By Steve Amoia
Contributing Writer

During the Christmas break in the Italian Serie A, here are a few notable quotes from Leonardo, Massimo Moratti, Clarence Seedorf and Mario Balotelli. We will have more quotes next week when the Serie A resumes on 6 January 2011 for Week/Giornata 18.

New Inter manager, Leonardo Nascimento de Araujo, was quoted in La Gazzetta dello Sport:


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COMO, ITALY - DECEMBER 29: (L-R) Marco Branca, Leonardo, Massimo Moratti attend a press conference during the unveiling of Fc Internazionale Milano new coach at Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti on December 29, 2010 in Appiano Gentile near Como, Italy.

"Quando ho finito l’anno col Milan non ero sicuro di voler continuare in panchina. Ma ora è arrivata la chiamata dell’Inter e ho trovato qualcosa che mi facesse alzare dal letto con entusiasmo... Non cercavo un lavoro, cercavo un sogno... Il campionato è lungo, ci credo: ci sono 13 punti, ma due partite in meno. Bisogna gestire bene psicologicamente la differenza attuale e quella reale. Sarà importante il periodo iniziale per reinserirsi nel gruppo di testa".

"When I finished the year with Milan, I wasn't sure of wanting to continue as a manager. But now the call from Inter arrived, and I found something that makes me get up in the morning with enthusiasm...

**** Quote of the Week ***

I wasn't looking for a job. I was looking for a dream...

The season is long, I believe it. We have to make up 13 points, but have played two fewer games (than the rest.) You have to manage well psychologically the actual difference with the real one. The initial period will be important to get the group's mental aspect sorted."

Leonardo's boss, Massimo Moratti, had a parting shot, if only in a joking fashion, at Rafael Benitez, in La Gazzetta dello Sport:


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New Inter Milan Brazilian coach Leonardo, right, talks to team President Massimo Moratti during a training session at the Inter Milan training center "La Pinetina" in Appiano Gentile, near Como, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. Leonardo replaces Rafa Benitez.

Dopo Ranocchia, arriveranno altri colpi? Moratti scherza: "Adesso che è andato via Benitez ne compriamo cinque".

After Ranocchia, will other players arrive? Moratti joked:

"Now that Benitez has gone away, we'll buy five players." (A tongue-in-cheek reference to the ultimatum of Benitez for four new players during the January transfer window.)

Clarence Seedorf of AC Milan had words of praise about his soon-to-be teammate, Antonio Cassano, in La Gazzetta dello Sport:


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AC Milan's from left to right:- Clarence Seedorf, Luca Antonini, and coach Massimiliano Allegri, listen on as Mohammed Mattar and Ahmed Khalifa speak during a press conference on December 29, 2010, in Dubai, to announce the Emirates Challenge Cup match against Al-Ahli club on January 2.

"Cassano è come ho sempre pensato che sia, una persona per bene. E’ non è affatto pigro, anzi ha lavorato sodo come abbiamo fatto tutti in questi primi giorni di allenamento a Dubai. Ha già dimostrato grande voglia di lavorare, se questo standard sarà per lui la norma diventerà un giocatore importante per il Milan".

"Cassano is like I always thought he would be. A good person. He is surely not lazy. He's worked hard like the rest of us in these first few days of training in Dubai. He has shown a great desire to work. If this standard will be the norm, he will become an important player for Milan."


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GENOA, ITALY - NOVEMBER 27: Daniele Gastaldello of UC Sampdoria shields the ball from Clarence Seedorf of AC Milan during the Serie A match between UC Sampdoria and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on November 27, 2010 in Genoa, Italy.

Mario Balotelli of Manchester City and the Azzurri on why he doesn't smile much or celebrate goals in La Gazzetta dello Sport:


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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Mario Balotelli of Manchester City shows three fingers as he celebrates after scoring his third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the City of Manchester Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Manchester, England.

“Io sono sempre felice anche se non sorrido. Un attaccante deve segnare, questo è il mio compito e questo è il motivo per il quale io non sorrido”.

"I'm always happy even if I don't smile. A striker has to score. This is my job and this is the reason that I don't smile."

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of World Football Commentaries. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.

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