"My victory is incredible!"

Original article from France Football, published in 2003.

"Pavel, you've just been awarded the 48th Ballon d'Or by France Football in history, the eighth for a Juventus player and the first for the young Czech Republic. How does it feel?

(Decided.) It's also, and above all, the second for a player born in Czechoslovakia, forty-one years after Josef Masopust. To become his successor in such a prestigious award as the France Football prize is truly something extraordinary for me. Like many of my compatriots, I've always considered Masopust a legend. I still remember black and white images of that fantastic Dukla Prague midfielder receiving the Ballon d'Or. My whole generation dreamed of it, without getting their hopes up. It seemed so impossible to achieve.

"Thierry Henry and Maldini would also have been worthy winners"

You seemed somewhat surprised to learn that you had won…

Enormously, you mean! Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it. I couldn’t play in the Champions League final last May, and from my point of view, that was enough to put me out of contention. Besides, I think I’m a rather reserved person who tries to stay humble. So, I’ve never considered myself the best of the best. In fact, I see this Ballon d’Or, above all, as a reward for my career, for the consistency of my performance. I must not have missed many opportunities in 2003, whether with Juve or with the Czech national team. With this team, we notably finished first in our Euro 2004 qualifying group, ahead of the Netherlands, and we beat France, one of the strongest teams in the world, on their own turf. Not to mention that nineteen-match unbeaten run, including fifteen consecutive wins.

Isn't your first instinct always to emphasize teamwork?

Absolutely. I've been used to it since I was a kid. It's not surprising, because in my country, coaches have always prioritized the collective. Here, it's almost a cultural thing. In fact, you only have to watch the Czech national team play to be convinced: the group always takes precedence over individual talent.

Nevertheless, in the end, in this vote, you won by more than sixty points over your closest rivals, Thierry Henry and Paolo Maldini. What does that tell you?

I don't think the jury's choice was easy. Henry and Maldini would also have been worthy winners. I'm thinking particularly of the Milan defender: he's an example for everyone, one of those players who very rarely has an off day. Perhaps he's a little less attacking now than he used to be, due to his position in central defense. But with Nesta, he forms a very tough partnership to break down in a Milan shirt. I can assure you of that!

Do you think a particular match tipped the scales in your favor?

Honestly, I truly believe they wanted to consider my overall performance this year. But...

"Not playing in the Champions League final was terrible, I cursed myself"

But you can't deny that your victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals made a lasting impression. That night, Juve played with incredible intensity and passion. Didn't the criticism leveled at Italian football by the Spanish press only intensify your desire to win?

Quite possibly. They started criticizing us in the quarterfinals, when Barça were eliminated, with comments like: "The Italians have absolutely no game plan." That kind of talk certainly motivated us. We found it unfair and we wanted to prove them wrong. Even in Madrid, in the first leg (1-2), Juve had played a very good match despite the absence of three starters, who were suspended (Davids, Tacchinardi, Montero). The second leg at home was exceptional (3-1). A match played at high speed and fiercely contested until the very last minute.

Unfortunately for you, a foul on McManaman shortly before the end earned you a yellow card and a suspension for the Champions League final. What goes through your mind when the referee pulls out his yellow card?

Before making that mistake, I'd forgotten that I risked suspension with the next yellow card. And I only realized it when the referee pulled it out of his pocket. I was devastated. On my knees, I cursed myself, saying: “All the work of a year, even a career, has just been reduced to nothing.” I wasn't angry at the referee at all, but at myself... After the match, some criticized Lippi for not substituting me earlier. They were completely wrong! The match was still unpredictable and could have changed from one second to the next. We couldn't hide, couldn't hold back. Once again, I am solely responsible of my suspension. Which doesn't lessen the pain one feels afterward. Not playing in that final was terrible for me... (A pause.) This feeling is the same for any athlete who sees their efforts rendered futile by a referee's decision, fair or not. That's why, watching the last World Athletics Championships, I easily put myself in the shoes of the American Drummond, disqualified in the 100 meters for a false start and who had fallen on the track. I know what it means to work for a whole year, if not several years, toward a goal and see it all vanish like that. Even if, afterwards, you always find the strength to start again.

"One day, Lippi told me: "you're going to win it""

Without you, Juve saw the Champions League trophy head to Milan. Was it solely due to your suspension, or did your teammates expend too much energy playing a final before the final against Real Madrid?

It's true that we played very intense semi-finals, eliminating a team that was probably stronger than Milan. Perhaps we lacked a touch of rage, of grit, in the final. A match like the one in Turin against Real Madrid always leaves its mark, and perhaps we paid the price for it.

In La Gazzetta dello Sport, Zbigniew Boniek, a Juventus striker in the early 80s and teammate of Michel Platini, stated that you are the only irreplaceable player on the Piedmontese team...

Boniek's words please me, especially since people say I'm very similar to him in temperament. But I don't consider myself irreplaceable. At Juve, I'm just one important player among many. Only Maradona and Platini deserved that status of being indispensable. Not Nedved!

The former Polish international also spoke of a trademark regarding players from Eastern Europe. Do you consider yourself the symbol of a school, of a way of conceiving sport?

