It was an arduous victory, but for this very reason, it is even more satisfying. Three points were needed to have the mathematical certainty of qualifying again for the most important international club competition and it is Rafael Toloi to confirm it: “We’re in the Champions League again”. Here is the interview with the Nerazzurri defender.
“We are happy. It’s another top-quality season for us, it’s another year in the Champions League. It’s all thanks to the lads who work every year and always try to improve. And that’s why I’m very happy. The next match is the Coppa Italia final. I think all the lads, all of us, deserve this trophy. It won’t be easy, it will be difficult. We must play well. We can’t make mistakes, like today. But, in the end, we brought a victory home. We reached our goal. Now we must prepare for the final that is crucial for us and that is now the most important goal of the season”.
It was important to win. You won. You qualified for the Champions League for the third season in a row. And you mentioned the mistakes you made today because Atalanta were leading by 3-0, then it changed to 3-1, then 4-1, 4-2, 4-3. So, Genoa made you ‘sweat hard’ until the end and it was fair. There were mistakes and maybe they can also be useful for the Coppa Italia Final.
“Yes, we knew that this match wouldn’t be easy in any case. They have quality. It’s difficult to play against them away. But when you win a match by 3-0, you can’t make these mistakes. Obviously, it happens to everybody, not only to us. The important thing is that we won and reached our goal. But it’s time to concentrate on the final, to work to avoid these mistakes because we know that in the final the one who makes fewer mistakes has more chance to win”.
Rafa, you’re not even celebrating, you can’t even smile. The pressure is so big and it’s because you have two more games to play: the former is the final, the latter is the one that will decide the team that will take the second place on the table. So, you have achieved the first goal. And there are two more.
“Yes, as I always said, since I joined the Club, I always think game by game. We aimed at getting three points to reach this fantastic goal, which is playing in the Champions League next year too. And we did it. And now we have the final. As I said, I think that all these lads, all the staff and all our fans deserve a trophy at least. But we will have to struggle, to fight. It won’t be easy. But I’m sure we’ll be prepared to give a great performance in the final, too”.