APPIANO GENTILE - Memorabilia is back on Inter Channel, with a special
episode on the life and times of Lothar Matthaus.
It's fair to say the German was single-minded,
right from the word go: "I always played to win. Right back from my
Bayern Munich days, even though it was easier there because there was
less competition. Thirty years ago, there were five or six teams
equipped to win the title, like AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli with Maradona and Sampdoria with Vialli and Mancini. I knew Inter had a good team and
coach and I knew we could win the Scudetto."
Andy Brehme made the move with Matthaus: "I spoke to the Inter manager
back then and advised him to sign Brehme because he was brilliant. They
watched him in a match against Leverkusen, signed him and he did so much
for Inter."
"I joined Inter to win trophies and we had a strong team with Zenga,
Bergomi, Serena, Bianchi, Berti et al. We were an exceptional side but
AC Milan were strong too. We had heart, however, and I think that's what
proved crucial," he continued.
"It wasn't easy when I first moved to Italy because everything was new
but the work I did with Trapattoni and his staff helped me to
figure out the Italian mentality. I was sure we'd be among the
favourites."
On why he chose number 10: "I would have chosen 6 or 8, my numbers at
Bayern Munich. Back then Maradona and Platini wore 10 in Italy. But 6
and 8 were both taken, which is why I wore 10."
San Siro played host to Germany during Italia 90 too: "Five matches at San Siro was a real bonus for us because the Inter fans came to cheer us on. There was a bit of a derby against Inter's Dutch players. Andy took the penalty in the final because I had issues with my boots and I didn't feel confident. He took it and we won."
Matthaus became the first Nerazzurri man to win the Ballon d'Or, thanks to his exploits with Inter and Germany: "I could never have won the award without those teams full of great players. It was an accolade for my team-mates."
"We made lots of changes after winning the UEFA Cup in 1991," he continued. "A few players and the coach left and we weren't able to remain consistent. Perhaps we just lacked that sense of calm in the players' minds and around the club in general.
"The 1991 UEFA Cup run was exciting and, as luck would have it, a year on from winning the World Cup in Rome, I won more silverware there with Inter.
"They were great derby matches against AC Milan and I won three out of five. They had some terrific players but they always struggled against us because we played with heart. Trapattoni told us not to play short passes so I barely had a touch of the ball in the middle of the park. In the end, it was the right tactic though.
"Maradona has said that I was his toughest opponent and I'm honoured. I played in five World Cups and won the trophy too. I played in several different positions but I was always in the middle of the park to play the ball around."
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