milan in the early 90删s.  So, after
a decade since then, we would definitely like to get the double crown
this season.  As I said before, concentration only is not enough to
get all the titles.  We need some luck.  Whether or not we can win a
trail of victories is by a twist of fate.  For example, Juventus was
unlucky that they had to miss Nedved in the important final match due
to suspension and could not play in the best conditions.  There is a
possibility that we miss Paolo because of his injury.

EXTRA:
After you joined Milan, the number of goals scored has become less,
hasn删t it?

AN:
It should be true that the number becomes less.  However, you should
praise the strategy of Mister if you appreciate the decrease of the
number of goals scored, because defense consists not only of
individual defenders删 plays but it is the teamwork of all the
defenders or sometimes with the assistance from the midfielders.
Because the midfielders spared no pains, we were able to hang on.

EXTRA:
Then, how can you strengthen the partnership between defenders?

AN:
In the world of football, there is only one thing that you should not
forget; if you want to make progress, you need to keep on training
yourself.  To build up a good combination of defense, the only thing
you need to do is to keep on training.  There is no short cut to
progress.  We checked the most basic things during last season, so we
are in the stage to mature them.

EXTRA:
Cafu joined Milan this season; is there going to be any change in the
system?

AN:
I cannot say anything concrete.  But Cafu is a member of the winning
team at the World Cup and he used to play almost like a winger at
Roma.  His experience and techniques should make a good influence to
Milan.  In Milan, SBs are constrained by their role as a defender,
but if he is allowed to have more space, he will certainly make a
significant contribution.

EXTRA:
I just want to confirm刋is Ancelotti going to continue the system
of last season?

AN:
So far, yes.  He wants to improve what we did during last season.
You can see it from the members.