Sabri Lamouchi: “Wonderful Experience At Inter But It Was Very Difficult To Play”

In an interview with Italian news outlet Il Posticipo, former Inter player Sabri Lamouchi has reflected on the two year spell that he had with Inter between 2003 and 2005.

The former French national team midfielder joined Inter from Parma and left the club for Marseille after 26 appearances in a Nerazzurri shirt, in which he failed to make any goal contributions. He spent the second of his two years out on loan at Genoa.

“It was a wonderful experience, but there was a lot of competition for places, there was a squad made up of 32 professionals and many players who were in their national teams, it was very difficult to play,” Lamouchi, who is currently the manager of Qatari club Al-Duhail SC, began the interview.

“It was a tough year due to the three changes on the bench: at the beginning there was Cuper, then Zaccheroni arrived, then Mancini.”

The now 49-year-old, who also played for the likes of Auxerre and AS Monaco during his playing career, then went on to touch upon his relationship with former Inter manager Hector Cuper.

“He was a tough man. I think Cuper didn’t want me at Inter from the start, maybe that’s why we didn’t talk so much during the season. It was an unfortunate year but it was an experience. There were great champions like Zanetti, Vieri and Cannavaro. Playing for Inter is always nice even if it’s never easy to find space in a big club.”

He then reflected on when Cuper was replaced by Alberto Zaccheroni and what has stuck with him from his time with Inter.

“I remember the most difficult moment, when we changed coach. Zaccheroni arrived after Cuper. I was struck by the attitude of the team, the club, the fans who remained close to the players with their great passion.”

Lamouchi concluded the interview by speaking on the time he spent at Genoa with Diego Milito, who went on to become a treble winning hero for Inter a few years later.

“I remember an extraordinary person, a humble man with an impressive talent. When I left Genoa in 2005 and joined Olympique Marseille, I told them that if they signed him he would score 35 goals a year.

“He went to Inter and had the career that we know. Diego is a decent person with a beautiful family, a great professional, I would like to see him again and hug him.”