In recent months, Zvonimir Boban quietly recharges his batteries, devotes himself to his family, and to the daily life of football fans, he returns to the role of an analyst for on Sky Sport Italia, where he will comment on the new season of the Champions League, writes Gazzetta dello Sport, which in its new edition brings a great interview with legends Croatian football.
- I enjoy a normal life, family and friends and make the most of the free time I don’t have. I also enjoy my hobbies: books, cards and chess. Of course, I do this among the many matches I follow, with the same enthusiasm as always – Boban will say when asked how he spent the last eight months.
We remind you that at the end of January, Boban left UEFA due to a disagreement with the president Aleksander Čeferin, and he explained everything in the message he sent us when he broke down and made the final decision.
Gazzetta reminded him of that time in a new interview.
- I have made many compromises in my life, some of which I am even ashamed of, but facing the extortion and politics of those who, in order to protect their own interests, undermine the whole of football and its institutions, it is impossible to continue. And believe me, even though my role is prestigious and important, the decision to resign following my convictions is inevitable, even if painful. Unfortunately, we have seen over the years that football technocracy has run wild in the system, depriving it of the values it should always represent and defend. These people think they are more important than the game, the players, the coaches, the public, the football institutions themselves. In this sense, and I say this with a heavy heart, even if I fight for changes in UEFA, as before in FIFA, I am useless.
Did he hear from Čeferin afterwards?
- No. I regret how our relationship turned out.
Boban responded to the stories that others saw him in Čeferin’s place and predicted his candidacy:
- Whoever says it’s wrong, I don’t have the slightest intention, but a real football person would be very useful to UEFA.
The topic is also the new season of the Champions League, which comes to us in a much changed format. Did Boban have a role in making the changes?
- Although this format was created to increase revenue while ignoring players who have busy schedules anyway, I like it and think it’s a lot of fun. It was voted on before I came to UEFA. I talked to many people about reducing the number of games in the group because initially 10 were planned, but in the end it was reduced to eight.
UEFA opposes the Superliga, but is there a risk that this expanded format will eliminate interest in national championships?
- I don’t believe it, the championships with these two games will never lose their great importance and prestige, and the playoffs will be fun.
Who do you see as a favorite?
- The usual two: Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Can Ancelotti manage to secure the inclusion of several attacking stars or will he risk the fortunes of the Galacticos?
- If anyone knows how to work with the stars, it’s Carlo Ancelotti.
Are Guardiola’s City playing the best football in the world?
- The best football in the world belongs to Spain, but City has always been dominant.
If he had to choose a striker, who would he choose: Mbappé or Haaland?
- Mbappé, but with a central striker, so he can move freely wherever he wants.
Coaches complain that the transfer window is open at the start of the championship, and this affects their work.
- It is not right that the market is open for a long time. This is a disaster for many coaches and players. They are right to complain. It’s the same old story again, football itself is not at the top of the decision makers’ priorities and the price is being paid for that.
In conclusion, the Gazzetta says that Boban has covered many roles in football, but also that he does not have one that, after that game, he probably wants the most – coaching.
- I regret the license that has not been used – he said at last.
Source: SN/Profimedia