Sergio Scariolo, the assistant coach of NBA basketball team Toronto Raptors, has spoken on his love for Inter ahead of next weekend’s Milan derby in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“My uncle was a great fan and I fell in love with Inter thanks to the Grande Inter team. One of the first games I remember is the Champions League final of 1967, we lost to Celtic. My first time at San Siro was for an Inter-Juventus match which we won 2-0 and Jair was great in the game. The last time I was at San Siro was in 2014 and I was there with Nicola Berti.”
Scariolo was then asked what the greatest joy he has felt as an Inter fan was.
“The Champions League win in Madrid, it was a crazy trip for me. I was my team in the morning, flew from Russia via Paris to get to Spain. I then got in the car after the game, back to the airport and back in RUssia in time for the Russian basketball league semi-finals the day after.”
Scariolo then shared his thoughts on this year’s squad and manager Luciano Spalletti.
“This year’s team is complete. As a fan and with respect I say that keeping Rafinha and Cancelo would have been nice but obviously it has not been possible. Lautaro has the potential to be a champion.”
“He kept his hands on the steering wheel when things were not going well and did not look for excuses. What a manager wants can not always be fulfilled be he thought of the collective at all times.”
He concluded the interview by giving his thoughts on the debate on who is better between Mauro Icardi and Gonzalo Higuain.
“Higuain is very strong but maybe he has already reached his peak whereas Icardi can still grow.”
