Marco Materazzi has embraced his reputation as a hated figure in football. “As long as I’m winning, I don’t care.”

The defender has long been a controversial player for his rough style, fiery temper and trash talking, which FIFA stated provoked Zinedine Zidane into a headbutt during the 2006 World Cup Final.

Now he finds himself a key member of an Inter side that is breaking Serie A records, but has lost the ‘likeable’ edge of previous years.

“Inter are no longer liked? I know something about that. I was, I am and I always will be disliked – but finally a winner. This year everyone tried to highlight our supposed tension, but on the field we silenced them all.”

Even Nerazzurri President Massimo Moratti has seen the tide of public opinion turn against him. After an altercation with an opposition fan in the street this week, police confirmed he had received a bullet in the post, although it was considered “more of a practical joke than a real threat.”

“We really have scraped the bottom of the barrel,” sighed Materazzi when asked about this incident. “I only hope it was a stupid joke. Moratti is one of the clearest people in our football, but sometimes these things have nothing to do with sport, they are just decoys.”

He also shook off accusations that Inter have only dominated this season – and picked up the 2005-06 Scudetto by default – due to the Calciopoli scandal cutting the other big clubs out of the picture.

“I too heard that our Scudetto was made of cardboard, but they stopped when we put a hand on this year’s title. Now that we are about to win it, it shines like gold.”

In theory, the mathematical certainty could be just 270 minutes of football away, but Matrix is in no hurry.

“I am not interested in sealing the Scudetto in three games. In my view, it will only be on May 28, when we’ll have a huge party at San Siro that for me will be better than the World Cup. Only then will we count up how many points we have totalled.”

For the moment the former Perugia man is focusing on Scotland, as Italy prepare for a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier next Wednesday.

“This is decisive for our European Championship hopes. Is it also decisive for Roberto Donadoni’s future? No, just for the Azzurri. We are all in the same boat. In any case, I believe we will reach the tournament.”

Yes, especially after he was unfairly treated in the WC Final. Did you see the abuse Rooney was getting at the Andorra game? Exactly my point, it happens in every game. Zidane shouldn't have reacted like that.

Agreed. I don't like him, but I don't hate him.

Just because it's Zidane who did it doesn't mean he should be excused for his actions...