Internazionale Main Thread

[Lombardiamia]

Bolzoni: "Non ci volevo credere..."


MILANO - Una settimana indimenticanticabile, una settimana che gli ha regalato in pochi gorni l'esordio in Champions League contro il PSV Eindhoven e la convocazione nell'Under 21 di Pierluigi Casiraghi per le gare di qualificazione a ll'Europeo di categoria contro Croazia e Grecia. Francesco Bolzoni è il ritratto della felicità, anche se resta ben consapevole che non deve perdere quell'uliltà e quella voglia di migliorarsi sempre che gli hanno permesso di centrare questi primi obiettivi personali. "Ho passato dei giorni incredibili - esrodisce il giovane nerazzurro -. Solo martedì l'esordio in Champions League e, quando ieri Giuseppe Baresi (ndr.: responsabile del Settore Giovanile dell'Inter) mi ha detto che sarei stato convocato dall'Under 21 quasi non ci volevo credere. Come ho detto l'altra sera dopo la partita contro il PSV Eindhoven, mi sembra di vivere l'inizio di un sogno". "Ma sono un ragazzo tranquillo - prosegue a inter.it - e so che ne devo fare ancora tanta di strada per diventare un giocatore vero. Sinora non ho ancora fatto nulla e, se devo dire la verità, in questa settimana per me magnifica resta grande il rammarico e il dispiacere per aver perso la finale di Supercoppa Primavera. Ci tengo molto a ringraziare la mia famiglia, che mi ha sempre sostenuto in tutto, gli allenatori del Settore Giovanile dell'Inter, che mi hanno insegnato tanto e mi hanno fatto crescere come calciatore e anche come persona, Roberto Mancini, che mi ha regalato l'esordio nel calcio che conta e che ha sempre avuto tanti consigli preziosi durante tutti gli allenamenti, e i grandi campioni della prima squadra con i quali ho la fortuna di allenarmi e che mi dispensano sempre moltissimi consigli in campo e fuori. Ma resto coi piedi per terra e so che devo lavorare ancora tantissimo per migliorarmi tecnicamente e tatticamente. L'anno scorso ho vissuto un anno meraviglioso con i miei compagni della Primavera, abbiamo conquistato lo scudetto ed eravamo pazzi di gioia. Il mio primo obiettivo di questa stagione resta quello di ripetermi con loro".

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Blatter proposal threatens Inter
Friday 5 October, 2007
FIFA President Sepp Blatter pushes for a limit of five foreign players in the starting 11 for League matches – a ruling that would devastate Inter.

EU law led to the abolition of any rule limiting the number of foreign players a club could field, but Blatter argues that such guidelines shouldn’t apply to football.

“Workers in Europe can circulate freely, but footballers are not workers,â€

[Lombardiamia]

Lolll

Lets make some points about this.

First of all, I agree about having more Italians. I have always wished our team to have more Italians so I would like us to start getting this mentality in our transfer policy. But we shouldn’t be imposed. This should come by a little more naturally.

Second, as President of FIFA, Blatter has no say on clubs. Only UEFA can decide whether to implement new rules & regulations on European clubs, not FIFA.

Third, if I am not mistaken (and surely I aint), players pay taxes in their respective countries. Therefore, that makes them workers, not artists or whatever he wishes them to be called. Once they stop paying taxes (wont happen ever), they might start to be called something else, and thus reviewed as non-workers.

Fourth, whats the difference about players doing their trade in a group? He states that there needs to be 11 players in a team. So?? Does every worker work as an individual?? Every company has a number of employees, and it needs all of them to get the job done. So these shouldn’t be called workers but artists??

So if FIFA can somehow convince UEFA about this issue, UEFA has to push against the EU commission the theory that players are not workers. This is an impossible feat since as I said, anyone who gets a wage and pays his taxes cant not be called a worker.

In other words, Blatter can stuff his ‘theory’ up his ass.

