Inter Milan midfielder Mkhitaryan was interviewed and talked about his career, Klopp, Mourinho, his experience in Roma and Inter Milan, head coach Inzaghi Jr. and other topics.
The title of your autobiography is "Always in the Center". Does this have any special meaning?
This means a lot because I always try and give everything I have to be a football player and play the sport that I love so much.
Tell us about Klopp, your head coach during your time at Dortmund?
Every time you wanted to talk to him, he was always available. Whether you wanted to talk about football or life issues, he was there. I faced some difficulties in my life in Dortmund and he helped me a lot. We respect his choice not to coach anymore, but it is a pity to lose such a person in the football world because he has given so much.
Later Tuchel came to Dortmund. What was the situation like at that time?
I wanted to leave during that time because I felt bad both physically and mentally. Then he wanted to talk to me and he said to me: "Listen, I want you to play here and you will score 15 goals and give 15 assists." I had lost confidence, but we started off strong and things were going really well.
About your subsequent decision to move to Manchester United?
I received a call from Mourinho that Manchester United wanted me. I think this opportunity only comes once in a lifetime. I agreed and went.
How do you evaluate Mourinho?
Despite some difficulties at the beginning of the season, he made me grow into a better person, a real man. I am a person who never gives up and will never give up. He would make things difficult for me because he wanted to see if I could come out of it. I'm grateful to him because he made me understand what the world of football really means. He plays some mind games to see if you are mentally strong enough to handle the toughest games. It's the way he coaches and it's how he determines whether he can trust you.
Later you went to Rome. How was that experience?
Everything started in mid-August 2019. Raiola called me and said: "We have to leave because you are unhappy. Milan or Roma?" I said I wanted to play football and Milan were focusing on signing Tyson from Shakhtar Donetsk, so I told him: "Well, in this case it is better to go to Roma." The reception from the fans was crazy. I experienced that moment too and I'm so grateful for it. The atmosphere there was so intense and the people were crazy. I rediscovered the joy and fun of playing football. From day one, everything went very smoothly.
How did the transfer to Inter Milan happen?
It all started after my second year at Roma, when I got a call from Ausilio and he told me that Inter Milan wanted me. After that phone call, we had no further contact. Then in the third season at Roma, we talked about renewing the contract. Thiago Pinto knows that I love this city and that I want to finish my career there.
After our game against Inter Milan, Ausilio called me again. We were still competing in various competitions and were about to play in the European Cup final, but I agreed to him because Roma's attitude towards me was not very clear. Roma asked me to talk to Mourinho and tell him what I wanted. But it was too late, I had already made a commitment to Inter.
How to evaluate Inzaghi Jr.? Did the rumors of his departure cause disruption to the team?
I spent three wonderful seasons with him, and he gave me a "second spring." For this Inter Milan, he is a crucial and very important coach. Are rumors of his departure distracting us? People were talking about it more than the Champions League final at the time, which probably did cause some disruption for us. He didn't want to talk about anything and just wanted to focus on the final.
Now that the team is coached by Chivu, your playing time has been reduced?
I can't forget that I am almost 37 years old. I'm ready to help the team by playing one game every week instead of every game. I'm accepting what he does for the team because everything he does is for the good of the club. I saw a man with a great future.
Finally, talk about the two Champions League finals you lost?
In Istanbul (against Manchester City), we went as a team that was expected to lose 0-3 because they were so good. But we showed everyone that we could compete on equal footing with them. And in Monaco (against PSG), we were probably a little bit "burned out" because after four consecutive super competitions against Bayern and Barcelona, we thought we could beat PSG too.