In a mile-long interview with Walter Mazzarri from today’s Corriere dello Sport, the new Inter coach talked about everything, past and present, and also confirmed the good feeling he’s already established with Inter.
Mazzarri, considering all the offers you had and the difficulties you’ve met here, from the ‘blocked’ transfer market to the likely change in the club’s management, what was it that made you chose Inter?
“For anyone who knows me well, dialogue is fundamental. The thing that was crucial for my choice was what President Moratti said, his words got the fire to burn in me. His speech was great and I found motivation in an instant. We understood each other directly. I already have an idea of who Moratti is and what Inter is, a very attractive club. The conversation with him strengthened my conviction.”
What did Moratti say to you?
“The content of the conversation is private and stays between us, but from that moment I haven’t thought about anything other than Inter.”
Ottavio Bianchi, who was at Inter’s coaching bench during Inter’s last change of ownership, said that situations like this affects the players calmness. Are you worried?
“A coach’s responsibility is to get the players to focus solely on what they do on the pitch. You need to isolate them from everything and everyone, give them the opportunity to train well. Nothing else should count for the dressing room.”
Does a coach, in situations like this, become more like a psychologist?
“For me, it comes naturally. Those who have worked with me before know that I deal with all aspects of the team and the people who work around it. I have only one goal: to get the maximum out of the team.”
Do you think that the change of ownership may affect your season?
“I don’t think about that problem. I take one day at a time, even one minute at a time, in my profession. Everybody here has a contract with Inter and now we have to focus on doing ours on the pitch. The president will inform the rest of us as he sees fit.”
Do you ask him anything about the club’s situation?
“That’s the only question I never touched upon with the president.”
Would you make the choice again to come to Inter?
“Of course, why wouldn’t I do that?”
How close were you to becoming coach of Roma in May?
“I can say that I had offers, but I will not go into that any further.”
If you had gone to Roma you would have trained Totti, who along with Pirlo is one of the last “immortals” of Italian football.
“To train players like Totti is a benefit because he, Zanetti and Milito are some of the few that could be considered timeless world class players.”
Have you ever been tempted to go to Russia to work like Spalletti?
“Yes, I thought about it, but then Inter came along.”
Why did you say no to an extension with Napoli?
“It was a choice that was guided by motivation., I can certainly confirm that I, in no way. presumed there would be an agreement before the end of the season with Napoli. Actually, as is often said, I could have decided to take a break for a period, unless there were any offers that I, perhaps instinctively, held to be exciting.”
Naples is more deep-rooted and suffer in the end for the big love. You went from hero to traitor in an instant. Are you disappointed?
“I can understand and respect that, but respect must always be mutual. I think a coach should be judged for what he does for cause from the moment he accepts the assignment until it runs out, and I gave it my all in a consistent way, with loyalty and respect. Likewise, in my opinion, a professional who makes another choice linked to both the private and the professional spheres.”
What is left of the great Neapolitan experience, which began with a sixth place from the end and finished three and a half years later with being qualified for the European Cups four times and a Coppa Italia?
“A lot, both professionally and personally. I’m particularly fond of the memories of a loyal, correct and respectful relationship with the people of Naples. The fans have from what I understood appreciated my character even though sometimes I was a little closed as a coach who is only engaged in work, who prefers action before proclamations and words. In the end, all this has given me the knowledge that I have built a winning reality, seen both from a sporting point of view and financially for the club.”
How much has the team and Mazzarri’s work influenced Cavanis wonderful development?
“What my strengths are should be evaluated by others, not by me.”
Was your first Napoli team, which you took over in 2009, further behind as a project than Inter are now?
“You can’t make comparisons because the situations are different. Back then Napoli was going through a difficult time, the season had already started and we were sixth from the end. Here we started from scratch.”
Is this, with Inter, the most fascinating challenge in your career?
“All the challenges are fascinating and different from each other. We say it’s a new challenge, and to me who is always looking ahead, it’s the challenge that I find myself in that is always the most important. I want. in the shortest possible time. to make Inter competitive.”
What does Moratti have that your previous presidents didn’t?
“Each of the relationships I have had with presidents are private and all the relationships I had with presidents in the past have been based on honesty and sincerity. With Moratti I already from the very beginning had an immediate harmony. It was a direct empathy, an incredible feeling.”
During the recently concluded tour of the USA you put together three losses and a win on penalties. How would you summarize the two weeks in the U.S.?
“I look at the bright side and this experience was important to move as quickly as possible to gather information on the team and then inform the club. Nothing else matters. Results in the summer has an importance for people, but not for the coach.”
What is your initial assessment of Inter’s team?
“Very positive given the desire to provide maximum and endure fatigue, something that will make the rest of the year more pleasant.”
When will we see the real Inter?
“Time is the most painful note in football. I hope it will be as soon as possible so that the team can demonstrate that it has a clear identity and plays a positive football. My real goal is to give fans the satisfaction they deserve and received during so many years. Previously, with my formations, I have always been able to play an effective game.”
You haven’t answered the question. How long will it take?
“If a person is serious, he can’t say a time or a date. It’s not the right way to get anything done.”
What are the characteristics that your ideal Inter must have?
“I have always used a word that should characterize my team and it’s ‘soul’. My formation must have an organization, a common purpose and a common idea. Fans in the stands always perceive certain things.”
Okay, if we say that Inter’s biggest problem to be solved is the defense considering how many goals were conceded during last season?
“A team will always be evaluated as a whole, and everybody contribute to the defense. Either way, my goal is to score a goal more than the others.”
An idea that sounds like something Zeman would say.
