Inter Vice President Javier Zanetti believes that the Nerazzurri can overcome the setbacks of this summer to have a successful season.
Speaking during the “Campioni sotto le Stelle” event organized by the Municipality of Biella, as reported by FCInter1908, the Vice President gave his thoughts on how the club will cope with the loss of key players and look to maintain success next season.
The summer has been a difficult one for the Nerazzurri, with upheaval in the playing squad following after the shock departure of Antonio Conte not longer after clinching the Scudetto last season.
However, the club have also recruited a talented young coach in the form of ex-Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, and the losses of Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku have been mitigated by new arrivals with more still to come.
Zanetti is aware of the difficulties at hand but also optimistic about the club’s prospects.
“I cannot lie to Inter fans,” he said, “Maybe others do, but I don’t – it will be a difficult and complicated season. This must be said to be fair towards everyone, but it must also be said that we will be competitive: Inzaghi is working well.”
The Vice President continued, “I don’t talk much, and I think my silence says a lot – it serves to protect Inter, to focus on issues on the pitch. But I say one thing to the fans. once again we will give our all for the Nerazzurri shirt.”
He continues about the most significant of the sales this summer, that of Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, by saying that “I was sorry for Lukaku’s farewell, he gave us so much.”
On the first of the Belgian’s replacements, he stated that “He and Dzeko are different, but Edin is certainly an important purchase.”
Of the departed head coach who won the Scudetto with the club, Zanetti stated that “When Conte became our coach I had no prejudice, I saw him work and I immediately understood that his only goal is the good of the team he coaches. He deserves a lot of credit for winning the Scudetto, he was decisive.”
Moving on to the topic of the 2009-10 Treble season under Jose Mourinho, for which Zanetti was still Nerazzurri captain, he reminisced and stated that its impact is still felt.
“We are still in the same chat as the Triplete, and I’d say that Jose is one of the most active. He writes practically every day.”
Zanetti praised the Portuguese manager, now at Roma, and explained why he was successful at Inter, stating that “He is someone with very clear ideas. In 2009 we lost to Manchester United and exited the Champions League, and in the locker room we were all sad and angry.”
“Jose wanted to speak immediately with [then-Inter President Massimo] Moratti,” he continued, “right there, in front of everyone. President, if we buy four or five players, next season we will win the Cup. We all looked at each other with some embarassment, but obviously he was right.”
