MILAN – Javier Zanetti spoke to Inter Channel at the Gentleman Fair Play Awards ceremony this evening. "I've won a few awards myself down the years and now I get to hand them out. It's an important award because it's based on values and fair play, which are important in sport.”
The vice president also spoke about Inter's next match against Empoli at San Siro: "It's a huge game. We deserved to lose yesterday because we didn't play well. Now we have to lock down fourth place - which is an important target for us - then we'll start planning for the future.
“Mauro Icardi is an intelligent striker. He's a goalscorer, he's very young and he can improve loads."
Zanetti was then joined by Ronaldo: "An Argentine and a Brazilian, that's a classic! It was an honour for me to play alongside Ronaldo. He was unstoppable, even in training – incredibly difficult to tackle. 5 May was a sad day for Inter fans but then on 5 May 2010 we took our first step towards the treble so I prefer to remember that date.
"The footballing side of Milan isn't going through the best of times at the moment but I'm sure it will soon be back up there. Hats off to Juventus for winning the title. We're a young side and we know we need to improve. We know that a team like Inter has to work hard to keep getting better and better.
"Andrea Bocelli and I are organising an evening together with our foundations on 25 May. There will be lots of players who have won the Champions League and lots of singers at the amphitheatre where Expo 2015 was inaugurated."
Mauro Icardi was also among the guests: "I'm a striker and it's my job to score goals for the team. I'm honoured to receive a prize for doing that."
The Argentine also looked ahead to Inter v Empoli: "After yesterday's match it will be even better for us to clinch fourth place at San Siro in front of our fans. It's always good to win at the Meazza.
"I wasn't scoring so many at the start of the season but then I managed to get into double figures. I'm happy because I've been able to score more than 40 goals in the last two years at Inter.
"We started well this season then dropped off. We're a young team with great potential. It will help us in future having worked together because we know each other now."
Joao Miranda was another of the players awarded: "I'm happy for the whole team. This award means a lot to me.
"We wanted to qualify for the Champions League but we have to keep working so that we can finish higher next year. We need to keep hold of our players if we want to improve. We did well in the first half of the season and I agree with the boss: we can't play like we did yesterday. Hopefully we'll do better next season and play with more intensity. We shouldn't be worried – we've got great players and great ability so I think we'll do better. We have to stay solid throughout the campaign, as we were in the first part of this season.
"I'm happy here. I'm under contract and I'm staying put. Murillo is a superb player with huge potential. Simeone? Mancini is the coach of Inter."
Meanwhile Roberto Samaden made an appearance on behalf of the Nerazzurri youth academy.
"We've enjoyed lots of success this season and have done for years. This award tonight is for the consistency of our results – our success has continued after the change of owners and they've always placed a lot of importance on the youth academy. Obviously everyone who works with the players – not just the coaches – needs to be inclined a certain way.
"Inter getting into the Final Eight is a much bigger achievement than people might think. We were worried given the quality of our opponents and credit must go to the players and coaching staff – I can't emphasise that enough. Of course we're doubly pleased after winning the derby.
"Pinamonti has often proved decisive this season – he's a big plus for us. He's always had goals in him."
