GUESS THE PLAYER - Massimo Paganin: "We beat Borussia Dortmund 25 years ago, I'll tell you how"

MILAN - 25 years ago. It almost seems unbelievable considering how strong the memories live on. Memories that have survived the test of time. On Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund will be the visitors to San Siro and we last met there on 17 March 1994. It was a UEFA Cup quarter-final played over two legs in Dortmund and Milan, and remembering these matches very much brings up Nerazzurri nostalgia for the 1990s. 

Massimo Paganin had recently become an Inter player. He was 23 and his brother, Antonio, had been at the club since 1990. “It’s impossible to forget the European run from that year,” he said. It was the 1993-94 season with Inter struggling in the league but flying in Europe on their way to winning the UEFA Cup. Dortmund were one of the hurdles that season and the German side have been a lucky omen for Inter, who have won two European trophies on the two occasions they've come up against BVB over two legs.  

“We were having difficulties in Serie A but the cups were a totally different story that year,” Paganin explained. “We went to Dortmund and found ourselves in front of the famous yellow wall. Like now, the Borussia fans back then brought something extra to the team. We were without Dennis Bergkamp in the away leg but the Germans also had some issues with their team. They had a top-class side then with many of the players who would win the Champions League in 1997. In Germany, I started alongside my brother Antonio. I had to patrol the left flank, where Reuter made me sweat all game. We won 3-1 thanks to two Jonk goals, the first of which came from my assist. Wim was an important player, he was physical and could read the game, he knew how to make runs and shoot. At 2-0 up, we conceded before Igor Shalimov made it 3-1 on the break in the 89th minute.” 

Giampiero Marini was in charge of the team that season after joining following the start of the season. “He was a former teammate of Zenga, Ferri and Bergomi in that team, he put faith in the old guard to get out of a difficult situation. In the second leg, we went down 2-0 at San Siro in a difficult match that was full of chances at both ends. I remember Dennis Bergkamp hit the post and the relief following the Manicone goal which sent us to the semi-final. Again on that occasion, the German fans turned up to support the team with great passion and it was a classic match.” 

The European journey that season ended with glory following the two-legged final against Salzburg. 0-1 at the Prater in Vienna and 1-0 at San Siro, Berti and Jonk with the goals. “I was playing with great players, they set an example and they are real legends in Inter's history. Then, I had the good fortune to be able to lift the trophy with my brother Antonio. We’re the only Italian brothers in football history to have won the same European trophy. It was a unique privilege, how many chances do you get in life to play for Inter with your own brother and win such a prestigious trophy?” 

1 March 1994 - QUARTER-FINAL, FIRST LEG, UEFA CUP 1993/1994BORUSSIA DORTMUND 1-3 INTER Borussia Dortmund: Klos, Schulz, Sammer, Reuter, Kutowski, Poschner (77' Ricken), Rodriguez, Freund, Zorc (46' Povlsen), Chapuisat, Riedle.Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld

Inter: Zenga, A. Paganin, Bergomi, Ferri, M. Paganin, Orlando, Jong, Manicone, Shalimov, Fontolan (70' Dell'Anno), Sosa.Coach: Giampiero Marini

Goals: 33' and 36' Jonk (I), 83' Schulz (B), 90' Shalimov (I)

17 March 1994 - QUARTER-FINAL, SECOND LEG, UEFA CUP 1993/1994INTER 1-2 BORUSSIA DORTMUND Inter: Zenga, Battistini, Ferri, Bergomi, M. Paganin, Orlando, Manicone, Shalimov (66' Berti), Fontolan, Bergkamp, Sosa ('82' Schillaci).Coach: Giampiero Marini

Borussia Dortmund: Klos, Zelic, Schulz, Schmidt, Sammer, Reuter, Reinhardt, Zorc, Ricken (55' Poschner), Povlsen (73' Sippel), Chapuisat.Coach: Ottmar Hitzfeld

Goals: 38' Zorc (B), 47' Ricken (B), 81' Manicone (I)