Inter-City Champions League final, Roberto Di Matteo interview: ‘You can win as underdogs’

In the elite circle of Italian coaches who have caressed a Champions League, where Simone Inzaghi knocks to enter, Roberto Di Matteo has been sitting comfortably for a decade. After a bit of detox, he is a consultant for Jeonbuk Hyundai, in the Korean first division, but his 2012 feat remains in his memory. As a substitute on the Chelsea bench, he first eliminated Pep’s Barça and then made the Bavarians cry in their home playing the final against Bayern with 4 suspended.

Di Matteo, you know all about impossible feats: do you see similarities between your victory and what Inter are now looking for?

“We were underdogs, the whole world knew it! And Inter, in fact, are too… The comparison doesn’t quite fit because City don’t play at home and Inzaghi’s team is complete. Guardiola has a An incredible team, but Inter have chances. My Chelsea teaches that with the right motivation, any feat can be achieved.”

And how do you motivate yourself in the face of such a difficult challenge?

“You go to church with the whole team and say the rosary… Seriously, conviction makes the difference. We had it: we were a little bruised, but overconvinced we could do it. The same spirit animates the ‘Inter: it doesn’t seem like a scared team to me.”

In 2012 he eliminated Barça in the semifinals: do you always have to go through Pep to get to glory?

“He’s more than a coach. He’s a visionary, studious, creative: he knows how competitive we Italians are, he fears us. However, playing against him can be painful: I also saw it when as Schalke coach I faced the his Bayern. He always puts quality into an unpredictable system, he changes when you don’t expect it. Before the 2012 semi-final, I watched dozens of matches with my staff to see if he had any weaknesses… We thought about every possible solution and the result was always the same: there was no way, on paper they should have won. But then what you put on paper magically changes into reality…”.

Well, what magic did she do? And what can Inzaghi do?

“I simply bet on what we were good at, on team spirit. Barça kept Dani Alves very offensive and, taking advantage of the pitch left behind him, we built a decisive goal at Stamford Bridge. We knew how to close spaces and c “He was a champion like Drogba. But Inzaghi also has a square and organized team: of course, with this City you have to know that you’ll have very little ball, that you’ll make sacrifices. And that you have to do badly the few times you’re allowed.”

But does Inter have its own Drogba? “I start by saying that I like Lautaro and Barella a lot: they have Premier League engines, they are two dangers for City. The Drogba of this Inter, however, is my friend Romelu: I met him at 19 at Chelsea, when I was assistant to Villas “Boas. He was incredibly hungry. I can say that, if he’s well, he really rocks the world. He’s a beast that doesn’t stop. And now he seems to be fine…”.

As a Blues Connoisseur: What Happened When Rom Came Back to London? And what will happen now with his loan?

“I can say that the whole Chelsea family expected to bring back a formidable striker, but I really don’t know what happened with Tuchel. And I don’t know what the decision of the club that owns the card will be. Surely everyone in life should always do this that makes him happy…”.

Dzeko or Lukaku: who should start for you in Istanbul?

“It’s nice to have a headache like that. You understood it, I dote on Romelu, but Dzeko is also dangerous when he plays. So far, Inzaghi’s chosen system has worked: keep Dzeko for 60 minutes, then unleash the Belgian tiger “.

But do those two hold a candle to Haaland?

“Haaland is amazing, but the engine is De Bruyne, one who recovers, gives the assist and then goes on to score: he does everything. And then with an unthinkable humility: he doesn’t even realize how strong he is! But in a final you can stop anyone, even this Kevin.”