The official INTER MILAN fan thread

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

honestly these guys need to like get serious. i'm not to impressed with their performance in last couple matches.

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Adriano: "The Emperor will strike back"

Friday, 21 September 2007 18:28:01


MILAN - Adriano spoke about Inter, football and his private life during a long interview with Sky Italia for the second episode of a new series entitled '100 e lode', dedicated to the Nerazzurri's centenary season.

Adriano, after a difficult period we saw flashes of the true Adriano in the game against Catania...
"I don't want to talk about what happened last year. It's an important time for me and I want to prove that I'm still a great player."

What went through your mind when you came on to the pitch at San Siro to face Catania? "I was a bit nervous because it was my first match of the season. But everything went well."

Why is the affection of the fans one of the most important aspects for a player?
"It's important, and particularly so for me because I have had a terrible year and a half, so hearing the fans give you strength on and off the pitch is very important. This helped me greatly, but I know I can do a lot more and I'm working very well with the team to do better and better."

So you understood you were deprived of something important in this recent period of your career?
"I'm trying to mend my ways so I can do more than what I did in the past years. I also think the team needs me a lot. They know I can do a lot for them when I'm in form."

Why didn't you manage to find your outlet in football?
"Because there were too many things that got me down and I didn't manage to keep my problems off the pitch or handle the situation well. On the pitch in training I just thought about my problems and didn't manage to play well. It was my mistake. I should have forgotten about my bad period and tried to play my best football to forget about my problems, but this didn't happen. But I didn't hurt anyone. Many people said I was taking the club and Moratti for a ride. Today I want to say that I have never taken anyone for a ride in my life. I hope I can forget about the bad period and get on with my job."

In another interview with Sky Italia, Luis Figo said that wasted time never comes back. Have you ever thought about this?
"Yes. I have thrown away a year and a half of my life, but these are things that can happen to a person. It happened to me, and I hope it can help me to mature in life."

The best goal you have ever scored?
"The one against Udinese at San Siro. I still really enjoy it every time I see it. At that point in my career everything I did went well. I'm sure I can start doing great things again this year. Physically I feel good and this is very important for me because of my great muscle mass. I hope I can score these kind of goals again."

How come we're no longer seeing those trademark powerful shots?
"I'm trying and trying, because strong shots are one of my qualities. I tried against Catania and hit the post at the end. These things will sort themselves out gradually."

Is your exclusion from the Champions League an open wound?
"I'm calm now because it has been a while. A player obviously wants to play in the Champions League but it went like this and I have to respect the decisions of Mancini and the club. I'm sad because I can't help the team in these first European games, but now I will work hard to return. I have big chances of returning if I work like I am doing now."

Do you like your nickname The Emperor?
"I now realise the responsibility of having a nickname like this. I like it but the responsibility increases tremendously, so you always have to be in top form to handle a name like this, but I will definitely return to being The Emperor this year."

Is it true you once told your mother that you were happier when you had nothing?
"Yes, it's true and I tell everyone about this. Money obviously helps you in many things but you can't buy happiness - the most important thing of all because money doesn't help you at all when you're sad. So I think that the people who are always with you are those of your family. First there's God, then there's your family. I don't know what others think, but this is how I see it."

Have you understood what you needed to be happy?
"Yes, I have now. I'm a person who likes laughing and joking. When I'm sad it means there's something wrong. I'm happy again now, I have brought my mother and son to Milan. This is very important for me because it's as if I have found the happiness I had lost."

What is Adriano the father like?
(Smiles) "He's very calm, but my son is always making a mess... I'm always playing with him. Sometimes he wakes up at three or four in the morning and I get a little bit angry, but in the nice sense of the word. He's a wonderful son."

Does he take after you?
"I liked playing with the ball when I was little. I think he will go on to do a different job, but it's still too soon to say."

What's the worst thing they have said about you in these past months?
"They said too many things about my private life. I have clearly made a lot of mistakes but it's not right to start talking again about things in the past because in this season I'm doing everything to put things right and not have the problems I had last year. I think the media should show more respect for me now and not always talk about things that are in the past."

Are you starting to choose the right friends?
"To tell the truth I have never had many friends. I think that when you're having a tough time you look for excuses and try to involve your friends. But like I have said many times, the problem was mine alone. When you feel bad you look for absurd things, and this is wrong."

Have any of your team-mates given you the right advice?
"Cordoba told me some very nice things, but all my team-mates have great affection for me. They all know I can do more for the team when I'm feeling good. They have all helped me. They can see I have changed and they tell me to continue like this and do better and better. I'm doing this every day and I think this is the right path to take in order to do well."

