Inter Milan legendary captain Bergomi recently accepted an interview with the Milan Sports Daily. He said that being a captain now has a greater responsibility than his era. He also revealed that the Inter Milan team he played for is not only one leader.
How much is the responsibility to be a captain now?
"The responsibility for being a captain is particularly heavy now, which is more important than when I played football. At that time, each team was mainly composed of local players. The core of the team's skeleton was Italian, so many things need not be explained too much. The situation is different now. The role of captain is crucial because the captain must convey a sense of belonging, certain values and the cultural DNA of the club, because each club is unique. My Inter Milan has 7-8 people from their own youth training. They have common experiences and resonances that are difficult to imagine today. Therefore, it is essential for today's team to have a benchmark, and this role must be taken seriously. One of my coaches once said: Being a captain is not just about exchanging team flags in the midfield."
What type of captain are you?
"I am a silent leader, and I prefer to lead by example. A captain must be the first to come and the last to go. Another thing that cannot be missing: cooperation. The captain should serve the whole team and have the ability to attract everyone. I remember that Borgkamp was a little difficult to integrate at the beginning. I took him to dinner many times and tried to integrate him outside the court. But please let me add a little more."
Please speak.
"A team cannot have only one leader. It can be said that there is more than one captain. At Inter Milan, there were Zenga, Ferry, Bremer, and even Berti with his own style. Especially Mattus, I am the captain, and he is the leader."