Inter legend Marco Materazzi gave an extensive interview to Corriere della Sport focusing on the clash against Juventus this Saturday.
”It has been a while since Inter had the chance to play a game like the one we will se on Saturday” Materazzi began.
What the result be?
“I say Inter will win. The team and the club can not miss this opportunity to take an importan step towards next year’s Champions League and also complicate the Scudetto race for one of its biggest rivals. If Juventus do not win in Milano there is a great chance that they will be surpassed by Napoli and all the Inter fans can enjoy the victory in another sense.”
Allegri has said that this is the decisive game of the season.
“That is the case. Juventus is furious after the loss against Napoli and therefore they will be even more dangerous. But, San Siro is our home where Juventus just can not win. If we do not beat them on Saturday, the race for one of the four Champions League spots gets complicated.”
What does Inter have to do in order to close the gap to Juventus and Napoli?
“We are talking about teams with different paths, because Allegri and Sarri have been working with the same group for 3-4 years, while Spalletti arrived last summer. The right thing to do is to give the man some more time: Inter has the quality but without the money from the UCL and FFP restrictions there is no room for transfer market mistakes.”
With De Vrij Ausilio took another…Materazzi?
“De Vrij is a phenomenon, a defender with 6-7 goals in the Serie A who also leads the team. A great signing.”
What is your favourite moment from your clashes against Juventus?
“The victory in the Italian Super Cup 2005 in Turin when Veron scored in extra time.”
Ronaldo recently said that Inter fought a corrupt system, do you agree?
“Ronaldo was on the pitch on that May 5th and I respect his thoughts that all Inter fans have. There are other statements on which I would like to say something.”
What statements?
“Those from Ceccarini regarding Juventus vs Inter in 1998. I was not there and I was just a fan, but I remember well what happened. His words made me feel sorry because the whole world saw what happened. If he after 20 years still thinks it was correct to book Ronaldo for diving, I really do not know whether to laugh or cry. He made a mistake once and continues to make mistakes even now.”
Will Inter be in the Champions League next year?
“I hope so. Against Milan and Torino the team played well but threw away at least 3 points. Let us just hope that these points will be decisive.”
Will facing Lazio in the last round bring up memories from the lost Scudetto from May 5th 2002?
“May 5th 2010, we won the Italian Cup at the Stadio Olimpico, the first of three trophys that season and put some things back to order even though I would love to be able to replay that game in 2002. This Inter has the possibility to write another page in the history books, with 3 points we will not win the Scudetto but qualifying to next year’s Champions League would be an important step towards getting Inter back to where this team belong in the history.”