Is your mother Rosilda the only woman in your life?
"Yes. Actually no. There's also my grandmother who took me to training sessions at Flamengo when I was young. We overcame many problems at that time. There's also my brother and my son. My whole family has always been important for me."

What can your family understand about Adriano that the others can't see?
"Maybe they tell me I'm too kind. This is my problem. Many people try to cheat me, but I'm like this and I can't manage to be a different person. For example, I always feel bad when I argue with someone during training. I always try to be a humble person and not hurt anyone, and I think this is positive for me."

What would have been different for you if your father were still alive?
"A lot, because I was so close to him. If he were still here I might have won the Ballon d'Or in that bad year and a half, because he would have helped me stay calm. I was having a wonderful season and then all these things happened. These things can happen to anyone, it was certainly a bad time. At the start I didn't realise I had lost my father but then he was no longer part of my daily life and this was the hardest blow. It really hurt me."

Can you repeat those things you said this summer about your problems related to alcohol?
"Yes. I said those things and I have no problem repeating them. At that time I really couldn't manage to sleep or do anything positive. I only thought about my problems and I was drinking a bit too much. But I absolutely don't want to start doing those things again."

What advice would Adriano give to Adriano?
"To always be like I am now. To try to live my footballing and family life in the best way possible. And to try to keep my feet on the ground, which is something I have always done."

What does football mean for you at the moment?
"It means the chance to become the strong Adriano of two years ago. I'll do everything to return to being who I was before. Many have noticed a massive change in my attitude. They're all telling me I have changed and that I'm doing the things I didn't manage to do a while ago. I will always try to give my best in everything."

What must Inter improve?
"Like Mancini said, we have to be more focused and not be frightened of anything. We have great players in our team and we can do very well. The first Champions League match went badly but we have to be calm and work hard in the week to give continuity to the work we're doing."

What's your message for Fernando Orsi, the ex-Inter vice coach and current Livorno coach who you face on Sunday?
(Smiles) "I hope I score... It will be a hard and difficult game, but let's hope we do well. Good luck to them and good luck to us."

You face three championship matches in a week...
"We hope to work well and win them all. This is very important."

Any promises to make?
"I will do everything I can to be back to how I was before. I want to tell everyone that they can still trust me."

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

[Kasra.]

Pesar azat khabari nist?

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

[Kasra.]

------------Julio Cesar------------
------Burdisso------Samuel-------
-Maxwell-------------------Maicon-
-----------Cambiasso--------------
-Zanetti --------------------Figo--
------------Stankovic-------------
-------Adriano-----Ibra-----------

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

We Were Luckless - Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed Inter did not have the luck necessary to win today at Livorno.




Inter's prolific striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored another brace today for his team, gave his thoughts on today's 2-2 draw at Livorno.

"Today we lacked a bit of luck, when we get it back we will have no problems winning," he said. "Livorno played a great game, and to them this result is like a victory. It's not easy when you concede a goal in the first minute because it forces you to attack and score twice to win.

"We did everything we could, I liked how we played and the defeat at Istanbul has already been forgotten.

"We've lost two important points," the Swede continued, "but there are still a lot of games to be played. Let's take it one match at a time. Today we all gave it our best, but once we were down to ten men it became even more difficult.

"Adriano? He's doing well, we know how to find each other."

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Sunday, 23 September 2007 17:01:18


LIVORNO - Zlatan Ibrahimovic replied to goals from Daniele De Vezze and Massimo Loviso as Inter and Livorno shared the points in Sunday's Serie A clash at the Stadio Armando Picchi.

The Nerazzurri barely had time to settle down when De Vezze controlled a long ball into the area in the opening minute, cutting out two defenders before knocking it past Julio Cesar.

Livorno, coached by Mancini's former assistant Nando Orsi, sat on their lead as Inter gradually took control.

Adriano had a couple of efforts blocked, saw a header go over and then hit the upright during an incredible episode of pinball before Ibrahimovic grabbed an equaliser ten minutes before the interval. Latching on to Maicon's short pass in the area the Swedish forward lashed his third of the season past Amelia.

Inter survived a scare in added time, Loviso's long-range swerveshot forcing Julio Cesar into a tipped save.

Livorno made the better start to the second half but the ever alert Julio Cesar thwarted the danger with saves from Bogdani and Diamanti.

Mancini made a tactical switch ten minutes in, replacing Maxwell with attacking midfielder Luis Jimenez. The Chilean's first contribution was to shove Pulzetti off the ball and leave Trefoloni with no option but to point to the spot. Loviso stepped up and sent Julio Cesar the wrong way to put Inter on the back foot.

