IMBERSAGO (LECCO) - Massimo Moratti was inundated with questions from journalists during today's presentation of the official almanac 'Inter 100 anni di emozioni'.

Here's what he had to say:

Moratti, is it a burden for you to be president of Inter in the centenary year?
"No, it's not. I don't think we can consider as a burden the memory of these one hundred years, or a life lived close to Inter in different periods of these one hundred years. It is a strong emotion, there's no doubt about this."

You said you are very attached to the Inter team of your father Angelo. But there's no doubt that today's Inter is yours.
"As his children, that period was emotionally very intense for us. There was joy and suffering, and it was a stressful life. Times have changed, but it's the same situation now. There's a different kind of communication, and I'm realising this as we speak. They are two different stories. I hope this one finishes as well as that one did."

Inter lost in Naples before the start of the Centenary week. After that, Milan lost in the Champions League. Has this straightened things out a bit?
"No. What straightens things out is a victory of ours, not a defeat of another team. I'm expecting a victory to celebrate the centenary and to give our fans lots of joy."

Twenty-six of these one hundred years have been under the Moratti family. An indissoluble link with the black and blue colours of Inter?
"I hadn't done the mathematics, but it's certainly a great privilege and a wonderful honour to be a quarter of the history of such a glorious club. I don't see it as a burden. What we have done, we have done willingly."

Is there a special memory in this period of the Moratti family's ownership of Inter?
"You remember the negative periods with strength. For example, I remember that when my father was president, it was Inter against everybody. The positive times are remembered with joy, as a present. It's the same now - I see a negative period as the forming of character and all the rest, and a positive period as a present."

What is Inter for you?
"An emotion. Inter is an emotion. And for me it's obviously an emotion I hold dear."

One of the most famous moments in Inter's history is the comeback against Liverpool (in 1965). Are you hoping history repeats itself?
"It was a different Liverpool. The team of now is much more experienced in European cups. English teams are doing very well in the European cups now. However, Inter can also do great things."

Are you disappointed that you will go into this game with so many players out injured?
"Yes, but this often brings pride and the desire to react. The players will use their qualities to best effect."

Will the championship be easier for Inter now that Roma have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League?
"I don't know. This morale boost could be positive for them. I think that Roma's qualification is positive for Italian football. Our task is very difficult, and Milan have been knocked out. Roma's qualification is good for Italian football because it shows that ours is a good championship, and that Inter, who won last season and who are leading this season, are doing so against strong teams."

Will some of your players have to grit their teeth for the Liverpool clash?
"Yes, I think they will. They are all enthusiastic, and I'm very pleased about this."