Former Inter striker Samuel Eto’o has reminisced about Inter’s historic treble winning season, 10 years on from the club achieving the feat that very few clubs have ever achieved.

The former Cameroonian national team player joined Inter in the Summer of 2009 as part of a deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic head in the opposite director to Barcelona.

Eto’o proved absolutely pivotal for Inter during the course of the treble winning season and Eto’o has shared that the unity between everyone made a real difference that year.

“That team was like a second home, a family. We were all united from the warehouse workers to the cooks,” he told Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset yesterday.

“Mourinho will always remain in my heart, he is a great coach and a great person. He wanted me to allow me to express all my value. I experienced the treble with incredible people. All my teammates, of course, but also Massimo Moratti, who was like a second father to me.”

He then proceeded to speak further on Massimo Moratti, who was president and owner of Inter between 1995 and 2013.

“He is a person I can always count on, a firm point of reference. I have never seen such a just and kind person in this world. I will always thank Moratti and the other members of the management of those years.”

He then spoke on the support he received from the fans and the support they still give him even now, many years on from him departing the club.

“The fans welcomed me well and made me feel part of them, even when you go away you always feel like Inter, like a family, it is not easy to find this in the world of football.”

Eto’o concluded the interview by discussing some the messages he received which convinced him to join Inter.

“Before I moved to Inter Materazzi sent me a message to tell me to come to Inter and make him win the Champions League, while Mourinho sent me the Nerazzurri shirt with the number 9. It was an honour.

“My dream was to win the World Cup with Cameroon and this was not possible. However, Inter has allowed me to reach another level and for this I will always be grateful to this team.”

Eto’o made 102 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 53 goals and tallied 24 assists.

The post Samuel Eto’o: “Inter’s Treble Winning Team Was Like A Second Home, A Family, We Were All United” appeared first on Sempreinter.

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In an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, former Inter manager Jose Mourinho has reflected on Inter’s historic treble win, 10 years on from the Nerazzurri completing it after a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

“There are unforgettable moments, this is one of them. The relationship I have with the players, Moratti and everyone who has worked is the most important thing. It will remain forever and this is a very special thing” he began.

“What makes me feel special is to feel like a leader of this team that had many leaders. We are still a family ten years later. We separated but we will be friends forever, this is what I miss in my career. This feeling of family for life makes me proud.

“I felt like one of them, only with more experience and responsibility; it was not a group but a family.”

He then spoke on the legendary Javier Zanetti, who captained Inter to the treble win that season, and is now the club’s vice president.

“His hair was always in place, even without a hairdresser. He was the captain of captains for me. We had a group of fundamental guys in terms of ambition, players with a Nerazzurri heart and bearers of values and a dream. That season was a ‘now or never’ moment for many of them.”

He then spoke on the signings of several players the Summer before the treble winning season.

“We bought Sneijder, Lucio and Eto’o plus Pandev for their tactical qualities but also for other things. We can say the same things for Milito and Motta, they came from Genoa with the ambition to win at least the domestic competitions.

“Lucio was rejected by Van Gaal, Wesley was rejected by Real Madrid and Eto’o was rejected by Pep; I say thanks to Branca and Oriali because they did a great job helping me a lot in the choices. Then there was Moratti who guided us towards the dream, which he never hid that he had.”

Mourinho then went on to admit that he was thinking about the players more than himself when it came to winning his second Champions League.

“In that Madrid final I never thought of myself, I didn’t think I would win my second Champions or individual prizes. I thought only of the joy of others, of the meaning of the cup for Moratti, Zanetti and the fans. Mines was an altruistic thought.

“I felt special in that sense, I felt humble, calm, attentive to the emotions of others. This group had this power over me. Many times the players say that I left a mark on them, I say that they too left a mark on me.”

He then went on to recall the match against Dinamo Kiev in Kiev, a match seen by many as a turning point for Inter’s campaign.

“I don’t talk so much about locker room stories, but it’s also nice that people can share these stories. In that game there, at the interval, I saw sad people, and I hate sad people when there is so much to play for.

“I cried after the victories, but only once after a defeat because I don’t like doing it. Returning to Kiev, I was really angry because the team could do more. I managed to make the tactical changes that the team needed, it was mandatory to take risks to win.

“I managed to get into the hearts of the players and we were fantastic in the second half. It was the key moment precisely because we were one step away from being eliminated.”

He then went on to reveal what he said to Pep Guardiola during the semi final second leg against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

“When Thiago was sent off, people thought the game was done. Pep and the Barcelona bench celebrated his sending off but I went up to him and said ‘don’t worry, it’s not over.’

