Fabio Cannavaro: I'd like to try one experience in Europe

Since his first appointment as a manager in 2014, the tactician has worked in Asia only.

Legendary Italian centre back, Fabio Cannavaro who has won the World Cup with the Azzurri and is managing Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Evergrande, claims that he wishes to coach in Premier League in future. Both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have had an impact in his footballing philosophy and therefore he would like to coach in the Premier League and also in Europe after finishing his stint in China. 

"I hope so. I watch every game in the Premier League and I like the ambience and culture of football in England," he exclusively told Sky Sports News.

"I am in China to try to improve my system and idea within football. I am at one of the best Asian clubs and of course, in the future, I'd like to try one experience in Europe. I want to try the challenge of European football. I like the Klopp mentality but at the same time, I like the Pep culture about football because always we need intensity with and without the ball."

"But you need to control the game and try to win. I have my system and I hope one day you will see."

The 46-year old have had an impact of the coronavirus pandemic in China but feels that things are slowly falling into place with time. 

"The life here is starting to be like before. I'm so happy because we have been fighting Covid-19 for a long time," he said.

"The situation in China is much better. I'm really upset for the European situation but not [for the one] in China. You just need to be careful and do the right thing and just move around only when you can't stay at home."

Cannavaro was the last defender to win the prestigious Balon d'Or in 2006 after his World Cup heroics with the Azzurri. The former Italian international rates Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk very highly and also mentioned that he congratulated the Dutchman after finishing second to Lionel Messi last year. He also feels that Liverpool are the deserving winners of the Premier League this season. 

"Liverpool had an amazing season and they deserve to win and celebrate this league," he added. "But we are in this situation and it's a shame for them."

"I messaged Van Dijk to congratulate him on last season but as a defender, it is difficult to win. You don't just need to have a great performance and to win trophies. You need to be lucky not to have a striker like (Cristiano) Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi in front of you. This is the key. If you have Messi or Ronaldo you start the game 1-0 up."

"But I respect (Mohamed) Salah a lot. He's changed a lot at Liverpool. For the last three years, he's been like a machine. He's the player every coach would like to train because he can defend and attack and he leaves everything on the field, he never gives up."

The Italian defender was one of the rare footballers who had the opportunity to play against two Argentine legends, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. But Cannavro feels that the Napoli legend edges the FC Barcelona man. 

The 46-year old was once given the task to mark Maradona in training while the Argentine was in his prime and inspired the Partenopei to two Serie A titles. While he also played against Messi in his three years stint at Real Madrid and followed him closely as he guided Barcelona to the next level. 

"I respect Messi a lot. For the new generation he is one of the best," he said. "But Maradona is different because the football was different. They kicked him a lot but he was always in control and he was tough.

"Messi is top but Maradona is another world. I never compare him with other players. I never saw Pele but I watched Maradona, for seven years I saw every game.

"He's not one of the best, he's the best," Cannavaro concluded. 

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