The Stamford Bridge press room is rarely this packed for new signings, so to see it packed to the rafters just for a players' farewell tells you something about the man we are saying good-bye to. Of course, that is Gianfranco Zola. So withoutfurther ado, I'll pass you on to the great man himself...
"It’s been really great." Franco opened.
But then the question came in that we all wanted to hear the answer to- why did he leave for Cagliari??
“More than anything else it is a choice of life. I want to try a new experience. I want to go back where I started from and put myself in discussion again. I’m going to a place where everyone’s going to be very demanding with me. It makes me a feel alive. It’s my reputation going in and it feels very good after many years that I achieved something, that I put everything on the plate again and I like the challenge. I feel I can do something for the people that in the first place supported me and I like the idea. Maybe I can squeeze something more from my old body!”
Talk then switched to the 11th hour offer Chelsea came in with once it was established that Roman Abramovich was to takeover the club. "That made me have a bad couple of hours." Franco revealed.
“I feel sad. Chelsea is a place where probably I received most satisfaction of all. The place that made Zola probably so important football wise. It’s the place where I received everything I was dreaming for when I first started playing football. I’m not going to have that anywhere else, that’s for sure. Even the best things have to have an end, so I’m delighted because my last year I’ve given satisfaction to my supporters and I’ve received satisfaction from them.”
Franco continued, "It’s been painful to decide to leave and it’s going to be painful in the next months, no doubt about that. When I first left , although I had offers I wasn’t thinking of leaving Chelsea. I put the all the offers on standby. Unfortunately Chelsea was going through a bad situation and we couldn't find agreement, so the thing has gone on and on until July 1st."
“And so I decide to go. No blame for Chelsea at all. Chelsea was going through a bad situation, problems more important than renewing my contract. So absolutely I have no reason to say anything against this club that has been so important for me and for my family. I will have always good memories about it.”
But what about one last crack at the Champions League??
“It’s certainly it was a very attractive thing. Playing Champions League is always a great deal. But I made a choice. I know what I’m losing, but I’m doing it for precise reasons, and there will be other things that will compensate. It’s about doing something you believe is right. That’s as important as playing Champions League.
“Playing for this club, it’s the same playing Champions League or Premier League. I love playing for this club. Champions League wasn’t the thing that could have changed things around.”
To find out what else Franco had to say, check out Part 2 of Gianfranco Zola: The Official Farewell.