Inter Vice-President Javier Zanetti is happy with what he saw from his team in Sunday’s derby against AC Milan despite the fact that they only managed a point from the match.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Radio Deejay, Zanetti gave his thoughts on the season so far and also opened up about the emotional dimension of the new stadium project to replace the San Siro in Milan.
Zanetti saw his team play at a high tempo and carve out a number of good chances to win in Sunday’s derby clash, but in the end they had to settle for sharing the points as they missed an opportunity to make up ground on their city rivals and on Napoli at the top of the table.
In the Vice-President’s view, however, the performance counted for a lot, and he was pleased to see his team going for it for virtually the entire match even though the desired result did not come.
Of the preparation for the match he stated that “I went home at 6:00 on Thursday, the players also because Appiano is close. Then we did some training to prepare for an important match like the derby which the guys faced very well.”
“The performance was there and then some,” he went on, “we created many chances against a team like Milan who are not top of the table by chance. It was a good derby, it was normal to have a drop in the final minutes because for eighty minutes we tried to win the match.”
“Then when you fail to score, you concede something and in fact they hit the post,” he said. “We’re looking forward, I am confident because I see that we are working well.”
On the difference between Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi as coach he stated that “With Antonio we did an extraordinary job in two years, we won a complicated season after finishing second place and making a Europa League final. Simone is continuing to implement his ideas, the guys are following him and it shows.”
And on the proposed demolition of the San Siro he stated that “There will be a bit of emotion when it is demolished. The Meazza is my home, I remember my debut which was a win with a goal by Roberto Carlos [against Vicenza].”
“Two days before I had come with my parents to show them around,” he stated, “telling them that I would be in there. There were a lot of people. My first derby, however, ended 1-1. I remember that I dribbled Baresi, a monument of Milan, I fall in the area and ask for a penalty. Franco catches me and tells me ‘get up’.”