Sampdoria head coach and legendary former Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic admits that facing his old side this evening will be a matter of some conflicting emotions for him.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of the match, as reported by FCInterNews, Stankovic gave his thoughts ahead of the clash between his past and present as he tries to take points off the Nerazzurri towards the Blucerchiati’s bid for Serie A survival.

Stankovic is back in Italian football, this time as a coach, after having established a major legacy for himself as a player with Inter and Lazio.

The Serb had been one of the key men in the heart of the Nerazzurri’s engine room for years, including in the team that won the legendary European treble during the 2009-10 campaign.

However, while Stankovic makes no effort to hide what Inter means to him, the former midfielder is also fully committed to his current role as a coach, and will not let his past distract him from the task at hand.

“My past cannot and must not be erased,” Stankovic said of his past with Inter, “I experienced the ten best years of my life there, ten years of success.”

“I’ll be back as an opponent, this time, with my Sampdoria,” he continued. “The Nerazzurri fans know me well, they know I’m loyal and that’s why I will try to do the best I can with my current team.”

“We’ll have to be organized all throughout the match, because Inter are going through a very, very positive period in form,” he said.

“We have a very tough match ahead of us,” he continued.

“They’re extremely confident right now, and they’re doing very well physically and mentally,” he added, “they’ve overcome their bad period.”

“They have a great coach,” Stankovic said of Inter manager Simone Inzaghi, “they believe in him and they all follow him, he’s doing his job very well.”

However, the Blucerchiati coach feels that “We can make life difficult for them with patience and organization, we have to know how to suffer and be strong in physical duels.”

“We have to be perfect,” the coach added of what will be needed from the Ligurians if they are to get a result.

Asked if he feels fear at the thought of the match, Stankovic replied that “I don’t like that word.”

“It can only be a joy to play at San Siro, with the stadium full, you have to be inspired to do well.”

“It has to be something that motivates you, and you have to pay with a clear head.”