Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelino has recalled the moment he came very close to being appointed as Inter’s head coach in 2016.
The Spaniard was one of the candidates interviewed by the Nerazzurri after they sacked Frank de Boer, following a dismal start to their Serie A campaign.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday, Marcelino admitted that at one point he felt very confident about getting the job, only for things to change at the last minute.
“Four years ago I had the opportunity to coach Inter,” Marcelino, who has also coached the likes of Villarreal and Valencia, recalled.
“When the second meeting with their management ended, I thought I had a great chance to join the staff there.
“But the next morning everything changed and Stefano Pioli was appointed.
“No explanations were given to me, in those circumstances they preferred an Italian coach over a foreigner.”
Marcelino then confirmed that he did indeed turn up to his Inter interview with a slideshow, as was suggested at the time when he was among the candidates for the role.
“I think Italian teams are clubs that work with rigour and great detail, with lots of analysis,” he explained.
“Therefore I wanted to prove that I was up to it, trying to gain the trust of the other side.”
In conclusion, the 55-year-old shared his admiration for current Inter coach Antonio Conte, who currently has the Nerazzurri the top of the Serie A standings and in a great position to win a first Serie A title since 2009-10.
“In Conte’s Inter I see things that repeat in every phase of the game, which makes me understand that there’s a lot of work behind it,” Marcelino explained.
“This attempt to create a team that everyone identifies with easily is very important.”
