MILAN – "Inter should end their games at half time and then we'd be doing better..." Marco Tronchetti Provera opened with a joke and a touch of self-irony as he was interviewed on Rai programme 5' di recupero, hosted by Carlo Paris.
"I think we need to get a bit of confidence back and remain concentrated for longer," Tronchetti Provera continued, "because we did well in the first half against Napoli and Catania. Goodbye to the Scudetto? There are dozens of games left, it's too early to say anything like that."
There were lots of questions for the programme's guest, from the "revival" of the Rossoneri to the never-ending saga regarding the 2006 Scudetto: "AC Milan have woken up? It's even more motivation for us. Should the 2006 Scudetto be returned to Juventus? No, when first place is disqualified, second place wins, in all sports."
Tronchetti Provera was then asked if Pep Guardiola might be the solution for this Inter side currently in difficulty to help forget José Mourinho once and for all: "We have Ranieri," he replied, "who has set the team out well. We have a competent coach, let's go forward with him."
And if Tronchetti Provera were the Inter president, who would he buy? "The name is one I've mentioned several times, Lionel Messi. But I think they're happy with him at Barcelona and he is happy there, so it remains a dream."
Finally, a comment on the drop in spectators around stadiums in Italy: "With a new, well organised stadium, maybe people would start going back. But, with things as they stand, three games a week are more likely to keep people in front of the TV than at the stadium."