I think Boniek is right. Footballers from Eastern Europe, at least those of my generation, were accustomed to seriousness, discipline, and focusing on hard work. That's how society was, and it molded us in that way. Of course, since the fall of communism, mentalities have changed a lot. Today, there's more freedom, and that rigor is probably less pronounced.

Was 2003 your best year?

I think so. In the past, I've had some good periods, especially at Lazio. Even my first season at Juve, despite a difficult start, will remain a wonderful memory, especially on a team level, with the Scudetto clinched on the final day. But 2003 was truly exceptional for me. We won a lot of matches, and I played practically the entire season. And without getting injured, which I consider a great stroke of luck.

You never proclaimed yourself a Ballon d'Or contender. But someone readily acted as your sponsor: Marcello Lippi, your coach at Juve...

(His face lights up.) Lippi is truly a brilliant tactician and a wonderful person. When I arrived in Turin, he was immediately very close to me, constantly encouraging me during my first few weeks, which were quite difficult. As for the Ballon d'Or, he seemed to believe in it wholeheartedly. So, one day, Lippi said to me: "You're going to win it. Don't you believe me? Look at this bracelet on my wrist!" It's a gift from my grandson, and I never part with it. It has something magical about it, something that allows you to see into the future. And I saw the Ballon d'Or and a trip to Paris at the end of the year for you! Of course, I took it as a joke, but the coach was right. And then, he did everything he could to make it happen. For example, he played me in matches that had no real stakes for the team, simply to allow me to shine with the Ballon d'Or in mind. Lippi was very keen on that award. Perhaps because he's perfectly aware of the effort and hard work I put in every day.

He really wanted you at Juve, entrusting you with the reins of the game when Zidane left in the summer of 2001. Didn't you suffer in the early days from the comparisons with Zizou?

No one spoke to me about it openly, but it was one of the arguments that came up regularly in the press. For me, comparing us was a false debate: our styles of play are very different. At Juve, with Zidane, you just had to give him the ball and he'd take charge, orchestrate the play, find a solution. Today, the team plays differently, faster and more composed. Zinedine is pure football. With his technical skill, his ball control, his game sense, he can put himself or his team in a shooting position in no time. Me, I have to speed up the movement, hold onto the ball for shorter periods, so that the action doesn't lose its effectiveness.

"Zidane can be considered the best player in the world"

You've always claimed to have less class than him. Yet, in the end, you won two Scudetti in two years at Juve, as many as Zizou did during his entire time in Turin...

Statistics don't tell the whole story. Honestly, I think Zidane can still be considered the best player in the world. I don't deny that Juve benefited from my contribution. I think I make the team play with different characteristics than him. As a result, the Bianconeri were able to win with Zidane, and a very technical style of play, and then with me, in a more powerful and faster style.

You once stated: My game is made up of bursts of speed, accelerations, and crazy runs. It's unthinkable that I could break any longevity records. I'll stop before I even start the decline. Judging by the results, you seem a long way from retirement age!

As we say in my country for good luck, I'm clenching my teeth (equivalent to "touching wood"). A few years ago, when I was playing for Lazio, I imagined I'd arrive exhausted at thirty-two years old, a birthday I'll celebrate next August. I never thought I'd be able to maintain my form at the highest level, without slowing down, once I turned thirty. And yet, everything is going very well, and physically, I feel like I'm twenty-five! Even so, I have a very physical, very demanding style of play, and I don't see myself playing forever. I'm giving myself another two or three years to play at my best. And when my body sends me negative signals, when I no longer enjoy training, I'll say stop.

You signed with Juve until June 2006. Will this be your last club?

Yes, I can confirm that. Juve is the best. Here, for a player, there are no problems, no worries to have outside of football. The club thinks of everything and puts you in the ideal conditions to express yourself.

"Even on vacation, I have to exercise. Running is my drug"

You seem very close to the management…

Yes. In June, I was awarded Czech Player of the Year in Prague. Well, Marcello Lippi and the entire Juve management team flew in to attend the ceremony. That gesture touched me deeply. In football, even before results, I value relationships between people. I care about that a lot, and I have to admit that at Juve I've truly found a big family. Every player who has worn this shirt can attest to that: from the kit man to the technical staff, everything is planned, everything is done with the team in mind.

From the outside, Juve often presents a completely different image…

Because when something happens at Juve, a refereeing issue or anything like that, it's the end of the world. At another club, a similar event wouldn't hold the public's attention for more than five minutes. Juve is always under scrutiny. Logically, they're the number one club.

Last summer, you stated that Juve was ready to win on all fronts. Is that still the case, or will you prioritize a specific objective?

It's always risky to set a precise objective. Even though we all have our sights set on getting revenge in the Champions League. But we don't want to, and can't, neglect the league. Especially since everything changes so quickly in football. A month ago, Juve was top of Serie A, first in their European group, and already guaranteed a place in the round of 16. And then came the defeats against Inter and Lazio, plus the one against Galatasaray in the Champions League, and everyone started talking about a crisis. Juve is being given no quarter. But the season is still long, and we're still in contention in all competitions.

