Samir Handanovic assures he’s “happy” at Inter, but reminds teammates “the season lasts for 38 games”.
The Slovenian goalkeeper signed a contract renewal until 2019 this January, having made no secret of his desire to play in the Champions League.
Despite leading Serie A at Christmas, the Nerazzurri fell away in the second half of the season and finished fourth, leading to suggestions the ‘keeper could leave.
“I made my choice and I’m happy,” Handanovic told Inter Channel.
Samir Handanovic assures he’s “happy” at Inter, but reminds teammates “the season lasts for 38 games”.
The Slovenian goalkeeper signed a contract renewal until 2019 this January, having made no secret of his desire to play in the Champions League.
Despite leading Serie A at Christmas, the Nerazzurri fell away in the second half of the season and finished fourth, leading to suggestions the ‘keeper could leave.
“I made my choice and I’m happy,” Handanovic told Inter Channel.
“In a squad, there are many factors which count. In modern football, everyone must make sacrifices and cover.
“The mental aspect also matters a lot, because winning breeds winning. Unfortunately we had a drop in January, and going into the holidays first in the table wasn’t enough.
“A group can grown in every respect, not just in terms of character. In Brunico we started with half a new squad, then after the first friendly – which doesn’t matter – people weren’t happy.
“After the first two games we had enthusiasm and energy, but the season lasts for 38 games and we have to draw the right lessons for the coming years.
“It’s pointless to look back, you can’t change the past. You always have to be positive and look forward.”
Handanovic then looked back on his personal highs and lows from the season which has just finished.
“Every goalkeeper knows when he’s made an amazing save or got something wrong. When I made a mistake against Fiorentina I had a difficult week, despite all the experience I’ve built up over the years.
“Satisfaction comes from knowing how to react to those mistakes.
“My save against Atalanta? In Bergamo it was a desperate situation, I came flying out the way I sometimes do in training and I was rewarded.
“Am I the best goalkeeper in the world? I think there are a lot of strong goalkeepers in Europe. Each has a few characteristics where he excels, but there isn’t a player much better than the others.
“I always train the same way, with the sole objective of improving. Self-criticism is very important in our line of work, to start again and work out where to improve.”