Matrix has just purchased a historic cinema in Perugia to save it: “It will be a movie match. Chivu must fear Pulisic and Modric. And I’ll tell you who my heirs are”
Plot twist: under the tough guy’s armor there is a sentimentalist. The gesture of Marco Materazzi, who recently purchased the former Lilli cinema, a historic theater in Perugia where his wife Daniela went to see Disney films as a child, could not be explained otherwise: “In the city they only showed them in that cinema, which closed in 2002 – says the Inter totem world champion in blue -. 23 years have passed, my number, and I have decided to take this step together with my wife. ‘Lilli’ will also part of the new name, the city cares. It will become a multifunctional space dedicated to culture, we have met the institutions and we have their support. And that of… Pierfrancesco Favino: he wrote to me wishing me the best and thanking me for this gesture of love for cinema”. If we talk about love, then, football and Inter cannot be left out: “I will set up a museum with my memorabilia in a wing of the cinema. The derby will also have its place, perhaps with Ronaldo’s shirts: as a teammate in the Nerazzurri and as an opponent, in the Rossoneri.”
If Derby were a movie, what genre would it be?
“As a player I would have answered a thriller, today I say a romantic film. Perception changes, adrenaline gives way to nostalgia.”
“The walk in uniform on the San Siro pitch. Me observing every corner of the stadium with my hands in my pockets, then I go under the Milan curve and stand with my arms folded while the opposing fans say all kinds of things to me. Yes, I miss derbies too.”
And today who took his place down there, looking the Rossoneri curve in the eye?
“Barella, Bastoni, Dimarco. Inter supporters regardless, like me. These are the fundamental players in a derby, they convey to others what it means to play a match like this. Their teammates look at them and understand what the mood is.”
And what’s the mood at Inter?
“The air of the league leaders, who know they are stronger than Milan. And that’s no small thing, on the contrary: Milan are doing well, they have great individuality, a great midfield and a coach who knows where to put his hands. Allegri may not put on a show, but he always knows what he’s doing.”
Inter favourites, then?
“In matches like this the pitch can always say something else. Take last year: we didn’t win one. And the 2-3 in the Super Cup is the picture of last season: we lost trophies that were already in our pockets, I’m also thinking of the scudetto obviously.”
Chivu was balanced before the derbies even as a player. I do not…
Chivu is at his first Inter-Milan as coach. Your first derby played together instead?
“December 2007, around Christmas. They have just returned from the Club World Cup in Japan, as champions. Before the start we pay homage to them with pasillo de honor. And we also let them take the lead. In the end we win, 2-1. See? A workmanlike thriller.”
Yesterday Chivu was calm. And as a footballer?
“The same: an example of balance. I was the nervous one, from the week before I started to not understand anything anymore, I became intractable. On the pitch, however, the tension became lucidity: you win a derby by taking care of all the details, woe betide you if you let your guard down.”
High alert tonight on which Rossoneri?
“Pulisic. Movements, unpredictability, coldness: a great consistency. And Modric, a true champion. With him, Milan have put a quality into their engine that not all teams can boast. I expected him to play so much even at 40, his history says so: very few injuries. Instead, they should pay attention to Calha, not only because it’s his game, but because Inter’s new way of playing enhances him: more verticality, more freedom for shooting from outside…”.
Capello defined Akanji as “the Modric of Inter”. Agree?
“Absolutely. I didn’t think he was that strong. I saw him live against Lazio and I realized that Inter hit the mark. Winning mentality, personality, experience: he has everything.”
In the center it is Acerbi-Bisseck head to head.
“Acerbi has many derbies behind him, he’s okay with it. Even if Milan without 9 real players could create problems for him. I always thought about Bisseck that he was more of a centre-back, due to his physical and technical characteristics: courage was needed from the coach and Chivu had it. Now Inter have the centre-back of the future at home.”
Tonight we go classic: ThuLa is back.
“I don’t mind Pio and Bonny who are doing very well, but long live Lautaro and Thuram, two guarantees. Marcus, then, improves the team: with him the depth increases exponentially.”
Before entering the room: what is the ideal plot of this derby?
“A 3-1 comeback, with goals from Barella and Dimarco. Nothing would be missing: twists, action and a happy ending.”
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