>Romantic Leonardo says Inter job is “biggest challenge”
New Inter Milan
coach Leonardo, the former AC Milan boss who joined the European
champions last week after Rafael Benitez’s dismissal, said the job was
“a dream” after being welcomed like a rock star yesterday.
“I’m a romantic,” Leonardo told his first news conference at Inter’s training ground having arrived to wild applause.
“I wasn’t looking for work, I was looking for a dream and this is the biggest challenge there is.”
The Brazilian left
Milan in May after his only season in management following a series of
disagreements with owner Silvio Berlusconi.
He has returned to
Serie A with Milan’s biggest rivals having replaced Benitez but said
his acceptance of the role was not the start of a vendetta against the
Rossoneri.
“I thank Milan for 13 years together and I will never forget them but now I start a new adventure. I am a free man.”
Surprise switch
The 41-year-old
World Cup winner was a player for Milan before becoming a scout,
technical director and coach, making his switch to their bitter rivals
all the more surprising.
However, the clubs
have often swapped personnel over the years and league leaders Milan
have stayed largely quiet on the issue given their hopes of silverware
this term rely on former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Inter are bidding
for a sixth straight Serie A title but lie seventh at the mid-season
break following an injury crisis and loss of confidence under Benitez.
“I still believe in
the scudetto. I know 13 points is a lot but the championship still has
a long way to run,” added Leonardo, whose first game in charge is the
January 6 clash with Napoli at the familiar San Siro.
Inter president
Massimo Moratti is prepared for flak from Inter fans if his appointment
of a former Milan coach, who only guided the Rossoneri to third last
term, backfires.
“I am very happy about this appointment, I have always rated him,” Moratti said of a man who speaks five languages.
“Now let him work
without pressure but with all the ambition that we must have as
champions of the world. He bears a heavy weight on his shoulders, as I
do, for the decision the club have taken.”
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