“The coach lives on the team’s performances. As long as we score a goal more than the opponents…”
Would a third place be like a Scudetto for Inter?
“I am the last person you should ask about objectives because I never limit myself or talk about goals to reach.”
What would the effect be if you got Eto’o as a gift?
“You know very well that I don’t talk about the transfer market.”
What do you think of the new signings Wallace and Rolando?
“Rolando, I had during a few months in Napoli and I know his strengths and weaknesses. If I wanted him, it was because I consider him useful. Wallace is young, has great prospects, but he came today (yesterday ed.) And I don’t want to say too much before I get to know him well. If we signed him, it’s because we believe he can be important.”
Fans and experts claim that Inter, despite the two latest signings, still lacks quality. Do you agree?
“It’s too early to make that sort of judgment.”
If we put it this way: if the transfer market was closed for Inter now, would this Inter be capable of aiming to “return to being competitive” as you said during your presentation?
“I have to repeat myself: it’s too early to make judgments. I’ve trained the team for 20 days and during that time we have also made a trip to the U.S. that made us unable to work as we did in Trentino.”
Inter’s fans see you as a top player, this season’s big signing. How do you respond to that?
“This love and this appreciation has made me very happy and given me a lot of strength. I don’t need it, but I can’t deny that it adds an extra spark.”
After Lucarelli, Amoruso, Bianchi, Bellucci, Pazzini and Cavani, attackers who all hit personal bests in terms of the number of goals in a season, who of Belfodil and Icardi will explode in Inter?
“They are both very young and have enormous room for improvement. I’m confident that they will be great attackers.”
Milito, when is he ready? What will he give Inter?
“Milito is included in the same group as Totti and Zanetti, meaning that he is a champion who can make a difference at any time. When he’s doing well, he will be very important for us.”
Can Palacio be your… Inter’s Lavezzi?
“Yes, provided that each player is different from the other. Both are good players and like Lavezzi was significant in Napoli, I hope Palacio can be successful at Inter.”
For the fans, Alvarez has been the player who surprised most during this preseason. Has Ricky surprised even you?
“He has been among the most positive so far. To become the player he could be, he must have continuity and still improve in some respects.”
Is Juventus the obvious favorite for the Scudetto?
“I talk about Inter. From today on, certain judgments are made by others.”
Was it perhaps a comment from a colleague, for example Conte, that made you irritable?
“I react when I get attacked, otherwise I never look at other people’s houses.”
Can Napoli be seen as Juventus biggest challenger?
“I repeat: I will not make any more judgments of other teams until the end of the season.”
Is this season’s Napoli stronger than the one from last year?
“I don’t judge that, but it’s what I heard from others.”
Do you like Higuain?
“Of course I like him… He’s a great champion at the international level.”
Is it smiles or a hint of jealousy when you think back on that investment today’s Napoli have made compared to those made during your four seasons in the vicinity of Mount Vesuvius?
“I’m smiling.”
The derby between AC Milan and Inter will also be a derby between two coaches from Livorno, you and Allegri. How is the relationship with AC Milan’s coach?
“It’s the two teams that go out on the pitch, not the two coaches.”
Is it easier to get a person from Pisa to get along with one from Livorno than one from San Vincenzo and one from Livorno?
“Latitude has no effect, and all people are different. The key is to respect the roles and people.”
After Inter’s meeting with Chelsea, did you ask Mourinho how to achieve good results with Inter?
“I talked to him before the game and we talked about everything but that.”
After the controversy in June, do you expect Cassano to be even more motivated when Inter face Parma on December 8?
“What controversy? For me, there has never been any controversy.”
Cassano said you promised him a place in the starting eleven, but then forced him to leave…
“I replied and said what I should. I promised nothing and don’t want to add anything more.”
Juventus and Fiorentina are among the opponents in the first five rounds. Had you hoped for an easier start?
“During the summer, you can’t say what will happen over the next months or make predictions in the schedule. So we don’t think about it and take one game at a time. In football you never know in advance which is the best time to take on a team. ”
Have you already grasped how important Inter’s match against Juve is for the fans?
“All games are important to me and I want to get the most out of each one. If the fans regard some matches different we will see with time, but we must focus on our own path and win as much as possible.”
Not playing in Europe for a new project like Inter’s means that you can train more. Will it be beneficial?
“Some advantages I think we have, but I hope to work for an Inter that next year will be back in the cups. This club can’t be without Europe.”
He is forty years and still have a strong desire to be in the top: Has Zanetti surprised even you?
“His strong desire to return to the football field shows what kind of champion he is. In his case, age is just a detail.”
Do you see the fire and desire in your players to erase last season’s ninth place?
“It’s too early to say now. We go into every game to get three points, but the important answers I have already received. It seems like the guys are motivated to redeem themselves after last year, but we need to get a good start, Already on Sunday in the Coppa Italia against Cittadella.”
How much have you aged during your 14 years as a coach?
(Laughs ed.) “Multiply by three years… The great pressure and responsibility you have in this profession that is still a privilege burns a lot of energy.”
How many years do you think you will age at Inter?
“I just got here. Give me some time to realize how much I will age.”
Do you think that Inter can return to winning like in the past?
“I had a feeling that we could start working from scratch and that it can be planned. It takes some time. I want to let the facts speak.”
Are Inter’s fans patient enough to wait?
“On all the major scenes there will sometimes be the end of a cycle and it must be accepted. Whoever loves this shirt must understand that there are times when a club has to be supported even if the results aren’t what you hoped. Even Barcelona went through a difficult time, but then came back and won it all. You must have the strength to get up, work and start over. That’s the only way you can return to greatness again.”
Source: fcinternews.it
