Goran Pandev believes Internazionale are stronger than they were last season and should be targeting Champions League glory, while backing former team-mate Cristian Chivu to succeed as the club’s manager.
The Treble-winning Internazionale forward was speaking in Genoa about Chivu, Jose Mourinho and the memories of the club’s historic Champions League victory 16 years ago.
Asked whether he had been in contact with Chivu, Pandev said: “No, I don’t want to disturb him. But I’m really happy for him.”
Pandev, who played alongside Chivu at Internazionale, said the Romanian had always been highly competitive.
“He didn’t even want to lose at cards. I didn’t expect him to become a coach back then, but he is indeed very smart. He started from the youth academy and gradually gained experience.”
Pandev also discussed Mourinho, who led Internazionale to the Treble. He said: “I can’t wait to hear what Mourinho will say at the press conference. I hope he doesn’t make his signature jokes about Cristian. I’m curious.”
The former forward remains in occasional contact with Mourinho, although he said the Portuguese manager had recently changed his telephone number.
“We occasionally keep in touch, but he has changed his number now,” Pandev said.
Reflecting on the group chat involving Internazionale’s triumphant squad on 22 May, he added: “It’s quite calm for now. At least for now…”
Pandev recalled that his celebrations after the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu were delayed because of a doping test.
“I lifted the trophy, but the celebration was delayed due to a doping test. That test took a long time, and the team was waiting for me on the plane on the runway.”
For Pandev, the most memorable image from that night was Mourinho embracing Marco Materazzi.
“It was seeing Mourinho and Materazzi embracing and crying. Every time I see that scene again, I remember how fortunate we were.”
Mourinho first contacted Pandev when the striker had been left out of the Lazio squad. The manager then moved quickly to bring him to Internazionale.
“He called me when I was excluded from the squad at Lazio. He asked: ‘Do you want to come and win with us?’ Three days later, he started me against Chievo. I hadn’t played for six months then. He has a kind of magic.”
Pandev joked that Mourinho would even have made Kylian Mbappe play as a wing-back, just as Samuel Eto’o did during Internazionale’s successful campaign.
“Of course, like Eto’o. Eto’o would fight for him and run through fire.”
Mourinho’s team talks were also brief, according to Pandev.
“Jose was never a man of many words. The meetings usually lasted only two or three minutes. He would pat us on the shoulder and shout a few things in Portuguese, like ‘Let’s go and win this damn game’.”
Pandev said Internazionale began to believe they could win the competition after eliminating Chelsea in the last 16. He also remembered the controversial Champions League tie against Barcelona at Camp Nou, where Internazionale played with 10 men for 80 minutes after a red card.
“It’s easy to say in retrospect. I would say after beating Chelsea in the round of 16. As for the match at Camp Nou, what more can I say? We played with one man down for 80 minutes due to a controversial red card, Jose walked up to Guardiola and Ibrahimovic, whispered something, and then came the sprinkler incident. That was magic.”
Explaining why Mourinho remains known as “the Special One”, Pandev said: “Because he speaks directly and doesn’t hide anything. He was like that with Chivu too, once.”
Pandev also recalled scoring three times in two matches against Real Madrid. He scored twice in Lazio’s 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico in 2007 before finding the net again in the return fixture at the Bernabeu.
“If only it were that easy! I scored two goals in the 2007 Lazio vs. Real Madrid match at the Stadio Olimpico, which ended 2-2, and I even swapped jerseys with Van Nistelrooy. Then I scored another goal in the second leg at the Bernabeu. I kept that jersey because I didn’t think I would ever play there again.”
Pandev said the secret behind Internazionale’s success was unity, despite joking that the answer was carbonara. He also remembered Chivu’s strict diet and seeing Thiago Motta eat plain pasta before a match at the club’s training ground.
“Carbonara. Jokes aside, all things considered, I think unity is the most important thing. We got along very well and were friends with each other. Chivu was particularly strict about his diet: chicken breast, plain pasta boiled in water. I come from a well-fed environment like Parioli where everyone eats well, but I saw Motta still eating that kind of pasta before the match at the Internazionale training ground.”
Asked who could prove decisive for Internazionale, Pandev identified captain Lautaro Martinez.
“Lautaro. If he’s in good form, everyone else will follow.”
And when asked whether Internazionale can go on to win the Champions League, he replied: “They are stronger than last year and should strive for it.”
AF’s PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit:www.allfootballapp.com
