Inter general manager Ernesto Paolillo feels new Coach Andrea Stramaccioni “reminds me of Jose Mourinho. We hope he’ll remain next term.”
Inter general manager Ernesto Paolillo feels new Coach Andrea Stramaccioni “reminds me of Jose Mourinho. We hope he’ll remain next term.”
Late Monday night Claudio Ranieri was sacked, promoting 36-year-old Primavera youth team tactician Stramaccioni to the top job for the rest of the season.
“The lad made an excellent impression on us,” Paolillo told Radio Calciomercato.
“Last summer we handed him the Primavera and I know him so well that I’m convinced President Massimo Moratti made a great choice.
“He is powered by great hunger and desire to do well. I hope many youngsters can move up into the first team, especially as Andrea knows them all well. Talent must be discovered and we have some excellent scouts.”
Stramaccioni has been nicknamed ‘The Italian Andre Villas-Boas’ and is younger than captain Javier Zanetti. Some have even suggested his appointment might be for longer than just the remaining weeks of this season.
“Will he remain next term? It’s what we all hope, above all the President,” confessed general manager Paolillo.
“It’s good that he can settle in during these months without any pressure on his shoulders. He has great charisma and I am convinced his working methods will bring more experienced players to respect their Coach.”
A young tactician without a long playing career behind him, Stramaccioni has been compared to both Villas-Boas and Mourinho.
“In terms of meticulously studying his opponents, he really reminds me of Mourinho, but obviously everyone has their own characteristics. I see him working diligently on particular situations. He leaves nothing to chance.”
There was a strange moment during Stramaccioni’s press conference today when former Inter star Mario Balotelli gate-crashed the event, shaking hands with directors and the new Coach.
“We didn’t know he’d make this ‘blitz’ and it was a very pleasant surprise. It was a sign of his respect towards Inter and the Nerazzurri youth academy.”
Manchester City striker Balotelli is a product of the Inter youth system and was promoted to the senior squad by then-Coach Roberto Mancini.