Newsgroup: it.sport.calcio.milan
Titolo: Ore 13:30 chat con Stam su uefa.com

Cdo, fra venti minuti.
- Wurrunna

Il log della chat. In esclusiva per voi, su ISCM. :)
seb: What did you think of PSV last night? Are they the toughest team
in your group?
Jaap Stam: Hello everybody! PSV have still got a decent team although
many of their players have left. Maybe they are not as strong, but they
are still a good side. I'm not sure they are the toughest team in our
group. Fenerbache and Schalke are also very strong. Nowadays there is
never an easy game.
Easter Island statue: What three pieces of advice would you give to a
young player?
Jaap Stam: That's a tough one! It's important that a young player is
willing to learn. If they don't have the right attitude they won't make
it. A young player must also enjoy his football, if he wants to get to
the very top. I would also say a young player must believe in himself
and not take much notice of what other people say.
Moderator: Hi everyone - some great questions coming in from Jaap. Try
and keep them in English if you can though. Thanks!
Shelbourne fc (ireland): jaap havin retired from the dutch team and the
worldcup fast approaching do u regret retiring and if asked would u
return
Jaap Stam: No I don't regret it and I won't return if asked. I believe
I have made the right choice. I wanted to give 100 per cent to Milan
and spend more time with my family. I wish Holland all the best at the
World Cup and believe they can do well in Germany.
Boeren: Jaap, is it possible that you will return to PSV Eindhoven
after your AC Milan career (just like Cocu did after his Barcelona
career)?
Jaap Stam: It is possible, but it depends on when. I've still got a
contract at Milan until the end of next season, and if I stay here
until then, then there is no way I will play for PSV because I intend
to retire. However, you don't know what might happen at the end of each
season.
pierre: everybody's talkin' about the old aspect of AC milan
defence.how do you feel on the pitch, and what about paolo and cafu
Jaap Stam: If you look at our team, we have players who are at a
certain age, and yes, our defence is quite old. Nesta and Kaldaze bring
the average down though thankfully. But the age doesn't say anything
about our capabilities. We are very experienced and everybody is still
very fit. It can take a bit longer to recover from injuries now, but we
can still make life hard for a lot of young strikers!
Quick fact about Jaap: Did you know Jaap Stam was voted the best
defender in the Champions League in both 1999 and 2000.
Very Big man: Which one person has had the biggest impact on your
career?
Jaap Stam: That will have to be Theo de Jong. He was a coach at the
beginning of my career, who took me along to several small professional
teams in Holland for trrials and he always believed in me. He was a
player himself, and he gave me a lot of good advice. As a young player,
you need confidence, and he gave that to me.
cmarriott: If you were not a (great) professional footballer, what
would your job be?
Jaap Stam: I'd be an electrician. I studied for it at school. I always
wanted to design the electrics for houses. When I finish playing
football, though, I don't think I will do that. Maybe some coaching or
scouting. It would be great to discover the talents of the future.
Very Big man: The defeat against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League
final must have hurt, given the circumstances of how it happened. How
does a professional footballer, especially someone as "battle-hardened"
as yourself, get over such a loss? Did it take you long?
Jaap Stam: It took me a while to get over it, even though I am
experienced. Life goes on, but a defeat like that really hurts. You see
Liverpool on TV and in the papers and you get reminded of it, which
isn't nice. It's not that easy to forget. The feeling fades over time,
but it will always be there.
CrEaTuRe: What was the greatest moment  in your football career?
Jaap Stam: That would have to be winning the Champions League with
Manchester United. However, winning any trophy is always great and that
is what I play football for. Another great moment was actually signing
a contract with United after leaving PSV. At the time it was a dream
come true.
Ber: Who do you think is the best football player of all time? and who
was your idol when you was a kid?
Jaap Stam: That's a tough one, but I would have to say Maradona. From
this current period, I would pick Zidane. As a child, I didn't really
have many idols, but I liked a lot the Dutch players, in particular Jan
Wouters.
BAYSAI: What is the toughest opponent that you have ever faced?
Jaap Stam: I don't have one in particular. Throughout the years I have
faced quite a few good strikers. Romario, Ronaldo, Adriano among
others. The Brazilian strikers are always hard to face because they are
so quick and skilful. But you have to back yourself aganst any player.
CEZ: You have played in many different countries. Which country shows
the "best" football - so to speak - right now, and where have you had
the most fun so far?
Jaap Stam: I don't know which one plays the football. In Italy the
football is more tactical, but in England it's much more physical for
the whole 90 minutes. On the other hand, in Holland they play very nice
football. I have enjoyed myself everywhere I have played and had fun at
every club!!
Shelbourne fc (ireland): what is ur most (faviourate ground) what
ground has the (best atmosphere)
Jaap Stam: One of my favourite grounds is the San Siro. Also the
atmosphere at the Nou Camp in the Champions League final was amazing,
with over 100,000 fans making so much noise. In general the atmosphere
in the Premiership is probably the best.
damio: Before matches what do you usually do to ensure that you stay
focused throughtout the match and as a result have a very good game?
Jaap Stam: When I wake up in the morning I am already feeling different
because it is a matchday. The game is the only thing on my mind. I
always hate it when we play in the evening, because I can hardly
concentrate on doing anything else. I sometimes try and sleep in the
afternoons, but it is usually impossible.
Quick fact about Jaap: Jaap signed for Manchester United FC for €16.7m
in 1998 shortly before the World Cup. In his first season in England,
he helped United claim an unprecedented treble of Premiership title, FA
Cup and UEFA Champions League, playing in all 990 minutes of United's
European campaign.
West Ham: Your old club Manchester United play Chelsea soon. Do you
think they can still challenge for the Premiership?
Jaap Stam: Yes, I think Manchester United can still challenge them.
Chelsea have got a lot of good players, but you cannot rule out United.
United still have a very good team, with a lot of quality players, and
if everybody is fit and up for the challenge then I think they have a
very good chance of winning the title again.
PSVJAAP: Jaap, can you select a favourite team with players who you
played with during your impressive career?Off course with yourself as
one of the central defenders ;-)!
Jaap Stam: 4-4-2. Dida (Schmeichel as sub after 45 minutes), Cafu, Me,
Nesta, Numan, Beckham, Keane, Kaka, Giggs, Shevchenko and Van
Nistelrooij. That was a very hard question. I have played with so many
good players. I didn't even have the chance to put Ronaldo in, who I
played with at PSV!!!
[Mettere Nesta e Cafu' e dimenticare Maldini e' abbastanza comico, ma
forse il ragazzo e' arrivato al Milan troppo tardi per conoscere il
miglior Paolino... ^___^]
Jaap Stam: Thanks to everyone for their questions. It was lots of fun.
All the best!!!!
Quick fact about Jaap: Great stuff everybody! Thanks so much for all
your questions - sorry if we did not get chance to publish them all but
we can assure you that Jaap read through the lot and was very impressed
with what a knowledgable set of supporters you are - in fact he said he
had a great time.
- Wurrunna