Former Inter manager Mircea Lucescu has reminisced about his time in charge with the club among various other Inter related topics in an interview with Italian news outlet FCInterNews.it.
He started the interview by recalling his first Inter memory: “You would expect me to tell you something about when I coached the Nerazzurri but that is not the case.
“The first memory linked to Inter dates back to my childhood. As a child, I went and seen Inter against Steaua Bucharest. I took a few slaps, as I tried to enter the stadium without paying.”
He then went on to reveal how Andrea Pirlo ended up leaving Brescia for Inter and revealed that he had been contacted by Ernesto Pellegrini regarding taking the Inter job years prior to him actually taking the job.
“One year when I was at Brescia we organised a match against Inter’s reserves. We drew 0-0 and in that match Moratti felli in love with Pirlo and decided to sign him. It was the first time I met the president in person but it was not my first contact with a president of Inter. Years before Pellegrini had looked at me.
“Pellegrini wanted to hire me. I went to his house several times and his wife Ivana, who was passionate about graphology and made me write and do some drawings. They wanted to know everything about me. Nothing happened though because Corioni didn’t let me go.”
He then reflected on the few months that he managed Inter during the 1998/99 season.
“We started well. At home we scored 25 goals in just a few games. We were a fantastic team in an attacking sense but perhaps had some defensive defects.
“I arrived after Gigi Simoni, who had just won manager of the year. The press certainly weren’t on my side. Second of all, many players were in the last year of the contract and wanted, let’s say, to be seen. Thirdly, we suffered mulitple injuries. Also, in February it was announced that Lippi would arrive in the Summer. All these things did not help.”
Next he went on to discuss being unfortunate in European competitions whilst he was in charge at Inter.
“We deserved to get past Manchester United. Away from home they cancelled out a very good goal from Simeone and we were not given two clear penalties. In the return leg we were 1-0 ahead but we missed some chances. Manchester United went on to win it that season but without all those mistakes, we could have won it.”
The Romanian was then asked who was the best player in his Inter side which was full of superstars.
“Il Fenomeno Ronaldo. It is too bad that he suffered a few too many injuries, but he was very strong. We had a good relationship.
“I also had Simeone and Javier Zanetti and let’s not forget Baggio, another absolute champion. It is too bad that I was never able to take over this team in the Summer, it is never easy to tak over during the season.”
As with Simeone, my pupil, or with Javier Zanetti. And let’s not forget Baggio, another absolute champion. Too bad not having had the opportunity to take a rose like this in the summer. It’s never easy in the current season. ”
Lucescu, who last managed the Turkish national team between 2017 and 2019, then spoke on former Inter president and owner Massimo Moratti.
“He has always been a gentleman. When we lost against Sampdoria I called him to communicate my resignation. Baggio and many others tried to make me change my mind, but by then I had made my decision.
“I said to him, ‘I have to do it, otherwise the players will never take responsibility.’ The President then accepted and did an incredible thing. He continued to pay me until July. I then went back to Romania and won the league. However, we continued to stay in contact with each other, so much so that I recommended Mutu and Emre Belozoglu to him.”
He then went on to share what he thinks of today’s Inter.
“They have done well. It’s not as if they had to win the title right away. I am convinced that next season Inter will really fight for the Scudetto with Conte on the bench. Inter do not need a revolution, but rather targeted adjustments.”
In conclusion he spoke on Brescia’s Sandro Tonali, who has been strongly linked with a move to Inter.
“He is a great player, who needs to be signed. He deserves to play for a great team. He reminds me of Tielemans. Inter should absolutely try to sign him.”
