Mariga reveals pressure after Inter defeats in Milan
Former Kenya international McDonald Mariga has revealed that defeats during his spell at Inter Milan often forced him to stay indoors, as criticism from fans in the Italian city intensified after poor results.
Speaking on the “In Conversation Chaxy” podcast, the ex-midfielder said life outside football depended heavily on results during his time with the Serie A giants between 2010 and 2014. “There are times when you lose and you cannot even go out,” Mariga said. “When I was at Inter, I could not walk around Milan after a defeat, so I had to send friends to do shopping for me.”
The former Harambee Stars star added that winning games quickly changed the mood among supporters. “When you start winning, you can go out and fans will sing your name,” he explained. “But if you lose one match, people forget the ten games you won before.”
Mariga, who won the Serie A title, Champions League and Club World Cup with Inter, said the experience showed how quickly footballers can switch from heroes to targets of criticism.