MILAN – Inter's Primavera team is at the summit of Europe after winning the
first edition of the NextGen Series, a triumph that fills the Nerazzurri world
with pride and one that Andrea Stramaccioni's Inter, after the final, has
chosen to share with all of Italy: "Because this victory by Inter is a win
for all of Italian football," the coach pointed out when he was a guest on
Sky Sport 24 along with the head of the Inter's youth academy, Roberto Samaden.
"I also said it yesterday after the game and I want to repeat it today:
Arrigo Sacchi, the technical coordinator of the Italian national youth teams,
before the match kept me on the phone for a long time to give me support and
also guidance, because this event had an importance that went beyond just the
club level. Italy has, and is producing, players, and this is a great heritage.
Perhaps the absence of a reserve team makes a bigger gap; the divide between
the first teams and Primavera teams. But there are good young players in Italy.
As for our youth academy, here I've found players of great quality. Our youth
sector is really at the forefront," added Stramaccioni.
From the praise given to the Primavera team to the thought that these
youngsters can bring success to the first team, and that some of the lads are
not far away from taking the next step, Stramaccioni was then asked to give
some names of players that he feels could make the leap: "But I'm just
trying to train these boys to give their all, then it's up to sporting director
Piero Ausilio – who often sees our work – to decide in this regard. From here
to the end of the season, however, the only league that matters is the
Primavera league because there the Scudetto is up for grabs and we're fighting
for it."
The Inter coach then went over the emotions experienced yesterday, recounting
some moments that particularly struck him, beginning with the meetings with president
Massimo Moratti: "The president really made me feel moved. What he told me
just before and then at the end of the game, however, will remain with me. What
I can say though is that for me Moratti means football and the fact that he
embraced me so wholeheartedly was something truly lovely. He is unique."
But if Moratti should call up Stramaccioni for the first team, then what would
he do? The first response was a joking one: "To tell the truth I've only
been called by you here at Sky Sport 24..." Stramaccioni smiled, as did
those in the studio, where they however continued to press the coach, who then
responded with great sincerity from deep down, freeing his words from univocal
references to a first team call: "When Moratti calls I always respond, in general.
He's my president, and I'll always answer his calls."
Then the anecdotes from yesterday continued while images of the victory and
celebrations were shown: "I hugged many of the lads yesterday. Actually I
hugged all of them, but perhaps the one with M'baye was even more special
because he had cried and could not stop apologising for his sending off. The
lad is golden." Then there was an overwhelming embrace with Lorenzo
Crisetig who converted the final penalty: "It was very intense, also
because something crazy had happened with the referee who had the kick retaken
that Di Gennaro had stopped. Amazing. All the pressure then transferred to
Lorenzo. It was a liberating embrace. Especially since we had been eliminated
on penalties in both the Viareggio Tournament and the Coppa Italia."
Emotions, memories, heart: the final in London had all these things and so much
more. And they were all recounted today by Stramaccioni, who then ended with
praise for his lads with his eyes still shining: "Because our strength is
the group, a really great group."
