MILAN – “I’m very satisfied to be back here, because of the warmth I hold for Inter and the memories of what we achieved in the past,” began Roberto Mancini as he sat down with Roberto Scarpini for an exclusive interview with Inter Channel.
And how better to kick things off than with a look back at those glory years? “I still remember the first Coppa Italia we won, beating Roma in the final. Our rivalry with the Giallorossi in those days went down in the history of Italian football. Then we went on to defeat Juventus in the Italian Super Cup at the Stadio delle Alpi. From that moment on, the team never looked back.
“We had some great players with bags of character. Over time, we developed an amazing level of maturity and it soon became clear that our squad was head and shoulders above the rest. What’s my favourite achievement? Well, I remember them all fondly rather than one in particular. The Scudetto we won at Parma was certainly more exciting than the others because it came down to the last day of the season, but they were all amazing in their own right,” explained Mancini.
After sealing his status as a successful manager with the Nerazzurri, Mancini swapped Lombardy for the blue side of Manchester. “We had big financial resources, so it was easy!” he joked. “But seriously, going to a league you’re not familiar with and constructing a winning team in a short space of time is no mean feat.
“We did well and we had luck on our side. The players we chose to bring in then went on to rewrite the Premier League and Manchester City history books. We won the league for the first time in 40 years. It was a wonderful adventure,” recalled Mancini.
After England, of course, Mancini headed south to Turkey to take charge of Galatasaray: “I really enjoyed my experience in Turkey. I met some splendid people and worked with many great players. We won the cup and even though we were in ninth position when I arrived, we finished second in the league. That was important as it meant we qualified directly for the Champions League.
“It was a very positive year. Spending time abroad really opens your mind. In England, for example, football has an altogether different meaning. It’s a source of great enjoyment for the fans, regardless of results,” explained Mancini.
Much like Mancini himself, the conversation eventually found its way back to Milan and Inter. Asked which player best encapsulates his years at the helm of the Nerazzurri, Mancini replied: “That’s a tough one, as there are so many names I could give you. Without wanting to disrespect all the others, I’ll go for Javier Zanetti, simply because he won everything here. He made history with this club. Under my reign he played in several positions and always excelled, whether that was as a full-back or midfielder.”
There was also time for a quick reflection on the present and immediate future of the club: “It’s been wonderful to come back here and experience that connection with the fans. Now it’s down to me to make the squad understand my ideas quickly so that we can taste success again.
“There’s work to do, but we’re on the right track. Third place? First of all, we need to believe we can achieve that, otherwise there’s simply no point. It’ll be difficult, but you always need to have confidence in your own ability. It’s up to us to go for it, both in Serie A and the Europa League,” concluded Mancini.
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