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Chivu 'Voglio chiudere la carriera all'Inter'
Ven 05 Ott, 08:24 PM


''Voglio chiudere la mia carriera con l'Inter''. E' uno dei passaggi che Cristian Chivu ha rilasciato a Sky. Il difensore romeno parla della trattativa che lo ha portato da Roma a Milano. ''Che cosa ho pensato? Finalmente mi sono detto - ha spiegato Chivu -. Ci sono sempre stati tanti contatti con l'Inter. Questa è la vita, il mio percorso è stato questo: 4 anni di Amsterdam, 4 anni di Roma e sinceramente la mia volontà è quella di chiudere la carriera qua''.
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I think he is really saying that he wants to end his career with a team that his willing to pay him 4 million net euros per season while he only plays in a third of the games in all competitions. I have the sensation that the man of glass will not last long at Inter.

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what a load of shit .and how can justify france take all the africans and make them frenc .

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Cristian Chivu on '100 e lode'
Friday, 05 October 2007 18:28:01
[FOTO Friday, 05 October 2007 18:28:01]

MILAN - Inter's Romanian defender Cristian Chivu gave a long interview to Sky Italia for the programme 'Inter 100 e lode', dedicated to the Nerazzurri's centenary season.

Chivu, you returned against PSV after recovering from your shoulder injury and you got sent off...
"I was disappointed to be sent off, especially in such an important match when the team needed everyone. I'm sorry, I wanted to finish the game from every point of view because I wasn't in top shape, but I took this risk because I was one of the few defenders who could play. I didn't think the first yellow card was fair because I hadn't committed an ugly foul."

Inter have made you feel very important since the day you arrived...
"Coming here every day is always a motivation for me. It's certainly special when the coach wants you to play so much. I wasn't at my best and a lot of specialists were against it, but it was very important for me to play against PSV. I'm 27 this month and I'm mature enough to make certain decisions. I took a risk and it went well in terms of my health, but badly because I didn't manage to finish the match. But I'm pleased with my performance because I did well despite not being in top condition. I was expecting it to be worse."

You showed great spirit of sacrifice by coming on the pitch against PSV...
"It's not a sacrifice. It's part of my DNA. It's other people who make sacrifices. I don't want to have any regrets. I prefer to play to help my team and make our fans happy. It's better to play and take the risk rather than have regrets after. But there are many choices you have to make in life, that every human being makes every day. Luckily I don't make these choices every day. We have a fairly easy life, we don't have the problems others have. However, there are times when you have to change team and city, and take your family elsewhere. You have to think before choosing and be convinced of what you're doing."

On the subject of choosing or being chosen. You and Inter finally met in the summer...
"Yes, finally. There had been many contacts with Inter when I was at Ajax, before I ended up at Roma. In the end I have arrived where I could have ended up a few years ago. This is my life: four years in Amsterdam, four in Rome and now I want to finish my career in Milan. I'm 27, I can play at my level for at least another five years. I'd like to end my career wearing this shirt."

You had offers from half of Europe. Why did you choose Inter?
"What counts most is the serenity you find in a place. I like living in Italy, I'm happy here and it's my second home. I'm pleased I stayed here. This summer came at the right time. I'm mature enough now to make the choices I made and I always want to look ahead. Inter are used to fighting at the top and have different ambitions from what I was used to. At Roma we always fought for the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia, but as a team and a club Inter have the potential to turn words and ambitions into facts."

Is it true that your transfer to Inter was revealed by your girlfriend on Romanian television?
"It was strange to read the newspapers at that time because the news came out in Romania the evening before, quoting a statement made in Italy. All she did as report news that was reported here. (Smiles) We still laugh about it because now she finds it hard to read news about me..."

Francesco Totti said you are the greatest central defender in the world...
"I don't know. The fact that people respect me and appreciate what I do is more important than someone saying I'm the best central defender in the world, but it's obviously nice if it's someone like Francesco Totti, himself one of the best players in the world, who says it. I spoke a lot with Francesco before coming here and he was as disappointed as all the others. But to hear certain things said was confirmation that I did well and was appreciated by my team-mates in those four years at Roma. This is the most important thing."

