APPIANO GENTILE – Inter were straight back to work this morning as they look ahead to their Serie A 2013/14 Week 28 match against Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi on Saturday 15 March.
The squad was split into two groups for this week’s first session: those who featured yesterday against Torino had a recovery session, while the rest worked on ball possession and short, high-intensity games.
The Nerazzurri will train again tomorrow morning.
APPIANO GENTILE – Inter were straight back to work this morning as they look ahead to their Serie A 2013/14 Week 28 match against Hellas Verona at the Stadio Bentegodi on Saturday 15 March.
The squad was split into two groups for this week’s first session: those who featured yesterday against Torino had a recovery session, while the rest worked on ball possession and short, high-intensity games.
The Nerazzurri will train again tomorrow morning.
MILAN – President Erick Thohir spoke to the press in Milan’s city centre earlier.
European qualification is within Inter’s reach now, just one point behind Fiorentina. Are you happy?
"Like I said yesterday, I think it was a special day, and it was good to give a present to the fans. It’s a good win, but we still have 11 games left, there’s still a long way to go. Hopefully the team can be more consistent and get points in every game."
Andrea Ranocchia played very well. Do you think it might be an idea to keep him?
"I think it is very important that I mention, as I have previously, that come the end of the season we’re going to review all the players, which ones will stay and which ones will have to move. But, in the end, I think it’s a good sign that everyone in the team wants to play their best. It’s a good sign that Andreolli and Ranocchia played well yesterday. It’s a good sign that they would like to compete with each other, and for Inter."
Could Esteban Cambiasso also be important in the future for Inter? We know he’s out of contract in June…
"I think we’re also negotiating with Palacio, and it’s important to look at Esteban Cambiasso’s performances. He’s playing well, Walter Samuel’s playing well, but at the end of the season we’ll review all of them, not only them. We’ll also review the young players because we want to build a team for the next three years and it’s very important they’re part of the planning for the next three years, not only for one year."
Is it true that Inter are interested in Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez?
"He’s a good player but we haven’t discussed anything with Chicharito nor with Torres."
MILAN – 10 March 1991 must have been a day like the one yesterday that saw the Nerazzurri beat Torino at home. A calm, sunny afternoon with a gentle breeze hinting that spring is on the way. When Milan is beautiful, it’s gorgeous.
Anyway, back to 10 March 1991. In Milan down on the stage of “La Scala del Calcio”, history was being made, something that had never happened before then. The sun decided to stop for a few minutes and light up one person. He obviously was wearing a Nerazzurri shirt, and carried with him an aura of pure charisma, to go with an unforgettable face and a memorable smile.
It was 10 March 1991 and Lothar Matth�us, the leader of a dominant Inter side in Europe – who just a few months later would hold aloft the UEFA Cup in Rome – was ready to drive his team-mates into yet another battle, towards yet another win. Who better than he, the captain and icon of the West Germany side crowned world champions the previous June?
That day Inter beat Juventus 2-0, and he scored the first goal with a thumping drive from outside the box, just to confirm he was the best around, not just there that day, but all over the world. Because before that match one of the best-loved number 10s of all time shared the ultimate individual prize for a footballer with his fans: the light struck him just as he brandished the Ballon d’Or. He was the first ever Inter player to win it.
He will always have a place in Nerazzurri hearts. It was 10 March, 23 years ago. But to us, it really does seem like yesterday.
