Internazionale Main Thread II

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if you think that was bad have a look at the [russian nazi ]

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Cassano sincero: "Andrei all'Inter"

"Se l'Inter mi chiamasse, ci andrei di corsa. Sono interista fin da bambino".
Parole di cassano, parole da Cassano. Il talento barese non finisce mai di stupire, e dopo aver peregrinato in lungo e in largo alla ricerca della dimensione giusta, afferma ai media la sua preferenza nerazzurra, proprio dopo aver perso con la Sampdoria in quel di San Siro.

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Mancini: Chivu Will Be Ready For PSV

Inter Coach Roberto Mancini has stated that Christian Chivu will definitely be fit enough to play against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The versatile defender, signed from Roma in the summer, angered his club after picking up a shoulder injury during Romania’s friendly with Germany a few weeks ago.

Mancini was hoping to have the stopper available for this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Roma. “I think that Chivu, with a bit of pain and suffering, could be available for Staurday’s game against Roma,â€

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Moratti: "Rooting for Ibra"
Thursday, 27 September 2007 14:43:46
[FOTO Thursday, 27 September 2007 14:43:46]

MILAN - Inter president Massimo Moratti spoke briefly to journalists today outside the Saras offices in Milan's city centre.

Dr Moratti, it was a good win against Sampdoria yesterday, but now you face Roma in Saturday's big match...
"We played a good match yesterday, it will be a different game against Roma. It won't be an easy match but we're hoping to put on a good show. We hope to win the necessary points game after game."

Roberto Mancini seemed to be irritated when he heard it said that Roma are playing a lot better than Inter...
"I'm not sure he was irritated... However, this is normal and in any case I think there have been other things that have irritated him more, and maybe this is the least important one. Inter and every other team have their own style of play because of the players they have and the formation they decide to use."

Will Saturday's match also be a great duel between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Francesco Totti?
"They are two champions. I'm rooting for Ibrahimovic."

Can Inter win in Rome?
"Let's hope so."

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Figo wants Euro glory

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Inter star Luis Figo has exclusively revealed to Football Italia why the Champions League is so important to the Nerazzurri this season.

The Portuguese veteran has enjoyed a second wind since swapping Madrid for Milan in 2005 and is at the centre of Beneamata Coach Roberto Mancini's bid for European glory.

"It's like all the big teams in Europe, we're all trying to win the Champions League because it's the most important competition at club level," explained the former Barcelona star.

Figo made the headlines in Italy over the summer after originally planning to retire from top-flight football, before sensationally deciding to prolong his Nerazzurri career for another season.

"I had a big choice to make. I could either retire or stay and play in Europe for one more year, but if I did the latter it would only be to play for Inter," he revealed.

"First of all there was the feeling that I could play for one more year at this level. That is important because if I didn't feel that then I would quit. And then, of course, was the President.

"The fans also played a big part in my decision due to the brilliant way they have treated me in my two years here."

To read the exclusive interview with Luis Figo in full, just pick up the October issue of Calcio Italia magazine.

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Hernan Crespo on Sky Italia
Friday, 28 September 2007 18:28:02
[FOTO Friday, 28 September 2007 18:28:02]

MILAN - Hernan Crespo spoke about Inter, football and his private life during a long interview with Sky Italia for the third episode of a new series entitled '100 e lode', dedicated to the Nerazzurri's centenary season.

Crespo, what effect could the victory over Sampdoria have on Inter's season?
"It's an important victory but we'll see what effect it has had at the end. For the time being it's an important result because we didn't collect maximum points in our last two championship and Champions League victories. We won and we also played well - there was no better way to prepare for the match against Roma."

Inter have made a stuttering start to the season...
"I think there have been various situations. Firstly we lost the Italian Super Cup, and you never like losing a cup at home. Apart from the prestige, it's still a trophy up for grabs and it's never good to let it slip through your fingers. Our only failing was the Super Cup. We're first in the championship now, and you can always lose a match din the Champions League group or draw a few league games. I haven't seen anything serious."

Why is Zlatan Ibrahimovic a different player in the league than he is in the Champions League?
"I don't have a suitable answer. It's for him to say. Unfortunately he hasn't managed to express his full potential in the cup yet, but sooner or later he will, and he'll do great things."

How important is it to win against Roma?
"Winning against a title rival is important. We have turned the page and there is a new page to write. Hopefully we'll win again but it will be a very hard match, to approach in the best way. "Every player wants to play these kind of matches. They might not be that important in terms of the table. These are points that you carry forward with you until May."

You scored five goals against Roma last year...
"Yes, it's true, I scored a lot against the Giallorossi last year but we have to try again now. We will see if this trend continues."

Roberto Mancini said that Inter are stronger, and Roma play better. Do you agree?
"It's certainly nice to watch Roma play but I still feel Inter are the strongest team in the championship because of their squad. The big matches are important but it's also fundamental to do well against the small clubs. On Saturday we have the chance to do well and overtake a title rival, but the strongest team will win in May. If you play well you have a greater chance of winning."

