Erick Thohir hailed “fundamental” Mauro Icardi, the “core for Inter’s future” and why Andrea Pirlo won’t arrive.
The President sat down with Mediaset Premium to discuss being top of the Serie A table at Christmas.
“I’m content, not satisfied. Inter finally has a great sporting and managerial organisation. We're complete. But I can't say I'm satisfied.
Erick Thohir hailed “fundamental” Mauro Icardi, the “core for Inter’s future” and why Andrea Pirlo won’t arrive.
The President sat down with Mediaset Premium to discuss being top of the Serie A table at Christmas.
“I’m content, not satisfied. Inter finally has a great sporting and managerial organisation. We're complete. But I can't say I'm satisfied.
“With my basketball team I've won nine national titles and two South-East Asian titles in 15 years. But I'm not satisfied because I want to win more. In the same way I'm happy as to how we've built Inter, but we're waiting for the results: I will be very happy if we qualify for next season's Champions League.”
Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero said Thohir cannot commit himself to Inter if he spends so little time in Italy.
“When you don't know a person, often you run the risk of constructing an incorrect opinion of them, a negative one. I have interests all over the world and in order to make them win I have to create a management team that supports my ideals even in my absence. The results, not just at Inter, show that I'm right.
“I have never had a partner who has supported me the way Massimo Moratti has done. He believes in me and he has never tried to stop any of my decisions.
“But he is a partner and so it's correct for me to inform him and ask him for his advice as he was a President for many years and moreover he has already crowned his dream of winning everything with the Treble in 2010.
“I can promise the fans that I will work very hard for Inter and to qualify for the Champions League is one of the objectives that we will deliver to our fans."
Thohir was asked about the upcoming transfer window and confirmed those who had struggled for playing time would be allowed to leave.
“I'm very happy with the current squad, it's difficult to change a lot, it's important to have a core group for the next two to three years. If there are players that are leaving and if we need to do something in certain positions we could do something. We're covered in all areas but if anyone leaves then we will provide replacements.”
Will Pirlo arrive on loan from New York City FC during the MLS break?
“He is a player that I adore and respect. However, for now in that position we have Felipe Melo, Fredy Guarin and Gary Medel who are in their 30s and young players like Marcelo Brozovic, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Assane Gnoukouri. We have to balance the average age and I think that the mix we have right now is the right one."
“We have discussed Adem Ljajic a lot, we though that he could make the difference coming on from the bench, instead in the last few matches he has turned out to be a key player.
“We have an option for him with Roma, but there is time to decide, we will do so at the end of the season. If he continues like this he will be a part of Inter for many years to come.”
Icardi is the star player in attack and has been consistently linked with Atletico Madrid.
“I had predicted that this season would be difficult because last season he scored many goals. The opponents have understood how dangerous he is and do everything to stop him, for this reason we need other players to score goals.
“Mauro is the best striker we have, he will come back to where he was, we believe in him.
“Is he unsellable? Piero Ausilio always says that whoever is interested shouldn't even present themselves unless they have a mountain of money with them.
“He's fundamental for us, together with Ivan Perisic, Ljajic and Stevan Jovetic. We want them to form the core for the future.”