The SempreInter.com crew was in Milano during Monday to Tuesday for the game against Juventus. On Wednesday we had the honor to interview the legend Francesco Toldo about the game against Juventus and other topics that are currently being talked about in the Inter world. Below is the video in Italian and the whole English translation.
What do you think about the game against Juventus?
“It was a great game where I saw an Inter who made a great comeback. The team proved to be in great mental condition and in the second half they had the chance to gift the fans a pleasant surprise and grab a victory due to some great chances. Most of all I think that it was a great game from Inter who proved their character. Inter is coming back because they have everything to construct a great future. They have the resources both as a club, and as a team to return to the great years and write history just as in 2010.”
During your time you had Cruz who was known for scoring against Juve and now there’s Icardi. How important is it to have strikers who can score in big matches like this?
“It’s true, I call these strikers ‘snipers’ because they have one opportunity and manage to score. I think that every important team needs to have at least one striker like this. All of the top-teams in Europe and in football in general need these great strikers. The important thing is that they are fed with opportunities and that they don’t only have that one opportunity in all the game. Icardi is still young and I think that he can still improve a lot to maintain a great level.”
Is what happened between Icardi and Osvaldo on the field normal?
“Yes, absolutely. I think it proves the attachment to the situation and the team because it means that they care. Then these are players and guys that were effected by playing a heated game in an intense moment. I think that the important thing is to clear the air straight away in the locker room. And this is a situation where the teammates are important because they need to calm their friends down. Though a situation like this is not always negative, it could also be positive. Maybe it’s a bad thing to do in front of the kids, but caring about winning also means fighting over a missed pass because you were in a better situation. Icardi will have his reasons and Osvaldo as well but the important thing is that this ended that night at the Juventus Stadium and doesn’t continue.”
Is a great striker also a great individualist according to you?
“Osvaldo?” Icardi as well.. “All great strikers are individualists. A great striker should never pass in front of goal. Though of course it’s the responsibility of the players and the coach to make the team try to give the chances to the players that are in the best goalscoring positions.”
What do you think about Podolski’s performance against Juve?
“He didn’t have a lot of time though you could see straight away that he has a very strong character. He doesn’t get effected by the pressure. He made a positive impression on me, though you can’t judge him after only 30 minutes because he’s a player who just arrived in a new club and we will be able to judge him further forward.”
Were you impressed by how he entered the field without fear?
“It was surely one of the positive things he showed. He proved he has a strong character and personality. If Inter has bought him, he of course has the quality and talent to play at the highest levels.”
Handanovic had a great game, is there anything he can improve?
“Handanovic is a legend according to me. He is improving Inter with his saves. They seem like they are normal but in reality I don’t believe they are easy saves at all. This goalkeeper needs to be praised a lot more because he neither celebrates nor gets sad. He just continues to make great saves. He is often put in difficult situations because the team or the defense sometimes loses concentration but he is always ready. There will be people who say that it’s normal for a goalkeeper to be ready at all times but I also think it’s normal to praise this goalkeeper who has been doing very well in a difficult situation.”
Both against Lazio and Juventus Inter has made comebacks, are these reactions coming thanks to Mancini?
“I think that Inter has these reactions by themselves, it’s in their DNA and the coaches need to be good enough to evolve this as much as possible. This coach is very experienced and he will know how to get the most out of the talents of this team. I think that Inter is on its way back and this is proved by the desire of the club to invest. This is why I think that Inter will be back where they belong in 3-5 years and that they will stay there for a long time.”
What has Mancini changed since he took over from Mazzarri?
“Normally when a coach joins a club he always seems to be a savior, though he needs to confirm this in the longer perspective. If you aren’t getting results, you don’t have a lot to say. Mazzarri took over Inter in a tough situation during an ownership change. Now this ownership change has been fully finished and this is when the situation is getting more stable. I think that Mancini will have a good future with this team.”
Can Inter hope to reach the third place?
“I wouldn’t shout out loud about the third place. I would take one step at a time and I would think about it game after game. Because it’s in poor taste to lead people on who will become sad if you are to finish fourth. Inter needs to think about every game as a possibility and try to make the best out of those 90 minutes.”
Maybe with a bit help from the mercato Inter is more likely to reach the third place?
“This club is organized greatly and they always keep an eye on players that could be signed in the mercato. The sporting director Ausilio and his collaborators know exactly who the players to sign are.”
How do you feel about Ausilio’s first year as sporting director?
“It is his first year with the title as sporting director, but he has a very long experience. The important thing is that the person is honest and competent, then they won’t fear anything. If Ausilio is this? Absolutely.”
And next up, Gasperini’s Genoa.
“Yes. Inter should face every game as the second half against Juventus. I think that it needs to be Inter that dictates every game and when Inter attacks, all teams need to fear them. Inter has all qualities to own the games. Inter needs to be a bit more careful about not making mistakes and not to give away space easily to their future opponents.”
Source: SempreInter.com. The reproduction of this interview can only be used quoting SempreInter.com
Photography and editing: Thomas Salme