[FM13] Giuseppe Bergomi - The King of Calcio

k1rups: Agreed, he's been playing brilliantly! Hope this carries over into the proper season

Andrea Poli has, over the last five years, matured into one of the very best central midfielders in the world. After enjoying a loan spell at Inter in 2011-2012, the then youthful Italian made an expensive €16,000,000 move to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza from Sampdoria.

From there Poli has gone on to become one of Inter's most consistent players, often one of the first teams on Bergomi's team sheet. He's compiled a total of 225 appearances for the Nerazzurri and has earned 30 caps for the Italian side.

We had a chance to sit down with Inter's deep lying playmaker yesterday and ask him a few questions in an exclusive interview, check out the pick of the questions below!


Question
Answer

You’ve been at Inter Milan for a five seasons now, and a lot of people think that you are of the mainstay Italian players of the Nerazzurri squad. How do you like it here?

I love things here. The city is wonderful, the fans are passionate, and the club is amazing. Every player, every staff member, and every director here is one hundred percent behind the team and really inspires us to play better. I have a really good bond with Beppe [Giuseppe Bergomi], he’s really taught me a lot and helped me take my game to a new level.

Speaking of Giuseppe Bergomi, how is he as a manager? What is it like to have him as your coach at both the club level and the international level?

Giuseppe is a truly spectacular manager. He’s really helped me progress my game, in a playmaking role but also in a defensive role. Obviously he played for twenty years at the highest level here at Inter and he really knows the tradition, the culture, and the football. He also had eighty some caps for Italy, he’s got massive experience which really shines through when he is working with us on technical things or introducing new tactical ideas.

What’s the biggest secret to the team’s success since you’ve joined? Over these last two seasons, you’ve won two back to back UEFA Champion League trophies. How do you guys do it?

Well a lot of people will say it’s the individual talent we have at our disposal, and others will say it’s the tactics and the way we set up on the pitch, but I don’t really agree. Sure, we are very well filled with ability in both of those areas, but I think it’s the collective team spirit and the desire to win that we all have that drives us to victory. Each and every one of us fights every day to make sure we keep winning.

Your Internazionale side has reigned supreme over Italy and Europe over the last few years. Do you think that you can continue that success this year? What are your expectations for the season?

As I said, I think it’s the collective desire for victory that really drives us forward as a team, and as long as we have that we can accomplish anything. We’ve shattered records every season, and at times we play downright unbeatable football. This isn’t purely out of talent or even just hard work; it’s because we want it more than anyone else, and if we show our desire again this season, I don’t see why we can’t repeat our success from last campaign.

Inter has a strong Italian core with no less than 7 full Italy international players. Do you think it’s important to keep a local group of players at a club?

Obviously it’s big for the fans to see home grown talent playing out on the pitch. Players like Lorenzo Crisetig especially get the fans excited because he came up through the system, a lot like Bergomi, but they also really get behind players like Andrea Ranocchia and me because we are Italian. Sure, the fans will always support every player on the team, but there is a certain joy to watch your home country succeed.

The World Cup is coming up this summer, as I’m sure you are aware. How vital is it to get a strong season to prepare, and what do you think Italy’s chances are going to be?

I can’t wait for the World Cup next summer! This is definitely a big year for all international players to get a lot of games to impress the manager, who, for me, is also my club manager. Everybody wants to make the squad, and I certainly hope I can make it. As for Italy’s chances, I think we have to be considered a major contender. We are ranked 2nd in the world now, and I think 1st is in our sights.



So, there you have it folks, Andrea Poli’s thoughts on a number of footballing matters and his expectations for the coming season. Inter Milan kicks off their campaign in a weeks’ time when they take on AC Milan in a huge derby style Supercoppa Italiana.

Damn was hoping to see what type of car he drives and what is his favorite food lol. Anyways good interview.

2013-12-22 18:34#150645 BayernAmerica : Damn was hoping to see what type of car he drives and what is his favorite food lol. Anyways good interview.

Yeah we wanted an interview about his lifestyle Great update Neal, keep 'em coming.

BayernAmerica and Jozef: You know what, I'm sorry, he drives a Lamborghini, better?

2013-12-22 19:58#150710 Neal : BayernAmerica and Jozef: You know what, I'm sorry, he drives a Lamborghini, better?

I was hoping he drove a Ford Pick Up truck

I wanted to see him in a monster truck. Is that road legal? I'm pretty sure it's not.

He only uses the monster truck on Tuesdays.

Thank all of you guys for yet another nomination for my Inter story! This thing has been going for quite a long time, it's definitely been a long haul, and there's still one more season yet. I'm really happy to see you guys are still enjoying it and nominating it once again, and I hope all my regular voters get out there and vote!

Sorry about my lack of updates lately; I've been super busy during this holiday period with lots of family visiting. I promise that I will be updating as soon as I possibly can. Thank you!

Congrats on the nomination lad

NVDTahir: Thanks mate

The Supercoppa Italiana is the perennial curtain-raiser for Italian football, pitting the winner of the Serie A against the champion of the Coppa Italia. However, as Inter Milan could not play itself, the runner up of the Coppa Italia, Inter's arch-rivals AC Milan, will take on the Nerazzurri in the semi-prestigious match.

The Rossoneri, back under the control of Ernesto Valverde, the only Milan manager that's beaten Giuseppe Bergomi's seemingly invincible Internazionale side, were looking for an upset. Having lost the Coppa final by an embarrassing scoreline of 3-0 last season, the captain Nocerino and his men were ready to seek vengeance.

The fans packed into the Stadio San Siro with 79,526 people in attendance, ready to experience a footballing spectacle between two of the world's most fierce rivals, and they got one. Two beautiful goals, four red cards, the match had everything; passion, controversy, rivalry, and goals.

The match started quite slowly, and the first half was cagily fought by the two sides. Neither was able to truly gain supremacy, but just two minutes before the break, Inter took the lead. It was a Brazilian connection that earned the goal as winger Philippe Coutinho slipped in record signing Rogerio who hammered his finish through the hands of Carrizo, marking his competitive debut for the Nerazzurri against the hated AC Milan with a goal. The fans went mad.

In the second half, five minutes of madness from AC Milan ended up costing them the trophy. From the 57th minute to the 62nd, Nigel De Jong, Didac, and Raul Albiol all collected second yellow cards and were sent off. AC Milan, reduced to eight men, were surely hopeless now. The Rossoneri fans rained down abuse at the referee, but truth be told, there was nothing he could do; they were clear second yellow cards.

With twenty minutes to go, Rogerio was at it again. This time he delivered a delightful delivery from a corner kick and Emerson Luiz managed to rise above the scant Milan defense and power his header home; the Brazilian connection once more. The youthful center back started off the season with a goal, just as he ended the last by scoring twice in the UEFA Champions League final.

Just a minute later, Alvaro Pereira was shown his second yellow for tripping Alejandro Gomez, and Inter was reduced to 10 men, though still 2 more than Milan's 8. Inter held on comfortably, though, and ended the game with 14 more shots than their losing rivals, the final score 2-0.

"I'm disappointed in Milan," lamented Bergomi after the match. "When I saw Ernesto [Valverde] was back in charge, I thought I may have a challenge, but instead I got a rugby match. I hope that club starts to play football again instead of trying to hurt my players and get 3 men sent off."

Bergomi has now won his fourth Supercoppa Italiana, and his Inter side look ready for a promising season ahead.

Instead I got a rugby match, lol. 3 red cards in the space of 5 minutes, what was going on with AC? Great update Neal. Quality writing.