The national break is now behind us and for Inter it’s time to focus on Torino. Inter need to get back on track after the loss against Roma, but several players are missing and some are doubtful. About this and much more Walter Mazzarri talked during today’s press conference.
How are the players who have returned from their national teams?
“If there is any plane that is delayed, it is not anyone’s fault, I don’t see why I should fine the players. I want to clear all the conclusions in this regard. The physical form is a good question, yesterday, they were tired. The conditions are well, they came back without injuries. Today I evaluated them when I saw them on the pitch and then I will decide which formation that gives us the biggest guarantee for the game.”
Against Roma you were handed your first loss. How do you expect that the team will respond?
“Yes, that’s true. However, we have evaluated the performance and it wasn’t that negative and we had to pay for the mistakes. This team still needs to develop, but overall we are doing a good job and also against Roma we did good job when it comes to having a common purpose and a willingness to perform what we prepared. Clearly tomorrow’s match will be difficult, in a special arena against a great team. They have a coach that gives organization to their game. It is an important test, a further check but I’m sure we can do well.”
Could the injury to Alvarez mean that you play with Kovacic?
“The possibility exists. I’m sorry for Ricky’s sake, he has done well lately and needed continuity.”
What are your thoughts on social networking?
“I’m an old-fashioned coach, although it’s not that important. It does not affect the football that much, that can be done in a different way. Players should publish certain things as little as possible, it has nothing to do with social networks. If the world is like that now it must be accepted.”
Have you talked with Moratti during this week?
“He made this decision for the club’s best and that’s enough for us. The motivation, I always find. I have to always give my best. This way of thinking I must also impress on the players, but the performance and unity of purpose has never been lacking in spite of everything that happens around us.”
Inter conceded two goals on the counter-attack against Roma. Is there a structural problem?
“No, because there were different mechanisms this summer. I had just arrived and there were still concepts left over from the past. But now many games have been played and the team is getting a little less unbalanced and more organized. It is no wonder that you suffer against Roma given their quality. But we brought the game to them and allowed few counter-attacks. Obviously you shouldn’t fall into a desire to exaggerate, to win at any cost without looking at the defensive phase.”
Could you try Guarin behind a lone striker?
“I tried it in the U.S.. His physique and qualities can create problems for you. I don’t exclude anything. I make the decisions even by looking at the opponent. Now he makes good progress in the role that I’ve used him and he needs to be more natural in that position. therefore it is best to avoid giving me too many ideas.”
Has it happened that you thought about getting the call after the game from Thohir? How do you imagine it, even thoug Moratti stays?
“I also speak English because I paid my dues, was an observer , and I’ve always been able to make myself understood. Obviously I will not speak fluently, but many of my colleagues are not better than me at making themselves understood. I think I had the career I’ve had because I know how to move in a club, what role I have and how I must not interfere. I never call the owner, the owner is calling his coach and I’m available to them 24 hours a day. This, and to give explanations to the players. During my 12-13 year career, I think I have done my work in the best way and everything else is just empty talk. If Thohir calls me I will answer, other than that it’s no problem. For that reason Ausilio and Branca were with us yesterday, even though we know everything. Moratti has always come to visit us. Not much has changed, he has a hand in everything. It is their strategy to be there when the time comes, and we will discuss it in peace.”
You’ve tried a lot in defense, what are the ultimate decisions based upon?
“They depend on everything. From the date to the form they are in. It is always done, I always do it regardless of the defeat to Roma. When we played a draw against Juventus, the national team players were tired in the last minutes and that is a fact. I do everything based on the training sessions, the physical form. Today I have a final test, I will make an assessment with Pondrelli and I’ll talk to the players. I have a few uncertainties in defense, midfield, and the seconda Punta. The only one who is certain of playing is Palacio.”
Will Samuel play?
“I’ve already answered that, do I have to repeat myself.”
How do you stop Cerci? Is he comparable to Gervinho?
“These players are important because they can create problems for you. There are certain things that we have considered. We know Cerci well, Torino also as they play well and have quality. They also have Immobile, Barreto. It is a fine team, we must be careful.”
What mistakes must you avoid?
“There are those I mentioned earlier. So far we have conceded goals on the counter-attack by the others when we played our own game pretty good. I wish we had been more cynical in the last stage, more precise. Given the way we play, we have created very little and only scored one goal in two games. Now they know what Inter can play, they know that we attack a lot and we must not let ourselves be surprised by the counter-attack.”
Is it a false impression that two strikers are too many, and one plus one is too little?
“You know my principles on football. But look around you, even the best teams with many pure striker are playing teams. It is a kind of football that does not provide reference points, that wants to retrieve the ball with a lot of players. We must do many things, develop ourselves and develop our young players. I don’t understand why Inter would not be able to do it. Until the match against Roma, we had the best offense in the league and one of the best defenses. Playing with few pure strikers and have many players who score goals. Maggio, for example, scored 9 goals in Sampdoria and in Napoli always 4-5. The important thing is that there’s a style of play, attack the goal with force and not to allow ourselves to be surprised in the defensive.”
Did you watch Roma – Napoli last night? What feelings do you get from this Roma?
“It is a very solid team. It is a beautiful reality, they have a very good coach, followed by experienced players like Benatia, De Sanctis, Maicon. De Rossi is reborn. They can go all the way. I didn’t see the game, I watched a recording of Uruguay- Argentina to see how it went for Palacio and Campagnaro.”
Is D’Ambrosio under observation?
“No, tomorrow he will be observed from the tactical point of view. We hope to limit him tactically. Then I’ll add that if Milito had not been injured, he would have played. Football is give and take, and soon it has to turn around. The key is that the team is playing well. Nor Icardi is doing well, he can play a maximum of 20-30 minutes. He has not been able to train fully and I can not play him from the start because then I know he will need to be substituted. However he could enter during the match, with the independence he has, he can give a lot. Belfodil has different characteristics. After some consideration, we can play in different ways.”
Have you been annoyed at Sabella’s attitude towards Inter’s Argentine internationals?
“Don’t let me start a discussion about this.”
How is Zanetti doing?
“From what I have seen he is doing very well. By looking at how he moves you can’t see that he has been injured. He has been practicing with the team and wants to do well and play. Along the way we will see how his form is. From the medical staff it is said that everything goes better.”
Our partner fcinternews.it asked the coach how Jonathan is doing, and if it is a toss-up whether Pereira or Nagatomo plays.
“On Jonathan, I can say that he is back. About the choices, I can’t say anything. Jonathan is doing well, he is fresh and has been training well and is playing from the start.”
Source: fcinternews.it