Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti gave an extensive interview to Il Giornale about the situation at the club right now, with regards to both what’s happening on the pitch as well as off it. Below SempreInter.com reports the interview in its entirety.
Inter vs Roma is your game. What do you remember from your essentially Scudetto winning goal in 2008?
“Surely it’s the celebration when I ran the full length of the pitch whilst my team-mates where shouting at me to stop, with Vieira who wasn’t able to stop me. This time it’s a direct encounter for Champions League qualification, but just like all fixtures that remain, they are all finals. With rergards to our project off the pitch I can say that not qualifying for the Champions League doesn’t change Suning’s mission, a project can’t depend on a result.”
How is Zanetti inside the club?
“I always make sure I’m available, the Vice-Presidency was a surprise. I only wanted to make sure that I am useful. After 3 years I can say that this is a new phase of my life. I continue to learn. One step at a time I feel more and more involved in major decisions as well as appreciated, but even if it was just an honorary role it would still be an honor. Before I was judged by what I did on the pitch under the watchful eyes of everyone looking on. Now no one sees what I do and I enjoy working in silence.”
In what areas do you intervene?
“I support the sporting side, I speak a lot with Pioli and with the boys but I also sign marketing contracts. Suning want me to be involved in 360 degrees of what is happening. I finished playing and I started studying, I never want to come unprepared to a meeting. Right now I’ve come out from one meeting and Iäm going into another. My wife jokes and says “I saw you more when you were playing.”
Steven Zhang has moved to Milano…
“Suning’s approach is to involve everyone, in order to be a big family. Steven wants me to always be clsoe to him because they respect Inter’s history a lot. We speak a lot. The fact that they are here is very positive because up close you can understand better what happens in a football as complicated as ours. It’s only a matter of time.”
For the fans, the name Suning rhymes with money. What do you think?
“For me money is secondary, the project is much more important. However, I wont deny that having a group like this who support you isn’t beneficiary. In my philosophy a team needs to be as close as possible to a family which mirrors the values of the club. The everything else will come. We have our feet planted firmly here in Milano and our heads looking outward to the world. Suning have great ambitions. If you look at the latest Deloitte report there is too much of a difference between us and Manchester United’s turnover. We are expanding, we have to increase our revenue. We are in two leagues, the team has to qualify for the Champions League and we have to get into the top 10 list of European clubs.”
Can Juventus be a reference point to emulate?
“No. We have two completely different sets of club history. Our ideas and our DNA is completely different. However, aside from their victories Juventus have been doing very well for a couple of years starting with their ownership of their stadium.”
Juventus means Derby d’Italia as well as constant controversy…
“The last incident was a piece of candy when compared to what happened in 1998.”
Mauro Icardi was suspended for two matches. Is Mauro’s story similar to yours?
“It’s a match that always contains a lot of tension, this is what tricked Mauro. He noticed right away that he made a mistake, he apologized to the referee’s in front of me. Icardi is a well-mannered kid, Mauro and I have two very different personalities, but he also keeps very close to the club, given his young age and his role he’s doing great things. He deserves a national team call up. Given the desire that he’s accumulated after being suspended for two matches I will have to say that he will be the one to decide the match against Roma.”
Or maybe Gagliardini?
“He embodies Inter’s values in that he is polite, well mannered and professional. He is not only our present but a reference point for the future.”
Are we moving towards a more Italian Inter?
“It depends. If we have 11 foreigners who are all focused on Inter’s best, it doesn’t matter. However, one of our priorities is to keep an eye on young Italian players. I really like Berardi, Bernardeschi and Belotti but if you invest in young players you need to understand that you must give them time.”
As with for example Gabigol?
“We did well with him from the start, because Inter shoul be a starting point for his career, not a landmark.”
What do you think of the Bonucci vs Allegri argument?
“These things happen, what’s important is that it ends there. An incident like that shouldn’t distract from the main objectives and goals of the team.”
What about the coaches you have had in your career, has this happened?
“I have discussed with one or two, but I put all personal differences aside for the good of the team.”
Did you do this even with Mazzarri?
“He didn’t play me in the derby, in the end I was on the bench but I never said anything. It happens that you don’t see eye to eye, but the mutual respect was always there and in the end I thanked him because after the injury everything that happened was just a bonus.”
Now you’re a director and you have Pioli. What do you think of him?
“He arrived during a very difficult period, we did well to play as a team. I was struck by his humility and his work ethic. Choosing him was a decisive act, the first one too made by the new management.”
Have you ever toyed with the idea of becoming a coach?
“Never, it’s far too much stress involved.”
Do you prefer being President?
“I’m happy with things as they are [laughs]. Facchetti is always a point of reference.”
Argentinian football is in chaos, what will you do if they call upon you?
“They already have but my present and future remains with Inter. If I can I will lend them a hand, given my new assignment with FIFA. I hope that more former players can help out, in Italy we have Zanetti, Nedved and then thats it. I hope that Buffon and Totti remain in the movement even after they hang up their boots. This idea that former players are unwielding is wrong, the experience on the pitch counts for much. For example regarding Totti’s eventual retirement plans I think that you need to be intelligent, selecting the right time to quit. It’s better to do it when you’re doing well and not to wait until everyone else make you understand how they view you without saying anything. Yo need to avoid being only tolerated. I decided to call it a day when another cycle was beginning and the club was changing.”
Milan’s Chinese owners are arriving, any thoughts in this?
“They are welcome if they can help Italian football to grow.”
Tomorrow Donnarumma turns 18, he is the new Buffon, however who is the new Zanetti?
“I want to take this opportunity to wish him a happy birthday. Italy has a great future with him and the other youngsters. The new Zanetti is my son, he’s only 4 years old and he runs and runs and runs…”