Inter Milan News

MILAN
– The telephone connection is perceptible in
bursts, "just
like my voice…,"
said Salvatore Cerrone,
the 52-year-old who has been coach of the FC Internazionale Youth
Sector since 2000. He was travelling back to Milan with
the Giovanissimi
Nazionali after leading them to the championship
in their category; it was the second in his career after 2009 which
he also won with the Giovanissimi.

Cerrone, when did you realise the Giovanissimi 2011/12 were capable
of winning the Scudetto?

"After
beating Pescara in the Italian part of the ‘Manchester
United Premier Cup‘,
at the beginning of March. That was when we took on the teams which
were being talked about as possible champions. After the Pescara
match I told the lads: ‘If we do well and you do well, we can go all
the way.‘
But there are a lot of things to keep in mind if you want to win and
you need some luck too, but that’s in general, not only in
football." 

What
do you think the qualities of this team of 15-year olds are?

"Unity
and friendship and the group themselves. This squad has
always been a tough nut to crack since they began at the School of
Football and grew up together. They followed a path here, learning
human and technical skills through the Inter school. When you win a
youth championship, especially the first at a national level like
this, success doesn’t just come to the level you are playing at but
to the whole Sector, to the trainers and coaches, who have perfected
these boys all the way through their careers until today. I consider
this to be the continuity Scudetto for our Youth Sector." 

How
can this group improve?

"Obviously
they need more experience and they need more character. OK we are
talking about fifteen-year-olds so we can’t expect them to be mature
or bloody-minded enough to be able to deal with all of the situations
that come up in a match. Here I’m talking about during the season,
after a positive spell, some lean spells came along. It’s possible to
lose too, of course, that’s only natural, although we only lost once
in the championship, right at the beginning away to Atalanta… But
that’s never enough at 15…or at 52 like me."

In
the squad for the final stages, you added two
14-year-olds…

"That’s
just another demonstration of our Youth Sector policy. During the
final stages, when Regional championships have already finished,
under-age children can join the squads and contribute a lot with
their skills. It’s all part of their education which is the basis for
everything." 

Finally,
what does this Scudetto mean for Salvatore Cerrone? Does he deserve a
special dedication?

"This
victory belongs to the club, to everyone at the Youth Sector and to
the staff who worked hard with the boys. They have done a lot and
done it well. As for me. I’m just pleased to have contributed
something, adding something to all of the above and a lot really has
gone into this, as I think back to my predecessors who contributed
just as much as I did. What really is satisfying is seeing all the
hard work that went into this on the pitch in training, come into
flower now, in both tactics and technique all the way through to
attitude as well. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did
and in particular the boys. To win practising a concept of football
involving organisation in attack on the pitch and showing up the
qualities of individual players without forgetting they are part of a
team and a squad."

MILAN
– Less than a week away begins the pre-season training camp, which for the
second consecutive year will be held in Pinzolo in Val Rendena. On Thursday 5
July 2012 all of the additional activities, aside from the first team’s
preparation, will begin: Inter Village with free games for children aged 7 to
14, Day Camp organised and coordinated by Nerazzurri youth academy coaches, the
official shop and events organised by the municipality and local associations.

The
first training session for Andrea Stramaccioni’s team is scheduled for the
afternoon of Friday 6 July, to be followed that evening after 21:00 by the
official presentation, taking place on the stage in Piazza San Giacomo. The
sessions on the pitches of the Centro Sportivo La Pineta will be free and open
to the public under a programme that will be announced day by day and in
advance on inter.it

Sunday
8 July, again in the Piazza San Giacomo, an evening event for the public, with
the coach and technical staff attending.

Thursday
12 July, in the afternoon, Inter’s first friendly of the 2012/13 season at the
Centro Sportivo La Pineta.

Friday
13 July, Pinzolo will host the Serata Nerazzurri, with shops open for the
evening, along with entertainment and activities organised by the Municipality
of Val Rendena and Trentino.

Saturday
14 July, again in Pinzolo’s main piazza, the third evening dedicated to
Nerazzurri fans.

Sunday
15 July, the second friendly match will be held in the afternoon at the Stadio Quercia in
Rovereto,
after which the team will return to Milan.

MILAN – Just after the Giovanissimi Nazionali conquered the Scudetto, Andrea
Stramaccioni sent a message by way of the Nerazzurri’s official website to give
his compliments to the youth academy for their fantastic season.

Here are the words from the coach:

“I waited until the season was over – even for that of the youngest group
– to send my very personal congratulations for the work of our youth academy
that president Massimo Moratti’s passion and intelligent investments have been
enriching for years. I’ve experienced this first hand and I also feel I’m a
product of this, so today I want to give my heartfelt congratulations to
Ernesto Paolillo for his perseverance and professionalism, to the top creator
Roberto Samaden, and to those by his side who receive little attention: Pier
Casiraghi and Paolo Manighetti. Furthermore, I want to congratulate all the
coaches, Daniele Bernazzani, Sergio Zanetti, Gianmario Corti and Salvatore
Cerrone, as well as all the Nerazzurri youngsters. I cannot recall any season in which 3 league titles out of 4 have been won by the same team. My sincere congratulations for the crowning of this fantastic work that represents the future of our club.”