Inzaghi Prepares For Nostalgia Trip
Friday 2nd February 2001
After three-and-a-half years, Filippo Inzaghi returns to Atalanta, where he
first made his name in Serie A, on Saturday night.
It is becoming something of a fad for Italian league players not to
celebrate goals.
Sergio Conceicao started things off when he refused to rub Lazio's nose in
it after scoring for Parma against his old side, Christian Vieri also
decided not to show any job satisfaction at breaking his goal drought after
falling out with Inter fans and now Inzaghi has decided to follow suit.
"Certainly, if I score, I won't scream, dance or celebrate," said the Italy
international.
"Obviously, I'm hoping to score, because I'm a striker and we have to win to
keep up with Roma. But I have too many memories, I couldn't be very happy.
"I remember how it all began with a dinner at president Ruggeri's house.
Nicola Radici and Ernesto Randazzo were there as well and it was those three
men who were the first ones to believe in me. Without them and that team I
would never become a leading marksman in Serie A.
"I began playing at Piacenza, I grew up and began to believe in myself at
Atalanta and I became a champion at Juventus."
But, sentimentality aside, Inzaghi is all too aware of the need to be
ruthless during Saturday night's televised live game, as Atalanta have
created a force to be reckoned with.
"It will be a real problem game," he said. "This year Atalanta are a
fantastic team with a lot of young, talented players. And they have some
experienced players who can help them, like Carrera."
Atalanta are heavily dependent on their youth policy, and their current
success in the top-flight is largely a testament to the years of work that
current manager Giovanni Vavassori put in when he was in charge of the youth
set-up.
All but three of the entire Nerazzurri squad are a product of the academy,
and even recent on-loan Fiorentina signing Domenico Morfeo began his
professional career at the Bergamo club.
"Morfeo is a real superstar. He can do whatever he wants with the ball. He
gave me a lot of assists when I was at Atalanta and I can't believe he
doesn't play for a big team."
"Against us, they have everything to lose, so it will be a very tough game."
