With the season fast approaching and the players and QPR Rivals' team out in Italy for the pre-season tour we decided to drop in a cheeky request for interviews and, to their credit, three players spent time with us last Wednesday evening at their hotel.

 Now I've done tough interviews before. I was once charged with writing a 2500 word feature piece on a mother who'd lost her son in tragic circumstances. Not only did I have to speak to the poor grief stricken woman for three hours but we were both acutely aware that the story would never make it any further than the university press.

Awkward just isn't the word.

Of course Gianni Paladini provides a pretty tough interview subject himself - so desperate to tell you everything that's new and exciting at Rangers in answer to the first question which in my case is normally just "how are you?"

But nothing compares to interviewing QPR players. It's terrifying. I remember the first interview I did with a Police officer in Epworth who once a week would tell the work experience student at the local paper every minor crime that had been committed in the village and then it would go in that week's paper.

I sweated all the way there, stammered all the way through and reported to the people of Epworth that a five hundred pound pike had been stolen from a garage in Beltoft. The letters page the following week was not clever - a five hundred pound fish? In a garage? Stolen?

Of course I'd meant bike.

Anyway that sweaty nervousness has never re-appeared even when interviewing the recently bereaved - until last Wednesday that is.

I know I sound like a right tart and it's sad but those guys at QPR are my heroes and it's very strange trying to do a job there while all the time all my brain's saying is "that's Nick Ward hehehehehehe." Damn stupid brain.

Anyway I arrived at the hotel early - such is the quality of the cab driving in Sorrento it's possible to get anywhere in the town within seven seconds and I'd allowed myself half an hour - and sat in the lobby waiting for the players.

As will be reported elsewhere in our tour material the training ground was not conveniently placed for the hotel and the players were very late back. I sat and waited patiently, met Roley Birkin from the message board which was good - always nice to put a name to a face. I spoke to Paladini for ten minutes or so about the ever increasingly bizarre board situation and basically twiddled my thumbs until the lads arrived back on the bus.

Now of course once training is over there's still things like ice baths, saunas and injury treatment to get through before dinner and by the time they arrived back it was already getting on for 8pm.

Despite the long day, the obvious tiredness, the lack of food and the fact that they had to eat at 9pm Cook and Ward were both more than happy to talk to me straight after their sauna.

So not only am I terrified about doing the interview but I'm now faced with two of our squad members stripped down to just a towel. The faces of a thousand message board users flashed before me - they'd never ever let me live down the day I interviewed Lee Cook in a towel. I said I'd wait a while longer while they had dinner and, more importantly, had some clothes on.

And here's what those two, and full back Mauro Milanese had to say.

Mauro Milanese

Why haven't we seen a lot of you so far during the pre-season?

I've had a problem with my groin. I did it in the gym quite early this summer but it's not an important problem and hopefully I can play on Friday and be ready for the start of the season.

At the start of last season you were in and out of the side, why was that?

Well I arrived here quite late, maybe the beginning of August so I didn't have a long pre-season and then I injured my hamstring against Leeds and that kept me out of the team again.

When you did get back into the team you played at centre back for a while, is that a role you're comfortable with?

Yes it is. I played there also in Italy, sometimes as a third centre back. Left back is my position, that's where I play, but I don't mind centre back and I will play and do my best wherever Gary Waddock tells me to.

Have you signed a new contract at QPR?

Yes I've signed for another year, another season. We must do better this year for the fans. Last year we didn't win many home games and when we win at home it's like a giant party for all the fans so for them we must improve this year. We have two home games in the first week to start with and we must do well in these.

Despite the poor results at the end of the season you got a great partnership going down the left flank with Lee Cook didn't you?

Yes we did. Lee's characteristics suit mine. He likes to come short and pick up a pass to his feet and that's my game as well so we work well together. This season I think we will have a good season again, maybe even better because we know each other more and we have experience of playing together.

I suppose I'll have to ask about the World Cup sooner or later - I bet you enjoyed that.

Well yes of course I enjoyed it very much. Italy needed that, at home there are so many changes and things going on in the game - new managers, new teams, players changing - so Italy needed a good World Cup for some relief. I played with Grosso and Matteratzi at Perugia and with Canavaro and Buffon at Parma so it was good to see them doing well.

What's the difference between playing in Italy and playing in England?

Well Italian games are slower and possession is the most important thing. In England it's more intense and everybody is always pressing the ball. If you score in England it's then about going on for two nil and three nil. In Italy teams will stay tight and narrow - maybe a team will sit very deep for most of the game and really things only start to happen between sixty and ninety minutes in a game.

Also in Italy the referee's whistle is blown all the time. If the strikers feel the slightest touch they fall over and a free kick is given. The refereeing is better in England and the strikers stay on their feet more.

So you get away with more?

Laughs Well the strikers don't go down as easily, they try and stand up, but I can't answer that really!

Alright sorry, loaded question, which do you prefer then playing in Italy or in England?

I prefer it in England. It is better for the fans to watch and I feel it suits my game more.

What was it like playing for Inter Milan?

Well I was there for two years from 1998 which was the same time as Ronaldo and he was just unbelievable at that time. Every day in training it was incredible. Maybe after his knee injury it was difficult for him to come back to that level but before that he was a classy player.

