BERGOMI'S WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

MILAN - Twenty seasons, a lifetime, at Inter. Seven as captain. 756 matches for the Nerazzurri and seven trophies. Giuseppe Bergomi's long stay at Inter has, like all great adventures, a first step.

"On 30 January 1980, Bersellini handed me my debut in the second half of the Coppa Italia tie against Juventus and asked me to mark Pierino Fanna. It was a tight game, a scrappy 0-0, but I remember the amazing feeling of making my debut. At that time I trained a bit with the Primavera and a little with the first team, where there is a lot of pressure, you have to deal with mature guys who are used to competing to win games. You have behave yourself and train the right way. That was always my approach."

Among his many meetings with Juventus - a match that means so much to Inter fans - there are two that stick out for Bergomi: "We won 3-0 in Turin in the Coppa Italia under Hodgson, that's definitely a good memory (13 November 1996, goals from Zamorano, Ince and Djorkaeff). Plus, one of my best ever performances came against Juventus. In November 1984, we won 4-0 at the San Siro with a brace from Rummenigge and goals from Ferri and Collovati. That was the first time I played sweeper and, I must say, I played brilliantly."

We then turn our attention to the upcoming two-legged Coppa Italia semi-final: "The side they picked against Carpi makes me think that Inter are targeting the Coppa Italia. Mancini has never turned his nose up at this competition, neither as a player nor coach.

"I don't think the score will have too much of an impact on the league because Allegri will make wholesale changes and the personnel will be different. When Inter play the big sides, like against Napoli, they have players with the ability to hurt teams away from home, they're excellent on the break.

"Whoever makes the final will come down to the second leg. I expect a very tactical two-legged tie and it could go either way. Juventus are a good side but Inter have what it takes to win and they've shown that."

 Versi Bahasa Indonesia  Versione Italiana