APPIANO GENTILE – His task is to rediscover a great past, to start afresh, to get back on top, to get back to being Inter. Andrea Stramaccioni looks towards the future, the near future which needs Inter to get back to winning ways. "Hearing my name mentioned for the job of Inter coach was very flattering," admits the coach during the press conference at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti, I'd be a hypocrite if I said that coming in mid-season is no different from taking charge of a side at the start of the season, but what president Moratti has asked me to do is to bring to the first team what he saw me achieve with the Primavera side. Enthusiasm, a desire to fight for the shirt, to bring Inter back to the prominence it deserves. And president Moratti's passion has only increased my own."
Upon being described as "destined for success", Stramaccioni smiled, saying, "that's a lot to live up to, lucky suits me fine." He went on to explain, "I think as a young coach you need to take everything which you find interesting. At Roma the person who taught me the most was Luciano Spalletti along with his staff, they were people who showed me great affection and support. Spalletti's record-breaking Roma side certainly inspired me... and we both conceded 7 against English sides [He smiles, referring to Tottenham 7-1 Inter, his first game in charge of the Primavera side in their opening match of the NextGen Series]. He sometimes praises me and sometimes gives me a clip round the ear. One of my strengths is that I'm still the same person as I was when I managed the Inter Primavera side or the Roma Allievi. My future? I think the secret is to take each game as it comes. I don't think it's the time to make big statements, it's just a case of thinking about Inter v Genoa."
And among the many surprises of the day there was also ex-Nerazzurri player Mario Balotelli who burst into the press room at La Pinetina to say hello to the Inter directors. "A whirlwind" was how Stramaccioni described it before he returned to more serious matters, Inter's next league game. As the president said, "We need to get back to winning ways."
No comparisons with his predecessors in charge of Inter, not even José Mourinho. "I feel light years away from him because I'm the last in and, I will humbly only teach what I know on a football pitch. He's still a legend but I don't see a link between what he did when I think about what I'm going to do."
Finally, when asked whose message of congratulations meant the most to him last night, Stramaccioni was in no doubt. "It was Bruno Conti, someone who has given me a great deal. He brought me through from amateur level and his message made me think of everything I've experienced over the last few years."
