THE PALACE OF GOALS
“Here is my Inter. With Sneijder, it is much easier.”
The striker: “Wes is the head of the team and playing as a second for me is the greatest.”
Glasgow – The scoring sense of Rodrigo Palacio was only slightly hazy, hidden in the folds of a new world to be discover, a new role that he is playing in. Give him the penalty area where he can show his flair and ability and the Trenza will do what he has always done throughout his career: scoring goals. He has had three so far this pre-season and perhaps the fourth one this Thursday in Split.
So is this the real Palacio?
“But I have always been myself, why?”
Well, at the start, it seemed hard at first, and not just about scoring for you.
“I don’t have dead legs anymore like the early days in training camp in Pinzolo. It was just a matter of physical condition.”
Diplomatic response. Isn’t playing in your role important?
“I have never hidden that as a second striker, closer to the center forward, I am more free to move in a certain way. I can give more in that position.”
So thank God that Sneijder is back already almost ready to play?
“Certainly but not because now I can play in my role.”
What then?
“OK that too but mostly because we are very happy that Wes is with us because with him on the field it is easier. Sneijder is the head of the team and he makes everyone better.”
It is also easier for you to score just like in Glasgow. Why did we have a different Inter when Palacio came in the game, in the second half?
“I did not change the game but it was Inter who changed its approach. Celtic dropped behind a bit but it was us who turned up the game also. We are growing.”
For Palacio, friendly matches seemed to be a taboo, you couldn’t scored. But now… what was the turning point?
“The TIM Trophy in Bari and not only for the goal even though it was important. That evening I just felt good and of course I scored a goal against Milan. Mentally I also felt good.”
And also the goal in Glasgow.
“Probably the most important goal of my three so far because I scored in a ‘real” game and it was also the hardest.”
Also because it prevented the first defeat in pre-season for Inter?
“It’s a lot better like this, when we don’t lose obviously but it is not drama. It is much more important to see the growing process of the team which improves every game. In Glasgow, it was hard in the first half but watching this game as a whole will help us making important steps forward.”
Will it be enough for Thursday in Split?
“It must be although we know that it will not be an easy game.”
The stadium in Split is very hostile.
“Maximum respect but when I played Coppa Liberatodres in Brazil, I didn’t receive any flowers…”
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
