Gasperini surprised to bag Inter job
Reuters - Monday 27 June 2011, 20:33
MILAN - Gian Piero Gasperini was stunned
to receive the call asking if he wanted to manage Inter Milan
and now intends to build on the club's existing foundations to
bring success back to the blue-and-black half of Italy's second
city.
The 53-year-old Italian, sacked by mid-table Serie A side
Genoa in November, was named Inter boss last week to succeed
Leonardo after a string of more high-profile names turned down
approaches.
"I'm so proud to be here at Inter," Gasperini told Inter
Channel on his first day at work on Monday.
"It came as a huge surprise but now I am very ambitious and
determined to do well, to have a big season."
His appointment has not met with universal approval from
fans but president Massimo Moratti, whose side surrendered their
Serie A title to AC Milan last term and also lost their European
Cup crown, has hailed his fourth coach in just over a year.
"[His praise] motivates me even more to have a successful
season, which is what I intend to do by creating a very
close-knit and strong group," Gasperini said.
"But the foundations with those characteristics are already
in place."
Top players Samuel Eto'o, Wesley Sneijder and Maicon have
all been linked with moves away while goalkeeper Emiliano
Viviano looks set to return from a spell at Bologna and Santos
full-back Jonathan is close to joining, media reports have said.
Inter are also set to hear soon from the Italian football
federation about whether their 2006 scudetto, the first in a run
of five straight titles, will be taken from them after new
evidence suggested their involvement in a 2006 match-fixing
affair.
The club deny wrongdoing.