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THE VERSION OF GASP

Gazzetta's exclusive interview with the former Inter coach.

"I wanted Palacio with Milito and Eto'o.  You know how it ended."

"Moratti proposed Balotelli and I said yes.  Then he said we were ones who wanted him."

"The club and I could not come together on the module and the valuation of individuals."

"I have seen Lucas in Brazil, a good player but with too many letups.  Maybe he will get better."

GASP AND THE TRUTH

"I wanted Palacio-Milito-Eto'o and with an Inter that could challenge the world.  And Balotelli could arrive as well..."

"A negative experience makes you stronger. "

Turin - On September 20 in Novara, the brief story of Gian Piero Gasperini at Inter ended after two defeats and a draw in the league, another defeat in the Champions League and the failed attack to the Italian Super Cup in Beijing.  Not even one official victory.  Gasp left the team after an ordeal of misunderstanding and criticism.  Tomorrow, half a season later, here are Novara again at the San Siro.  Gasperini for the first time looks back at the nightmare in Milan.  He is in great shape.  He will be commenting on the upcoming European Championship on TV and then returns coaching football.

Gasperini, how do you remember Novara?

"As the worst moment in my entire career.  But perhaps at that point, everything was decided.  The environment around us was absurd. The players had given up.  We got everything wrong."

Let's take a step back when Moratti called you.

"He explained that the Financial Fair Play would play a big role but Eto'o would remain.  The goal was to rebuild a team that had shown signs of fatigue and begin to prepare making changes.  All right.  To me, Palacio, a midfielder and a defender would be enough as we had some injuries in all the departments."

That midfielder?

"I was thinking of Vidal.  I also liked Nainggolan whom, however, Inter were not interested in.  Just like Criscito and of course there was Palacio.  Inter were looking at Sanchez, Lavezzi, Tevez, those that were much less affordable. I and the trident of Palacio, Eto'o and Milito were ready to challenge the world.  The one thing I was given was to keep Thiago Motta, after Inter had told him to find himself another team and with Milito who had refused a big offer (PSG).  So it was not going to take much.  Just two or three players, not the nine that Inter bought after me.  In the face of Financial Fair Play.  This is the biggest regret.  I only had little to do well."

Instead, the big piece that stayed was Sneijder.

"I faced the difficulties from the transfer market with the departure of Eto'o.  Then Forlan and Zarate arrived, those very different from Palacio.  At the final minute.  But a great team must be defined at the start so they can work together.  In June, I was coaching half of the team, and the other half was at Coppa America.  In August, the national players started to leave, the other half.  I had the entire group three days before the start of the season without having the need to set things up."

Against Palermo was the first game also the first defeat.

"Yes, but we played well.  Some individual mistakes cost us the game.  I asked the team to be more aggressive, to close down the opponents in order to win the ball back.  The team, instead, was afraid of all the spaces that got left behind.  They intended to run away from the ball so that it was easier to endure counterattacks from Palermo.  We corrected these defects in training.  Again, we were together for a short period of time.  But instead of evaluating the performance in the light of context, it was all going back to the defense of three.  Absurd."

Moratti said so publicly.  Did you feel de-legitimized?

"I was convinced that with the good players, we can only become more and more of a team.  Motivating them with a different game plan, they would find new inspirations.  I still am convinced that Inter have good players and can still win the Scudetto.  At Inter, they were convinced of the contrary: those players will make a great team if they play like they always did.  But then why called me? They knew my style of play was.  I did not come to them.  I was chosen."

Is it true that after Palermo, you thought of resigning?

"Yes.  Had I known things would turn for the worse, I would have done so before the start.  So now perhaps I would be on the bench like Donadoni and Pioli."

Against Trabzonspor you surrendered: a defense of four and rombo.

