Erick Thohir presents himself to the Italian media. After the interviews and the press conferences, Thohir was a guest at Rai Tre’s show “Che tempo che fa” and he responded many questions about dreams, ambitions and the projects for Inter. Here are his answers to the questions:
From now on you are the president of Inter. What is your answer to all the supporters who watch you and ask: “Who will he buy?”?
“First of all I’d like to thank you for the invitation, it is an honor to be here. I think there are many rumours about players. but what we will do with Inter is to create a system and I don’t think it is possible to make a decision about the players alone. We need to talk about it with the owners and the coach which is the best for the team, in this way the team can make the fans happy. This is very important and it is nice to see a team that plays well.”
Have you always been an Inter supporter?
“When we were young we wanted to play in the Serie A, one of the best leagues that the world is offered. Me and my friends became Inter supporters in the 80’s, in the years of the three Germans Matthaeus, Brehme and Klinsmann. We have always followed the Serie A in TV or in the newspapers. Now we face competition with the Premier League and the Bundesliga and I’m convinced that we can be one of the best championships in the world if everyone is ready to do something better. And Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.”
How did you see the players and what did you tell them?
“I met them with the coach, meeting these superstars that I used to watch in TV was surprising even for me, then I had to make them understand as a president that the team will be supported and that they need to give everything they have. Who wins the game is the heart, if you play with your heart you will win every game.”
Will Mazzarri have your support?
“I’ve always though that if you want to succeed in life, you need to work together, have clear goals and work hard. I see this characteristics in Mazzarri and I’d like to thank Moratti for choosing him. For the coming 2-3 years we have everything we need, in 2016 the Champions League final will be played in Milan and Inter needs to be prepared. I don’t know if we’ll win, but with a good preparation we will return to the Champions league soon.”
Talking about investments, do you know what is expecting you?
“Yes, but if you watch the 6-7 last years we have changed the model. In England 3-4 games are in the hands of the Americans. I’m not American, but I know the United States well because I love basketball. That’s how I understood how the Americans know how to make the sport into an industry, they are very patient and know how to expand to be strong. If Inter doesn’t follow this model it won’t be competetive in the future. The first thing is to be strong, the supporters need to see the games with enthusiasm. If we don’t have a good business plan the investment will never be good. It’s fundamental to create this system to support the team.”
Has Moratti asked you not to touch something at Inter?
“The first time I met Moratti 5-6 months ago, I was a supporter and meeting Moratti wasn’t a normal situation. But I talk from my heart when I say that I told him the first time we met that I wasn’t there to substitute him, but to create a spirit that was able to support Inter. I told Moratti that I would never be able to repeat what he did in 18 years, and that we would become stronger if we worked together. In the future only 10 teams will be remembered and I want Inter to be one of them.”
Will these teams have their own championship?
“The competition is tough, think about Real Madrid. Inter has made fantastic things, but during the last few years they have had problems. It isn’t a good situation but I think that together with Moratti we will construct a stronger Inter.”
Have you bought a house in Milan? Where will you live?
“I have taken on Inter and I want to have the passion to do it. I might not be here for every game, but I will see the games on TV as a supporter on distance. I will wake up at 2:45 to see Inter, it’s a part of what I have signed for. Then I will be here from the 28th of November to the 2nd of December. Then I will bring my family to Italy and return to Milan.”
Now you can change the time though since Inter is yours…
“No, Inter isn’t mine. Inter is the supporter’s and is for those supporting it, then one group is handling it and it isn’t only mine. Then the Serie A decides.”
In Milan there is another team, whose president is an entrepreneur in the media sector. You have many things in common and you are the editor of Republika, Berlusconi..
“I don’t want to get in to politics in Indonesia, it’s good that you know about it. My activities come from passion, I work in sport for passion.”
Why is your brother named Garibaldi?
“My father chose it for him hoping that it would bring luck. My name comes from the vikings. In 2001 when I bought Republika, I explained to my brother who wanted to know about my decision, that I liked the business of the media, and I’m not doing it for power. I told my father that he gave me the name of someone who traveled the world and now I’m in Italy, then in the USA, it was destiny.”
But are Ventola and Fresi really your idols?
“If I talk about Ronaldo and Figo, everyone knows who they are and everyone are supporters. But I also remember the teams with Fresi and Ventola and Ventola was very unlucky. I don’t like Ventola only for his Indonesian wife.”
At the end of the Interview, Thohir gifts Fabio Fazio an Inter football that he has signed. Follow @SiaTheMan
