Mazzarri: “The club is united and there’s a great desire to do well”

Tomorrow, Inter will host Sampdoria and there will be a festive atmosphere at the stadium as the new president Erick Thohir will watch Inter for the first time at the Giuseppe Meazza. Furthermore, a significant number of former Inter players invited by the president will be in the stands. All this won’t distract the team, about this and much more Walter Mazzarri talked when he held a press conference today ahead of tomorrow’s match.

How do you as coach prepare for a game of this type, which is the first for Thohir and where many former players will be present in the stadium?

“Football is entertainment, it pleases me, because it will create a nice synergy and enthusiasm in the stadium. Nevertheless, I and the players can’t be distracted by this party, this positive initiative. Also because when you reflect on our journey so far we have always done a good or a less good job in terms of performance, but then, because of carelessness, naivety or lack of attention during the 95 minutes we have lost some points along the way and it would be wrong to ignore these things. Whenever I talk about development from one game to another I must do it honestly. Compared to the match against Bologna, we need to remove some of the negative things that were made to not throw away any more points. Sampdoria among other things have several important players like Gabbiadini, Palombo, Eder, Obiang. Last sunday against Lazio they deserved the win, we must not be distracted by what is being said.”

It seems as if 2-3 new additions is all that is needed in order to fight for the Champions League. Is that true?

“I’m not talking about the transfer market. We are in the 13th round, we have four important games left to play before the transfer market opens, including the derby and the away match against Napoli. These games will say a lot about what is what will be be our road. These games must be played with the current squad.”

Will Zanetti play from start? And then, is Rolando better than Ranocchia in the central defense right now?

“It is possible that Zanetti will play, but maybe he doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs because he hasn’t played much. If he plays from the start, I’ll have to take this into account as well as the rhythm of tomorrow’s match. I have not yet decided, but it is a possibility. Regarding Ranocchia and Rolando, I would say I have my doubts as Andrea played well to the right in the two matches before Bologna. I have 4-5 starting players and to keep them on the rope I need to know that the choices I make gives continuity if the team makes a good effort. It is a decision that I make before the game, after today’s training. I can also make other choices than those that have appeared so far.”

Is the match against Sampdoria an important meeting you face personally?

“I have a great relationship with everyone at Sampdoria. Unfortunately Riccardo Garrone is no longer there, a true gentleman. Now his son is there and I have a great relationship with him, the medical staff and everybody. Those were great years for my professional training but also in terms of everything we achieved when it comes to the results. Now I want to try to win with Inter, but I did not say ‘I will beat you’ as it seemed during the week. I want to emphasize that I have not said what seemed to be a concept in the title of the newspaper that interviewed me this week.”

Sampdoria will play with four offensive players. Any risks that could arise?

“There will be an attitude to make a difference, so you can play with all strikers but allowing counter-attacks. It doesn’t mean that the game will be even. We ‘ll see. I think the team’s morale has been revived by a great coach like Mihajlovic and what happens on the pitch will be evaluated.”

How important is it to see Thohir as Interista already ?

“I feel that the club is united, you feel that there is a desire to do well together. There is also considerable unity with Moratti, but the new president seems to want to continue on the path we have taken so far.”

Are you concerned about the situation in the attack with a tired Palacio, an alternating Belfodil and Milito and Icardi still injured?

“What interests me is that the team produces scoring opportunities. We have the best offense in Italy, who scores isn’t interesting. Rather, it’s better with more goalscorers because it reinforces the idea of ​​the collective. Rodrigo had some chances on Sunday, I talked to him and he has carried out the typical week in a great way. Tomorrow he will be on the pitch.”

You were thinking about taking a break, but then Moratti’s words made you change your mind. Does Thohir provide the same enthusiasm?

“Beyond the changes I have tried to keep the football isolated from the team. When you sign on for a club you do think of this. Indeed, there are more reasons, because if the new owners do something to stimulate insiders it may increase the desire to do well.”

The players who have difficulty getting space, like Belfodil, can they leave to get more playing time?