The Nerazzurri were back on level terms on 72 minutes. Livorno substitute Rezaei emulated Jimenez with a penalty foul on Ibrahimovic, and the Swede fired into the bottom left corner for his fourth goal against Tuscan opposition this term.

Inter were forced to play the final ten minutes with ten men when Maicon - sent off here last season - was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bogdani.

In a dramatic finale Ibrahimovic tucked home Cesar's floated cross only to see his effort ruled out for offside. At the other end Julio Cesar, possibly Inter's most in-form player at the moment, pulled off another miraculous save to deny Bogdani a late winner.

Livorno 2-2 Inter (HT: 1-1)

Scorers: De Vezze 1, Ibrahimovic 35, (pen) 72, Loviso (pen) 62.

Livorno: 1 Amelia; 32 Pavan (18 Rezaei 71), 6 Galante, 15 Knezevic, 69 Balleri (77 Grandoni 68), 7 Pulzetti, 21 Loviso, 11 De Vezze (4 E.Filippini 54), 26 Pasquale; 23 Diamanti, 81 Bogdani.
Subs not used: 14 De Lucia, 10 Tavano, 17 Alvarez, 22 Tristan.
Coach: Fernando Orsi.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 16 Burdisso, 6 Maxwell (11 Jimenez 55); 5 Stankovic, 19 Cambiasso, 4 Zanetti, 31 Cesar; 8 Ibrahimovic, 10 Adriano (9 Cruz )68).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 7 Figo, 15 Dacourt, 18 Crespo, 25 Samuel.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Siena).

Booked: Pavan 14, Maxwell 17, Knezevic 36, Cambiasso 62, Galante 74, Bogdani 86.
Sent off: Maicon 81.

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Hong Kong billionaire denies Inter Milan bid


Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, seen here in May 2007, has denied a report from an Italian sports website that said he would make an offer to buy Inter Milan.

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Maicon Banned For Three Games

Inter defender Douglas Maicon will miss the next three Serie A games after his sending-off against Livorno yesterday afternoon.

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

AC Milan and Inter Milan vice-presidents could face trial for false accounting

THE CANADIAN PRESS

MILAN, Italy - Prosecutors investigating player transfers between Milan's two Serie A clubs sought indictments Monday against senior AC Milan and Inter Milan officials on charges of false accounting.

A judge will decide whether to file charges against AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani, Inter Milan vice president Rinaldo Ghelfi and former Inter director Mauro Gambaro, news agencies reported. It was not clear when a decision would be made.

The indictment request, however, did not include Inter owner and president Massimo Moratti, who was also under investigation, news agency Ansa reported.

COVISOC, the regulator for Italian soccer, said in June that Serie A champion Inter would not have cleared the annual parameters required for all clubs for the 2005-06 season if it had reported its books accurately. It also cited irregularities for Milan in 2003 and '04.

European champion Milan issued a statement on its website Monday denying any wrongdoing and saying it expected to be cleared.

Inter also denied the allegations in a statement on its website and lent its support to Ghelfi and Gambaro.

Moratti has labelled the probe "absurd" saying player valuations were volatile and "difficult to understand."

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Serie A Preview: Inter - Sampdoria

Who: Inter Milan - Sampdoria
When: 20:30 (CET) - Wednesday 26 September
Where: Stadio Guiseppe Meazza

Inter Look To Rebound

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Moratti: "Rooting for Ibra"

Thursday, 27 September 2007 14:43:46


MILAN - Inter president Massimo Moratti spoke briefly to journalists today outside the Saras offices in Milan's city centre.

Dr Moratti, it was a good win against Sampdoria yesterday, but now you face Roma in Saturday's big match...
"We played a good match yesterday, it will be a different game against Roma. It won't be an easy match but we're hoping to put on a good show. We hope to win the necessary points game after game."

Roberto Mancini seemed to be irritated when he heard it said that Roma are playing a lot better than Inter...
"I'm not sure he was irritated... However, this is normal and in any case I think there have been other things that have irritated him more, and maybe this is the least important one. Inter and every other team have their own style of play because of the players they have and the formation they decide to use."

Will Saturday's match also be a great duel between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Francesco Totti?
"They are two champions. I'm rooting for Ibrahimovic."

Can Inter win in Rome?
"Let's hope so."

[Ghormeh Sabzi]

Photos: Thursday session on covered pitch









adriano reminds me of Vince Carter here in this picture lol