Ivan Perisic was interviewed by Corriere dello Sport in Doha. “We are top of the league and it is nice to be up there almost at the end of the first half of the season, but I think we need to do better. We hope to be able to do so from the re-start of the league.”
In what way can Inter improve? “
In the play. In some games we got the three points also because we were a bit lucky. With this I don’t want to say that we do not deserve to be first, on the contrary. Against Juventus, Roma, Napoli and five or six other games we have played real well but it is necessary to always do so or at least with more continuity.”
Do you believe in a scudetto winning Inter?
“I am an optimist by nature and I believe in myself, in the fact that we will be able to finish top three and I believe in the scudetto. It will not be easy because there is a lot of competition, Juventus have returned to the level of the last four years and Napoli and Fiorentina play really well. The best of the past seasons, while Roma passed a difficult time but is now returning to the levels of October-November.”
Which team do you fear the most?
“Juventus are strong, they have won 7 straight games, they have a group that know each other well and have 4 straight league wins. Compared to the other teams they certainly have a head start.”
What kind of advantage does Inter have compared to the others?
“Of the top five teams in the table we are the only ones that don’t have to play in the European cups- During spring the Champions League and the Europa League take a lot of energy, physical and mental ones. Being more rested could be something to take advantage of. We are leading and we are good, we need to believe in ourselves.”
In summer, during the negotiations between Wolfsburg and Inter, did you ever think that your move might not have happened?
“Yes, because the negotiations were hard and went on for 2-3 months. Personally I never had any doubts, because I had made my choice long before but I needed to wait for the clubs to find an agreement.”
How come you wanted the move to Milano that strongly?
“My dream was to play in Italy. At the age of 27 (which he will become 2 February) I knew that the right time had come for this adventure. After four seasons in Germany I could not wait any longer. At this you also have to add that one of the biggest clubs in the world, Inter wanted me. As soon as my agent told me about the offer from the nerazzurri I had no doubts.”
Is it true that you could have come to Italy in previous seasons?
“Yes, there were contacts with Napoli before and after the World Cup in Brazil. The talks were serious, but not enough so to come to a contract signing. Probably if I had not injured myself in the left shoulder (fracture and operation) things would have gone differently. Bigon (the Napoli sporting director at the time) talked to my agent, but knowing that I would not play for 3-4 months slowed everything down. At the end of it I returned to playing after six weeks..”
Would it be correct to say that the Inter fans have not yet seen the real Perisic?
“I can do better, that is for sure. I expected to have some difficulties because when you arrive in a difficult league like the Italian one it is inevitable that you will need some time to adjust.”
Do you like being a part of an Inter with a lot of Balkan players? “
Yes, I like it. But it is not a new thing with a lot of players from former Yugoslavia in the serie A. When I was young I followed the serie A and I remember there were a lot of Croatian, Serbian and Bosnian players. That should mean that we are considered to be good and reliable.”
Your teammate Brozovic is in this group as well, before the Christmas break he scored a few goals that were not half bad.
“We have played together in the national team the last two years and I saw there how good he is. He has everything to become one of the best midfielders in the world, but now it is up to him to prove himself in every game. The last goals he has scored have been incredible and I hope he continues.”
Jovetic and his Montenegro will not be present during the European Championships in France.
“About Stevan I can only say positive things because he is a real friend and super striker. I have known him for 10 years and I know what he has done during his career at Fiorentina and City. He will be fundamental for Inter as well.”
What is your impression of Mancini, the coach that worked so hard to have you?
“With him you work a lot on a tactical level, because he is a coach that is very attentive about the details. He knows how to explain what he wants to the group and the fact that we concede few goals is no coincidence.”
So far though you have not scored a lot and won several games 1-0.
“For me this is a result that is new. Because in Germany only 1 or 2 games of my team have finished 1-0 in 4 years. Anyway it is not a problem, the important thing is winning and getting the 3 points. We have not always played great and yet we are up there in front of all the others. This makes me hopeful about the future.”
What do you ask of 2016?
“To win with Inter. We need to forget the loss against Lazio and get the three points at Empoli. We are leading and we want to stay there.”
Source: Corriere dello Sport
