Sinisa Mihajlovic said he accepted the Sampdoria job because he felt “indebted” to the club and was moved to tears by his squad.
The Coach wore the Blucerchiati jersey from 1994 to 1998, becoming firm friends with current Inter boss Roberto Mancini.
“I spent four years at Sampdoria and they were wonderful after a difficult period with Roma,” Miha told Sky Sport Italia.
Sinisa Mihajlovic said he accepted the Sampdoria job because he felt “indebted” to the club and was moved to tears by his squad.
The Coach wore the Blucerchiati jersey from 1994 to 1998, becoming firm friends with current Inter boss Roberto Mancini.
“I spent four years at Sampdoria and they were wonderful after a difficult period with Roma,” Miha told Sky Sport Italia.
“It was the ideal club, gave me confidence and I still felt indebted to Samp for that. In fact, when the offer came from President Garrone in 2013, I accepted immediately.
“I didn’t think of what Sampdoria could do for me, but what I could do for Sampdoria,” he said paraphrasing John F Kennedy.
“Things are going well now. I hope after last season and this year that it can go even better, so I can fully repay that debt. I might even be a bit in credit, but I am a person who always tries to pay his debts.
“I speak clearly, even to my players. If I say something, it needs to be done. They know me and my mentality, that Serbians are tougher than Italians. My tone of voice might seem menacing even when it isn’t, but I can use it to motivate in the locker room.
“I have a group of good lads and excellent players, but they are not all the same. Each person needs the right medicine based on his personality and sensibility.
“Over the last year we have grown in every respect and are progressing further. I believe in them, we are on the right track. Tactics, technique and stamina are important, but in football what really counts is the mind. If you get inside your players’ heads, you’re half-way there.”
Mihajlovic assures it is a two-way street and he too has formed a strong bond with his players.
“Occasionally I have asked them to play the game for me. They did and they won. I was happy, moved, with tears in my eyes, so proud of them and they realised that.
“I seem like a bear, but underneath all that I am sensitive and not afraid to show my emotions.”
The same could be said of Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero, whose antics in the stands range from tying a scarf round his head to dancing and running on to the field to celebrate with his players.
“Even if he might seem different on the outside, I do get along very well with the President,” added Mihajlovic.
“He’s a man of his word and when it comes to work he becomes absolutely serious. We have an excellent rapport because he keeps me up to date on everything and makes me feel like I’m participating in the process. That had never happened to me before.”