What did your Inter team-mates say to you when you met them for the first time?
"What stuck in my mind is that most of my team-mates said 'you're finally here'. I remember feeling a bit emotional. I was sorry about all the insults I had received in Rome. I was sorry I didn't leave by the main entrance, the one I entered four years before. But it's part of life and it's not my fault, so for this reason I'm serene."

Compared to Roma, there's stiff competition in every department at Inter. Will you have to jostle for a place in the team?
"Just like all my team-mates, I will do my best to win a place in the team."

Several important players have turned down national team call-ups lately. In the last friendly you played, you injured your shoulder and were sidelined for twenty days. Do you think there are too many international commitments?
"Those who said no to their national team are of a certain age and have had injuries and surgery. It's harder to recover when you reach a certain age. Those who said no to their national teams are those who have won the World Cup. At the age of 27 I find it hard to say no to my national team. I have a debt with the Romanian national team because I don't want to be remembered as a player who played in a European Championship but who never managed to qualify for the final phase with his team-mates. We can do it this time. I'm proud to be captain of my national team. I'm sorry when things happen and when I return to my club with problems. There are a lot of matches with your club and national team so a solution for the future needs to be found between your club and federation."

Inter are a very strong team with great technique...
"Inter have always been strong. They were last year, and they were two years ago. Besides the great technical qualities, the enormous physical strength is often decisive. To win a match you often need strength and the desire to fight. I think Inter are the strongest team with the best characteristics to obtain the best results."

You played with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Ajax. What is he like now you're back in the same team?
"Just as I left him. He's one of the greatest strikers in the world. In every game he shows he's number one and I'm pleased to be on his side, especially at this moment. I'm happy to see him relaxed and with the desire to work every day to become one of the best players of all. Ibra is decisive for Inter at the moment, but he's also important for Italian football because it's always nice to have a great champion playing in your country and in your championship."

What is the best way to face Ibra?
"I will never say... But physically you can never put yourself on the same level because he's a beast."

How much has he changed since you were together at Ajax?
"He was just a boy, like me. He arrived at Ajax from Malmoe. When you arrive at such an important team as Ajax you have the chance to learn that sport, not just football, makes you grow as a man. They teach you discipline. Ibra has understood this. We found it a bit hard at the start because it was strange to find yourself in a situation where we were told what to do. We thought we were men but they treated us like boys. But we gradually understood that this was the right path to follow. If we are what we are today it's thanks to what the Ajax school taught us."

Do you think Ibra can win the Ballon d'Or this year?
"He can win it because he has won the championship in Italy and he's proving decisive at the moment. But other players are favourites either because they won the Champions League or for other reasons. Ibra has started well, he will have a great season and he can win it next year if he doesn't win it this time."

How much do you miss your father?
"He's no longer here but he's in my thoughts every day, every hour. Maybe they would try to teach you something and at a certain age you thought you knew everything and that your parents only told you silly things. But when they're no longer here and you've grown up you think again and understand that you could have paid more attention to all the advice they gave you. My father will always be in my heart, he has never disappeared. I'm sorry I don't have him beside me. Did we watch football together? Not much. In those times he liked watching Zola's Parma. We would watch games together but we never commented on them because he was a coach and when he watched matches he would also think about his team."

Why did you choose to become a footballer?
"I played football for fun and to find an excuse not to study. In those hours I did what I liked, even if I had to study afterwards. I'm proud of what I have done because I grew up in a small city where my father was coach and it was always hard to play and be relaxed with your team-mates and those who watched and might have thought that I played because I was his son. I wanted to show that it wasn't true and that I had my own personality."

You played in a European Championship at the age of 19...
"That was a unique experience. I played a European Championship at 19 and I was happy just to be in the squad because I had the chance to be with the great champions and train with them. Being with them was wonderful, my legs trembled. It was the last time my legs have trembled before a match, but it was a special feeling."

Can Inter win the championship and the Champions League in the club's centenary season?
"It's what this club and this team wants. I think winning the Scudetto, Champions League and Tim Cup is our ambition every year. But it would certainly be nice to win both in our centenary."

Some people say you get injured easily...
"Injuries are part of the game. There are those who are more prone to injury than others. I'm one of those because of my physique and for many reasons linked to the past. I have broken my arm and dislocated a shoulder this year. These are things that can happen in training or in a match. It's important to have the serenity to more forward and give your contribution to the team."

