“We’ll take to the pitch determined to make people think again after the criticism that’s been mounting up in recent weeks. To some extent we did that on Thursday, but tomorrow(read today) is another game altogether. We’re totally up for it and we can’t wait for kick-off so that we can channel everything we’ve got onto the pitch.” That’s how Andrea Stramaccioni opened his press conference the day before the derby.
The coach then stressed the significance of Inter’s midweek Europa League fixture against Cluj:
“It was important for us to play on Thursday because defeats like the one in Florence are tough to take and it helps if you can get straight back out on the pitch. We got everything wrong against Fiorentina so it was important for us to get the defeat out of our system quickly.”
As for tomorrow’s(read today) game, Stramaccioni believes it “definitely won’t be decisive, whether it’s a good or a bad result, even though winning or losing a derby can affect you psychologically. Whatever happens there are still plenty of games left to play and we’ve seen this season that you can’t underestimate anyone in Serie A.”
“The Inter fans don’t need a lecture, and certainly not from me,” is how AndreaStramaccioni replied when asked by reporters about how the Nerazzurri faithful might behave tomorrow(read today).
How will they react to seeing Mario Balotelli on the pitch? “People have been talking about this for two weeks now and what needed to be said has already been said. Interisti don’t need me to tell them anything,” he repeated.
“What I do know is that our supporters have a key role to play for us. They have been magnificent this season, just looking at the numbers too – since we have the highest number of season ticket holders in Italy. The fans have always got behind us, they’ve never abandoned us and that drives us on. I’m sure they’ll do that again tomorrow(read today) from the first minute to the last. The players are also convinced that the crowd will be our 12th man and give us a hand.
There have been times this week when it’s seemed like we’re involved in a relegation scrap while Milan are fighting for the Champions League… Sometimes people build up a negative atmosphere around the team but together with our fans we can fight it.”
“They’ve just beaten the best team in the world and we’re coming off a period in which we’ve been inconsistent, so they could be considered favourites. But I could also say that last season we looked like lambs to the slaughter and then we gave them a hard time.” AndreaStramaccioni gave short shrift to claims made by reporters that AC Milan are the favourites heading into the derby.
The Nerazzurri coach was then asked about the fact that Inter are yet to settle on a stable formation: “I think there’s an element of truth in all criticism. This season every time we’ve found ourselves getting used to a certain playing system, something has happened to disrupt it. When a club starts from scratch at the beginning of the season, you obviously begin with a way of playing that you hope will bring results. But when you lose key players, you’re forced to rethink a lot of things from a tactical point of view.”
The reporters in the press room then tried to tease some information out of Stramaccioni regarding tomorrow’s(read today) line-up, quizzing the coach for example about the use of Antonio Cassano in Florence and Cluj.
“When you coach a team like Inter, you have to follow the ideas that will get you the best results possible. And I think a coach who is looking at how to win a derby has to considers all his options, even possibly leaving out an important player. I want to put out the best team possible to win the derby.”
The coach then spoke about the team’s defensive crisis.
“I don’t even know if I’ll have three first-team centre-backs in total including on the bench… Ranocchia’s and Chivu’s fitness will clearly determine the line-up, because I have to find alternative solutions since we want to win.
If Andrea was fit then I’d try not to risk Cristian – an important player coming back from injury. If Ranocchia isn’t available, our options are rather limited. Then you either reshuffle the whole team or you ask Cristian to play through gritted teeth. We’ve got a defensive emergency. How did Ranocchia look? Horizontal when I saw him… [joking]. More horizontal than vertical at the moment. He’ll only play if there’s no risk and at the moment it’s more likely to be no than yes.
Regardless of how important this game is, the season doesn’t end tomorrow. In any case, both to keep the group together and because of our injury doubts, I’ll only announce the squad list after the team train again tomorrow(read today) morning.”
“We’re going to go for it tomorrow(read today). We know Milan have some great players but we won’t be afraid when we step out there.” Andrea Stramaccioni rallied his troops as he spoke in this afternoon’s press conference ahead of Inter’s Serie A Week 26 clash with the Rossoneri.
The Nerazzurri coach then offered his thoughts on whether the Europa League might have an effect on events in the league, and why the derby isn’t being played on Monday like the games involving Napoli and Lazio. “I think the Europa League needs to be given its due respect. If we want Italian teams to do well and keep Italy’s UEFA ranking high, the competition needs to be taken into consideration when the fixture list is drawn up. You can’ t deny that [playing in the Europa League] affects you but I’ve never been one to look for excuses. Another 24 hours would have helped us go into tomorrow’s(read today) game in better shape, for sure, but I’m speaking from an Italian perspective in general here. If Italy wants to keep doing well in the Europa League, we have to make sure we give it the right consideration.”
Stramaccioni was then asked how he sees the perfect derby. “One that we win!” he smiled. “Getting your approach right is crucial, and our fans will help us to do that. All the games that we’ve started on the right foot we’ve then taken charge of and seen through to the final whistle. AC Milan are in a good spell at the moment, in football terms they go into the game as favourites, but as the Inter coach that’s of no great interest to me.”
What about Stramaccioni’s two previous derbies since taking over at the helm of the first team?
“There was an amazing atmosphere at the first derby. I remember seeing this huge human wall rising in front of me, the choreography. That’s when you see even the most experienced players feeling the emotion of the occasion – that’s the beauty of this sport. Any particular anecdotes to tell? Well, there’s one about Maicon and his goal – the one that sealed the win for us in a hugely important derby, an incredible goal. When hugged each other after he scored and we said something that will remain between us – an unforgettable moment. Then there was our win earlier this season, when we played with 10 against 11, holding out against a Milan side on the attack. Wonderful memories. But that’s all in the past, we’re only thinking about tomorrow now.”
That was the cue for another question about Balotelli, with Stramaccioni simply stating that “he’s a player who used to play for Inter, an excellent player, a talented player, but tomorrow there will be lots of excellent players who have made footballing history. Tomorrow will be a derby between two teams riding high in Serie A.”
On the decision to substitute Ricky Alvarez after an impressive 54 minutes against Cluj:
“It was about managing him carefully. With Milito out injured, Alvarez has become a fundamental player for us and when I saw that the game had taken a certain direction, I spared him a few minutes in consideration of the derby and the overall management of his fitness.”
“I always try – and I say this regardless of the moment – to treat each game as if it were the last. It’s my way of making myself give everything I can. Criticism? It’s right that I should be criticised when things aren’t going well. But the president has great faith in me and I hope to repay him for it. My players and my president give me strength.” That’s how Andrea Stramaccioniresponded when asked – during his press conference on the eve of Inter v AC Milan – about some of the criticism he has received recently.
Does he feel he has the club’s backing?
“I don’t think the president could have said or done anything more in the difficult moments. Milan backed Allegri when they were going through their crisis period and were much lower down the table, but hearing my president talk like that and seeing my players giving me their all is the best sign I could ask for. It tells me that I just have to keep on working. I know what I want to do and what I should expect. And the only person who decides is Moratti.”
Moving back to the topic of his team selection for tomorrow, the coach admitted that “having experienced players in the team is important. And I can say quite confidently that we have more decisive players than they do.”
Finally, Stramaccioni had this to say when reminded about his celebrations after the derby earlier in the season, which led to him being criticised for going over the top: “Ok, let’s put it this way, if we win tomorrow(read today) I’ll go a bit easier on the celebrations…”
Source: inter.it
