Who is Rudi Garcia?

It’s not often football managers are quizzed about their life away from the game but when Roma Radio did just that with Rudi Garcia, the outcome was a fascinating insight into one of the best young coaches in Europe…

Who is Rudi Garcia?

“There's a public personality and a private one. Only those who are close to me, my family and my friends, know the private one. They're two different personalities.”

Friendship is very important to you…

“I don't have many friends in football. I've got two best friends, one who is a teacher and the other who is a radiologist in France. I'm very loyal in friendship, it's very important - when you need your friends they're there for you.”

What were you like as a youngster?

“I was never relaxed, I was always a bit agitated but I always kept in mind the education my parents had given to me. I joked around too much at school and that gave me problems along the way - they even suspended me at school!”

Are you a strict father?

“I've always taught my children to take responsibility, explaining things to them but letting them use their intelligence to realise what they can and can't do.”

What do you do when you relax?

“I just like being at home. I watch films, including Italian ones.”

Do you cook?

“Not at all. I've always had wonderful women around me. I've spent a lot of time by myself so I can do some plates of pasta - even if they're inedible, at least I don't die of hunger!”

How are you finding this dual Italian-French existence? Do you feel Italian at all?

“I feel a bit Italian now. I know very little about Italy because I would go to Spain when I was younger. As a very young boy I went to Venice and then also to Milan, but I knew nothing about Italy. Now I'm here, it's incredible - it's not just that I love it here, it's that you feel everything so much more here - the food, the beauty of the language, the songs. I'm a pragmatist but sometimes I say to myself that I was Italian in another life - maybe because I'm more Latin than French.”

French or Italian cheese?

“I think there's more variety in France.”

Wine?

“I've discovered some very nice wins from Alto Adige and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - I'm very much a red wine person. But there are some excellent wines from Burgundy, I'm a little bit of an expert as I spent five years in that region. I've always been around Italians though, even the president of Dijon was part Italian. Then I went to Lille and there I also made a few Italian friends.”

What don't you like about Italy?

“Sometimes they see French people as a bit rude, but it's not true. I've been to St. Etienne and Lille where the people are fantastic, maybe because the people there have been through hard times so they are always keen to help. People cry twice in the north of France - once when you arrive and once when you leave.”

Is it true that the French don't like Paris?

“Yes, there is a sort of antagonism towards Paris.”

What music do you listen to?

“A bit of everything, U2 are my favourite band. I'm discovering Italian artists and I really do like them, you're all romantics here! There are a lot less romantics in France, we've got that notoriety but it's not true for everyone.”

Cinema?

“I watch more at home. I like thrillers and adventure films as well where you don't have to think, you just watch them to relax.”

Do you read?

“Not very much, though I do have some books on my bedside table. Paolo Coelho is one of my favourite writers.”

Ah, do you talk about him with Walter [Sabatini]?

“Walter is incredibly cultured.”

Do you prefer French or Italian women?

“You can't live without women, they are a gift from God. I always say that the beauty of women makes the world a better place. There's only one beautiful woman here in Italy and she's mine.”

Rome. Has your relationship with the city and the people changed since you arrived?

“It's improved because not many people knew who I was at the start, everyone was a bit sceptical.”

Was that better for you?

“I don't know, people said to me that it's a difficult place to work but that's not true. The fans are incredible, they've given us shows of support that I've never seen in my career before. They're intelligent, they know that the team gives everything to make them happy and they can see that. Even if we lose a few games sometimes they understand that what we're building is being done with our heart and with all our energy.”

You established a great relationship with the Curva Sud straight away…

“When I experienced my first game at the Olimpico, I understood straight away that the Curva Sud is the heart of the fan base. I saw the Curva Sud immediately giving us vital support, it's them who start everything off, the songs, the chants. After every game I want to thank the whole stadium, but by thanking the heart of the stadium I thank everyone.”

Is communication important to you?

“What matters most is internal communication with the players. I'm their guide, I make sure to transmit my energy and my desire to see them on the pitch to them. Communication with the media is very important nowadays, I ensure I'm always myself, respecting everyone and saying what I think, and it's only natural that sometimes we don't all agree.”

Have you suffered from a lack of respect in Italy?

“There are people who are important to me and I've always had respect from them, from the club to everyone who works at Trigoria to the fans.”

You speak as though you've been here for a long time…

“I certainly hope I'll be, but I am just doing what I've always done - I'm someone who works every day for the future of the club as if I'll be here for the rest of my life, and as long as people don't hound me out and as long as the club and I all have the same ambitions then we'll move forward together.”