“I knew that because my players were mentally ready for the fight. Human aspects won in that race. When I talk about my Inter I always mention this feeling, we did something special. History remains history, May 22 is the day we touched the sky.”

In conclusion, he was reminded that neither he nor Inter have won the Champions League since then and was asked who he thinks will revive themselves first.

“It’s difficult to say, it is not easy to win the Champions League. At the moment I am at a team that does not have a winning culture. Before winning in Europe the club must prevail in England, and it is not easy. This is both the club and my ambition.

“Inter have only won a Coppa Italia in the last ten years and for Inter it is very little and this is unacceptable and hard for the fans. However, they are working now and it would not surprise me to see Inter return to winning ways in Italy and Europe.”

The post Jose Mourinho: “Winning The Treble With Inter Is Unforgettable, It Wouldn’t Surprise Me To See Inter Winning In Italy & Europe Again” appeared first on Sempreinter.

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Inter legend Marco Materazzi has taken to photo sharing social media platform Instagram to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Inter achieving their famous treble winning season which was completed with the capture of the Champions League.

Materazzi joined Inter in 2001 from fellow Italian side Perugia and went on to represent the club for the next ten years.

During his time with the club the 2006 World Cup winner made 276 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 21 goals and tallied three assists.

He posted: “Four years earlier, in Berlin, I thought I couldn’t be any happier as a footballer. Ten years ago, in Madrid, I had the good fortune and the honour of being able to be. Thanks always to Inter and to all the Inter fans, forever one of you.”

View this post on Instagram

Quattro anni prima, a Berlino, avevo pensato di non poter essere un calciatore più felice di così. Dieci anni fa, a Madrid, ho avuto la fortuna e l’onore di poterlo essere almeno un’altra volta. Sempre grazie @inter e a tutta la gente dell’Inter. Per sempre uno di voi #22MAGGIO2010 #Triplete #10yearsago @championsleague #Timeless2010

A post shared by Marco Materazzi (@marcomaterazzi) on May 22, 2020 at 1:47am PDT

The post Photo – Inter Legend Marco Materazzi: “Didn’t Think I Could Ever Be As Happy As In Berlin But 10 Years Ago I Was” appeared first on Sempreinter.

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Former Inter striker Samuel Eto’o has taken to social media platform Instagram to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Inter’s famous treble win which was completed by winning the Champions League.

The former Cameroonian national team forward joined Inter in the Summer of 2009 from Barcelona as part of a swap deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic head in the opposite direction.

During his spell on Inter’s books, Eto’o made 102 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 53 goals and tallied 25 assists.

He posted: “A different day, a unique team, unique people, thank you dear friends.”

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Un jour différent, Une équipe unique, Un peuple unique, Merci chers Amis, @inter @javierzanetti @marcomaterazzi @juliocesar @sulleymuntari @sneijder10official @cuchucambiasso

A post shared by Samuel Eto’o (@setoo9) on May 22, 2020 at 1:48am PDT

The post Photo – Inter Legend Eto’o Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Inter’s Treble: “A Different Day, A Unique Team, Unique People” appeared first on Sempreinter.

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Legendary former Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has taken to photo sharing social media platform Instagram to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Inter clinching the Champions League, which formed a third of their famous treble.

The former Argentine national team player joined Inter in the Summer of 2004 from Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and gave 10 years of service to Inter before departing for Leicester City in 2014.

He made 431 appearances across all competitions for the Nerazzurri, in which he scored 51 goals and tallied 34 assists.

He posted: “Ten years ago today, the dream. Thanks to everyone who helped me on that magnificent journey. Time passes, history remains forever.”

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Dieci anni fa oggi, il SOGNO…Grazie a tutti quelli che mi hanno aiutato in quel magnifico percorso…il tempo passa, la storia rimane per SEMPRE. #2010 #triplete #laorejona @championsleague @inter #10years #onthisday #cuchu #cambiasso

A post shared by Esteban Cambiasso (@cuchucambiasso) on May 22, 2020 at 2:02am PDT

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Former Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo has taken to photo sharing social media platform Instagram to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Inter’s Champions League win, which completed their famous treble.

The former Italian national team shot stopper joined Inter in the Summer of 2001 from fellow Serie A club Fiorentina and spent the next nine seasons with Inter.

During his time on the club’s books, the latter years of which he spent as back up to Julio Cesar, he made 233 appearances and kept 95 clean sheets.

He posted: “And three! Treble. Call them out if you want emotions.”