When will you score your first goal for Inter?
"That first goal is always in my thoughts. In Romania when I was 17 I played at left-back and was always pushing forward. During the interval of one match my coach asked me what number I had on my shirt. I replied number 3 and he told me that I had to defend..."

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Moratti: «Non pensavo a un'Inter già così forte» (Gazzetta dello Sport) «Niente fuga, ma abbiamo lanciato un bel segnale a tutta la concorrenza»

Presidente Moratti, l'Inter arriva alla sosta con tre punti di vantaggio sulle seconde. E' l'inizio della fuga? «Mi sembra un po' presto per fare certi discorsi. Di sicuro stiamo lanciando un buon segnale alla concorrenza».

Una marcia addirittura superiore a quella del 2006. «In effetti nemmeno io mi aspettavo una squadra così forte già a questo punto della stagione».

L'anno scorso Mancini indicò la svolta positiva nel derby stravinto alla nona giornata. L'impresa di Roma assomiglia a quella gara? «In un certo senso sì. Il 4-1 ai giallorossi è arrivato al momento giusto: ci ha riportati in testa alla classifica solitari e ha dato a tutto l'ambiente lo sprint necessario per rientrare in corsa in Europa e chiudere bene questo periodo abbastanza complicato. Insomma, al momento possiamo considerarla la tappa più importante di questa prima parte di stagione. Il cammino, però, è molto lungo. La Roma ha reagito bene agli ultimi passi falsi e lotterà con noi sino alla fine».

Nell'emergenza hanno risposto bene le cosiddette seconde linee. «All'inizio ci davano degli esagerati, poi a un certo punto la nostra rosa era diventata addirittura insufficiente. Io, invece, dico che società e allenatore hanno lavorato bene in sede di mercato. Il nostro gruppo è pronto a competere ad altissimi livelli su ogni fronte. Siamo primi in classifica e ancora mi devo godere i rientri di Materazzi, Vieira e... pure Maicon. Ci è mancato il brasiliano, eccome».

[Lombardiamia]

INTERessati ad altro!

Vince la Roma, pareggiano Fiorentina e Juventus, dilaga il Milan, allunga l’Inter e sorprende il Genoa. I giallorossi hanno partita facile contro il Parma, dando vita ad un bel gioco e ad un controllo da grande squadra.Il Genoa di Borriello, ha segnato più lui dei 4 attaccanti rossoneri che lo hanno “allontanatoâ€

[Lombardiamia]

Branca più ci ripensa e più si compiace: "Ibra a 25 milioni, che colpo!"

Il direttore tecnico dell'Inter spiega: "La società sin qui ha vinto tutte le scommesse sul mercato".



zoom - galleria Ha ricevuto tante critiche in passato, ora per lui è il momento di passare alla cassa e prendersi gli elogi. Marco Branca, direttore tecnico dell'Inter, ai microfoni di Radio Rai, parla del presente nerazzurro ma anche del passato.

"Credo che oggi si possa dirlo: acquistare Ibra a 25 milioni di euro è stato un vero e proprio affare - ha detto l'ex calciatore - così come le scommesse su Julio Cesar, Maxwell, Maicon e Cambiasso. La società sta operando bene sul mercato e la rosa è completa anche a centrocampo: Zanetti può giocare lì, così come Chivu, senza dimenticare che ora ci manca Vieira".

Sul campionato, aspetta però a dare giudizi: "Presto per dire chi sarà la nostra rivale, anche se uscirà da un lotto comprendente Inter, Roma e Juve. La critica? Ormai abbiamo capito che dobbiamo prenderla come stimolo, vorremmo solo che fosse più obiettiva nei nostri riguardi".

