Marotta: “Chivu’s Scudetto! Mkhitaryan and de Vrij? Age is an important factor”

Inter President Giuseppe Marotta spoke to the press in a conference at the end of Inter-Verona, the last home match of the season. Below are the words of the Nerazzurri Number 1.

“The match that marked an important turning point, in the sense that we understood we had started the final sprint, was the one against Roma. There was a good omen of reaching the final victory. Likewise, in the Coppa Italia, the victory against Como.

Winning is always difficult and it is thanks to everyone. Winning the championship is a stage race, so the best team always comes out on top. Winning the Scudetto is extraordinary and is the result of teamwork, it is the victory of Chivu, of courage, of determination. We deservedly won the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia.

I talk to Cristian every day, we exchange information continuously, also with Piero Ausilio, Zanetti. I compare this victory to the Giro d’Italia. Stage after stage after stage. We didn’t win all the stages, but we were aware that we had to keep going, be strong enough to beat the others, leave our mark and win in the end. The fact is that I have an excellent relationship with the coach and with the whole team, a team built on values, a team that has grown over the years, in the last six or seven years, a cycle that has led to the victory of nine trophies and two Champions League finals.

There are players whose contracts are expiring. They are players whose age speaks for itself but who still have values, years played with great professionalism. We haven’t decided, we will do it together, with the utmost respect for those who will finish, but in any case, it is known that age is an important aspect. Retiring is a physiological fact and so we will evaluate. Today I can simply say that the out-of-contract players would all deserve to be confirmed but we have to make decisions for the good of Inter and everyone.

The choice of Chivu was an easy one. We were looking for a coach profile that matched our team model. He had many qualities, he had played in the treble-winning Inter. A courageous choice, yes, but courage in sport must be a quality to be considered.

We are also trained to manage difficult moments, we have also suffered heavy defeats. I believe that even defeats help to improve. Above all, today we have a group that has more experience than a few years ago. Bastoni, Barella. Lautaro.”