Between 2001 and 2010 he wore Inter’s shirt, winning five Scudetti, three Coppa Italia as well as the Italian Super Cup and the Champions League. He was voted as the fourteenth best goalkeeper in the world during the the first decade of the 2000s, he was the hero of the match between Italy and Holland in Euro 2000. His business card speaks for itself. Today Francesco Toldo is working both with the project Inter Campus and as goalkeeper coach for Gigi Di Biagio’s U21 national team. In an exclusive interview by our partner fcinternews.it he revealed his thoughts ahead of the match between his two former teams, Inter and Fiorentina, his outstanding career and his relationship with Massimo Moratti.
Tomorrow, Inter and Fiorentina will meet. The match of your life?
“Absolutely. Eight years in purple and nine years in black and blue: my entire career in Serie A was spent there. They were two great experiences. I came to Florence from Serie C. I came to a very hot area and I had to quickly adapt to such a scene. We were a young team, eager to do well. We won two Coppa Italias and the Italian Super Cup with a team that hadn’t been lifting any trophies for twenty years. A similar situation, that is a big desire to win victories that have been missing long, I found at Inter. Then we won everything and I would say that we did it with interest. I think it’s only Barcelona and Bayern that have won as many titles in recent years.”
Your fondest memories of the two shirts?
“Moments worth remembering in Inter are countless, from the saves in Valencia to the many ‘crazy’ turnarounds. If I had to choose one it will be the festivities on the streets of Milan after the Scudetto in 2007 which we won after a fantastic journey. Similar festivities are a classic in football, but I assure you that it gives special feelings to experience it. In Florence, I have a similar memory: Franchi full of frantic people waiting for us to return from Bergamo where we had just won the Coppa Italia in 1996.”
Any episode of your matches between Inter and Fiorentina?
“A match in Milan, I played with Fiorentina and it was the season of 1996/97. I remember that I really wanted to make a good impression because I thought: ‘You never know if this will be your stadium…’ I made an excellent save on a shot from Djorkaeff. It was an amazing action, ruthless and pure instinct.”
And the two current teams, what are your thoughts on them?
“Inter and Fiorentina are two teams who seem to be intent on owning the ball. Teams that are trying to dominate the opponent and play nice football. As a former goalie, I can say that these are qualities that provide great security and self-esteem to all eleven players on the pitch.”
How far can the teams go in the league?
“It’s hard to say right now, but I think both will end up high in the standings. Inter’s cycle must begin now, after three years of rebuilding. I think Inter supporters will be able to dream again shortly. Nobody should have any illusions that it will be immediately… I remember when Mourinho arrived in 2009, a journalist asked me if we were ready to win the Champions League. I told him that the time had not yet come, but that the path we have taken was the right one. Now, on the other hand, I believe Mazzarri is the right person to lead the team and I believe that significant investments will be made in the future.”
Let’s talk about this future: What do you think about the change of ownership?
“If president Moratti has chosen this it means that he certainly has done thorough investigations which convinced him. Moreover, it is solely up to him to make certain decisions.”
Tell me about your relationship with Massimo Moratti.
“It has always been marked by a frank and honest dialogue. I have never hidden my thoughts, we both always put what is good for Inter first. Then the President is a person who is very versed in football. He understands the nuances, details and characteristics of all players.”
Was the finest moment in your relationship when you two, along with Luis Figo, presented the project Inter Campus at the UN in November 2012?
“In 2010 I decided to finish my career. I announced this to Moratti immediately after the victory in Madrid. He immediately asked: “Francesco, I would like you to come and work at the headquarters. What do you want to do? I chose Inter Campus and for three years time I have been ambassador. This is a fantastic project which brought us to the UN in New York: a fantastic memory.”
Let us return to football. An assessment from a former great goalkeeper: do you see yourself in Handanovic?
“I must say that I do. Initially when it comes to his ways, always calm and humble. We are also similar in terms of how our careers have looked: he began in a team like Udinese and then went to Inter. Technically, he is a goalkeeper who is always ready, reliable, which provides security to the other parts of the team, and he never blames anyone.”
As goalkeeper coach for the U21 national team, what are your thoughts about Bardi ?
“If he continues to develop in the same way, he will have a great future ahead of him.”
Finally, what kind of game do you expect tomorrow?
“I think it will start, during the first 20 minutes , with the teams studying each other. Then I expect a thrilling second half with emotions from both sides.”
Source: fcinternews.it