La Gazzetta dello Sport 20/05/00 - Interview with Filippo Inzaghi
Filippo Inzaghi is having a short vacation in Agadir, Morocco, with his parents and his childhood friends.
PIPPO, HOW COULD LOSE THE SCUDETTO?
"There was a huge drop towards the end. Juve had only lost once, at Lecce. Then we fell in Milan and against Lazio, with Verona and Perugia. Four losses, two of them not deserved (Milan and Lazio) for what we showed on the field."
PHYISICAL DROP, LACK OF CONCENTRATION, WHAT?
"We were tired, but we thought that we could make up for it with our mental energies. But it didn't go like that. Why? I don't know, I believe that nobody has a precise answer to that."
WAS IT THE INTERTOTO?
"Maybe, but only in a small part. I don't think it's right to stick with such excuses. Moreover, a lot of us didn't begin July 1st, but a couple of weeks later. And if it weren't for Intertoto, we would have participated to some more prestigious tournament..."
HONESTLY, DOES IT HURT?
"Damn right it hurts. Because we thought we had won."
AND NOW? JUVE IS PREPARING ITSELF WITH A LESS THAN GLAMOROUS TRANSFER MARKET, BUT ONLY OF SUBSTANCE.
"Management is right. This is a team that made 71 points, it's not to scrap. The Italian group is young, united, strong. It could be the core for the present and the immediate future. The foreigners we have are good, envied by everyone. We are already ready for our revenge.!
NINE GAMES WITHOUT GOALS, EXACTLY THE LAST NINE GAMES OF THE SEASON.
"True, these are numbers you can't discuss. It had never happened to me. I wasn't the kind of person believing in bad luck, but I began to do so. Nothing went the right way for me. For me and the team. One by himself can't hurt much..."
WILL YOU REMAIN AT JUVE? WORDS ARE WASTED...
"I will stay 100%. There is a feeling between me and team management. They want me to stay, I want to stay."
DRASTIC STATEMENT DURING THE TRANSFER MARKET.
"When I say yes it's yes. It is true that contracts don't mean much, but mine expires in 2004 and I would like to respect it. Money? My agent will talk with management. And they will find an agreement. Because my will is to keep on wearing Juve's number 9 jersey. It's difficult to explain: it gives a great feeling: before dropping it you have to think about it 1,000 times... I have many goals for next season: there is also the one of scoring my 100th goal with Juve. I have 73 already and it won't be easy. But I will try (Pippo scored 27 goals in his 1st season, 20 the 2nd, 26 the 3rd).!
NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.
"It doesn't even compare with the UEFA Cup... It will be one of our main goals. I haven't forgotten the disappointment of Amsterdam."
IS IT CORRECT TO HAVE TWO TEAMS FOR LEAGUE AND CUP PLAY?
"I don't think this will be the choice made. The group will be enlarged and made stronger, but there won't be two teams. It will be Ancelotti's job to husband our energies, also taking into consideration of what happened this year."
THIS MEANS THAT ALSO INZAGHI WILL HAVE TO SIT ON THE BENCH ONCE IN A WHILE.
"I will accept any decision made by the coach."
BUT THIS YEAR, WITH FIORENTINA, THERE WAS A SHAMBLES. AND IT WAS THE FIRST
TIME IN THE SEASON...
"It was only a paranthesis and it was due my temper. You mature, you learn..."
HOW IS IT GOING WITH DEL PIERO?
"We are waiting of going back to scoring 59 goals between the two of us, like two years ago. This season we stopped at 38 (26 Pippo, 12 Ale), we will try to do better."
NO PERSONAL PROBLEMS?
"Not at all. Moreover, it's like we are getting married..."
THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IS GETTING CLOSER. WHAT GOALS DO YOU SEE?
"The minimum goal is the semifinal. But we have a team capable of winning. Our generation misses a consecration with the National team. I, in particular, am very thankful with Zoff because he always had faith in me: I want to repay him with important goals.!
YOU WON'T FIND SIMONE.
"My brother understood. He was the last to arrive and he's happy with that. He was sad at first, then it went away. The future is his."
LET'S TRY TO BE CLAIRVOYANTS: HOW WILL GROUP B FINISH?
"Italy first, then Belgium, Turkey, and Sweden. Let's be careful of the Turks, they are a hard nut to crack."
GIVES US YOUR FAVORITES.
"Spain, Netherlands, France, England, Germany. And Italy..."
Interview by Paolo Forcolin (La Gazzetta dello Sport 20/05/00)
