Inter (3-4-3): J. Cesar 5; Lucio 4,5, Samuel 4,5, Zanetti 6,5; Jonathan 4,5, Stankovic 5, Cambiasso 5 (26' st R. Alvarez 5), Nagatomo 5 (17' st Obi 5,5); Zarate 4 (34' Sneijder 5), Milito 6, Forlan 5,5.
A disp.: Orlandoni, Ranocchia, Pazzini, Castaignos.
All.: Gasperini 4.
MILAN – Winning against Roma is a must, "we must do it for Valeria," who during the course of "Prima Serata" on Inter Channel wrote to captain Zanetti asking him to get a win as soon as possible, since her scholastic performance goes hand in hand with Inter's, and classes begin on Monday.
However, Javier became serious when he spoke about the pitch. The captain explained: "We all need to overcome this difficult moment together, but I repeat that we are just at the beginning and there is still time to set things right. We are aware that we have to give something more, all of us. Especially to get through this period, and then hopefully the victories will come."
And Zanetti is certainly very close to conquering one important victory. It will be a historical record for the Inter captain, that of the most ever appearances in an Inter shirt: "We're thinking about something, and we'll certainly create a special banner for that day, and perhaps even a shirt. Certainly this goal is also for our fans, because they have always shown me so much support ever since I first arrived in Milan."
The topic returned to on-the pitch matters and Argentine football: "Is it possible to beat Leo Messi? There are certain phenomenal players that you think you can win the ball off, but then they always get the tip of their boot to it before you... Have I told him how nice Milan is? Of course I have, I do it all the time! [grinning]" And that unforgettable night on 22 May 2010, that victory which will forever remain in our heads: "It was a special, unique moment," the captain recalls with a smile. "Unforgettable not only for me but for all Interisti, also because we were in such a magnificent stadium, the Santiago Bernabeu, where I had never played before because when we played Real Madrid the game was in Seville, and then there was another friendly but I was on away international duty. Do I regret not accepting the offer Real Madrid made to me, considering that it came in a period when Inter weren't successful? No, and actually I saw it differently: when we weren't winning I was confident that with time things would change. And that's exactly what happened."
In two hours' time, on Sky Sport Italia channel 232, Javier Zanetti will be on Inter Channel for a very special edition of Prima Serata. You can read more of the skipper's words here on inter.it at 21:00.
APPIANO GENTILE - "The commitment of this team has always been there and always will be there." Words spoken by Javier Zanetti during the filming of "Prima Serata" on Inter Channel. Despite this difficult period, the captain has no doubts: "My team-mates and I never stop trying to give our best, I can assure you of that. It can happen that there are certain matches in which things don't go your way, and that's part of football. But no one can dispute the commitment that this team has."
Zanetti continued by referring to last night's defeat against Trabzonspor: "Certainly we all would have wanted to begin with a win, but let's not forget that it was only the first match of the Champions League, and anything is still possible. The defeat wasn't deserved, that's true. But that's just the way things went on the pitch, and we have to take note of it. Now there's nothing to do but work and correct the things that need attention, so we don't repeat the same errors again."
At times the fans can be very direct, and Zanetti was then asked if the team still maintains confidence in Gian Piero Gasperini. And also in this case he expressed no doubts: "Of course we have faith in him. Actually, we're ready to stand even more by his side. It's his first season with us and we have to help him, to give him a hand, because these moments can occur and we need to come out of them together. But I also understand that the fans could be puzzled, because this team has been winning trophies for years now. But we need to remain calm and not let outside influences get the better of us."
Finally, a question of a technical and tactical nature: can Diego Milito and Giampaolo Pazzini play together? The Inter captain smiles and says: "It seems to me to be a throwback to the days of Bielsa with the Argentine national team, when the question was always being asked about the coexistence of Batistuta and Crespo... [smiling, ed.]. As for Diego and Giampaolo, I think it depends on the matches. Perhaps there are some that call for two forwards with a strong presence, and in that case they could easily play together."
MILAN - With the arrival of Javier and Paula Zanetti at the "World Join Center" in Milan, the evening of celebrations dedicated to 10 years of the PUPI Foundation officially opened. A celebration to commemorate the hard work, sacrifices and successes that the captain and his wife have put into this project they created and have followed, step by step, in order to help underprivileged children in Argentina.
Zanetti said to Sky Sport 24: "Ten years is a long time and here tonight will be all the people who have in some way lived through them with us. Italy welcomed me and now it feels like my country. I feel Italian and I would especially like to thank all the Italians for the sensitivity that they've shown towards the Foundation."
Inevitably the talk turned to football and the difficult period with which Inter have opened the season: "The defeats have been unexpected, in matches that we even could have won. Unfortunately football is made up of episodes, and now we have to improve because we are only at the beginning and we have plenty of time to fix things. We're aware that we can do much more and we'll do it. There's already talk of a crisis? I can say that neither the coach nor the team has this type of feeling. We're thinking only of working and staying focused on our goals. After all, in the past when no one believed in us we won everything."
Losses hurt and it is normal that they would have the same effect on president Moratti. Zanetti stated: "He must certainly feel bitter, as we all do, but he knows our team. Therefore I must say that at the same time he must also be very confident."
Regarding Gian Piero Gasperini's play, the captain continued to explain that, "When we lose we all have responsibilities, and not just the coach. I don't believe that anyone is thinking about starting a revolution. We just have to work and look for the results we want. In what role do I see myself in his tactics? In whatever position he wants. Unfortunately, there are always difficult moments during the season and ours arrived early, but we are ready to start again."
Also present at the dinner honouring the PUPI Foundation were Mrs. Bedy Moratti, Gian Piero Gasperini and his wife, Ivan Juric, Giuseppe Baresi, Daniele Bernazzani and Alessandro Nista.