Would you say that was the best time of your career?

No I'd say the years at Perugia and Parma was where I played my best football.

Lee Cook and Nick WardThe two of them seem to hang around together all the time and turned up, fully clothed this time, together for the interview as well.

How are you finding pre season out here in Italy?

LC - Well it didn't start too well to be fair, after that on Monday and they've had to look for a pitch with some grass on it which is a 45 minute coach drive away which isn't ideal. But everybody's just got on with it and as the week has gone on it's got a lot better. There's an excellent gym here and it's been hard work and very hot but I like a bit of sun so it's been good.

You all look knackered, the fitness coach says you hate him, is it really tough?

LC - Yeh pre-season is always the same but it's got to be done. We hate the running but we don't hate him - although saying that he didn't sing his song today. Everybody did their song on the bus except him and Prav. Very poor - what about team spirit?

Is it fair to say you looked a bit pissed off on Monday Nick?

NW - Yeh you could say that! It wasn't the best, the pitch was terrible but things have settled down a bit and everybody's trained well and got on with it.

What's it like training with the transfer listed players? Is morale ok within the camp?

LC - It's been difficult because obviously they're upset, they want to be playing just as much as the rest of us. It's not ideal but everybody has just got on with it. Gary says everybody is starting this season with a clean slate so there's still a chance for all those players here.

Lee your form went through the roof at the end of last season, why was that?

Well the new gaffer changed the style of the team and it suited me more. Olly liked to play a more rigid system and sometimes I'd be stuck out on the wing and not see a lot of the ball. Gary has basically given me more freedom, he's told me to get on and hurt sides although I've still got to do my bit at the back. I've got a bit more freedom basically.

You played with four different left backs at the start of last season as well which can't have helped?

Yeh I know, not ideal. I had Mauro, then we got Lloyd from West Brom, Rosey played there a bit and the young kid Andy Taylor from Blackburn then Mauro again. I didn't get chance to get a partnership going. Mauro and me played the last twenty games or something together and did well. He's been injured but hopefully he'll be back soon because we work well together.

I've got to ask if you regret leaving Watford?

No I don't, not at all.

Even though-

-even though I'd probably be in the Premier League. I love QPR, my family are local, they're Rangers, this is where I want to play. I'm playing for the team I like most in the whole country at the end of the day. Maybe if that wasn't the case I might regret leaving Watford but no I don't.

Is that the main reason for signing the new deal this summer?

Yeah basically. This is where I want to play - I couldn't not sign. We're playing good football now and Gary Waddock told me about people like Nick who'd be coming into the club and I want to be a part of taking the club forward.

Where did you sit then, back in the day?

Upper Loft.

Nick how are you settling in?

Pretty good, I've just got a flat sorted out and everybody's being really friendly so it's all good. I was a bit worried about having to go through an Aussie style initiation routine but everybody's been helpful and there's been nothing like that really.

Have you come over from Aus by yourself?

Well my Mum came over with me to start with to help me get settled in but other than that it's just me.

With rugby league, union, cricket and Aussie rules all more popular than football down under, how come you're a footballer?

Both my parents are from the UK so for as long as I can remember I've had a football in front of me.

LC - don't lie, you were just pony at everything else!

There's been a suggestion you could play up front, is that true?

Well not really. I play in midfield and I like to break forward from there.

LC - don't be fooled by the squad number.

NW - yeh I'm an attacking central midfielder, but nine was free when I arrived so I had that one.

We read a lot of stuff from the football authorities in Aus advising you not to come to QPR, why was that?

Yeh I know, they're just protecting their league I think. The A-league isn't very old and they don't want their best players leaving. I know they tried to make out like I was doing the wrong thing because I'd just signed a new contract with Perth but from my point of view I look at the Socceroos - just about everyone playing for them plays in Europe so I need to be here. They only played 21 league games there last season as well which just isn't enough - the season ended far too soon for me.

So you didn't ask Ned Zelic for some advice on signing for QPR?

Cook laughs No. I have played against him a couple of times but he's doing media work now and I didn't speak to him about it.

And you're both looking forward to the big kick off next week?

LC Can't wait mate, just can't wait. We've got something to prove after last season and I just want to get started now. We're going to play some good football and I'm looking forward to it.

NW My first home game's going to be pretty special for me I'm looking forward to that.

LC Night games at Loftus Road are amazing mate. I love night matches. Should be a good crowd for the Leeds game as well. The lads can't wait.

And with that I wished the players luck and left - they both looked shattered after a double training session earlier in the day and I was wary of keeping them too long into the night when they had the following morning off and probably had made other plans.

The one thing that struck me on the whole trip, but especially with these three, was just how nice all the players are with the fans. Milanese in particular is very conscious of the fans and how they all are and how the team need to improve for them more than anything else. Cook and Ward both waved and said hello to me later in the trip as well which they didn't have to do but was a very nice touch considering I've interviewed people before who have blanked me ten minutes after we've finished.

Cook and Ward even came up and introduced themselves to me to start with. "Hi I'm Nick Ward," and all I could say was, "yeh I know." Idiot. Idiot.

Thanks to the three players for taking the time to chat to me and being so friendly, and thanks to the club for helping arrange it with me.

Photo: Action Images

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