APPIANO GENTILE – Just a few hours away from his first derby with the Nerazzurri, Hernanes described his feelings in an exclusive interview with Sky Perfect Japan: "I have great expectations for this game. I want to do really well because I know that a player can really win over the fans in games like these. I want to help the team win. It will be very important because, beyond the fact that it’s the derby, it can be key in us moving forward with our objectives."
After discussing his relationship with Nerazzurri fans ("They accepted me warmly the start, I immediately felt appreciated and it's nice"), the midfielder described the one he has with coach Mazzarri: "It couldn’t be going any better. I needed to find a coach like him and I’m very happy to be working with him. What does he ask of me? To be a leader and help the team."
How far can this Inter side go, and what about his own personal objective? "Mine is to be an important player for the club. I didn’t come here to be an average player; I want to make a difference. I’ll manage that if we earn important results. Our goal is certainly to make it to Europe. We can do it. It just depends on us. Inter won the first derby this season and we hope to do it again. Maybe with one of my goals? I hope so…[smiling]. At any rate, what matters that we win."
Hernanes also covered Juventus and Roma in his discussion ("The Giallorossi started off at light speed, and the amazing thing is that as soon as they had two draws Juventus had already built a big gap ahead of them") before ending the interview on the subject of Nagatomo: "He was one of the first team-mates who looked to get me involved in things here, and we always joke around together. It’s incredible how he never stops running. I joke with him and tell him that he works harder every day and that he should relax every now and then. He has an incredible sense of professionalism."
