Inter’s Slovenian goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was interviewed exclusively by Sport360.com about a wide variety of subjects ranging from his future at the club, his goalkeeping heroes as well as the nickname he’s been given by the Inter fans.
Handanovic began explaining how he became a goalkeeper stating that “I was inspired by my cousin Jasmin Handanović, who plays for Maribor. He’s six years older than me and I fell in love with the position when I used to go and watch him, but I also liked Peter Schmeichel growing up. His presence in goal. His long throws were so powerful and allowed his team-mates to create danger at the other end. Coming off his line, he wasn’t afraid to take chances and his approach was clearly ahead of his time.”
The Slovenian shotstopper then turned to Inter and why he joined the Nerazzurri: “Inter is a unique, special, classy and exciting club. I joined when there was a changing of the guard in terms of a generation of players and the club’s ownership. All this gave me added motivation, although it’s only natural that you struggle at times with such a massive turnover in playing staff. It’s been strange but every team goes through unsuccessful periods in football.”
Above all Samir Handanovic is known as a penalty saving expert and is only 2 saves away from equaling former Inter keeper Gianluca Pagliuca’s Serie A record, to which Pagliuca stated that he not only expected Handanovic to beat his record but that he deserved to do so too. Handanvoic himself responds that “it’s always nice to hear praise from great goalkeepers of the past because only they really know what it’s like to play between the sticks, but any save that wins you a match or changes the course of a game is important.”
Due to his fantastic saves Handanovic has been nicknamed Batmanovic by Inter Channel’s Roberto Scarpini, but when asked how he feels about the nickname he gives a typical cool reply: “I like it. It’s partly down to the way I come off my line and, like any kid, I loved those cartoons! The time alone is just something you get used to. You’re always on your own in goal during matches too. There’s a great bond between the goalkeepers at Inter, though. We all help each other out, it’s very important. Above all its vital that there’s mutual respect and that you work well together.”
Handanovic then responded to rumors that see him leaving the Nerazzurri stating that “it’s nice to receive interesting offers as they confirm that you’re working well. I want to progress from a personal perspective and win things with the team here at Inter. There’s always pressure when you want to compete for big targets. That’s normal in the life of any sportsman. You have to handle it and a lot depends on how you deal with it.”
In conclusion Handanovic was asked to give his thoughts on what Inter can do this season “I think a club like Inter has to compete for big targets like Scudetto year in, year out but you can’t talk about it until it happens. So I’ll tell you then!”