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Branca: "Focused on ourselves"
Monday, 08 October 2007 11:58:34
[FOTO Monday, 08 October 2007 11:58:34]

MILAN - Inter technical director Marco Branca was interviewed this morning on Radio Rai programme Radio Anch'io Sport. This is what he had to say:

Branca: president Massimo Moratti said he's surprised the team has showed its strength so early in the season. Were you convinced this would happen?
"We always have great faith in our team and its character. In his surprise, I think our president was referring mainly to the team's good level of performance after the difficulties due to disqualifications in the Champions League and injuries in specific areas of the pitch. This is a compliment our president paid to the team because despite everything we are doing even better than last season."

In the first few rounds of the championship Inter were criticised after a few slip-ups. Roberto Mancini said the criticism was exaggerated. Has this criticism motivated the team?
"Roberto Mancini was completely right, and I say this without wanting to be self-pitying. Inter have always been criticised when things aren't going well and have always been praised when they are, without any real measure. Our players know this and they have changed their attitude towards the criticism, which is considered as a stimulus to do better."

Do you think Inter need another good midfielder to add to Cambiasso, Dacourt and Vieira to avoid the problems that injuries can bring?
"No, I don't think so. We have a lot of midfielders and let's not forget Javier Zanetti who is playing on the flank because of Maicon's disqualification in the league and the Champions League. And we also have Stankovic, Figo and Chivu who can play in midfield. We didn't want to have an overabundance and not give our players the chance to be present and useful, even in different positions."

Are Roma Inter's biggest rival for the Scudetto?
"We're only at the seventh round of the championship. There are still many matches to play and a lot of things can still happen. Roma are certainly among the teams who will be competing with us. There's Milan, who are a bit behind at the moment, Juventus, Roma, and maybe there will be a few surprise teams. We're pleased to be as competitive as we were last year and we're just thinking about ourselves."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in great form and everything he's doing is going well. Shouldn't he learn to do the easy things?
"No, I don't agree. Zlatan has improved a lot, showing great solidity from a tactical point of view. For example, when we were reduced to ten men in our last Champions League match he did a great job blocking and setting up moves as if he were a midfielder. I don't think you can take away from a solid player the pleasure of enjoying himself and trying spectacular plays."

In recent years Inter have brought in many great players on free transfers. However there are those who continue to say that you're good at dealing on the transfer market because you have more money than the other clubs. What do you think?
"It's true that we have the money, just like the other teams at our level. But it's also true that in the last few years we have brought in players like Cambiasso, Julio Cesar and Maxwell on free transfers. They are all lads of 26 and 27 who have been playing for us for two to three years. They are all gambles that have paid off thanks to the great teamwork, because it's not me alone who chooses which players to buy. We have chosen well and the players have given the perfect reply on the pitch. The last time we splashed out was for Ibrahimovic two years ago. We paid around twenty-five million euros. In terms of value for money, I don't think you can make any comparison with other players you see in Europe today."

How are Marco Materazzi and Patrick Vieira? Will they be ready after the break?
"I hope so. I think Patrick will be ready after the break but our coach will see how and when to use him. As for Marco we're doing everything possible to have him back as soon as possible, and I have to say that he is working really hard. However, we still have eight months of the season ahead of us and we don't want to risk any other injuries so we're doing things calmly."

The best thing about this Inter is the squad's harmony. Whoever plays gets into the match without needing time adapt. And last Saturday we saw this with Julio Cruz.
"I agree, but I wouldn't limit this consideration to Cruz. The club and coach have worked well over the years to create this harmony. For example, we can't forget how Toldo, Solari, Burdisso, Samuel and Crespo have behaved. They have always been at the service of the coach. This is because they're showing they want to win and they have realised that you can't always be a protagonist. They have respect for their own professionalism, and for the club."

[Lombardiamia]

Mother fucker.

Vieira: «Moratti, io lo rifarei»

«Rigiocherei nella Francia contro la Scozia».


