Inter would consider invitation to play in Malta - senior club official

The gulf that exists between the rich clubs and the others may be growing. However, the European Club Forum (ECF) is helping to bridge the communication gaps in different strata of UEFA's pyramid as well as improving the relationship between the clubs and Europe's governing body of football.

Ernesto Paolillo, the administrative delegate and director general of Serie A leaders Inter, hailed the creation of the ECF as a key development by UEFA.

"It's very important to attend meetings of this forum," Paolillo told The Times in Nyon recently.

"The ECF gives us the opportunity to listen to each other, in the process increasing the awareness of the big clubs vis-a-vis the recurring problems encountered by their smaller counterparts. It's all about understanding and learning from each other because life is an on-going learning process.

"Football is not just about participating at the top level. Due attention must be given to the needs and difficulties of the others so that they can develop and grow as well."

Maltese football has already benefited from this renewed sense of solidarity when Serie A giants Milan, Inter's city rivals, accepted an invitation from Birkirkara FC to hold their winter training camp and play a friendly match in Malta in January.

Knowing that Sliema Wanderers have officially expressed an interest in hosting Inter for a friendly in the near future, I asked Paolillo if they were interested in following in the footsteps of Milan.

"At Inter, we are always looking for opportunities to raise our profile worldwide," Paolillo said.

"I honestly believe that it would be great for all our fans in Malta to watch Inter play a match in their country. The Inter Supporters' Club in Malta is one of the biggest in the world.

"I can safely say that Inter will seriously consider an invitation to have our team play a friendly in Malta if such visit fits into our calendar."

With Inter only a few points away from wrapping up the Serie A title, it was inevitable that the focus of my conversation with Paolillo should turn to the team's overall performance this season.

"We're happy with the team in the league," Paolillo said. "The squad is very strong and in Roberto Mancini, we certainly have a very good coach.

Impressive feats

"It's been a most positive season not just because we're top of the league but moreso because of the impressive amount of points we have collected so far and the new records we have set.

"These aspects are very important because from the first day of the league, we've been driven on by a desire to show that Inter are the strongest team in Italy."

Inter may be the undisputed favourites to collect the top prize in Serie A but they have faltered in Europe.

Boasting one of the most expensively-assembled squads in football, Inter were tipped to go all the way in the Champions League but they came up short in that infamous Last 16 tie against Valencia.

Having been held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg at San Siro, Inter still fancied their chances of finishing the job at the Mestalla but Valencia put down the shutters to grind out a goalless draw and progress to the quarter-finals.Their feat, however, was tarnished by the mass brawl at the end of the game that resulted in a spate of hefty bans for several players from both sides.

Paolillo said: "The Champions League was a disappointment for us. Given the strength in our squad, I think we should have done better. Everyone expected us to reach the final of the competition but this failed to happen.

"We can have no qualms about our Champions League elimination because our team were unable to break down a Valencia side who proved to be strong opponents."