Sinisa Mihajlovic prepares to face Roberto Mancini’s Inter, has matured at Sampdoria and is “flattered” by Milan interest.
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
The pair were together as teammates, then Mihajlovic was Mancini’s assistant manager at Inter, but this is the first time they’ll face off as opposition Coaches.
“We might burst out laughing on the touchline,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Sinisa Mihajlovic prepares to face Roberto Mancini’s Inter, has matured at Sampdoria and is “flattered” by Milan interest.
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
The pair were together as teammates, then Mihajlovic was Mancini’s assistant manager at Inter, but this is the first time they’ll face off as opposition Coaches.
“We might burst out laughing on the touchline,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We can only be adversaries for 90 minutes, as we are bonded by affection, respect and in my case gratitude. Having said that, I want the three points on Sunday!
“A real friend can forgive and Mancio is that for me… If I do beat him, then I’ll buy him dinner to make up for it.
“Perhaps his journey at Inter has been tougher than he expected, but Mancini has the qualities to revive this team. He needs time, the right players and faith.”
Mihajlovic had been heavily linked with the Inter bench last summer, but opted to remain at Sampdoria.
“Inter remain an important part of my life as a man, a player and a Coach – everyone knows that. But it is the past. I am only concentrated on Samp.
“My dream is to win and become a good Coach, then obviously everyone would like to one day be in charge of a team where they played and won.
“If I just waited around for Inter or Lazio, other than becoming old, I’d limit my growth as a man and a tactician.”
This begs the question, would the ex-Nerazzurri star therefore accept a job at their arch rivals Milan?
“My approach is valid for any club. First it was Vincenzo Montella linked with them, last week Maurizio Sarri, now me… I am curious to see who will be Milan Coach next week!
“If a big club, which Milan is, thought about me, then of course I’d be flattered. It would mean I was working well. In any case, I don’t intend to discuss the market until next season.”
Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero said yesterday that he “didn’t care” if Miha was to join Milan.
“He is extroverted, but we have reciprocal respect and affection,” continued Mihajlovic.
“We have the same objective, which is to take Sampdoria into Europe. He knows I will give 120 per cent to the last day, then we’ll talk about the future. Right now, we have to beat Inter…
“Samp is my home, I came back here like a son who had to help out his mother. It’s all going well, but at times excessive sentiment can make you lose sharpness. I consider myself fortunate, as I am hot in the heart, but cold in the mind.”
That was not how Mihajlovic would’ve been described during his playing days, when he often let his explosive temper get the better of him.
“There are no contradictions, it’s just the same man in different phases of his life. As a player you are alone, you can choose who you follow.
“As a Coach you have to choose projects, because you are leading a group of men who depend on you, but you also depend on them.
“It is your duty to get the best out of them by teaching, setting rules, firing them up, making sure they feel the honour of belonging to a club, but remaining rational and sharp. Otherwise you are not a good Coach.
“When I was younger I had the constant need to divide the world into ‘us’ and ‘them.’ It fired me up. Some historians call it the need for an enemy.
“Today, I no longer need enemies. I am 46 years old, I don’t live to exclude, but to accumulate experiences. I don’t regret anything I did, but I also like to discover everything I don’t know.
“It’s easy to be loved by those who already love you, but I find it exhilarating to convince those who might expect the worst of you.
“Just look at Max Allegri. Nobody wanted him at Juventus at the start of the season, but now… He must be doubly satisfied. No enemies, but challenges are what still get me going.”