"Infact, we gave the ball to the Turks.  The team could not have two strikers and a trequartista who do not participate in the defensive end.  But the defeat was justified by bad luck with their offside goal.  And because it was not a defense of three, it was all forgiven.  The next day I told my team: never like this anymore, I would rather coach the children.  That was not my football.  And so I just went forward with my ideas as a clear signal to the players."

The 0-0 with Roma and with Moratti as Pazzini's sponsor.

"Pazzini is a great scorer, but for me it was essential to recover the best Milito.  He is one of a few in Italy that can shift the balance of the game as he is showing right now.  He had just came from a season of injuries.  He needed to play.  I did not understand so much distrust for a player that was so decisive for Inter in many victories.  Against Roma, we did not play badly.  Sneijder was fantastic, just unlucky in front of goal.  Wesley can do everything, he is a complete player.  Must check himself only with certain behaviors.  But then there was talk of Pazzini and the formation."

Then Novara.

"I was hoping to be able to win the group over with the performance on the field with the returns of Motta and Maicon.  The boys followed me then absorbed the skepticism around them."

So much so that, in Novara, Cambiasso ordered Ranocchia to make a defense of four.

"No.  The day after, Cambiasso called me to explain the gesture shown by TV.  He was telling Ranocchia: 'go jump, 4 of us will stay just outside the box.'  I did not have any problems with the players, except one."

Can you tell us who it was?

"No, I do not want controversy.  The real problem was that the club and I could not come together on the gameplay ideas or the valuation of certain individuals.  I was willing to give space to youngsters like Coutinho and Castaignos but then there were Forlan and Zarate."

On Balotelli, there was an agreement with Moratti right?
"In Dublin, Moratti told me about the possibility of picking up Mario.  Perhaps he had spoken to Mancini.  But then he explained that we were the only ones at Inter want him.  A president and a coach? I thought that was enough."

What hurts you the most in all of this?

"When you refer to me only talking about the struggling start at Inter.  I was there for three games but Inter were at 15th and 16th places for months.  When I was sacked, Milan only had one more point than Inter.  And then the fact that all the problems were coming down on my alleged tactical dogmas."

From Novara to another, how is Gasperini today?

"Well.  I feel pumped up watching the type of football that I like, winning football: stealing the ball and not waiting for others to lose it.  Playing with courage and great rhythm.  Results give enthusiasm but the true inspirations only come from the performance.  Roma might lose games but I always feel great sensation watching their football.  Juve are better because they are more flexible and unpredictable.  Juve beat Milan at the San Siro with a defense of three, just like Barcelona.  With the defense of three, Napoli and Udinese are playing very well.  Football is evolving.  Who remain firm and repeat the things that they have done in the past are ancient."

Are Juve the favorite?
"Conte is the added value.  He manages to bring everything taught in training on the field.  We have heard from each other.  Milan, however, can recover.  Lazio and Udinese are doing extraordinary things."

What did you learn from Barcelona?

"I am fascinated by the continuity of Pep despite many triumphs.  This year, he has also tried the 3-3-4.  He coaches with great superiority and the on the field, the team plays with perfect organization.  Another nice thing is that there is no stardom on that team.  They practice and have fun like little children."

Have you seen Lucas?
"Good player with many letups in between.  In Italy, Palacio would not do such thing.  Maybe he will overcome that."

Is it true that you have received a big offer from China?
"Let's say that I would earn more than at Inter, but I don't have the courage...  But the football in the powerful Chinese economy is the future."

So where does Gasperini start over?

"Negative experiences make you stronger.  I am looking for a club that allows me to teach my football, that I agree with their methods and objectives.  This is not a good time for coaches.  People will speak of "the player is our of his role" or blame the formations, as if they know how to solve everything.  There are things that a player can solve himself.  Once, the coach was an important reference.  Today, there is always someone who knows more.  And then I want to be a coach that coaches, not manages.  We're dead meat.  And I want to be a coach, not a manager.  If a player needs to drink less, the club should have words.  My job is to train."

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport