Van der Mead: Zivo was my driver back then, Inter Milan and Ajax are both my favorites

Inter Milan will play against Ajax in the first round of the Champions League. Today, the Milan Sports Daily interviewed Andy Van der Mede, who has played for both teams. The Dutch wing and current Blue and Black coach Ziwo are members of the genius Ajax at the beginning of this century. They fought side by side there for three seasons, and Van der Meder made an appearance at Inter Milan earlier than Ziwo. Regardless of the result of this game, 45-year-old Andy will go to Amsterdam to meet his old friend again.

Are you surprised to see Ziwo as Inter Milan coach?

"To me, Zivo is always the young captain. He is one year younger than me. He wore the captain's armband when he was 21 years old. Ajax is a unique planet. You never look at your ID card here, but if you are so precocious, you must have extraordinary qualities. He is a natural leader in the locker room. He always smiles and is a real gentleman. He often gets red cards at the beginning, but then he matures. As a player, he is very good: he has a steady defense, fast one-on-one speed, and has a great shooting with his left foot. In addition, he will drive me, and at that time I didn't have a car, and he was my driver from the hotel to the stadium. I was not surprised that he became a coach: the problem at the beginning was part of this profession, and they shouldn't lose in that game with Juventus."

Talk about a game he experienced with?

"Yes, the 2002-03 Champions League quarter-finals against AC Milan. That game ended up losing to them 2-3, and Thomason scored the last minute, which was an unfair and cruel defeat for us. We performed well, but Chivo slipped at the critical moment. It was a really strong team, and we ended up leaving the Netherlands in the same year, he went to Rome, and I went to Milan City. Obviously, our fates are always connected."

Do you think it was too early for him to coach Inter?

"Who can tell if it's too early or too late? If you love the job deeply, then time is not a problem. From Parma to Inter is a huge leap, with great risks, but I believe the management has confidence in him. It's a huge bet, but he can win this bet by helping players get rid of the shadow of the past. From Touram to Lautaro to the excellent performance of Cialhanoglu I've seen, they have to forget the end of last season."

In your opinion, Inter is still affected by last season?

"Yes, the recent loss can be explained like this... The Champions League defeat was extremely frustrated, followed by a series of chaos, the way the old coach left and the dispute over the transfer market. Now Zivo has opened a new era and he needs to adjust psychologically: he has strong players to try again, such as forwards and wide players. Especially one of them..."

is your friend Dumfries? Is it right for him to stay?

"I think yes. The World Cup is coming, and it is very important to maintain a stable playing time. In Inter Milan, he almost secured the starting position, which also helps his performance in the national team. He could have chosen to go to other teams, but he might face the risk of a substitute. Now Denzel can continue to be the protagonist, and maybe after 2026, he will make new choices. He is a strategic and unique player: he scored more goals than the striker and had a lot of assists, which is crucial to both Inter and the Netherlands."

Let's talk about this Ajax team: What do you think?

"They don't play very well. They play ugly football, and the coaches often change formations and lack stability. The midfield is rigid and the skills are insufficient, so fans have started to complain that they can't see the real Ajax football. Unfortunately, they are right. Inter Milan can take advantage of this, and I believe they will do it. Currently Inter Milan is far stronger than Ajax, and even in Italy, it is better than opponents such as Naples and Juventus."

Who do you support in the end?

"This is a question that hits the heart. How can I not say Ajax? The Cruyff Stadium is my home. But Inter Milan is also another love in my life. Even now, no matter where I go, there are always some blue and black fans kneeling in front of me to make gun gestures. I don't know if the fans prefer me or my celebration moves..."