Massimo Moratti is overjoyed at Inter’s 19th Serie A title and has backed the Nerazzurri to keep winning for many years to come.
Inter were confirmed as champions yesterday for the first time since 2010, after Atalanta were held to a 1-1 draw away at Sassuolo.
Moratti was in charge of Inter the last time they won the scudetto and admitted it had been a long time coming for everyone attached to the club.
“My first thought went to my father Angelo, to Giacinto Facchetti and Giuseppe Prisco, to Mauro Bellugi and Mario Corso,” Inter’s former president told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview for today’s print edition.
“They were great Interisti and they would have celebrated this title like mad.
“I also thought about the fans with whom I’m sharing this joy today; finally, another Serie A title!
“I had a very touching exchange of messages with Steven Zhang yesterday afternoon as well.
“In terms of adrenaline, there’s no comparison to when you win the title while in charge of the club.
“But I have other things in my life as well, you’re much calmer when you’re not there.”
Inter won five Serie A titles in a row under Moratti between 2006 and 2010 and the 75-year-old was asked if something similar could happen under Antonio Conte now.
“This Inter team has everything it needs to keep winning trophies and do well in the UEFA Champions League,” Moratti argued.
“Suning is a big powerhouse, the COVID-19 impact was difficult to foresee but I think things are calm again now.”
Conte is receiving huge credit for Inter’s scudetto triumph and Moratti added his name to the list of his admirers.
“He has enormous merits in this scudetto, he put his face above the parapet for a long time,” Moratti added.
“It wasn’t easy to isolate the team from all the off-field rumours.
“That was a new challenge for Conte, but we already knew he was capable of keeping everyone on the ball, even those who weren’t playing much.
“Inter need to keep going with Conte.”
Moratti also offered a comparison between Conte’s Inter and the one coached by Jose Mourinho, before pinpointing the moment at which Conte stopped being a ‘Juventino’.
“It’s always difficult to make comparisons but this group looked like it was on a mission as well,” he said.
“They are two super-professional coaches with a visceral passion for football and the work they do.
“Conte’s argument with Andrea Agnelli during the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg in February was the night when he was confirmed as ‘anti-Juventino’, what satisfaction!”