APPIANO GENTILE - During the press conference presenting Inter's summer training camp in Pinzolo in July, Esteban Cambiasso answered
the questions of the press, speaking above all about the season which
has just come to a close: "I don't think there's a lot to be said. It
was a negative season, not up to this club's usual standards, I don't
think there's much more to add than that. It's over now - and it's
painful to have gone through a bad season - just like the seasons we
enjoyed are over too. From now on we're looking forward to once again
produce positive campaigns. Every year is different: whether or not you
change the head coach or fitness coach, the season and the players
themselves change. When you start something new you don't think about
the past, you look at what needs to be done. Will we begin with a new
fitness or head coach? That's something perhaps you know, we don't."
Cambiasso also explained to what extent the age difference between
the players had an impact on their preparation: "Little to no impact,
we've had that every year. Preparation is not about everyone doing
different things, it's a combination of factors but it doesn't cause
injuries. If there was something that got you to win games and not
succumb to injuries we'd all be doing it. It would be different if the
magic of the training camp made us win. A team that spends 10 days on a
training camp and on paper is one of the favourites to go down will
finish the season that way regardless. A season like this was negative
in every area, but we know not to listen to theories about today's
training sessions. People come out with all sorts when you have a season
like this, everything that is now a problem was considered positive
when things were going well. There's a lot of talk and that comes and
goes with the weather. We just need to think about working. What matters
is hard work and our fans will always be there, even in Pinzolo, just
as they were with us until the final match and are here in Appiano
Gentile. We have a huge duty when it comes to them as they are what
powers our team."
A reason why the supporters should keep faith with Inter. Cambiasso
has no doubts about this: "Fans are pure, they're not worried about
changes to playing staff, or the coach at Inter because the fans are
Inter and that goes beyond these issues. A supporter doesn't get behind
Cambiasso, he or she gets behind Inter. The fans will be there because
they believe every year can be a winning one. Each of them has a passion
that people who aren't football fans can't comprehend. We mustn't say
anything to them, we need to act. When I joined the club, Inter hadn't
won anything in years, but the fans were still there. Then we won, a
lot, and now we've had a tough spell, so I don't see why they wouldn't
be here now. Just like us, they want to go again and win. Lots of titles
are won over the summer, but the one that matters is won in May.
"If I need to give a message to the people I work with I like to do
so in private. I didn't use the TV cameras to do anything of the sort
even when my friends Milito and Pupi got injured," replied Cuchu when
asked if he wanted to send a message to Andrea Stramaccioni, before
explaining that: "I've not spoken to him, he wasn't very well and it
didn't seem right to bother him at home with his family. I got up to
speed thanks to his staff who are here."
Cambiasso also recounted what it's like to experience a difficult
season from inside the camp: "We all suffer when we lose, the players
are the ones who lose games and get beaten by opponents. Fans experience
it at the stadium or in the office on a Monday morning, but we're the
first ones to suffer. There are highs and lows throughout a footballer's
career, and if you can't get past those, you're in the wrong job.
Managerial changes occur when results don't come, football's football,
it's not about Inter or AC Milan, Real Madrid or Barcelona. Football's
like that, it happens everywhere apart from Manchester United, for
example, who showed patience and kept faith with Ferguson for many
years."
Finally a word on how Inter's preparation will change with them not
involved in Europe: "I'm not sure what will change in reality, I think
perhaps there'll be fewer changes in terms of the players and more to do
with the club, where perhaps we might not be able to accommodate such a
big squad. I don't think a lot will change with regards to the way we
work though if I'm honest."
