Former Inter Milan player Pandev spoke about his relationship with Mourinho and Chivu: "Cristian (Chivu) is intelligent; he has grown step by step from the youth academy. Inter Milan is currently stronger than last year, and I think European competition should be a real objective for the team."

Pandev smiled during his interview in Genoa, with a mischievous expression on his face, as if he had already guessed what would happen at lunch today: "I can't wait to hear what Mourinho will say at the press conference. I hope he doesn't crack jokes, and hopefully he doesn't mention Cristian. I'm curious." At this point, he laughed, reminiscing about the beautiful past when he and Chivu were on the wings, and Mourinho sat on the bench, lifting the Champions League trophy at the Bernabéu Stadium.

Here is the content of his interview:

Reporter: What was said in the group chat of the team that won the championship?

Pandev: "For now, silence. For now..."

Reporter: Have you contacted Chivu?

Pandev: "No, I didn't want to bother him. But I'm really happy for him."

Reporter: What about Mourinho, do you still contact him?

Pandev: "Sometimes, although he has a new number now."

Reporter: 16 years later, talking about Inter Milan, Mourinho, and the Bernabéu Stadium, what's your take?

Pandev: "I lifted the trophy and celebrated until late... all because of the doping test. The test took a long time: the whole team was waiting for me on the plane, and the plane was still on the tarmac..."

Reporter: What is your deepest memory of the Champions League final?

Pandev: "Mourinho and Materazzi embracing, with tears in their eyes. Every time I see that scene, I think we were very fortunate at that moment."

Mourinho called me when I was dropped by Lazio. He put me on three days later, even though I hadn't played for six months.

Reporter: When was your first contact with Mourinho?

Pandev: "When I was dropped from Lazio's squad, he called me. He asked: 'Do you want to come and win with us?' Three days later, he put me on against Chievo. I hadn't played in six months. He has a kind of magic."

Reporter: Could he turn Mbappé into a fullback as well?

Pandev: "Of course, just like Eto'o. Samuel would go through fire and water for him."

Reporter: Do you remember the speech before the final?

Pandev: "Actually, Mourinho never spoke much. The meeting lasted only two or three minutes; he would tap our shoulders and then shout a few things in Portuguese, like 'Go, win this damn thing'."

Reporter: When did you realize you could win the Champions League?

Pandev: "Easiest to say after the match against Barcelona. I'd say it was after beating Chelsea in the Round of 16. As for the Camp Nou match, what can you say? After their player was sent off with an unjustified red card, we played with 10 men for 80 minutes, and Mourinho even walked toward Guardiola and Ibrahimovic, whispering something to them, and then there was the water bottle... that's magic."

Reporter: What was Chivu like as a player?

Pandev: "Someone who didn't even want to lose at card games. I didn't expect he would become a coach, but he's very intelligent. He started in the youth academy and gradually built a strong foundation."

Reporter: Why is Mourinho still 'the Special One'?

Pandev: "He says directly what he thinks, without hiding anything. He was like that with Chivu too."

Reporter: You scored three goals in two matches against Real Madrid: was that easy?

Pandev: "If only it were that easy! In 2007, I scored two goals for Lazio at the Olimpico in a 2-2 draw and even exchanged shirts with Van Nistelrooy; then I scored one more in the second leg at the Bernabéu. But that time I kept my shirt because I didn't think I would play there again..."

Reporter: What was the secret of that Inter Milan team?

Pandev: "I'd say unity. We got along and were all friends."

Reporter: Who will be the key player now?

Pandev: "Lautaro. If he's at his best, everyone will follow him."

Reporter: Can Inter Milan win the Champions League?

Pandev: "Compared to last year, they are stronger and must fight for it."

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