Zanetti on Inter and Bayern Munich legendary past, present and future

TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 15: Inter vice president Javier Zanetti attends a meeting at Casa Tennis during the Nitto ATP Finals 2023 on November 15, 2023 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Giorgio Perottino/Getty Images for Citta Di Torino)

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti looks forward to tonight’s Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich, but also back to the 2010 Treble and German legends. ‘Andy Brehme and Lothar Matthaus inspired me.’

The first leg kicks off at the Allianz Arena at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT), with the decider at San Siro on April 16.

The fixture list has placed some of the favourites against each other, especially after Paris Saint-Germain knocked Liverpool out, so could this be an early indicator of who gets to the Final?

“I wouldn’t say that, as it would mean ignoring teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or even PSG,” Zanetti told German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.

“Having said that, there is no doubt that Bayern Munich and Inter are two great teams facing off. Bayern have the Bavarian DNA in them, as they are very strong physically, good on set plays, with strikers who can make the difference.

“I expect a very balanced encounter where concentration will be fundamental.”

Inter are the only Italian team still in the Champions League, but also potentially up for a Treble, as they are in the Coppa Italia semi-final against Milan and are three points clear at the top of the Serie A table too.

“The important thing about Inter is that we are a team in the real sense of the word, with a very clear identity and style of football, which tries to be the protagonist in every match. We have quality players in every area and a coach who knows how to transmit his ideas,” continued Zanetti.

“Lautaro Martinez has become one of the best strikers of the world. He is a complete player who has this strong bond with the Inter identity. He continues to strengthen the connection that exists between Inter and Argentina.”

Zanetti inspired by German Inter stars of the past

There used to be a German bond too, with the trio in the late 1980s and early 90s of Lothar Matthaus, Andy Brehme and Jurgen Klinsmann.

“Brehme and Matthaus are special players for me. Brehme was one of the most influential in his role, you never really worked out if he was right or left-footed. His versatility inspired me. His death moved all of us at Inter,” added Zanetti.

“Lothar was one of my childhood idols, for the way he approached football. His character and willingness to sacrifice himself for the team, the way he helped his teammates, made a big impression on me.”

Zanetti was the captain of the Inter squad that beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Final to win the Treble in 2010, the culmination of a lengthy experience representing the club.

“That was unforgettable for all of us. Playing a Champions League Final in an historic venue like the Bernabeu, against such fearsome and remarkable opponent, was an event that will be with us forever.”

Even when others had cramp, Zanetti in his late 30s was still seemingly fresh as a daisy, so how did he manage to have that longevity?

“Being in search of perfection. I always tried to pay attention to even the smallest details, both on and off the field. The older I got, the more I felt the need to do that, because my body needed that. At the base of it all was a work ethic that I was born with, as I saw how hard my parents worked. That leaves its mark.

“My father was a builder, he built a football pitch for the kids that we called Disneylandia. We played there for hours, every day.”

Zanetti is now one of the only remnants of that Treble-winning Inter and his role is to pass on the identity of the club to the new arrivals, and the new owners too, going from the Zhang family to Americans Oaktree.

“I try to tell them that Inter is a family. Inter is resilience, inclusion and internationality. I believe all the owners who arrived at Inter respected that.”

Would Zanetti have liked to play with the current Inter squad?

“I’d like to play for any Inter squad, in the past, present, or future.”