Felipe Melo spoke in length to FCInterNews.it on his time at Inter amongst other Inter related topics: “For me, the arrival at Inter was the realisation of a dream, I wanted to wear that shirt for many years. Even from the days of Mourinho, who had tried to get me. But you never know how life can go, things change quickly and there are no certainties. I played for other top teams and in other countries like Turkey, but in the end fortunately I managed to arrive at Inter. This is what matters and that to me is important. Unfortunately I only spent half a year at Inter, too little. The owners have changed and it is normal to focus more on young people. I’m not sorry to have arrived in Milan at age 31, not at all. I made my journey that has allowed me to grow a lot, including an experience at Juventus which for me was important.”
Melo then spoke on Roberto Mancini and what might have been: “Inter would be in the Champions League if Mancini never went. And there are no doubts, I say 100%. Roberto is Inter through and through, the Nerazzurri world knows that very well and he was definitely the best coach for our team. Last summer was special: everybody remembers the blows we took during pre-season, we spent more time on aeroplanes than on the field working. When talking to the players of PSG and Bayern Munich and explaining our situation, they did not believe all of this, these great logistical difficulties. Mancini was very angry about these issues. There was so much confusion. I repeat, the coach was perfect for us. And the season without him we all know how it went…”
The Brazilian midfielder then discussed his relationship with Frank de Boer, who succeeded Mancini: “I do not like talking about the professional De Boer, I prefer not to. I will just say that with him I always did my job, giving 100% for Inter. Honestly. De Boer gave me little space, even though during his tenure I trained and worked even more than normal. Then when he left, with Pioli I had my chance. He gave me another chance and I think I have answered on the field. We brought home a lot of matches, losing very little. I am satisfied with my performance. The little space was De Boer’s choice, but he still has my respect.”
Melo then gave his views on how Inter can return to being competitive: “Now it’s up to owners, who must take the right players for this Inter. But remember that money is not everything: if a player is bought for 70 to 80 million euro and the team struggles, it normal for him to be ‘sucked’ in to the general difficulties. It is not his fault.”
Gabriel Barbosa was the next topic Melo discussed: “Unfortunately Gabriel arrived in Milan in a difficult moment for Inter, who had not won and has not won for so many years. The club must believe in him. Otherwise you run the risk of repeating the mistake made with Coutinho. In Milan, he has said little. Come on, please….it takes a little intelligence, otherwise then you cry if Gabriel becomes strong in other teams. We’re talking about a 20 year old boy who has yet to get used to the Italian world, because in Brazil it’s all different. For me he is very strong and he has already shown that in Brazil, both with Santos and with the Brazilian national team.”
Source: FCInterNews.it
I agree on many points. We should learn not to repeat the last season mistakes. Do the pre season properly! Give maximum efforr to spalletti?
Melo did stupid things on the field, but off the field he is quite clever. All things he said is make sense. Some fans and ignorant management didn’t see clearly about what was happened last summer. That’s how wrong decision had been made.
Look melo had his flaws but he was experienced/mature player. He was bossing the midfield until that game against Lazio when it all came crumbling down.
Our management is retarded. We should have kept the Mancini project.
But Mancini’s project was Yaya Toure, Zabaleta, etc., let alone, that the club must create the project! Not some coach, who dream to be english type manager with all the power, but without capacity and capability to fulfill it!
Agree except “the Manicini would have brought us above Roma or Napoli-thing”. No way we would have finished above these two superbly playing teams last season.
thohir is the one to blame he sacked mancini and start the instability to the team with bringing de bore
He actually talks a lot of sense regarding Gabi. Hopefully we hold onto him for a long time
Nonsense, it would have required 87 points, no coach in the world could get that with inters current team.
I’m sure Mancini would have finished 4th though.
i as well think a Europa league spot is more realistic for what Mancini could have done.
somehow mancini managed to finished at 4th with player like biabiany, nagatoma and santon
but I still hate the declining after january, because he leave jovetic and Ljajic on the bench and put 7 defensive minded player on starting XI.
remember that he wanted salah but inter signed jojo instead
yes, and also get melo instead of yaya. he right everything about defending, but so much wrong decision about attacking.
he did improved icardi from a immovable statue to movable striker and brought perisic here