Pandev: "A dream to play for Inter"

APPIANO GENTILE - The day after his Inter debut against Chievo, Goran Pandev was unveiled to the press at the training ground. "It's a great emotion to wear the Inter shirt again," said the Macedonian striker. "I have to thank the boss for giving me the chance to play immediately. It was a dream to play with the Inter shirt after five months without playing."

Pandev was accompanied into the press room by José Mourinho and Gabriele Oriali, who reassured the press about the condition of Cristian Chivu before expressing his satisfaction at seeing Goran back at Inter. "I welcome Goran back," said Oriali. "I'm very pleased to see him back here because we let him go too soon. I'm also very pleased because there were many other clubs, including some foreign ones, that were interested in him."

Goran Pandev pulled on his new number 27 shirt yesterday after a long absence from the playing field. "This period was very hard for me but I continued to train well because I was upset to be without football," explained Inter's latest signing. "I spent five beautiful years at Lazio though, and I improved as a man and a player. I thank that team but I am here now, and ready like everyone else. I am among many champions, so it won't be easy to play every time."

Pandev, who signed a contract until 2014 on Monday, said he still needs time to reach peak fitness. "I'm at 70 or 80% of my physical condition, but I will always give my contribution. It was easy for me during Chievo-Inter because my team-mates explained many things to me. I didn't think I'd manage to stay on the pitch so long, but I gave my all. I have to thank my companions. They are champions and it's easy to play with them."

José Mourinho closed Pandev's presentation press conference with his own personal opinion of the new Inter striker: "All of his coaches have made a great contribution to Goran's professional development. He is a player of great quality and experience. What he said was true: it's easier when you join a team of champions, but he played for the team yesterday, not for himself, and this is why I decided to leave him on the pitch for so long. He's not in top condition, but this doesn't bother me. What counts is that he gives his all."