Former Intern player Sensi gave an interview to the "Milan Sports News", talking about his current life.
Did Sensi find himself again in Cyprus?
"I am in good shape and enjoy playing football, which is exactly what I really need. I can play the full 90 minutes in every game, my physical condition is at its peak, and I have also made many Cypriot friends. And the fans here are very enthusiastic, and the coach is... Camoranesi. He came here in the middle of the season. I didn't know him before, but I found him to be a very good person and an excellent tactician. I only spoke English for the past few months. Thanks to him, I picked up Italian again."
Do you miss Italy?
"Not now, I am experiencing what I have always wanted to experience. I live in Larnaca, the quietest city on the island, and I feel very comfortable. I am a quiet person and don't need to party every night. Of course, after spending seven years in Milan, it was a bit uncomfortable at first."
Speaking of Milan, what does the Inter experience mean to you?
"A very beautiful memory, a milestone that I am proud of. I still remember the day I was signed by Inter: I was on vacation in Formentera, and my agent suddenly called me to talk to Ausilio. My legs were shaking with excitement, and I knew that everyone in my hometown would be proud of me."
When he first arrived in Milan, Sensi looked like a little Iniesta: he contributed 3 goals and 4 assists in the first 6 games.
"The first month was incredible, but I hadn't fully realized what was happening at the time. Going to the training ground, playing football, joking with teammates, going home to be with family - time flew by. But whenever I think back to my performance against Barcelona in the Champions League, I still get goosebumps. I grew up watching Xavi and Iniesta's games, but I shone in their Camp Nou stadium. That was the best moment of my career."
After that game, Barcelona and Manchester City began to pay attention to you. Did you have a chance to play for that kind of club?
"Of course. If some teams are paying attention to you, it means they see important qualities in you. What happened later was already decided, and I accepted it, because I couldn't do anything about it."
Let's sort it out: four days after that wonderful match at the Camp Nou, you suffered the first of a series of injuries. What happened then?
"We were playing Juventus, and I injured my adductor muscle. It looked no different from other injuries, and it was indeed. But then new problems appeared, one after another, which was simply a surreal situation that lasted for a year and a half. That's how bad emotions took over."
Did you really think about retiring at that time?
"I did, but my wife persuaded me to persevere and not give up easily. If I could go back in time, I would immediately find a mental coach: I found one three years ago, and I can't live without him now. Think about it: you get injured repeatedly, and when you return to the training ground, you are always afraid of getting injured again; or vice versa, because you want to get back in shape as soon as possible, you try too hard and end up pulling a muscle again. You need to find a balance. Mental coaches are important, but players need to learn to trust them."
In 2021, Mancini wanted to recruit you into the European Cup squad that later won the championship -- that team performed well and defeated Spain and England in a penalty shootout. But you still had to withdraw.
"I owe him too much. Not everyone can enter the national team, but Mancini called me up when I was still in Sassuolo and let me replace Jorginho in the starting lineup. I could feel his trust. Unfortunately, I was injured in the last round of the league, but the coach still let me go to the Coverciano training camp to try to integrate into the team. I failed to recover and did not win the European Cup. But it was precisely at that time that I ushered in a turning point."
What turning point?
"When I was talking to a few friends about my situation, I heard someone mention 'Serving to Win' - Djokovic's book, which talked about the pain he experienced and how he solved his physical problems. I bought the book, and when I read it, I realized that I was very similar to him, so I started to imitate his practices: only eating gluten-free and lactose-free foods, and avoiding sugar. It wasn't long before I felt back in shape, and there were indeed fewer injuries."
"If there were no injuries" - this question is natural: if you hadn't been injured, where would you be now?
"It's hard to say, so much has happened. Maybe at Barcelona, Manchester City, or maybe still at Inter."
Do you think you still have a chance to return to your peak now?
"Strength doesn't disappear suddenly, so I believe I can. I'm in good shape now and playing consistently, and I think I can still make a difference on the top stage."