Non è mai stato un giocatore facile da gestire. E anche adesso che è all’Inter, do­po aver soggiornato a lungo nell’Arsenal ed essere breve­mente passato dalla Juventus, Patrick Vieira si conferma un elemento dalla spiccata perso­nalità. D’altronde, non ci sono alternative: prendere o lascia­re, come si dice in gergo. E sic­come l’Inter della sua forza, della sua potenza, della sua in­telligenza tattica ha bisogno, giustamente se lo tiene. Anche quando si trova a fare i conti con alcune frasi, o alcuni atteg­giamenti, che sicuramente non fanno piacere in via Durini. Proprio mentre dall’Inghilter­ra giunge voce che Sven Goran
Eriksson abbia chiesto al ma­gnate thailandese del Manche­ster City di far di tutto per ac­quistare Vieira, ecco che il centrocampi­sta francese, non convocato per i prossimi impegni della nazio­nale, ha ritenuto opportuno chiarire alcuni punti, con i suoi connazionali.

E ai microfoni dell’emittente transalpina TF1 ha spiegato che sì, le polemiche con la dirigenza interista sono alle spalle, ma rimanendo as­solutamente sulla sua posizio­ne: «Se dovessi tornare indie­tro, farei le stesse scelte», è il succo del suo discorso. Ovvero: “Rigiocherei contro la Scoziaâ€

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Ibra e Totti? Meglio Lahm…

Fifa World Player. Letteralmente premio Fifa al miglior giocatore del Mondo. Zlatan Ibrahimovic e Francesco Totti sono stati esclusi, ma non c’è da scandalizzarsi perché nelle 30 nomination ci sono calciatori superiori per classe, tecnica, temperamento e carisma. Lahm, discreto terzino tedesco vincitore nella scorsa stagione di “nienteâ€

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Is The FIFA World Player Of The Year Award A Worthless Trophy?

Today FIFA drew up a 30-man shortlist to compete for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award. Astonishingly both Francesco Totti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were missing from those nominated. Goal.com asks whether the award has now become worthless…

The FIFA World Player of the Year award has been littered with controversy and criticism ever since its creation in 1991. The system, for those of you who are not familiar, works as follows. First of all FIFA draws up a list of nominations, before Coaches and Captains of the national sides then cast votes for their top three stars.

The player voted first gets five points, second gets three points, and third earns one point. The winner of the prize is naturally the player who earns the most points.

Until 2004, there was no list of nominations, thus in theory any player in the world could be voted for. This led to some quite farcical voting, which some may argue rendered the prize virtually valueless.

To give you an example, in 2001, the likes of Iran’s Ali Daei, South Africa’s Sibusiso Zuma and Honduras’ Carlos Pavon all received votes.

FIFA hoped to prevent ridiculous voting such as this by introducing a shortlist system in 2004. Only players on the list could be voted for by the Captains and Coaches.

However on the evidence of the 30 players FIFA have chosen to compete for this year’s prize, one has to wonder if these changes have made any difference.

The absence of Francesco Totti from the list of nominations is an absolute disgrace. It is an insult and I can say for one that I now could not care less who wins the award because if the Roma captain’s performances did not merit his inclusion then I must be going insane.

Totti was top-scorer in Serie A, he was European Golden Boot Winner and was outstanding as he led Roma to the Champions League quarter-final.

Then of course there is the omission of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was a key protagonist in Inter winning the Scudetto last year, and has been the best player in Serie A this season.

Furthermore, where is Bayern Munich goal-machine Luca Toni? What about Valencia’s David Villa? Then of course there is the phenomenal Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal, who has undoubtedly been the best player in the Premiershit this year, and the Gunners’ star-man last campaign.

Either FIFA is full of clueless idiots who have never watched football in their life, or more than likely their list of choices is dictated by politics.

Gianluigi Buffon was playing in Serie B last year, while Fabio Cannavaro, a player I have worshipped for the past decade and still believe to be a world-class defender, had an awful season at Real Madrid.

Juan Roman Riquelme was frozen out of the Villarreal squad and shipped off to Boca Juniors mid-season, Barcelona’s Samuel Etoo ruptured his cartilage and missed six months of the last campaign, while Inter’s Patrick Vieira also missed half of the season through injury.

What football were these FIFA bureaucrats watching last season? How on earth can these players be picked ahead of the likes of Totti, Ibrahimovic, Toni and Villa?

It is a disgrace. The FIFA World Player of the Year award is a Mickey Mouse Prize with no value whatsoever.

What are your views? Is the FIFA World Player of the Year award worthless? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think.