Inter’s first match in 2014 will be played against Lazio, and Dejan Stankovic, with a background in both clubs, was interviewed by Messaggero.
After 6 months without football do you already feel the withdrawal symptoms?
“I haven’t had time to realize it, I miss the locker room and the pitch. Watching Inter-Milan made my heart beat faster… Now, I enjoy family and I’m the father of three boys who have grown rapidly and all of them are playing in Inter’s academy.”
Where do you live?
“I chose Milan and Italy: I feel Italian, my kids are, and here I have been well received.”
When you came here you weren’t much more than a boy.
“I was nineteen years old. Lazio and Roma fought a derby in the transfer market won by President Cragnotti.”
What do you remember of your past in Biancoceleste?
“It was a fantastic five and a half years. Lazio was the club that invested a lot to get me and brought me to the big football. In Rome, I became a man and important football player in the team that, during that period, was the strongest in the world. I’ll never stop thanking them.”
Then came the move to Inter.
“The club is Lazio’s twin club. During nearly ten years with Inter, I had the honor of wearing Inter’s shirt and win everything a football player dreams of winning.”
The greatest success?
“The Champions. Right after that the Scudetto with Lazio.”
From the derby in Rome to the derby in Milan.
“The pressure you experience in Rome becomes a backpack of responsibilities that weigh you down during the game and affects your performance on the pitch. In Milan you feel the pressure in how you approach the game but then you think only about the show and those who lose aren’t held accountable in the same way.”
Which player were you most attached to?
“Sinisa Mihajlovic, a big brother, godfather to my children: I owe him a great deal. Then I want to add Roberto Mancini, both as a teammate and coach. But I think I had a good relationship with everyone.”
When the league starts again your two former teams are meeting.
“Right now they’re a long way from the top, especially Lazio. Football consists of ups and downs and Lazio have been disappointing. But I’m convinced that they, with the coaching change, will make their way back. Inter have played too many draws but can get momentum after the victory in the derby.”
The table says that Inter will start the match as favorites.
“When the league starts again it’s always difficult to make predictions, I say we start from the same position and I think both teams will be near the top of the table in the end.”
How come you turned down the position as president of the Serbian Football Association?
“At thirty-five years of age I don’t feel that I have broad enough shoulders to solve the problems in the Serbian football. I was honest with myself, without creating expectations among the people . I feel too young for such a delicate role, but I won’t give up the national team.”
What are your plans for the future?
“I’ll think it over calmly, I don’t want to make any mistakes. No matter what I’ll stay in football.”
Source: fcinternews.it
