Category Archives: Inter Milan

Mazzarri: “We did everything we could against Cagliari”

Inter Milan

BIELLA – Walter Mazzarri was in Biella this afternoon to present his book ‘Il meglio deve ancora venire’ (The Best is Yet to Come), written with Alessandro Alciato. He also took a few minutes away from the event to speak to Sky Sport 24 about Inter.

The Nerazzurri coach said of his biography: "The third chapter is my favourite. It’s the one where I talk about my son and I find it hard to keep the emotions at bay. The book has given me the chance to show people know who I really am, beyond Mazzarri the coach."

He also commented on yesterday’s game against Cagliari: "I’m not happy with the result. We thought we deserved to win it and I think we did everything we could have. Unfortunately we are a few points short and that’s a cause for regret. Sometimes we do struggle at home against sides who park the bus. Referees? We’re unlucky. Don’t ask me to go into it any more."

As attentions turn to next Saturday’s trip to the capital and high-flying Roma, Mazzarri had words of praise for his opposite number Rudi Garcia: "I like the way he goes about things. He’s done extremely well in his first year in Italy. It’s a massive test for us against a great team and we’ll have to try and prepare for it properly."

Finally, the coach spoke about Icardi, Hernanes and D’Ambrosio: "Icardi has come along well and he had a very good 45 minutes yesterday. I’ll look at things in the week and then you’ll see what team I put out.

"Hernanes can really come in handy this year but also going forward: he offers us an option we lacked.

"D’Ambrosio has been training well and he’s improving too. I ask my widemen to do a very specific job: those who are in the team at the moment have been coming up with the goods so I’ve preferred to stick with them."

President Thohir: “We always have to give our best”

Inter Milan

MILAN – Nerazzurri president Erick Thohir joined us at Inter Channel for a brief chat today. This is what he had to say.
Welcome to Inter Channel, president Thohir. It was a shame about Inter’s result against Cagliari. Do you think the team deserved more? 
"Well, we didn’t play a very good first half. We were much better in the second half. I think it’s important for the players, the coach and even myself to enjoy this kind of situation. But at the same time we have to get results for the fans and the club. It’s like standing on top of a hill on a windy day. But it’s expected because this is Inter. There’s going to be a lot of pressure and expectations. And because we’re at Inter we need to make sure we give our best when we have the opportunity to play."
What did you like most about the team?
"The team is more balanced after the January transfer market. We have the possibility of attacking through the middle now, and not just on the right and left. And we’ve added a player that provides us with more cover on the wing in the case of injuries or suspensions."
Icardi demonstrated his quality. Can we look at the future with more confidence? 
"I agree. Icardi can be an important player. But this is a team and we need more than one player to win. At the same time we have Milito, Palacio and Botta – and Icardi, of course. And they have to work together for goals, because we can’t just play defensively without scoring."
On Saturday there’s Roma v Inter. What kind of game are you expecting? 
"We performed very well in Florence when we beat Fiorentina. It’s a very exciting league here in Italy. We need to earn points away as well as at home, since we only have 13 games left. We want to get points from all the remaining games in order to reach our target of qualifying for Europe. It wouldn’t be good for Inter to go two seasons in a row without playing in Europe."
What has your impression of Italy been over these last few days?
"As I said, very unpredictable and exciting. But I have high hopes that Serie A will work together with the teams and referees to create a better product. Serie A is competing against other leagues in the world, like the English Premier League and the Bundesliga. So we need to work together as a league along with all the components, meaning the referees and teams as well."     
Is there anything you would like to say to the fans at this moment?
"This is a transition period and it will take two to three years. But we had some good results from the January transfer market. We added some good players, and hopefully in the summer we can add some more to make a competitive team for Europe. Hopefully the next season will be a strong one, but we want to make sure the team will be complete in the next three to four months. And I think it’s important to share the same vision between the management, the coach and the players."

Guarin: “I’ll thank the fans on the pitch for their support”

Inter Milan

APPIANO GENTILE – Fredy Guarin has put it all behind him and is now only focused on his life as an Inter player. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sport 24‘s Andrea Paventi, the Colombian midfielder spoke about all this and more.

A new adventure with Inter after the closing of the January transfer market: “After the transfer market closed I went back to focusing on what I always have, which is doing my best for Inter, being a professional and working hard. This is what I can guarantee. I�m calm. I always work hard and give my all. That experience helped me to learn a lot as a man, both on and off the pitch. I got to know a lot of people and I was lucky to have been able to go through that experience. It will help me in the future. Now I�m happy and relaxed.”

Almost a push to prove something extra to himself and the general public: “I think I’ve had to work harder after what happened because the fans expected even more from me and I also thought I had to give a bit extra. I want to improve, get the team winning, give everything for Inter, for the supporters who have always believed in me and who did everything they could for me to stay and I owe them a response. I’m doing that bit by bit.”

What about his relationship with the fans, after the gesture in the game at Fiorentina and the reception he got before the match? “Players always need the fans’ backing and the player needs to respond to that. The only place I can respond to them is on the pitch with Inter. I really, really appreciate their support.”

The Colombian then discussed his and Inter’s current form: “Thankfully we won two games, I think from my own perspective it’s been positive and I expect to win as a team. I’ve not scored in a while? Yes, of course I like scoring goals and I want to, but if I can give the ball to a team-mate to score a big goal and the team wins, I’d rather play a pass. How much has Hernanes strengthened the midfield in terms of his character? He all know he’s a great player and person, it’s important for us to have big names like Hernanes, that way we have the mental strength as a team that we need. We’re performing well on the pitch, and thinking about improving with every game we play.”

President Thohir has spoken about referees in his recent interviews, which calls to mind the last time Inter won a penalty on 8 May, for a foul on Guarin: “It’s been a very long time, plus the video footage is there for all to see, but as a player it’s not up to me to get involved in these matters, that’s down to the club.”

What did he and Erick Thohir say to one another before the close of the transfer window? “All of what the president said came right from the heart, on the family and Inter, the only reason that mattered here, more than any other. He knew what sort of player I was. Did we talk about a new deal? Yes, we did. We’ve been talking about it for a year now and I think it will get sorted soon.”

There are some big months ahead with the World Cup on the horizon. What does Guarin need over the next few months to become a leader? “Time will tell, the only thing I ask is what the fans and my team-mates are giving me, their backing and support. My team-mates know me and they know what I can offer the team.”

Fredy, like Walter Mazzarri, wants to see his full potential reached: “Obviously I can always improve, the coach knows what I can do, he’s helped me an awful lot and I’m relaxed because I know I can always give more.”

He’s also got an eye on the Roma game: “Playing well for us means doing it every week. Roma are a brilliant team, who are doing very well this season, but we have just one aim in mind: win every match. We didn’t manage that against Cagliari, but we won the previous two by playing good football and showing determination, which is what Mazzarri wants.”

Guarin may be explosive on the pitch, but he’s a shy figure off it. Nevertheless he’s got something he’d like to say to the fans: “Yes, I’ve got a lot to say, but the only place to do it is on the pitch. Now I’ll take this opportunity in front of your cameras to say thank you to everyone that has supported me until now and at a time when I was about to make a decision which went against what I was feeling. But I’m here now and I’m beginning to start thinking about being an Inter player again. I’d like to thank everyone who has believed in me and what I can do on the field. Would I have to think about it if Thohir offered me a contract with Inter for the rest of my career. No, I wouldn’t think about it for one moment.”