Dejan Stankovic has reflected on the ‘honesty’ of the Milan derby, signposted Mateo Kovacic and backed Erick Thohir’s plans for Inter’s future.
Dejan Stankovic has reflected on the ‘honesty’ of the Milan derby, signposted Mateo Kovacic and backed Erick Thohir’s plans for Inter’s future.
The 35-year-old represented the Serpenti in a number of derbies against Milan during his nine years with the club and, in anticipation of Week 36’s meeting between the clubs, considered his strongest memories from the game and what it means.
“Lots of things, wonderful memories and a few we lost too, but mostly great memories,” Stankovic told Inter Channel this week.
“It's a special game, a game I think every footballer would like to be involved in, out there on the pitch.
“It's an emotional ride, a real spectacle. You never know how a derby is going to go – you can have a really strong team and lose it, or vice versa.
“There are no rules, what matters is that it's a great derby, an honest derby, played intensely. A game that can show the world what football is like in Milan.”
Stankovic picked out the Nerazzurri’s 19-year-old Croat Mateo Kovacic as the player to watch out for on Sunday.
“I’ll keep saying Mateo Kovacic. It's true that he's still a boy but he's just so talented. I hope he can break his duck, we're all waiting for him to get that first goal.
“If he plays on Sunday, perhaps it will even come for him in the derby. It would be a reward for him, something to spur him on going forward.
“Inter have been a bit up and down this year but they've looked very solid and compact recently.
“I'm pleased for Handanovic too, he's having another amazing season and I'm pleased for other young players who are having a say in things like Icardi, and then Ranocchia, who's on top of his game again, and others who have done well again.
“It's a team that with the President's planning, the help of the management and the Coach can become a great side for the future.”