This great interview was translated by :star:
candy-man :star: I took the liberty of correcting some errors.
Vieira, at the start of the season did you ever think it would all be so easy?
“When you see so many important players around, you know you can achieve important things, but at times, and it happens quite often that the results on the pitch are different to those expected. Our merit is to actually do what is expected. At times to make it look simple like the best do.”
What do you respond to those that say this championship is too easy?
“It doesn't seem that easy and anyway its not Inter's fault that Juve have been relegated and Milan started with a deduction.”
And to those that say Vieira should find it difficult wearing 'that' Scudetto?
“I won that Scudetto with merit on the pitch: that was what depended on myself, the rest didn't depend on us. This, I am yet to win it, but I hope to win it again with Inter, because we are the strongest.”
What does this Inter have more than last years' Inter?
“Those that have come in have bought 'hunger': it seems to me that this team now has more will to win. To win all of them, to win everything.”
Even the league and Champions?
“We have the squa to do it. If everyone stays as concentrated as know we can do it. It will be hard, but do-able.”
In this aiming high, is Inter like your Juve?
“In this sense yes. In the ability to never be tired, because staright after winning a game we say to ourselves: "OK, this one is done, but now lets start thinking about the next game". Also knowing that we have alot of good players and knowing that we cant do without the strength of the group: that strength that surprised me most when I went to Juve and the same strength I found here at Inter. But this Inter also reminds me of my firt Arsenal, a team that though we know was strong but was not 'complete' yet. It was a team that was learning to be 'complete' every day.”
And the difference of this Inter and that Juve?
“Maybe here there is a more relaxed ambient, in a good sense. In that Juve you ended up living the pressures differently. It felt as if everything was abit too controlled and rigid.”
From the outside seeing Inter 'canibalism', seems as if Inter is everything but relaxed,you know?
“Infact I did say in a good way. I explain myself better and I will also try and explain 2 Inter secrets, if they can be called as such. The 1st: we all have the same thought, that is we must think about the team before the individual. the 2nd, which is of consequence of the 1st: understanding that its not easy but that it is important. So understanding that there are many of you and that there are so many talented of you, is not something that happens every year. And for this very reason we cannot afford to make any mistake: laziness, jelousy, arguments/fights, nothing; for this is the time.”
You spoke of arguments/fights: you remember yours with Mihajlovic after the Derby?
“It was a misunderstanding, but I was wrong and apologised for it: an honest relationship with everyone is fundemental for a big club, but its also true that it a big club with big personalities. All you need to do is come to see one of our training sessions.”
What do you mean?
“In my career I have never had as many arguments as I have since being at Inter during trainsing sessions. Its one of our strong points, the will that everyone has, the will to show, everyday, that they want to play.”
You have been playing in a different position in this Inter midfiled, you are not a central midfilder.
“For years I have played in the center, so being a little to the right means not playing in my prefered position: I get to touch fewer balls, im not in the middle of the game. But it hasnt really made many difference for me because what I really like most is playing often. And also because I understand that in a big club like Inter its impossible for everyone to play in their prefered positions.”
This Inter shows that its vital to have a robus midfield, a midfiled that offers quantity?
“Aggressiveness is nothing without quality, in a midfield you must have players that can make that killer pass, that can start an attack for your team. Inter has that quality in midfield, I think.”
What does Ibra have more this year than last year?
“Ibra wasn't has focused in his mentality, and this was reflected in his play on the pitch. Ibra has technique, the physical attributes, speed; he has everything: he needs to be able to concentrate more on the full game and he does this now. But Ibra is still young, we are yet to see how good he can become: in 2-3 years Ibra will be one of the very best in the world, I know so.”
Something that struck you about Mancini?
“The serenity - which he is able to transmit to the team.”
Henry is a good friend of yours, have you spoken or will you speak about the possibility of him joining Inter?
“Me and Titi speak of many things, but not his future. What I can say is that as a big player, he has everything at Arsenal, consideration, affection, respect and a big contract. It would be very hard for him to leave Arsenal but you never know in the future.”
Did you ever think it was possible to see the events that unfolded in Catania?
“I've played in England for 9 years so I knew of certain tensions, but I never would have thought that it could have gone so far as what happened outside that stadium.”
Have you ever asked youself how it could have ever happened?
“Everything starts from ignorance which is the base of society, education is the most important thing.”
Did we really need a death to see action been taken?
“This is a problem of our society, not just the Italian one. We always wait for a tragedy before making sure the laws are followed.”
Now that there are and will be tougher laws: you that have got know the English system so well, can you see that that model works well?
“I know that they had many problems, but know children, wifes and while families go happily to the stadium.”
In Italy on the other hand you have had a chance to see game being played behind closed door, what do you think?
“It was a strange, very starnge senstation, but maybe at the time it was the correct decision. In the long run no, it wouldnt be right though, no fans at the stadium isnt football. In the future different laws and decisions must be taken and the law must be followed. These things wont change in a night, it will take time and there will be a need for patience and more importantly the will to make these changes, the will to really make changes.”