Legendary former Inter midfielder Lothar Matthaus feels that there was a real spirit of sacrifice at the Nerazzurri during his period at the club.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, the German looked back on his period as an Inter player, and emphasized that the players would have virtually laid down their lives for each other and for the cause of the team.
Matthaus enjoyed four very successful seasons as an Inter player, establishing himself as a genuine club legend in just over a hundred and fifty matches played in a Nerazzurri shirt.
The German played a big role in Inter winning the Serie A title in the 1988-89 season with a then-record points total, during a period when Serie A was as successful as it’s ever been.
Matthaus also added the UEFA Cup to his trophy cabinet with Inter in 1991, and for his part, the former midfielder feels that the sense that the players sacrificed for the team was at the heart of their success.
“It was an amazing time,” he said of the era of Serie A in which he played for Inter.
“Italian football was probably at its peak, with some magnificent players: Diego Maradona, Ruud Gullit, Roberto Baggio, Marco van Basten… and that was just our rivals!”
Matthaus noted that “Every weekend was a battle, and at Inter we were willing to die on the field for one another.”
Of getting to play alongside German national teammaes Andreas Brehme and Juergen Klinsmann for Inter, Matthaus said that “To share that experience with my compatriots – two excellent players with huge mentalities – was a privilege.”
“Off the pitch, our team-mates adopted us as three of their own – Italians who just happened to be from another nation.”
The German recalled that “We all spent a lot of time together, at restaurants and at each other’s homes.”
He suggested that “We had that unity to thank for our on-pitch success.”
Matthaus concluded that “I value my Serie A and UEFA Cup medals extremely highly.”
