Benvenuto Leonardo
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APPIANO GENTILE - President Massimo Moratti welcomed Leonardo to his press conference at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti in Appiano Gentile, introducing him as the new Inter coach.
“Leonardo forced me to be here today” began the Nerazzurri president with a smile; “to be honest it is the first time someone has asked me to be here… It makes me very happy, I am pleased with the choice of Leonardo to have joined this team, as is he. Our relationship comes from a mutual respect, a respect he has earned through his ability to learn rapidly, and to transmit affection and professionalism. These are qualities he will use here at our club, which has shown itself to still be ambitious and affectionate to all our fans, and their dreams; dreams which we share. I wish Leonardo all the best, with all my affection and respect.”
The focus was then all on the new Nerazzurri coach who, before answering any questions, confessed his thoughts and feelings ahead of what he defined as “my big challenge”: “The situation I am currently going through is very fascinating. I see many familiar faces, in an environment where everything is built upon relationships. I know many people here, I have been in Milan for 13 years, and to be honest I am very excited, because today is a day full of emotion. Is this the dream I hoped would come true..? I am a romantic person, I was not looking for a job, but for something that would really motivate me, a great challenge; and I don’t think they come any greater than this one.”
“It didn’t take me long to accept president Moratti’s proposition” admitted Leonardo, ”but I never truly thought all this would come true. Our relationship developed in the most natural way possible, but that does not change the hierarchy: the coach is the coach, the president is the president. The coach’s job is very intense, delicate, and when I finished coaching Milan I did a lot of thinking, but Inter’s proposition made me realise that this is what I really wanted to do. This is a situation in which I must observe closely and understand what is available: no revolutions. I must move forward with what I have, and learn to add my experience to it: that is what I will do here. I will try to eradicate whatever negatives there are, maintaining the many positives, and above all I will find a way to get people to know me and my ways.”
“I arrive here in the most important year in Inter’s history” continued Leonardo, “and that is incredible. I am very determined, happy, and I have a lot of enthusiasm. What will I ask the team? I think the team is already there and does not need to be created. Inter has its identity, the players know what they have to do; I don’t have to invent anything, but rather put the players into the best possible conditions in which to do their best. This team must enjoy this moment after all they have achieved, like a great team; all they have to do is return to what they were doing in their successful times. Do I believe in a title chance? Of course, I totally believe in it; there is quite a gap to the top, but it won’t take much to get into the group of frontrunners.”
Many years spent with Milan, but now an Inter man: that is Leonardo. “Being honest, I have always tried to be an independent person, with my own identity. It is true that I have many things in common with Milan, and I will always be grateful to the Rossoneri club, where I was a player, a club official, and then a coach. But Milan brought me here, Capello brought me here, and I see many things I can relate to at Inter too, because, as I said, I have always tried to be independent. I have my truths; I have no regrets, because I have always told people what I wanted to say to them, and in the way I wanted to say it. This challenge was too great to resist, and unexpected, and I just couldn’t refuse.”
Words were also spared for Leonardo’s predecessors. For Rafa Benitez (“a coach who has won in every place he has worked, but in life there are particular situations”); and especially for the man who led Inter to the treble, regarding which Leonardo immediately clarified: “I am not José Mourinho. Are you surprised..? I am too, but I will go on in this challenge. I was a coach for a single season, and then I studied hard for the following six months. I called José, because coming to Inter without contacting him would have been impossible, he is everywhere. I’d already known him for some time, and he was extraordinary when we spoke this time too. We discussed many things, and I am not talking about him because he is the great Mourinho, I am talking about him because he is familiar with many aspects of this club, and left a big mark here. I thank him, and I am very happy with everything he told me. I consider him to be a world-beater; I believe that behind his brilliant press conferences there lies endless work; work that is still apparent here today.”
After Mourinho and after Benitez, Inter now start again with Leonardo: “It won’t be quite like starting again, because this team is already a reality. I have already spoken to everyone, not just the players. I have tried to experience the daily routine of this environment, of the training ground, and I have received a really positive welcome from everyone - for which I thank them.”
Finally attention turned to the transfer window. “This is not the moment to discuss that” answered Leonardo. “I want to start with the players I have available, and then we shall see what opportunities present themselves. This is the plan of action shared by myself, by Marco Branca, and by everyone. Kakà to Inter..? Knowing him I don’t think he’d ever leave Real Madrid without having first made a success of it.” And on that topic president Moratti also joined in: “What I did with Benitez was not a forced order, but an indication of something that is still true. I am convinced that our group is still a very strong one, and knowing the players one by one, I would not be too worried. Then of course there is a technical factor to consider, and for that I will listen to those in charge of it: as I listened to Benitez, now I will listen to Leonardo, as well as Marco Branca. Of course the necessity is to do well regarding all the aspects that exist within the club.”
To finish off, word went back to president Moratti: “I would like to thank Rafa Benitez for the work he has done for us since the start of the season.”
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pictures from here