Your wife Alessia is from Rome, is a Roma fan and a Totti fan...
"This is a peculiar situation because she's not a football expert. It's true that she's a Roma supporter, and as such she can't not support Totti. But most of all she supports me. Whatever shirt I wear, she wants me to do well for the team I play for and wants me to win."

What do Inter need to improve?
"It's an Inter that has already shown a lot. It has a lot of qualities. Perhaps we have to learn how to play the Champions League matches and realise that you can't make the slightest mistake. This is something we still have to prove but I'm convinced we can do it."

Do you have an inferiority complex towards Roma?
"Each match has its own story. Are they superior? We're top of the table and we have only lost one match. The only thing that irritates us is losing the Italian Super Cup. As for the rest, we're on the right track."

You have a few important players out for tomorrow's game...
"Inter are the strongest because of its squad. We can do without anyone and whoever substitutes that player will be up to the task."

A lot is said about about Totti's goals and Trezeguet's 101 goals but not much is said about Crespo, who is close to 200. Are you the true bomber of Italian football?
"I have scored a lot. Seventeen more and I reach two hundred. Let's hope I get there. If I continue to score an average of 20 goals a season..."

Your best goal?
"I remember a nice one when I was playing for Lazio - a scissor kick into the top corner. And I remember a goal against Juve. In the last minute we were in nine against eleven."

You have played for both Inter and Milan, and you are respected by both sets of fans...
"It's not easy to be respected by both sets of fans, but I have always been fair and I'm proud of this. I have never spoken badly of either team."

What does Adriano need to improve to get close to Adriano?
"The best thing Adri can do is talk as little as possible. This way he can work with tranquillity."

What will Crespo do in ten years from now?
"He hopes to stay at Inter for at least another year. After that I don't know. There are many things I'd like to do. Sometimes I want to be involved in football, other times far away from it. But it's always my passion. Why far away? Because there are some things that I don't like. For example, when you have to justify a match in which a player hasn't given his best they start counting the amount he earns. They always stick money in the middle and I think this is disgusting. This is one of the things that annoy me. A player should be judged on the pitch. If he earns a lot, compliments, but it's not a concern of others if he doesn't earn much."

What about Hernan Crespo the commentator?
"I like doing it because you talk about football and this is fun, but it's very difficult to talk about fooball on the inside of a team, with you, with the coaches... (smiles). The only person it's easy with is my wife - she doesn't understand anything. Also, it's very difficult to express yourself. Journalists have to be careful they don't use pejorative adjectives. I don't know if I'm good or not, but commentating is fun."

Is the most disappointing moment of your career when you didn't win the Champions League with Milan in Istanbul?
"The Interisti won't like it, but it was too good to be true when we were 3-0 up and had the chance to win, but it wasn't enough. On a personal level it was terrible to , but at the same time it fills me with pride to have got there (to the final)."

The day after you were in tears with your wife consoling you...
"Because I couldn't believe it. It was terrible... But this is one of the nice things about football. I'm very proud to have reached a Champions League final so it's logical to think about the Champions League now after winning the Scudetto. But I have spoken to the Milan boys who won the cup and they want to win the Scudetto again. But I certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at another Scudetto..."

You have always played for great teams...
"I'm very pleased with my career, with having played in these great teams and partnered great strikers. This makes you feel alive and important, and you learn many things."

Do you like thinking about the past?
"I think negative experiences help you face the future in a better way. It's part of life, it's right to make mistakes. You have to learn from your mistakes, it's fun and maybe you become a bit old... I think a person's past is very important."

What don't you like about Italy?
"Very few things. Indeed, I chose an Italian wife and my children were born in Italy. My heart is split in two. I spent 20 years in Argentina and the others here, apart from my spell in England. I'm pleased to be an Argentine, but I love Italy."

What do you miss about London?
"I miss playing in the beautiful stadiums. And I really miss the fair play you find there. I think that we can do a lot better in terms of our infrastructure. If a child goes to see a match in Italy and one in England, he will almost certainly prefer the one in England. I grew up watching Maradona's Napoli and the Dutch Milan. I remember I had to play a match between Napoli and Parma and running in the San Paolo was a fantastic thing for me. I would really like it if the children of today could feel the same excitement that I had."

What's the goal you dream of scoring?
"A goal in a World Cup final. It's the only final I haven't reached... Who knows if I ever will."

Tell us about your first day in Italy?
"I didn't speak Italian when I arrived here. I remember they gave me a piece of paper with the Italian phrases for Buenos Dias and Buenas Noche on it... I had it prepared in Argentina so I could say something. I will never forget that I arrived in Parma on the 14th of August and thinking that I had to stay there for four years..."

Then you joined Lazio...
"Unfortunately we didn't manage to win the Scudetto in those two years, but they were two splendid years. Then what happened, happened: Massimo Cragnotti called us one by one and asked us to leave. What disappointed me was the lack of clarity in that moment. Now, after many years, people have understood why myself and Nesta left Lazio."

What was your initial impact with Mancini the coach (at Lazio)?
"My first impact wasn't easy because my insertion wasn't simple. I found it very hard at the start, but it was a coincidence that I started scoring when Eriksson left. He (Mancini) is older now. Back then it was his first experience. He already knows what he wants now."

