Inter Milan – My First love

People have many passions in life and things that get their heart racing. For me however, only one thing truly gets me going that is the mighty Nerazzurri. I bleed black and blue and it dictates my day-to-day life. I am constantly searching the internet, keeping up with all the latest news about my beloved Inter and also watch every game I possibly can. I also love watching videos of the great Inter players and teams of the past that remind me of the great players, managers and teams Inter has been blessed with throughout the years.

I especially love watching videos of ‘Il Fenomeno’ the great Ronaldo. He is the main reason why I am an Inter fan and I will always be grateful to him for that. I remember as a young kid, watching his unbelievable skills and his pace, power and ability to make world-class defenders look like your average guy on the street. I was mesmerised by him and as my love for him grew I also fell in love with Inter. Even though Ronaldo’s playing career was plagued by injury, I still believe he was the best player ever to step on a football pitch and even eclipses players such as Pele, Messi and Maradona. (I totally agree  – il Padrino)

As time went on I became more and more obsessed with Inter. At this time however, I was restricted to Saturday morning highlights with James Richardson on Channel Four. I remember getting up early as a young kid on a Saturday morning to play four-a-side football and turning on the TV to watch players like Zanetti, Ronaldo, Vieri and Co. I knew from a young age that Inter were the team I wanted to support the rest of my life.

While on holiday in Italy in 2003, a dream came true, I got to go and see an Inter game v Brescia. The game was not at the Meazza but at Brescia’s home stadium – the Mario Rigamonti. I was also sitting with the home fans but this didn’t matter I was still getting to see my beloved Inter play live. I remember walking to the stadium and the Inter fans driving past me in their bus signing. A couple of minutes later I got to see the team bus with all the players go past. I only caught a quick glimpse but I remember seeing Crespo and Batistuta. I was so excited just to see these players and I couldn’t wait to enter the stadium and for the game to kick off. When I entered the stadium, I wasn’t bothered about what was happening around me in the home end. I was just engrossed by the Inter fans at the other end of the stadium and the players warming up. Inter ended up winning the game 0-1 through an injury time goal by Crespo, even though we were completely outplayed throughout the game. This just made the whole holiday for me and I couldn’t stop smiling for a week. That day was when I became a true Interista and I could have never imagined the great years ahead.

As time progressed, I learned more and more about the history of Inter from the great Giuseppe Meazza of the 1930?s to the great teams from the past such as ‘La Grande Inter’ of the 1960?s and great players such as Giacinto Facchetti and Sandro Mazzola who’d led that team to unthinkable success in that era. From the amazing success in the 60?s to the dark times in the 1990?s and early millennium, I was learning more and more about Inter and becoming more fascinated by this great club.

In February 2009, I was lucky enough to see another game. This time was more special as it was for the ‘Derby Della Madonnina’ against our Red and Black Milanese cousins. I’d booked it a few weeks ago and couldn’t wait to get there for the whole experience to start. When I arrived the day before the game, I was buzzing and could feel the excitement building throughout the whole city for the biggest game of the year. I hardly slept the night leading up to the game and was up early the next day to get my first experience of the grand old stadium that is the Giuseppe Meazza. Standing outside the stadium for the first time was just simply amazing and it felt as if my life was complete. I was soaking up the atmosphere and couldn’t wait to get in the stadium. I decided to enter the stadium around two hours before kick-off which may seem mad but the atmosphere was electric and I couldn’t wait to get in there. The ultras had entered eight hours before to prepare the great display to be unveiled just as the players walked out. Walking up the ramp to get to my seat I could hear the deafening sound inside the stadium. This was two hours before the start so I couldn’t wait to see what it would be like during the game.

When I got to my seat, I was amazed by the great stadium and the atmosphere that was created and the passion shown by the fans. Around thirty minutes before kick off the players came out for their warm up. The Milan players came out first to a chorus of whistles and insults and then came Inter out to a heroes welcome. As the players went back in for the last piece of advice the announcer began to read out the team. As he announced the first names of the players, we chanted back their second names. It was simply incredible. Just as the players started to come out, the ultras in the Curva Nord unveiled the banner and started to hold up pieces of cardboard making out the club badge. I had seen this type of thing before, but not live. It was amazing. All the preparation and hard work was worth it.

The game eventually started and it felt like the place was going to erupt. Halfway through the first half, Maicon whipped in a great ball for Adriano who rather suspiciously headed it in with the help of his hand. However, that didn’t matter the place was going mental, and then the whole stadium (apart from the Curva Sud) began bouncing up and down signing “Chi non salta rossonero è è.” I could literally feel the ground shaking beneath me then just as it was calming down slightly Deki Stancovic scored with a sweetly struck volley to make it two nil going into the break. At half time, the was a party atmosphere around the stadium which was in full voice. Not long in to the second half, Adriano had the chance to make it three but he put it agonizingly wide. With not long to go, Pato pulled one back you and could feel the tension around the stadium. Then, disaster struck. Inzaghi scored with a superb left footed volley and my heart was in my mouth. However, to mine and every Interistas relief it was called offside. We managed to hold on for a historic derby win and it almost handed us the title. All the Inter fans stayed behind to party with the team and the songs didn’t stop all night. I will never forget my first Inter game at the Meazza. What a game it was!

My next and most recent experience as an Inter fan was May 16th 2010. We had already secured the Coppa Italia and were in the Champions League final and on our way to a historic treble. I was not lucky enough to get a ticket for the Scudetto deciding game away to Siena but I watched it in a bar behind Il Duomo with lots of other Inter fans. Inter needed a win to secure the Scudetto as Roma were two up away to Chievo and going into half time, it was still 0-0, which was no good for us. Not long into the second half Zanetti slipped in Milito who made no mistake and put the ball in the corner. Every one went mad and we hugged each other as we held on to secure our 18th and 5th consecutive Scudetto. We headed back to Il Duomo and there were fireworks, flares, smoke grenades going off. The place was a sea of black and blue and everyone was singing siamo noi, siamo noi, I campioni dell’Italia siamo noi. Around midnight, the team eventually arrived on an open top bus and I got to see all the heroes of what was to become the treble winning team a week later: a team that made history, which I believe will never be repeated.

I have had the pleasure of seeing Inter on several occasions and I hope to witness many more games or maybe even move to Milan and be a regular. However, One thing is for sure I will never stop supporting Inter with all my heart even if they are fighting relegation. I will never stop supporting the mighty Nerazzurri. I’m sure that Inter will win many more trophies in the years to come and they will continue to produce many great champions and bring even more joy to us great Inter fans around the world. Through thick and thin, SEMPRE INTER.