Former Inter striker Ivan Zamorano feels that his former team were unfairly denied a win over Juventus after a controversial penalty saw the Bianconeri manage a late equalizer to take a point from Sunday’s clash at the San Siro.
Speaking to Italian news outlet Fanpage.it, the Chilean called the result a “theft” while he also gave his thoughts on the Nerazzurri careers of two of his countrymen, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez.
The Nerazzurri had looked to be seeing out the match protecting their slender advantage against Juventus on Sunday, defending deep and preventing the Bianconeri from finding the telling chance from which to equalize.
However, late on in the match, the VAR advised the referee to take another look at a challenge between Inter wing-back Denzel Dumfries and Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, and he deemed it worthy of a spot kick on second viewing.
Zamorano was upset by this and felt that it took a deserved victory away from the Nerazzurri.
The Chilean began by talking about his time at the club, stating that “In that period of suffering for an Inter who came close to the Scudetto several times, I managed to have an enormous connection with the fans.”
“The Nerazzurri fan is passionate and warrior, just like me,” he went on, “and that period of ‘Pazza Inter’ in which we only won one UEFA Cup allowed me to feel the enormous affection the fans had for me deep inside. Because I have always had to fight, from an early age, to earn my bread.”
Zamorano explained that “Perseverance has always been my main gift. Just think of the original scenario: I came from a Real Madrid in which Jorge Valdano no longer saw me as useful despite being the top scorer in the 1994-95 season.”
“As soon as I arrived at Inter I knew that I had to follow the lesson my mother had given me as a child,” he continued. “I had to fight to find a starting spot. And that’s why the Inter fans love me, because I never gave up, even in the most difficult times. And they saw their effort as suffering fans reflected in me. We identified with each other.”
On his happiest moment playing for the Nerazzurri Zamorano stated, “Definitely the UEFA Cup final won in Paris against Lazio. That evening we were in the city of lights and one of them illuminated us in an extraordinary way. I scored the first goal of the match, we triumphed and I became the first Chilean ever to win a continental trophy.”
“It was a magical night and something special was born, I remember the whole game, because I had a great performance. In those images I see an experienced footballer who contributed to a long-awaited victory and managed to experience it with the extraordinary fans who had travelled many kilometres to see us triumph.”
On his former club’s match against Juventus on Sunday the Chilean reflected that “Unfortunately, that’s how football is. An episode decides everything. When I saw Iuliano take Ronaldo down in the area I was two meters away and I didn’t understand why the penalty was not called.”
“At that moment we realized that it was a theft, we had all seen what it had just happened. And in the subsequent action they gave Juve a penalty,” he stated.
On the lack of playing time of fellow Chilean Alexis Sanchez at Inter currently Zamorano stated, “Personally I think that in moments like this, when you have little space, Alexis is doing what he has to do, which is to give his contribution when called into question.”
“He is a different player from the others,” it on, “one who can provide the spark in any moment. He is creative, and quick-thinking, and he can offer many stylistic alternatives to Simone Inzaghi. He has to keep working and never give up to find the right form as soon as possible.”
He also spoke about Vidal’s resurgent form, stating that “Arturo has shown his extreme completeness throughout his career. In terms of effort and perseverance he resembles me a lot. His has a winning mentality, the mentality of a multi-purpose footballer, who knows how to weave together the game but also to fight and get involved in attack.”
“He is a warrior who, however, knows how to take care of the ball even during the buildup phase. And he is a great motivator for his teammates and for the fans,” he concluded.
