Materazzi: "No problems with Valencia"
Friday, 27 July 2007 19:55:38
MILAN - Inter have arrived in England ahead of four pre-season games against Valencia, Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa. "These friendlies are always very stimulating," Marco Materazzi told journalists at the Emirates Cup presentation. "They are all high-level matches and we will try to give our best in all of them."
At Arsenal's Emirates Stadium tomorrow afternoon, the Nerazzurri face Spanish side Valencia for the first time since last season's turbulent Champions League round of sixteen return leg. "There are no problems whatsoever," said the Inter defender. "We have already had chances to meet the Valencia players since then, and as you can all see there's a friendly atmosphere, and it will be the same tomorrow. We may even come on the pitch embracing one another..."
On the Arsenal side Inter will face in their second Emirates Cup fixture on Sunday afternoon, Materazzi said: "They're a very good team, although the departure of Henry, who is one of the best players in the world, has taken away fifty percent of their strength."
Materazzi and the Italian national team face last year's World Cup final rivals France in a European Championship qualifier at the Giuseppe Meazza on Saturday 8 September. "Before concentrating on that match I have a lot of commitments with Inter, which come before everything else," he said. "And we also have an Italian Super Cup match to honour, and we want to win it. I can start thinking about the national team game when this is all over. Not before."