Mazzola: “When I see Ramos I think of Facchetti”

Sandro Mazzola (Turin, November 8, 1942) is a piece of Inter history. Son of the mythical Valentino, hero of Grande Torino who died in the Superga tragedy, he lived his entire career wearing the colors Nerazzurri. In his 570 games he scored 162 goals, two of them against Madrid, in the final of the 1964 European Cup, which the Interistas won 3-1. The legendary footballer remembers AS that night and analyzes tomorrow's clash.

—Sandro, a double of yours gave Inter their first European Cup. What do you remember from that 1964 game?
—There is a moment I will never forget: seeing my idol, Di Stefano, in person. I left the locker room and he was there … It didn't seem real to me, I just stared at him and he realized. He came over and said a few things to me, the pity is that I didn't understand anything. I was in shock (laughs).

“Did you keep talking during the game?”
—Yes, sometimes in the field they talk. The best came after one of my goals. He congratulated me very sportily with a handshake. It was the best for me.

“Do you still think he was the best of all time?”
– For me yes, I repeat it. They used two men to stop him, and they couldn't. There was no one else like him.

“On that day there was also a face to face with Puskas …
—Yes, before the game Puskas told me that he played against my father and that I was his worthy heir. I did not expect it, I was very moved.

“What was the secret of that high-profile triumph?”
—We beat the Italian, playing man against man. Helenio Herrera said that if Di Stéfano went to the bathroom, he had to be followed there …

—In Madrid today, who do you like the most?
—I loved Cristiano. When I was working as a commentator, I once had a white match and asked for a talk with him. He was very nice to me. Without the Portuguese, Madrid are not the same, although they still have fantastic players. One of them is Sergio Ramos, but there is something I did not like about him …

“The what?”
—That goal in the first leg (laughs). OMG how good it is. How many goals have you already had?

—Before Inter, he added 100 with the Real Madrid shirt.
-Incredible. When I see him play, I think of Facchetti. He was a winger, but if they needed him, he would go on the attack and score goals. Ramos always appears when Madrid is in trouble.

“What do you expect tomorrow?”
—Conte, for me, you must play Italian. You have to leave the initiative to Zidane and hurt him as soon as his team fails.

—Did you think the Frenchman was going to be such a good coach?
-The truth is that if. Talented players are sometimes undervalued for their tactical intelligence. Zidane in the green was always where he had to be. I really liked him and I was convinced that he was going to be a great coach. It didn't surprise me at all.

“San Siro will be empty tomorrow.” Can you enjoy football without fans?
—I need coffee to watch the games in these months. I miss the atmosphere, the people, it's all weird. But it is our turn. We will return to the stands.

-A forecast?
“I have it, but as always I'm not going to say it.” They know I'm superstitious …