Who is vainer, Mancini or Mourinho?
"You all know Mancini. Mourinho is spectacular. There'll be some fun if he comes to Italy. All the newspapers would be full, he's never dull. It would be a special arrival because he's a personality. He likes Italy and wants to come here, but I don't know where. I really like him as a coach, he gets you talking a lot. I think that in Italy they have to rediscover the great coaches and the great players. Once upon a time it was an arrival point. It's a bit less so now."

A predicition for Roma v Inter. Who will win?
"We'll win."

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Crespo: "A great team performance"
Sunday, 30 September 2007 22:28:01
[FOTO Sunday, 30 September 2007 22:28:01]

APPIANO GENTILE - The day after Inter's 4-1 win against Roma at the Olimpico, Hernan Crespo gave an interview to RAI programme Domenica Sportiva.

Crespo: on the evidence of yesterday's game, it will be very hard to stop Inter from retaining the Scudetto...
"Yes, but we have always thought this. I think it will depend on us a lot, we have the strongest squad and we showed so last night. Everyone is good at talking but we had to show it on the pitch and we did last night. We did well against Roma at a difficult ground but you could already see our improvement against Sampdoria."

You gave a real show of strength yesterday.
"Yes. The team knows what it means to play this kind match. It's never easy to get a result at the Olimpico but we got it and fully deserved it. We mustn't forget that Giuly's sending-off made things easier for us but Roma never give up and they proved this by getting an equaliser with ten men against eleven. We then showed our strength and the mentality of our team, and we put things right."

Inter won last season's championship by a large margin, and they are first again now. There are those who continue to say Roma are stronger and play better. Massimo Moratti said last night that this happens because the subject is Inter...
"This happens because football gets people talking. I think Inter showed they were very strong last year because we won everywhere. The same thing is happening this year. We had a few problems playing at the start but we are gradually emerging now. We had already made progress against Sampdoria and we did well against Roma yesterday."

Why is it so hard to say that Inter are very strong and play well?
"I don't know. We have no problems saying it. We always try to do our best and play our style of football. We might not be as entertaining as the others but this doesn't mean we aren't entertaining. Our team knows what it's doing, what it wants, and it never gives up in the important games."

Mancini's formation with a lone striker and two attacking wingers worked very well last night. Do you agree?
"We experimented this new formation in the return leg of the Tim Cup final last season. We won 2-1 and perhaps we deserved to do better. We could have overturned the result of the first leg and brought home the cup. It didn't happen but we remember that this type of formation gave us many guarantees. We saw this last night. Roma usually push forward in the opening minutes of games but they didn't do that yesterday. We did very well."

You started on the bench, but you scored another goal against Roma yesterday and gave a great performance.
"Things have gone well for me every time we have played against Roma. I have always scored when we have faced them. It's strange, but I don't think there's any special reason. I don't know why this has happened. I always make myself ready to play? This is my way of thinking and working. If I don't agree with the coach's decisions the best thing to do is try to show him on the pitch that I am always ready and that I can do well."

Many commentators have said it will hard to stop you if continue to play like this, particularly in Italy. Do you agree?
"Yes. We're utterly convinced we're the strongest. But as I said before, we're all good at talking. You have to show it on the pitch. We're in form now and we're top of the table. Now we'll see what the other results are. We have ours and this is important."

Now you have to make that definitive improvement in the Champions League. PSV Eindhoven arrive in Milan on Tuesday...
"We have to improve in the Champions League. We have to make that definitive improvement so we can face the knockout games in a different way. We have to do well in the group stage first. We want to win the group and to do this we have to do well on Tuesday."

What differences are there between the championship and the Champions League?
"You can't get a single match wrong in the Champions League, whereas in the championship you can slip up and then recover. In this respect the Champions League is more complicated. Every small detail is important, and we have to improve this aspect, but we have the whole Champions League ahead of us to do it."

Can Inter do the Scudetto-Champions League double this season?
"Calm down. We're pleased with what we're doing but we're obviously not drawing a distinction between the two competitions. We'll try to win everything but we'll still be happy if we just win one thing."

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Happy Birthday to Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Wednesday, 03 October 2007 06:56:01
[FOTO Wednesday, 03 October 2007 06:56:01]

MILAN - Many happy returns to our Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimov

[Dejan-Stankovic]

Ok so now it's Napoli at the San Siro... very big game to keep up momentum!! Interesting to note that Napoli's fans have been banned from attending the game so it will be the Curva Nord making all the noise.

Cordoba will come back in to partner Samuel in defense, J.Z will have to slot into RB to cover for Maicon and so I guess that leaves the in form Cambiasso and out of form Stankovic to pair up in the middle, assuming Mancio doesn't want to risk Vieira. So most likely that means Figo on one wing and Cesar on the other. From the sounds of it, Suazo come on with good affect today so maybe Mancio will give him a start alongside Ibra... actually I think Ibra has played alot lately and maybe we should start with Cruz and Suazo but we'' see what happens.

Dacourt was injured in the pre-game warm up in the CL but no one has mentioned it so far so we do not know the extent of the injury so far...