U19 champions discuss 'unique feeling' of Scudetto joy

APPIANO GENTILE – Fresh from claiming the U19 league title, Primavera coach Stefano Vecchi, academy chief Roberto Samaden and players Andrea Cagnano, Manuel Lombardoni and Alessandro Mattioli stopped by Appiano Gentile for a chat with Inter Channel.

The Nerazzurri youngsters secured an eighth Primavera Scudetto at Mapei Stadium on Sunday courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina, with Zinho Vanheusden and Andrea Pinamonti scoring the decisive goals.

Speaking on Inter Football Academy, Vecchi began: “It's a very important trophy and one we really wanted.

“We've always been in the mix over the last three years and gone a long way in every competition we've entered. We won the Viareggio Cup in the first year and the Coppa Italia last year. Sunday was the culmination of a period of growth.

"I think the turning point came against Cagliari. We had to play a man down for most of the game and yet we managed to come from behind and win it – that was a huge confidence boost for us.”  

Vecchi, who has been in charge of the Primavera team since 2014, also commented on his spell in the first-team dugout.

“I knew it was only going to be temporary and the first thing I asked the club was to allow me to take the boys into the Final Eight.

“We picked up from where we'd left off and prepared well for it.”

Sunday's victory reaffirmed the Nerazzurri's long-running tradition of success at youth level as the club added a 43rd piece of silverware to the academy trophy cabinet

Samaden explained: “Every final is special but the Primavera championship final is different from all the others. It's very hard to reach it and if you do it's the result of a whole season's work.

“Our task is to ensure the lads rise up through the age categories as smoothly as possible so that they're ready when they reach this level – and of course for the transition to first-team football.

"Next season will be very difficult because we have a new league format, a rematch of our Super Cup clash with Roma and we'll be involved in the Youth League.

“Fortunately we have a pool of talent we can draw from in the lower age categories so we won't necessarily need to bring any extra players in, though we'll obviously be ready to take advantage of any opportunities should they arise.

“Our roots run strong all the way down through our academy, as shown by our Under-18 title success and the fact our U15 and U17 sides also reached the end-of-season finals.

“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Daniele Bernazzani and the other staff who contributed to our Primavera triumph by stepping in when Vecchi was busy with the first team.”

Andrea Cagnano, Manuel Lombardoni and Alessandro Mattioli also spoke of their delight following Sunday's victory.

"We're still buzzing about it because being Italian champions is a unique feeling – it's what we set out to achieve from the very first day of pre-season.

“We're only just starting to realise it now. It was a fantastic team effort and it was great to be able to go all the way together.”