Inter Primavera goalkeeper Filip Stankovic has admitted that he is missing football amid the ongoing global Coronavirus pandemic.
Due to the pandemic, football in Italy has been put on hold for a number of weeks and it remains completely unknown as to whether or not the season will even resume given the circumstances.
“I miss football and going out and being with my friends but I have taken this situation very seriously. I am staying at home with my family and I am following the training program that Inter sent me,” he remarked in an interview which appeared in today’s print edition of Corriere dello Sport.
“In ten years time I will remember the faces of the doctors and nurses that were marked by the masks and long days without breaks and perhaps after sleeping only a couple of hours. They are fighting against a sneaky enemy and are real heroes.”
He was then asked what he is missing most due to the pandemic.
“I miss my daily life. I miss playing football, going to training and seeing my girlfriend. Fortunately we have been able to video call one another for a while.
“There is a chat with my Primavera teammates and we speak to each other every day and we sometimes also play the PlayStation together.”
Next he was asked if his father, the legendary Dejan Stankovic, has given him any advice to follow and discussed his father’s coaching career.
“He has told me to respect all the rules. He is with us and now we are happy,” he continued.
“What do I wish for him to do as manager of Red Star Belgrade? I wish for him to win at least 50% of what he won as a player, it would not be too bad.
“I would be a dream for me to be coached by him at Inter one day but the experience I am having under Antonio Conte is very beautiful.”
Stankovic was then asked how it felt to recently be named on the bench of the first team and if he always thinks about making his debut.
“It was a unique feeling to be amongst top players. You always learn from them. Making my debut for Inter is a real dream of mine.”
The 18-year-old shot-stopper then went on to conclude the interview by revealing he is inspired by fellow Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.
“Handanovic inspires me, he is Slovenian, just like my mum is. He tells me to work, work and work and I will keep the other advice he gives me for myself.”