Spetember 12th, 1999

The goalkeeper is shocked about the mistake that gave the draw to Reggina: he hadn't been 
making such a mistake for two years and a half

Toldo tries not to make a drama

"Big mistake, but now let's think about Arsenal"

by Giuseppe Calabrese

REGGIO CALABRIA - He's got the same absent-minded look he had on the pitch after Reggi's goal.
It's hard to swallow such a mistake and Toldo is not looking for excuses. Neither alibis. 
He made a mistake, that's it, what matters now is to get over that ball that slipped and find 
the rage inside to turn the page. He talks about that moment with icy eyes and the anger that 
bits his lips. He's here, though. And he says: "There was a long cross and the wind made the 
ball's trajectory longer. I calculated the wrong length of the kick and I arrived late under 
the ball. I tried to take a remedy, but it was too late. The case wanted that Reggi was 
there..." Yes, maybe it was just just the case. Fifteen days ago it was Buffon's turn, Italy's 
number one goalkeeper, yesterday it was Toldo's, Zoff's number twelve.
"Now I want to forget this mistake quickly, even though it won't be easy. I must go ahead, I 
must erase this game otherwise you risk to worry for the whole season. It hadn't made such a 
mistake for so long, two years, two years and a half without a mistake then a high ball comes 
and everything collapses on you (the last mistake Toldo is referring to was in 
Fiorentina-Bologna on March 9th, 1997 -ed.)".
Logic does not make him calm, not today. "Yes, I know that a mistake can happen to anyone. 
But when it happens to a goalkeeper, everytone remembers that. In the first half I deflected 
a header from Kallon which could have closed the match but nobody remembers that. There are 
great saves and big mistakes, but only the mistakes are remembered. That's the way it is, 
I can do nothing about it. It's every goalkeeper's destiny". The team-mates gave him a lot of 
slaps on his shoulders, so did Trap. Toldo breathes faith but shakes his head: "I like my 
mate's and coach's solidarity, it's something important. But to make a mistake like this and 
to take two points away from you team is demoralizing".
The only way for him to get out of this psychological embarrasment is to look ahead, put his 
head into the Champions League. "Yes, from today we think about Arsenal. I cannot torture 
myself inside this match. There is no time to stop and think". Of course that goal will come 
to his mind so many times. And every time it will be the same uneasy feeling. The ball that 
comes, the mistake, Reggi's goal.
The draw. "By Tuesday I will have forgotten everything" he says. But he knows that it is not 
true. As he knows that he made a mistake when he went hard on Reggi two minutes after the goal. 
"I was still angry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt him". OK. Because after all, if there is 
something to blame, Fiorentina can have their say about the penalty, of course: "It was not 
right to give it, I am sure. Possanzini made the foul and then he leaned on Pierini and then 
he fell down". OK, but Cesari whistled and Reggina scored 1-0. But the reaction happened: 
"I saw a good Fiorentina, we never gave in. Scudetto? If we make points in the away games we 
can fight together with the other teams". You just need to make no more mistakes. 
Toldo smiles, but he doesn't feel like it: "OK, come on, now let's think about Arsenal. 
On Tuesday we have the Champions League and the best Fiorentina is needed. And also the best 
Toldo, but I am sure that I will manage to get over this moment". 

Taken from La Repubblica
www.repubblica.it
English translation by Maddalena (www.acfiorentina.net/enricochiesa)