Veron ready to prove his worth

Euroscene: Funny blokes, these British football commentators - imagine not rating a player like Juan Sebastian Veron, writes Paddy Agnew.

If the Argentinian international lines out tonight at the Olympic Stadium in Rome in Chelsea's Champions League clash with Lazio, rest assured he will be treated with fear and trepidation by a club which recalls his formidable footballing qualities only too well.

The story of how and when Veron joined Lazio in 1999 underlines his high standing in Italian football, despite his Old Trafford disappointments.

Six years ago former Lazio owner financier Sergio Cragnotti tempted England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson away from the manager's job at Blackburn Rovers (Eriksson had already given a verbal commitment to Rovers' owner Jack Walker).

On arrival in Rome, Eriksson boldly spelt out his requirements regarding new players, including three from his then club, Sampdoria - current Lazio coach Roberto Mancini, Serb defender Sinisa Mihajlovic and Veron.

The Lazio management were perplexed. Mancini, at 33, seemed far too old while Mihajlovic's reputation for "gamesmanship" was well established. While Lazio had doubts about the first two they needed no convincing regarding Veron who, not surprisingly, proved the most difficult and expensive to land - $29 million from Parma two summers later.

Speaking in December 1999, Eriksson made this prophetic observation: "It's taken a bit of time to get the three players I want, because Mancini came directly with me, Mihajlovic the year after and then Veron this summer, but I've got them all now. With them in the squad, I have the players I want."

With Veron in the squad, Eriksson also had a side good enough to win the Serie A title six months later.

Veron almost certainly owes his high reputation in Italy to the quantity and quality of his midfield generalship in that Lazio championship winning side.

Indeed, were it not for their much-publicised financial problems, Lazio might have already reclaimed a player who has never made any secret of having left a little piece of his "cuore" in Rome.

Two small anecdotes may illustrate Veron's continued high standing in Italian football. On the night of Chelsea's 2-1 win over Lazio two weeks ago at Stamford Bridge, he received a warm reception from the visiting Lazio fans, who spent some time chanting his name.

Later, in a post-match interview, Mediaset TV commentator Alberto Le Guan probably summed up a widespread sense of Italian bemusement about Veron's status in England, when saying to him: "Amazingly, yesterday in separate press conferences both coaches, Ranieri and Mancini, spoke out in your defence saying that you are one of the best midfielders in the world. Problem is that, around here, they don't yet see it that way."

To which the laconic Veron replied: "Ah well, that's normal enough, you can't always have the press on your side."

It is true, too, that Mancini, who knew Veron as a Lazio team-mate and as assistant coach to Eriksson, has never hidden his admiration for the player.

Asked about him at yesterday's pre-match press conference, Mancini replied: "I do think he is one of the best players in the world, but I don't know if he will be playing against us tomorrow night."

Mancini, like many others in Italian football, feels if Veron has so far failed to cut the ice in the Premiership, that "failure" has much to do with exaggerated expectations at Old Trafford, adding: "I don't agree with those who say that he hasn't shown what he can do in England. When you get the call from Manchester United then the risks outweigh the advantages because you are joining a club that is accustomed only to winning."

Mancini is too diplomatic to add that perhaps there was a more specific reason for Veron's "failure" at United. Accustomed to being given a free rein at Sampdoria, Parma and Lazio, Veron clearly found it difficult to fit into a United midfield where he had a specific role, sometimes out wide.

Back "home" at the Olympic Stadium tonight perhaps Veron will confound his British critics.