Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi wants the Nerazzurri to secure the Scudetto with a victory over Milan in the derby. Should Inter beat Cagliari at the weekend, they can mathematically seal the Serie A title with a win over the Rossoneri the following week. Speaking with Sportmediaset (via CM) Materazzi talked about his own treble winning Inter side and the comparisons that can be drawn between the two sides:
Is it better to win the Scudetto on derby day or perhaps by beating Juventus’ points record set by Conte?
“I’m not interested in the points record, I prefer to win it in the derby. Records are made to be broken, but winning a Scudetto in the derby would remain in history.”
Does this Inter and its Treble team have something in common?
“They are comparable as a group: we have fun together and we want to stay together. In my opinion, the current players play better, although a match against us would have been uncomfortable for them too… With all due respect to those who are writing the history of the second star, when I look at who we had, I find people like Maicon, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Eto’o, Milito, Thiago Motta, Lucio, Samuel, Cordoba, or Julio Cesar, and it’s a bit impressive. But I must say that the current players play really well.”
Is there a symbolic figure for this Scudetto?
“It would be a bit reductive for everyone to identify a symbolic figure because everyone has truly contributed. From those who arrived last like Pavard or Frattesi, who scored every time they came in and raised the Inter flag high. That’s the beautiful thing. Of course, I can mention the captain (Lautaro Martinez). First of all, because I hope he signs soon since I see how much he cares about the team, and then because he’s the one with the armband. Otherwise, Barella, Bastoni, I have a soft spot for Italians because when I played, there were few of us, and one of my dreams was to see such an Italian team. Now we have four or five players in the national team, and it’s the most beautiful thing.”
Is the Champions League still a disappointment?
“Yes, it was a disappointment, but it must be seen like last year’s final loss, which gave the belief of being strong. It was said they got there by luck and were almost about to win it. In that defeat, they found the awareness of feeling strong, which is the most beautiful thing. When you go on the field and know you can win against anyone, it’s incomparable. Unfortunately, this time we met the most difficult opponent, a technical team that fights for every ball and never gives up, and we were eliminated on penalties. They’re always a lottery even though I can’t curse them because I won a World Cup and a playoff against Perugia in Serie B. From that point of view, I was lucky, but, I repeat, it’s a lottery, and anything can happen.”
Where and how would you reinforce the team for the next season?
“There are no departments that really need reinforcements. And then we have a workgroup in the club that, in my opinion, no one else has, not only in Italy but also abroad. People like Marotta, like Ausilio, like Antonello, who know what they’re doing and are bringing Inter back to what its dimension should be. I don’t interfere because I trust them blindly.”
