QUOTE
Matrix ready for Ron battle Sunday
11 March, 2007
Marco Materazzi was Ronaldo’s teammate and remains a good friend, but warns that for 90 minutes they will be at loggerheads.
“I fear this match will be sold as ‘Inter v Ronie’, even if he is part of the past,†said the defender ahead of today’s Milan derby.
“Ronaldo came to help Inter win and gave us some wonderful memories. He made a difficult decision and I respect him for that.
"However, after the pre-match handshake, he’d best no longer consider me a friend! I believe the same goes for him, he’ll do everything he can to beat us.â€
Il Fenomeno wore the Nerazzurri jersey for five years before his switch to Real Madrid, but few expected him to return to the other side of the San Siro.
“I expect he’ll be very motivated, because the sword of Damocles is hanging over his head. He must prove that he remains Ronaldo, but we in turn will try to show he’s not!
"Today, in my view, Milan’s real star is Kaka. He is one of the most decisive players in the world and Celtic saw it on Wednesday. He is a leader, a future Ballon d’Or winner.â€
Materazzi is hardly famed for his technique, but insists he has a great deal in common with Kaka.
“I can see myself in him, because hard work does pay off. He has class and technique, the gifts from Mother Nature. I have desire and determination – with those I achieved remarkable things in my career.
“In that sense, in what we have achieved, I feel myself very much the same as Kaka. We exemplify how a player can do well with different strengths. It’s a good lesson to teach children.â€
Others would suggest Materazzi’s counter-part in the Milan derby is battling midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.
“It’s true we both have that competitive edge. I swear Rino would give a leg rather than lose a match! Yet in Valencia, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and myself were the calmest people there.
“It was almost like a reverse reaction. When we saw that usually relaxed players like Ivan Cordoba and Julio Cruz went mad trying to defend their ‘brother’, as we consider all our teammates, then we thought to ourselves ‘This situation seriously needs to be taken down a few notches.’â€
That Champions League exit hurt Inter badly and the derby after only a few days will give them the opportunity to patch up that wound.
“Of course we are disappointed, but these are two different competitions. We want to take three precious points away from Milan so that they won’t have to play the preliminary round this summer. That way we can all have a nice long holiday in the sun together,†grinned the ‘generous’ Materazzi.
“We knew the Rossoneri were one of the contenders to win the Champions League and, considering the squad, they’ll reach the Final. We will win the Scudetto that everyone says is ‘ugly’ because Roma are 16 points behind, but the same side beat the great Lyon.
“There’s one of two realities here. Either there is another Roma side in Serie A or we have done something good this season.â€
Football Italia