MILAN - Walter Mazzarri spoke to "Radio Anch'io Lo Sport" on Rai Radio 1 earlier this morning.
The Nerazzurri coach was first asked about president Erick Thohir's comments yesterday, when he described Mazzarri as the right man for Inter: "Obviously that's pleasing. It's always important for a coach when the president says that, and it strengthens the coach's work in general. My first impressions of him were good, very good. He was open but above all I saw that there's great synergy between him and the honorary president, Massimo Moratti. He liked the decisions Moratti had made, how the team is playing, and it's all been positive thus far."
Should Inter keep their feet on the ground or can he already start dreaming of Messi: "The ownership always dictates the club's approach. I don't think there's a chance of that at the moment, but it's not for the coach to say. Would I like to have Messi? No, no I wouldn't [smiling]."
Moving to Inter from the solidity he built up at Napoli, Mazzarri took a big gamble: "Those who know me will tell you I always need new challenges. I spent four wonderful years at Napoli, then president Moratti called me and said certain things and I just knew it would be the right choice."
President Thohir wants to take Inter back to the top. Mazzarri outlined where the team are at the moment: "At this stage, I don't think we can forget how Inter finished last season. As things stand, we've built some great foundations, I have no qualms about saying that. From now on it will depend on what the club wants to do, but I think Thohir's got some fairly clear ideas on that. Those of you who have seen our games will have noticed that the team is already doing a lot of what I want from them. We've dropped a few points along the way, but we've also picked up a lot. We're on a good run, that's what I will say. What do we still lack in comparison to Juventus and Napoli? Juventus have won the Scudetto two years in a row, they're a settled side. Napoli have changed coach, but they were already second in the league and confidence was high. As I've said, we all know Inter's recent past, we had to start again from scratch, the situations are very different. We'll also be able to compete in a short space of time if we pick up the points that our play deserves."
What about Inter's chances of gatecrashing the title race? "I'm the last person who makes predictions," replied Mazzarri. "I'm someone who only thinks about the next match. Especially when you're coaching a team that's starting again from scratch."
In today's edition of La Repubblica, an interview explains - for the first time in more depth - Walter Mazzarri's mindset. The coach was asked if he wanted to tell his story in a more detailed way because what he's experiencing in Milan is the pinnacle of his career. "A lot depends on what sort of questions I'm asked! If a journalist asks me things, I'm always very open and it's nice to talk about what I've done in my career because it's brought me a lot of pleasure. Is Milan the peak? I'm very proud of what I've achieved in my career. I'm happy."
This evening Walter Mazzarri will receive the Maestrelli award as the best coach of 2012: "I'm very proud to be associated with a great coach like him. From what I've heard he had certain qualities I see in myself. I think about improving my players from a tactical and technical perspective, but I'm also very close to them on a daily basis."
The Nerazzurri coach gave his thoughts on the possibility that Thohir might not always be physically around as Massimo Moratti was. "At this stage we've not noticed any difference in terms of terms of the day-to-day running of the club. That's because Moratti has always been with us and introduced the new president. I believe there's great synergy between the pair, this is an advantage for us, for everyone, and we won't feel like we're on our own. Personally, as you know, I always try to get the team working well on the pitch."
It appears that president Thohir has given Mazzarri carte blanche in every area: "I need to stress this again, a coach can't make decisions on who to buy. If I'm asked, obviously I'll give my opinion to the technical and sporting directors but the coach can't dictate the transfer policy. These are questions you need to ask the ownership rather than me."
Inter. Over the course of the interview Mazzarri also explained his decision: "I had a number of different options. The one that instinctively felt the most right was Inter's offer. Did president Moratti play a key role in that? Of course, I had an interview with him personally and when I felt the confidence of such an important president it gave me so much strength that I was no longer in any doubt."
What about the Nerazzurri's key performers? The coach gave an update on Milito's return from injury. "He still should be a month away, but I can't put an exact timeframe on it. He's not yet back with the group, so it's not going to be quick." And on Icardi: "Sadly, he's never been able to train at his best, but in the short time he was able to train he responded very well. He's talented, he's still got a long way to go, but he's got what it takes." And on Hugo Campagnaro and the fact the club nearly caused a political incident with Argentina: "He came back on Saturday, he played 20-odd minutes, he's better and is trying to regain full fitness. Let's not talk about the other stuff."
And what interview would be complete without a word on captain Zanetti's comeback: "Looking at the facts and as a coach, I can say that Zanetti is respected by everyone. Plus, he said it himself, he needs to regain full fitness. If he goes back to what he was, I'll play him just like everyone else. I look at him in the same way I do the other players and I look at what the team needs. I believe he can come in very useful between now and the end of the season."
What about the chances of bringing Edinson Cavani to Milan? "Cavani, what can I say about Cavani? I like to point to facts. He joined from Palermo, I believe I played a part in getting the best out of him, and now he's a global star. I'd love to have him here but I don't think there's any chance of that happening in the short term."
There seem to be more injuries these days than in the past, what does the coach put that down to? "There are a number of factors, for instance switching between grass and artifical surfaces, which didn't use to exist. But I believe that it's mainly down to the pursuit of speed, trying to do everything really fast, and I think the differences with the past are mainly down to that."
Coaching abroad or a national team. That's on Walter Mazzarri's mind now and in the future: "Mentally I've not yet thought about coaching a national team, I still see myself as a club coach, I want to train the players day to day. That's what I think about that. I would consider going abroad. Did I like Italy's performance? Yes, I enjoyed it, especially in the second half when I saw a positive mentality. They didn't want to concede goals and tried to attack. There's the desire to give an identity to the national team and this is something positive."
Versión Española 日本語版 Versi Bahasa Indonesia Versione Italiana
