Former Internazionale and Parma striker Hernán Crespo spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of this afternoon's match between the two teams at San Siro.
"This match between Internazionale and Parma is my match," he began. "Parma bought me from River Plate in the summer of 1996, and it's where I made my name. Internazionale is the club I played for in the early 2000s, and I had a great time there. So for me, this is a game close to my heart. Who do I support? Since I can't avoid the question, I'll answer honestly: I support Parma. Because after Buenos Aires, Parma is the city where I feel most at home. I grew up there, became a man; my daughters were born there, I made my home there, I played there, coached there, and was even part of the management: yes, for a short time, I was even appointed vice-chairman. How can I not support Parma? Internazionale fans will forgive me, it's about emotion."
"Gilardino? I'll be watching him closely, even though I'm very busy with Atlas in Mexico right now. Gila is a great striker, a top center forward. Every team would have an easier time with a player like that. But I think Parma, both technically and financially, has the ability to achieve their goal of staying up and also to develop some young players and put them on the market. The start could have been better. I think Internazionale is the strongest team in Italy. They have an excellent squad, players who can decide games on their own, very mature tactical organization, and a great coach like Simone Inzaghi. In short, everything is in place for them to win the Serie A title again, and this time even go further in the Champions League."
"Internazionale is indeed stronger, there's no doubt about that, but in football, the strongest doesn't always win. A lot can happen on the field, and there can be many surprises: you never know. I'm really looking forward to seeing Romero, Parma's new center forward. Some friends told me he's very good. Who knows, maybe he can cause Internazionale some trouble."
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