EXCLUSIVE: Inter icon Javier Zanetti on magic of the Milan derby

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  • Javier Zanetti made 615 appearances in nine years for Inter.

    On Sunday, Milan and Inter will go head-to-head in the 214th edition of the Derby della Madonnina, with the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza set to once again host a meeting between the city’s two clubs. Truly giants of the game and recognised instantly around the globe, the game is one of European football’s most iconic clashes, played at a historic venue in the fashion capital of the world.

    It is a game watched by millions, and there is arguably nobody better placed to discuss it than Javier Zanetti, the former Inter captain who featured in more derbies than any other Nerazzurri player in history. That is just one of the countless records the 42 year old Argentinean holds, his others including most appearances for the club and most trophies won, retiring last year after 858 games and no fewer than 16 medals.

    “The city really comes alive and takes centre stage,” Zanetti – now vice president of his beloved Inter – told Sport 360 in an exclusive interview this week. Yet there is little doubt that this forthcoming fixture will be a barometer of each side’s progress after what has been a summer of upheaval for both clubs.

    The duo have each invested heavily, with Milan bringing in a raft of signings to support recently appointed boss Siniša Mihajlović, while their city cousins have continued their overhaul under Roberto Mancini. “We’ve got a completely new team with lots of new players who have come in,” says Zanetti. “I think the coach wants to build a team with quality and character that can perform consistently, and which has that battling spirit needed to reach the objectives we have set ourselves, which is to get back to the top, on all levels.”

    Inter could not have asked for a better start to 2015/16, winning their both of their opening Serie A outings and showing impressive defensive resolve to hold their opponents scoreless on each occasion. But while the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Jeison Murillo, and Miranda have dramatically helped at the back in 1-0 victories over Atalanta and Carpi, the biggest impact has undoubtedly been seen at the other end of the field.

    “We’ve already seen a glimpse of how important Stevan Jovetić can be in the first two games,” said an enthusiastic Zanetti of the former Manchester City striker who netted both Nerazzurri goals. “He’s got so much quality, one of those players who can conjure up something a bit different or unexpected at any moment. That’s what wins games for you.”

    Jovetić does not have to carry the burden alone however, lining up alongside Mauro Icardi, who joined Luca Toni as Serie A’s leading scorer last term. The Argentinean has matured rapidly over the past twelve months, so much so that Mancini has made him the club captain, meaning he now wears the armband that became so synonymous with his compatriot.

    “He’s a top-class striker, but still very young with lots of room for improvement,” Zanetti says of the 22 year old star. “The club have shown how important they believe he is by placing their faith in him, and he’s one of those players who can help us get right back up there and achieve our targets.”

    Having had a number of issues with the club’s supporters and a high-profile disagreement with Mancini, Zanetti was also keen to point out that Icardi has become “a smashing lad, very generous with his time and always ready to fight for the Nerazzurri cause.” The player undoubtedly proved that last term, netting 27 goals in what was a difficult campaign for the club, as they limped to a disappointing eighth place finish.

    Their neighbours struggled even more so however, Pippo Inzaghi encountering the same issues which blighted Clarence Seedorf’s brief tenure and the Rossoneri finished 2014/15 in tenth place. That meant both teams missed out on European football for the first time in almost sixty years, something Zanetti believes cannot continue if Italian football is recapture its former glory.

    “Getting back into the Champions League is fundamental for us, it’s where we should be,” he bristles when asked about their absence. “Milan and Inter can’t not be in Europe. We have to get there whatever it takes, and I think we’re well set to do that. It’s important for Serie A that Inter and Milan rise again because it will help lift the level of our domestic league.”

    That is undoubtedly true, and Sunday’s big match should provide a fine barometer of the progress they have each made over the summer. “The season’s only just started but I think playing a big game like this straight off tells you a lot about what lies ahead,” says Zanetti. “We have a clear identity and a clear objective; we’re Inter and we deserve to be back at the top table – in Italy for now and next year hopefully in Europe too.”

    For a man who skippered the Nerazzurri to that famous treble back in 2010, the thought of further success in UEFA’s elite competition is never too far away. “The Champions League is where we should be and we’ll fight to get back in it,” Zanetti says, “but in the meantime, let’s enjoy the derby!”

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