Leonardo starts his new challenge with Inter

The press conference lasted 45 minutes with the majority of the questions being related to his Milan past and what challenges he expects at Inter.

Leonardo did not forget his past with Milan when answering questions.

"Inter is a powerful, fascinating and unexpected challenge. I arrive here at inter, one of the biggest clubs in the world, in the most important year of its history, the year in which Inter won everything. Inter is now a reality, the most important reality. I was looking for a dream, a big motivation, a great challenge: at the moment there is no challenge greater than Inter."

“The situation I am currently going through is very fascinating. I see many familiar faces, in an environment where everything is built upon relationships. I know many people here, I have been in Milan for 13 years, and to be honest I am very excited, because today is a day full of emotion. Is this the dream I hoped would come true..? I am a romantic person, I was not looking for a job, but for something that would really motivate me, a great challenge; and I don’t think they come any greater than this one.”

“It didn’t take me long to accept president Moratti’s proposition” admitted Leonardo, ”but I never truly thought all this would come true. Our relationship developed in the most natural way possible, but that does not change the hierarchy: the coach is the coach, the president is the president. The coach’s job is very intense, delicate, and when I finished coaching Milan I did a lot of thinking, but Inter’s proposition made me realise that this is what I really wanted to do. This is a situation in which I must observe closely and understand what is available: no revolutions. I must move forward with what I have, and learn to add my experience to it: that is what I will do here. I will try to eradicate whatever negatives there are, maintaining the many positives, and above all I will find a way to get people to know me and my ways.”

“I arrive here in the most important year in Inter’s history” continued Leonardo, “and that is incredible. I am very determined, happy, and I have a lot of enthusiasm. What will I ask the team? I think the team is already there and does not need to be created. Inter has its identity, the players know what they have to do; I don’t have to invent anything, but rather put the players into the best possible conditions in which to do their best. This team must enjoy this moment after all they have achieved, like a great team; all they have to do is return to what they were doing in their successful times. Do I believe in a title chance? Of course, I totally believe in it; there is quite a gap to the top, but it won’t take much to get into the group of frontrunners.”

“Being honest, I have always tried to be an independent person, with my own identity. It is true that I have many things in common with Milan, and I will always be grateful to the Rossoneri club, where I was a player, a club official, and then a coach. But Milan brought me here, Capello brought me here, and I see many things I can relate to at Inter too, because, as I said, I have always tried to be independent. I have my truths; I have no regrets, because I have always told people what I wanted to say to them, and in the way I wanted to say it. This challenge was too great to resist, and unexpected, and I just couldn’t refuse.”

In recent reports from Spain and Italy, ex-coach Jose Mourinho has given Leonardo his blessing to be the new Inter coach. Leonardo also confirmed that he contacted Jose Mourinho after he signed on as coach.

"Jose Mourinho has been great to me. I called him because I don't think you could come to Inter without going through him. José is everywhere and it doesn't surprise me, for that's the way it should be. We exchanged ideas on lots of things and I now share his opinions on lots of things because he's an intelligent person, because he knows everything about this place, because he's still here in spirit - he left everything here. I'm very happy about what he told me. I rate Mourinho as a true world-beater. Behind his brilliant press conferences, his jokes and his remarks, there's an immense amount of work. An absolutely immense amount of work. He dedicates his life to football and his work is still here, at Inter."

"At the moment AC Milan are one of the favourites for the title, but that doesn't mean they will necessarily win it. We have two games in hand and we have to create the right atmosphere because on those two occasions we're the only ones playing. We must focus on ourselves, on what we have to do and on what we want to do. Of course we have lots of ground to make up, but there's still a long way to go and it's important we get off to a good start. I've noticed that all the players here, and not only the players, are hugely motivated. I've tried to get to know people, to experience daily life at the club, the atmosphere. I've had a good look around this training facility, because it's here that results on the pitch are born. I want to thank everyone for the way I've been welcomed. Everything's been very positive."