Recoba hopes to repay InteR

15 December 2003

"El Chino", (the Chinese), scored in Sunday's 2-0 win over Bologna, the Uruguayan's second of the season, and he says he is now free from injury and hopes to finally help Inter win something instead of continually falling short when the honours are dished out.

"I still feel a little pain while playing but only through being on the pitch will I get back to my best form," he told skysports.com.

"The medical staff and the coach know it and will make the right choices accordingly."

Recoba is the latest in a long line of Nerazzurri stars to come out and praise coach Alberto Zaccheroni, saying they prefer his methods to those of former boss Hector Cuper.

"I am not the kind of man who says bad things about someone who's not here anymore," he added.

"But I can not hide my admiration for Zaccheroni.

"Even while I was injured, he talked to me a lot and made me feel sure that after recovery I would always have a place in the team.

"Playing with three forwards gives me a lot more chances of getting in the starting XI.

"As we are still to win something important, we all have a debt towards Inter.

"I want to repay the coach's trust, but I also feel indebted to president Massimo Moratti and with the fans for backing me.

"It is true some San Siro people sometimes booed me but, you know, that's just the way some fans show their love."

The skilful South American hopes his performance at Stadio Renato Della'Ara is just the beginning of something special.

"So far, I can say the team are heading the right way, but nothing more than that," he said.

"I really wish we can turn the season into something special and, on a personal point of view, make it the defining moment of my career."

[skysports.com]