Inter Milan legend Lothar Matthaus has looked back on his unforgettable spell with the Nerazzurri, recalling the “record-breaking” team of the late 1980s while expressing confidence in Cristian Chivu and his current side.
Speaking at Il Festival dello Sport in Trento during the panel “L’Inter dei record”, the former Ballon d’Or winner reflected on his decision to join Inter, his bond with Giovanni Trapattoni, and his connection to the club’s fans.
“There were many Italian teams interested, including Juventus but Trapattoni had the strongest argument,” Matthäus said, with quotes via FCInter1908.
“He told me: Napoli needed Maradona, Juventus needed Platini – Inter needed you to win.”
The German midfielder became a symbol of Inter’s resurgence, leading the club to the 1989 Scudetto and earning admiration for his leadership and mentality.
“We brought confidence and a winning hunger,” he explained.
“Inter hadn’t won for a long time but we changed that. The fans were the twelfth man – they gave us the energy to make history.”
Matthaus Backs Chivu For Success At Inter Milan
Matthäus also spoke emotionally about his friendship with Andreas Brehme, describing him as “a brother” and “an irreplaceable loss.”
Turning to the present, the former captain compared the Inter of Chivu to the one he once led.
“Chivu’s Inter better than Inzaghi’s? No,” he admitted.
“But can they win the Scudetto? Yes – it’s an open race.”
The 63-year-old also commented on the club’s Champions League run, showing pride despite defeat in the final against PSG.
“I supported Inter that night,” Matthäus said.
“They can be proud – beating teams like Bayern and Barcelona showed real strength.”
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