Andrea Ranocchia still dreaming of Inter Scudetto charge: 'We can lead the way with AC Milan and Juventus'

There are currently few centre-backs like him. We are talking about Andrea Ranocchia, perhaps the most talented young Italian defender on the scene, with still some room for improvement. The native of Assisi is a rare gem in a Serie A at a time when it is ever more difficult to pick out emerging Italian youngsters at the top clubs.

Goal.com visited Pinetina to get to know Ranocchia better and to find out what are his objectives in the short and long term ...

Hello Andrea. How are you after having won the derby? How important was it for you to beat AC Milan?

Ranocchia: "[Laughs] Well, it was very important to win. If we had lost or even drawn, it would have been difficult for us. When you lose a derby it is then difficult to recover and, in our case, it would have been even more so, given that we would have lost ground on the top two in the table."

So a merited derby win, and with Claudio Ranieri, who has really left his mark on your team. What has Ranieri brought into the group?

Ranocchia: "I would say that the mister has added a tranquillity to the environment that was a little bit rough before. He has helped us to find ourselves again. It was not an easy situation for a team not used to looking up at so many teams from down below.

"The first thing he sorted out was the defence. He told us: ‘First, we must not concede goals, then, with the players that we have up front, something will always happen.’ I would say that having brought that calm to the squad was the most important thing."

And now you’re back in the race … Who matters most in the Scudetto race?

Ranocchia: "From what I have seen, I would say Milan and Juventus. They are the best equipped teams, those with the most important organisations, but we are going up against them all the way."

Soon you will get to see the new Roma under Luis Enrique ... What do you think of the new Roma?

Ranocchia: "They play with the ball a lot, they seem a lot like Barcelona in their understanding of football. The possession of the ball is remarkable. It seems sterile, but in truth is designed to always free up a man and find the route to goal.

"I think the club has done well, in the first year, not to listen to the many critics and to believe in Luis Enrique’s project."

You have the Scudetto to aim for, but also the Champions League. What do you think of your next task, in the last 16 against Olympique Marseille?

Ranocchia: "Look, I honestly believe that in the Champions League you must, sooner or later, take on any opponent and must always be at 100 per cent, regardless of which opponent you have in front of you. We have got Marseille and we will do our best to beat them, but we would have the same attitude with any opponent."

It is a Champions League in which there are many teams to watch, particularly that of Barcelona, which comprises the Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi. What do you think when you watch them play?

Ranocchia: "It makes me feel good, it’s fun to see Barcelona play. The individual quality is crazy, they’re great in possession of the ball, playing from memory. And then they have Guardiola who, in my opinion, is one of the best coaches in the world and demonstrates that game after game."

And Messi?

Ranocchia: "[Laughs] What can you add about somebody who has won three Ballons d’Or in a row?"

Guardiola | "One of the best coaches in the world," says Ranocchia

Andrea, do you think it would be possible to see the Barcelona model in Italy as well?

Ranocchia: "Well, it’s not easy, and it would take a lot of hard work. You need to teach a certain type of football from the youth stage. Then they, from when they are little, are in the habit of playing a certain type of football.

"I don’t believe it would be impossible to copy what they have done in Italy, but it would take great investment in the youth sections and it isn’t very easy."

Speaking of you, how does it feel to be considered the new Alessandro Nesta? How do you live with this responsibility?

Ranocchia: "I don’t pay attention to these things, if I am the heir to this player or that player, I think only of demonstrating, every day, what I can do. In football you always have something to prove. Just look at Inter.

"Two months ago people were saying that the players of the treble season were finished, that they couldn’t run any more, that they were tired. Everyone seemed to have forgotten what this group of players had won. That’s how it is in football, you must always prove something, every day, and you also have to win everything."

Tell me something about your captain, Javier Zanetti. What does it feel like to play with him?

Ranocchia: "In my first few days with him it was really something surreal. It really didn’t seem real to me. Then, with time, I started to get used to the idea [of being Zanetti’s team-mate] ... But at the start it was just crazy!"

Let’s talk also of the future, such as Euro 2012.

Ranocchia: "No, no, I won’t talk about Euro 2012. Before the World Cup in 2010 I was talking about it and then I got injured. So I will speak about Euro 2012 when the time comes."

But what about an assessment of the teams you will meet?

Ranocchia: "Well, we will meet Germany and I see them as a young team with talent, so I would say they are a strong team. But then there is Spain, and Spain are always Spain. They have great players and are a team that are winning lots, so they will be tough."

With thanks to Lotto for their collaboration.