Inter legend Walter Zenga spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Sunday’s derby:
“I was at Wolverhampton for 87 days and in that time Inter changed coach three times. It’s not easy to come back from such a period. There are still 26 games to play, Inter has 17 points. Roma finished 3rd with 80: the calculation is easy.”
Would you say Champions League is impossible? “I would say it’s hard to reach. But obviously Inter has what it takes to do it. When it comes to the derby, there is never a favourite. Now we have two unknown teams”
How would you form the team? “With Jovetic behind Icardi, 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1.”
What kind of Milan will Inter face? “I think Montella is better to answer that question: and what will Pioli do? Anyway, Milan is more of a team today than Inter. They’ve been working with the same coach since July and have a base of young and strong players.”
Are you impressed by Montella? “Montella came from a negative time at Sampdoria. When he arrived he was Clinton, the sure winner, but it happens that Trump wins sometimes. But a good coach remains a good coach. He took strength from that experience to manage a new team and he adapted to the material of his new team.”
Two players that can decide the derby? “Eder and Bacca. I love Eder and think he is a super professional and a man with a capital M. But Bacca, who hasn’t scored in five games scares me.”
How will it be for Pioli to start off his stint at Inter with a derby? “For a coach it’s a good thing to start, period. Just imagine doing it in a derby with Inter.”
Who had the least patience, Wolverhampton or Inter? “Wolverhampton with me, absolutely. But me and De Boer have a thing in common: Chinese owners… The important thing is to transform the negative into something positive, just like Montella did.”
Knowing it hurts, were you hoping of taking De Boer’s position? “During the days before the position was filled I thought it was my destiny. Me getting sacked from Wolverhampton and De Boer getting sacked from Inter at the same time. Also this time, I hoped so.”
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