Let's get back to you. The Italians were so impressed by your work rate that they nicknamed you "Perpetual Motion." Have you always played like that?

Yes. And hard work is a core value for me. I haven't changed in that respect, and I still keep in mind the advice of my first coach at Skoda Plzen, Josef Zaloudek, who sadly passed away. He made me understand that only training, consistent and rigorous work, would get me there. If I'm where I am today, it's largely thanks to him. Hard work always pays off in the end.

It's said that you don't even stop during the holidays. Is that true?

Yes! And my wife has come to terms with it! In fact, I've barely had a few days of relaxation before my legs are itching to get going again. I absolutely have to exercise, to run. But I don't do it out of obligation. I really enjoy it. Throughout my career, I've maintained this daily training routine. My body has adapted; it craves it every day. It's my drug!

You could go on vacation with Giampiero Ventrone, the Juventus fitness coach...

(Laughs.) He suggested it as a joke last year! Actually, the exercises I do on my own aren't comparable to working with the club. I completely disconnect from the football world to dedicate myself to my family. I just make sure to get up early in the morning, go for a run, and do some light exercise before the kids get up.

Ventrone has a reputation for pushing his players to their limits. Is he tougher than Zdenek Zeman, the coach who brought you to Italy?

(Big smile.) They're both formidable opponents! But also two very different training methods. Zeman preferred to focus training on running: the 3,000 meters for endurance, middle-distance with sets of 1,000 meters, and the 100 meters for agility. Ventrone, on the other hand, emphasized muscle development, with many gym sessions. In fact, during my first few months in Turin, I suffered a lot from the heavy training. But I quickly got used to it. Actually, I was lucky enough to benefit from both methods.

In Italy, you're considered a champion on par with Del Piero, Totti, and Vieri. Many observers of Italian football believe you represent a new kind of superstar. Is the archetype of the great player changing?

Football is increasingly being played fast, very fast, with fewer passes. You have to gain speed to surprise ever-better prepared and more solid defenses. The future belongs to players like Henry and Cissé, who are incredibly fast and far from clumsy with the ball at their feet. As for me, I don't see myself as a superstar at all...

"I'm happy with the image I provide to young people, both in Czech Republic and in Italy"

You don't consider yourself an artist, but you've nevertheless scored some extraordinary goals, like the coast-to-coast goal (scored from your own half) against Modena in March, and the successful volley against Brescia a few weeks ago. Aren't you perhaps a poor self-promoter?

The truth is, I never dwell on my own performances. I always push myself to do more. In fact, at the start of each new season, I tell myself: You have to surpass yourself, take it to the next level. I constantly question myself in order to improve.

Some will see this Ballon d'Or as a tribute to hard work, as a victory of substance over football transformed into show business. In a way, Nedved the footballer is overtaking stars like Beckham...

Perhaps. As for me, I've rarely been asked to promote my image, and in any case, I try to avoid it as much as possible. I don't like my name appearing too much in the newspapers, at least not outside of my playing time, even though I completely understand that, for my club, media exposure is important. So, I limit my public appearances to a minimum. What makes me happy is stepping onto the pitch and giving my best. And the fact that people talk about that is more than enough.

Will this Ballon d'Or from France Football change anything about how you see your profession?

I don't think so. I'm happy with the image I project to young people, both in the Czech Republic and in Italy, and perhaps this Ballon d'Or will help them understand that with hard work, you can achieve prestigious goals. Even though I still believe it's incredible that a player like me could win this trophy! (A pause.) It's true that I feel a real sense of responsibility with this trophy and that I will do everything I can to prove that I fully deserve it.

How do you explain the Czech Republic's failure to qualify for a World Cup?

Life is funny: for the past ten years, we've qualified for every European Championship, but not for the World Cup. Before I retire, I'd really like to participate. Even though the 2006 World Cup draw gave me a headache! I was furious: every time, we get the Netherlands! And then there's Romania, one of the strongest teams in Eastern Europe, not to mention Macedonia and Finland, who could cause us problems. It's the group of death!

So, 2004 will begin with your Ballon d'Or, a symbolic prelude to a major event for your country: joining the European Union...

I'm deeply happy about it because the Czech Republic truly deserves it for all the hard work it has put in. Europe must be united and strong.

This also means unlimited opportunities for many Czech players in the major leagues. Do some of them have what it takes to knock on the doors of the European Cup giants?

Absolutely. Lately, there's been a lot of talk, including in connection with Juventus, about Grygera, the Sparta Prague defender. And we have a very strong pool of young talent with the U21 team that won the European Championship. I'm thinking in particular of Tomas Hubschmann, another Sparta defender. No need to introduce Cech, the goalkeeper who plays in France. And then there are others. The level of our league is higher than some people realize. Sparta's qualification for the Champions League round of 16 is clear proof of that.

For now, you're the only Czech footballer to have truly established himself at the highest level. How do you explain that?

I can't speak for others. As for me, I must above all thank my parents for the character I inherited: I never give up. I too have had problems, I've bent but never broken."