“According to me, you need a fair number of players based on which kind of season you have in front of you. A season with many commitments requires many players unlike a season like ours. I agree that more or less important player may leave to get more playing time. If we maintain a number of players in line with the commitments we have no one will feel unappreciated and that is good for everyone. Such considerations are important because a team like Inter has a variety of fine young players and the right thing is to understand, evaluate over time and possibly send them to play and then get them back in order to compete at a certain level.”

With Taïder and Zanetti, can you see any other player in the midfield instead of Cambiasso?

“At the same time, you must provide organization, movements, and if the team responds, change less which is better. When the team feels comfortable with the style of playing you look at the physical conditions as well. Nobody has the shirt attached to himself and his position secure. I look at the team as the individual is improved if the team is good. We follow this principle, I live solely on the team’s performances.”

What is required to score one goal more than the others?

“I spend a lot of time on the attacking phase. Few coaches play as we do in the attacking phase, for me it starts already with Handanovic. Then you must also press and get the ball back in order to play. It is normal to have possession, against Bologna we threw away two points but in terms of how the team played, especially in the second half, I can’t blame them. My colleagues and I have given advice to the players, then we are also working with the mental side to try and miss as little as possible in front of goal. But just to get in front of the keeper as we do is meaningful.”

The distance to the first three teams was very big before. Now, Napoli and Roma have halted, is the distance not as big as it seemed, according to you?

“I understand what you mean. I think we will partly be able to make an assessment at the end of the season’s first half. Now we have four games, then the break, and then the match against Lazio. These five games will say a lot. Then the transfer market begins and I prefer to answer this question later on in the light of what was said earlier in the question, because a lot can change in four, five games. I’ll wait to make my mini review for later.”

Our partner fcinternews.it asks Mazzarri what hethinks about the changes in Inter, Milan and Roma at the executive level?

“The Italian changes are resulting from the economic crisis that has affected the football. There was a need for new investors since these teams have done a lot and now they have considered other ways.”

Mazzarri got another question from fcinternews.it whether a spot in the starting eleven for Zanetti should be seen as if Pereira has been discarded?

“Nobody is ever discarded, ever. There are eleven players on the pitch. The same goes for Kovacic. If he plays someone else can’t play. I have to manage the team and they understand that I evaluate many things, from the form to the opponent. I evaluate the training and I’m trying to understand what the team needs.”

You have organized the defense. What can be improved with the existing players?

“You can’t break down football into attack and defense. What is important is that the team has the right balance and play a spectacular football that gives as many points as possible. Then you can play attacking football, but with the knowledge that you can lose the ball and then have to be good to win it back.”

How has Icardi been looking this week? And what about the tattoo?

“He hasn’t trained with the group because of the surgery. The kid must, other than I and the rest of the locker room, realize that to become a champion with the quality he has, he should learn from Milito and Zanetti. Talk to them to become a great player given that he has talent.”

How is Campagnaro? Does he have 90 minutes in his legs?

“If he is useful to the team, he will play. Before Hugo got injured, he proved to be important. He isn’t 100%, but if he ‘s okay as he proved in the week, I think he will play tomorrow. But I still want to get more out of him.”

What about Nagatomo? When is he coming back?

“If not against Parma, I think he will be back against Napoli. The timeframe should be such, even as he has a physical structure that allows him to recover quickly. But you must always be careful, especially considering the weather.”

Towards the medium sized teams, Inter have dropped points away from home. Is it a coincidence?

“If we look at the general statistics of Italy, playing at home is an important factor. It is an added incentive for the team playing at home. It is we who have to raise our quality because we are Inter and we must have the same personality, rudeness and sporting smartness to bring home the three points. Usually, teams always lose more points away from home than when they play at home.”

Is it risky to give extended vacation to South Americans?

“In life there are always risks, but when you are leading a group that I did in Napoli and now at Inter, you must realize that it takes two days for the South Americans to get there and back. The group agrees, no one has ever created problems, but they all know when to leave, when they’ll be back and when to train. This applies to both Europeans and South Americans, and it was decided at the beginning of the season.”

Source: fcinternews.it