Did anyone notice in one of Mancini's recent interviews that our coach referred to Moratti as President? I wonder what Facchetti would have thought.
MANCINI: "WE MUSTN'T LOSE HEART"
Friday, 08 April 2005 16:31:39
APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini news conference (2):
Could Inter feel psychologically affected by the derby defeat in tomorrow's match?
"It's obvious that there's disappointment after a Champions quarter-final defeat against Milan. But from the next day you have to start thinking about what will happen after. We mustn't lose heart, the disappointment remains for a while. Maybe you have problems sleeping during the night, but from the next day you have to start thinking about the future. No one can lose heart. We have to concentrate on doing well against Bologna first, then start thinking about the derby return leg. It's useless to talk about a match which is over. The derby is in the past. Milan did slightly better than us and perhaps we could have done a bit more, but it went like this. We have an important league match before the return derby, and we cannot afford to slip up in Bologna. Doing well tomorrow could help us for Tuesday's derby. The derby is clearly more important than tomorrow's game, but Inter can't go around cutting a poor figure. So we will take it one match at a time."
Is there anything about Wednesday's derby that you wouldn't repeat?
"I have nothing to blame the boys for. They did very well until the forty-fifth minute of the first half, then Stam's goal affected us a bit and gave Milan more chances to play on the break. But the boys did very well."
Did you speak with Massimo Moratti after the derby?
"Even if we did speak to each other, what we said would remain between us. Is our relationship the same as before? I don't know; I don't think it has changed. He's the owner and I'm the coach, and I'm honoured that he brought me to Inter. I hope I can win with him and with all the Nerazzurri fans. He might decide to change me in the future, but this is normal for a coach. If things don't go well, presidents make their own decisions. But each week we're here talking about our rapport and whether it has changed or not. There will always be mutual respect between us, even when we're no longer working together. But it's no use coming here after every defeat or draw and repeating the same things."