APPIANO GENTILE – If Inter have put together such an impressive winning run, it's also thanks to a superb keeper such as Samir Handanovic. The Nerazzurri No.1 gave an interview to Sky Italia's Andrea Paventi today.
The big Slovene started with the moment he joined Andrea Stramaccioni's side: "I think I came here at the right time. I paid my dues and did my time at 'school', step by step, class by class. Not many have done it that way: I can name Buffon at Parma and Casillas in Real's youth ranks. I've replaced a world-class keeper in Julio Cesar? I see this as my job, at Udinese in 2005 I replaced De Sanctis. That's what you have to do, see it as your profession and think about other things. I know who Julio Cesar was and what he achieved here, everyone is aware of that."
Handanovic weighs his words carefully when asked if Inter have moved up to the next level: "That's something we still have to see. You can't say that after just eight games won. One thing's for sure, we have found our balance, but it's a tough league and we have to get through a lot of games yet before we can say that we've moved up to the next level."
What's more satisfying, a save like the one he pulled off to deny Lazar Markovic against Partizan or setting Palacio away in the build-up to Milito's goal in Bologna v Inter? "You mustn't spend too much time looking at the things you've done well. It's better to focus on what you've done badly and try to improve. A goalkeeper must have a good all-round game."
Are Inter in the hunt for the Scudetto? "We're here and we're here to make a nuisance of ourselves and fight. Any team can say they want to win the title but then you have to see. And we will see on Saturday. It's too early now, it's an enjoyable league, well balanced and we've got lots of games ahead."
Handanovic took a step back in time, to 16 September 2007, Juventus v Udinese. "That was my second game, we'd just been beaten 5-1 by Napoli and we won thanks to a header by Di Natale. I got lucky in that match, hopefully it will be the same on Saturday evening. You have to give 100% against every team. I take my hat off to Juventus for what they've done up to now, but each team has their own story to write and we must think about trying to win.
"I don't like talking about the coaches I've had," Handanovic said, though he made an exception for Udinese manager Francesco Guidolin and Andrea Stramaccioni. "I can only say that Guidolin is a fantastic coach and he has achieved far less than what he really deserves. Stramaccioni has surprised everyone and it's only right that he should be at Inter now because the results speak for themselves.
"Next question please," he smiled when asked to reveal the secret that enables him to save so many penalties. And so we come to Juventus v Inter: "It's an important match, but no more so than any other. We're going into it in a totally relaxed atmosphere. What difference does Juventus Stadium make to the Bianconeri? For a keeper it's always good to be playing with the fans behind you, even if they are opposing fans, but I think that stadium gives Juve an extra five or six points a season. How will Inter be set out? I don't know about that, you should ask the boss. I've got enough to think about myself... [he smiles]. If we win in Turin it will mean that we have three points more than we do now. Is that all? Yes, that's all."
