Baptista, a former player from Real Madrid, Arsenal and Roma, recently accepted an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport and talked about the lack of black head coaches in the five major leagues.
How would you evaluate your experience in Rome?
"If I look at the experience holistically, I would say it was an important few years, and of course I'm sorry not to win the Scudetto and end that way. It seems some people remember me more for my mistakes than my overhead goals, do you think that's fair? Maybe some people should be told to do their job and deliver the message better."
Sevilla brought you to Europe, was that where we saw the best of Baptista?
"Yes, I have feelings for all the teams I have played for, but Sevilla will always be special. I scored 47 goals in two years, and I was like an armored car. From then on, they started calling me a beast, and half of Europe was pursuing me."
Among suitors, you chose Real Madrid during the Galacticos era.
"A crazy team, it is difficult to find space. Capello is on the coaching bench, the strike partners are Ronaldo and Raul, Zidane, Beckham and Figo are behind them."
Then you chose to join Arsenal on loan in order to seek stable playing time. Did you know that you are one of the few players in history to score 4 goals at Anfield?
"I didn't know it at the time, but I know it was an incredible night. I scored four goals and we won 6-3. When I was substituted, the whole stadium gave me a standing ovation. I looked up and saw a red wall. A stand of die-hard fans like the Kop standing to salute you, not to mention that you are the opponent, it gives you goosebumps."
Almost went to Milan
"It was 2007, and I spent two unsatisfactory years in Madrid and London. I knew AC Milan wanted me, but in the end, they signed Pato and I went to Roma. Think about it, they won the Champions League that May..."
The Champions League always seems to be won where you are supposed to be, which is like a curse in your transfer entanglement. In fact, something similar happened before Mourinho won the Triple Crown with Inter Milan. Was it just a signature that time?
"We were really close, yes. I was on the phone with Moratti and Mourinho liked me, and then it didn't work out and Roma wanted more money. So Inter turned to Sneijder, my former team-mate at Real Madrid. It's a shame, maybe in one of the two I could have won the Champions League."
You once said that black coaches get fewer opportunities. Is this because of racism?
"I don't know, but it's a fact that there are fewer opportunities for black coaches. How many black coaches do you see in the big five leagues? I see very few. I'd like to think it's just a coincidence, but unfortunately I don't think so. There are just fewer opportunities for black coaches, and I hope I can reverse that trend."
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