Henrikh Mkhitaryan recently shared insights into his career and time at Inter in an interview. The 36-year-old Armenian midfielder is known for his straightforward approach, stating, “I say what I think, without trying to please anyone – teammates, fans, whoever. When others speak, I listen. If I open my mouth, and I don`t do it often, it`s for the good of the team. The important thing is not to hide, to be clear and direct. That`s the only way we help each other.”
Discussing his collaboration with coach Cristian Chivu, Mkhitaryan commented, “Things are going well with Chivu; the philosophy and ideas are new. The sooner we understand what he asks of us, the better. We started right away with a real tournament, so we have little time. With a new coach, the important thing is to accept instructions, learn, and work. He`s serious and friendly; he supports us mentally and tactically. His imprint was visible from the first training session. The formation is the same, but the approach is different compared to Inzaghi.” He added that his farewell to Simone Inzaghi was private, avoiding social media posts. “He made a decision; we accepted it. That chapter is closed, and another one opens.”
Reflecting on the painful defeat in the Champions League final, Mkhitaryan admitted, “The Club World Cup can help us overcome the disappointment… but the scar remains. The pain doesn`t disappear; it was a bad defeat. We mustn`t forget the journey that took us there; we played great games, but there`s no going back. We must get up, learn, and move forward. There`s no need to think too much about what happened in Monaco. We must work to win in the coming days, weeks, and years.”
Mkhitaryan spoke about seeking support, mentioning he went to a psychologist while at Dortmund and Arsenal, but acknowledges everyone`s different sensitivity. “After Monaco, I discussed it with my mother and friends. There was little time to talk because we left immediately. My favorite word is positivity. Being happy to live your life, trying to do things well, having fun. I read a lot; I`m finishing Elon Musk`s autobiography in English. I`ve read Zidane`s in French, and I read in Italian too.”
He stood by his previous comment calling Inter “unplayable” at times. “Would I say the phrase about Inter being unplayable again? I didn`t say we are always unplayable, but that we were in some games because of the attitude we showed on the field. Of course, I`d say it again; I think it. If someone makes fun of me, I don`t care.”
Regarding his retirement, the midfielder stated, “Have I decided when to stop? I said this is the most physically demanding season of my life, with three competitions. And I don`t know how much I have left to play. I don`t rule anything out, but I know I still have the desire to get on the field. I have a one-year contract with Inter; if they don`t kick me out, I`ll stay. I don`t want to retire with the regret of having done it too early. I`ll retire after Inter. I don`t want to lower my level; I won`t go back to playing in Armenia. And destinations like Saudi Arabia don`t interest me. With all due respect, I love football for the game itself, not for the money. When I wake up, I want to train and prove my worth.”
On post-football life, he said, “Today, I say I`d like to leave football, but never say never. I`ll need time to reflect and rest with my family. Politics? I`m not thinking about it; I`m focused on today. If I want to enter politics, I`ll figure that out when I`ve stopped playing.”
Mkhitaryan also touched upon current events, mentioning his contact with Taremi amidst conflict in Iran. “We keep in touch; he`s doing well. I don`t bother him too much because many people are contacting him to know his situation. We were pleased that he wished us luck for the Club World Cup – a great gesture. It`s painful to think about what`s happening; we hope the conflict ends as soon as possible. I also stay in touch with my former Shakhtar teammates; some have moved or changed countries. War changes everything.”
He shared lighter moments, noting he didn`t bring a chessboard to the US but plays online against Stefan de Vrij and has seen Carlos Augusto play. He`s been watching many Club World Cup matches, finding them beautiful.
Offering advice to young players like Pio Esposito and Valentin Carboni, Mkhitaryan said, “They know how football works: you score today, but tomorrow you start from zero. You have to prove you`re ready for the coach and your teammates. We, the more experienced ones, try to show them how to improve. Then it`s up to you whether you want to grow or not.”
When asked what makes him laugh, he mentioned Armenian comedians. He smiles at jokes in other languages but finds nothing compares to comedy in his native tongue. He admits to getting emotional sometimes, especially when hearing people`s stories or watching touching films. Addressing a common comment, he stated, “They say I look like Pippo Franco, but it`s not true. I don`t understand; we`re completely different.” He also clarified that singer Al Bano only played at his wedding and they don`t socialize.
Finally, reflecting on his legacy, Mkhitaryan expressed what he hopes his two children will say about him as adults: “That I taught them to be good people, to remain human. And that I did it by example; that counts more than words.” If he could go back in time, he would return to his childhood to spend more time with his father, who died when he was seven. His father also played football, and Mkhitaryan likes to think “that from up there he watched me grow and is proud of me.”