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E tre! Triplete!!! Chiamale se vuoi ‘emozioni’ #ForzaInter #Triplete2010

A post shared by Francesco Toldo (@francescotoldo) on May 22, 2020 at 12:56am PDT

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Lega Serie A have drafted up a 36 page document which contains the guidelines that will have to be followed should the 2019/20 Serie A season resume according to a report in today’s print edition of Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

The Rome based newspaper have summarised some of the most important guidelines that will have to be followed by players, staff and match officials.

There will be a maximum of 300 people permitted in any stadium all of whom will be equally distributed between three separate areas and everyone will have their temperature taken prior to entering.

Due to the fact the remainder of the season will be carried out during the sweltering summer heat, games will not kick off at the traditional time of 15:00 CET, when it will be too hot. Kick off times for matches will be 16:30, 18:45 and 21:00 instead.

Teams will have to enter stadiums in different ways to minimise contact and starters and substitutes will take turns to be in the dressing room to get ready. Moreover, only match officials will be allowed to go into the referee’s room.

Teams will not shake hands prior to the match and there will also be no mascots and their entrances and exits from the match will not happen simultaneously. The report goes on to add that pre and post-match interviews will be kept to a minimum

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May 28 will be the date where there will be a definitive answer with regard to the possible resumption of the 2019/20 Serie A season according to a report in today’s print edition of Italian daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

The relevant bodies are scheduled to meet on this date to discuss possibly restarting the season but the report warns that they have genuine concerns about not having enough time to finish the remainder of this season as they want to do their utmost to avoid disrupting the start of the 2020/21 season.

Setting a restart date will also be massively important for Lega Serie A and its 20 clubs due in terms of television rights money.

By setting a date the clubs could claim for the final instalment of the television money from this season, money which has been withheld from them so far due to football being stopped for over two months now.

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Inter and AC Milan are awaiting the green light from the Milan city council to begin the process of building their new state of the art stadium according to a report in today’s print edition of Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

Yesterday’s announcement that the Regional Commission For Cultural Heritage Of Lombardy deems San Siro stadium ‘has no cultural interest’ has removed a number of obstacles that were previously in the way and things are now a lot easier for the two clubs.

At long last, the clubs can move on to the stage where they pick a winning project between the one presented by the Populous Group and one by Manica/Cmr Sportium.

Inter and AC Milan will build a new stadium but there is still a long way to go and the report warns that the Milan city council are not ready to give up easily when it comes to getting what they want

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Inter have released an official statement on their club website in which they pay their respects to former manager Luigi ‘Gigi’ Simoni who passed away earlier on today, aged 81.

Simoni took charge of Inter on July 1 1997 and spent 16 months in charge of the club, during which time he managed 73 matches across all competitions.

Simoni led the club to 45 victories and won a single trophy during his tenure with the club, the 1997/98 UEFA Cup. He also won the manager of the year award that season.

In a 38 year managerial career between 1974 and 2012, Simoni, whose last position in football was as president of Cremoneseup until the Summer of 2016, managed 17 other clubs including the likes of Napoli, Empoli and CSKA Sofia.

“Today, 22 May, he left us. Not just any date, the most Inter-related date of all,” Inter’s statement began.

“We remember Gigi Simoni and will miss everything about him. First and foremost, his gentlemanly way of being. His way of living, both in life and football, was never over the top. His football reflected that: it was humble, functional and capable of making the most of what he had on offer.

“He arrived in the Nerazzurri dugout in 1997, together with El Fenomeno, Ronaldo. That combination, Simoni-Ronaldo, will remain in everyone’s hearts forever, and not just those of Inter fans. That was a father-son relationship, one in which he showed great compassion towards a truly special footballer: Simoni loved to tell us, “I learned more from him than he did from me that season.” A phrase that brilliantly encapsulates what type of person he was.

“He embodied the most genuine passion for Inter. And on 6 May 1998 he produced his greatest feat as a coach: he out-manoeuvred a great Lazio side and didn’t give them a sniff. On that magical night at the Parc des Princes, Zamorano, Zanetti and Ronaldo handed Inter their third UEFA Cup.”

The statement then went to also list off some of the other achievements that former Brescia and Genoa player Simoni achieved during his managerial career.

“The world of football has lost a great coach and a wonderful person. During his playing career, he won a Coppa Italia with Napoli as well as Serie B with Genoa. As a coach, in addition to the UEFA Cup with Inter, he lifted the Anglo-Italian Cup with Cremonese and won five Serie B titles (three with Genoa, two with Pisa). In 1998 he received the Panchina d’Oro as the best Italian coach, a much-deserved recognition of his talents.”

The statement concluded with the following: “This is how we remember him: with his white hair, in our dugout, while he enjoyed the magic of Ronaldo with a smile on his face, enveloped by the fans’ affection.

“Farewell Gigi, we’ll miss you.”

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