After the victory against Genoa 3-1 last January 11th, Inter have stumbled upon two missteps with consecutive knockouts against Torino and Sassuolo, in addition to the one in the Italian Cup against Napoli, the home game against Palermo is thus presented as an ideal opportunity to reverse course, even if it will not be easy against a team that is doing very well in the league, pulled by a pair of strikers of absolute level in Franco Vázquez and Paulo Dybala.
Roberto Mancini is here at the press room in Angelo Moratti sports center answering the questions of the press, here are his words:
Why should Inter fans be optimistic?
“They have to trust me, there are positive things, and the results will come sooner or later. In football, unfortunately, when things go wrong it is difficult to change them.”
Do you expect problems from the fans?
”I think the fans will not be a problem, although there may be a few whistles, we accept everything that doesn’t crumple or exalt us, we want it to be balanced.”
Conte threatened to resign, is it good?
“I’m fine in my shoes (laughs) which are pretty good and I have my own problems to solve, it is well known in Italy and we find it hard to change, I speak of the championship, if certain things are to change, we would gladly give out our players.”
Can Brozovic and Kovacic co-exist?
“Of course, they also speak the same language, Marcelo is young and needs time to adapt.”
As midfielder, is he more suitable than Kovacic?
“A natural I think, because Mateo was born as a trequarista, Marcelo is more suitable as an internal option.”
You changed the formation in Naples, will it happen again?
“I do not think a lot have changed, we must also consider the opponent, the 4-3-3 can be revived, but I repeat that the module is the basic thing in a team, the focal aspect is the attitude, and we must try not to concede goals.”
What makes individual errors so repetitive?
“Mistakes are in the human nature and are normal things, the errors are hardly of a single individual, but are the result of a collective failure, in both City and Galatasaray we had problems too, but we have always done very well, Ithat’s your job, to try to improve.”
Your status can not be a ‘lightning rod’?
“I said to the fans, the past victories counts for sure, but if we didn’t get results soon, criticism will reach me too, we must absorb it for now and be strong.”
You protect the players too much?
“No, I do not think.”
Your work for the present is obvious, what about the future?
“We are also working on both and we have a competition in which we are at par with the others, we must develop for the future and we must not think that 2-3 negative results can throw everything to the wind, We have to resist even in times of trouble, despite the suffering.”
How’s Ranocchia? He wants to say something to the fans in this sense?
“I repeat what I said before, you win and lose, and the error was more of an overall mistake, but now it is not important. I’m sure you will welcome him, like everyone else.”
Improvements?
“We should be cleverer and protest in a good way, because I do not like these things so much. I wish my team always played good football.”
Puscas can play from the first minute? How are Podolski and Palacio?
“George has been struggling in an important match like the one against Napoli, for tomorrow we’ll see if there will be changes, Podolski and Palacio have rested and are doing well.”
What do you think of Correia and Ze Turbo?
“They are players who did not train for a long time, they need work but they are very interesting, the Brazilian is one of the best around, the other is powerful and the hope is that they can be as good as they seem.”
More wingers?
“Palacio and Podolski are not only good as strikers but they can do what they are asked, Like everyone, no one has 37-38 years, we are young, then if one were to be tired, he can say it without problems.”
Defense?
“Yes, we are working to improve and be better at the defense. If all the team also do their markings, the defense takes more courage.”
What kind of opponent you expect tomorrow? How is Campagnaro?
“Hugo is fine and should be available. In Italy all the matches are difficult, Palermo plays well and calmly, with a very good attack, We know that we are facing a team that has nothing to lose and to win we have to be perfect.”
Zamparini said he would have preferred to face Juventus, What do you think?
“I hope he’s right. We’re trying to become a real team, despite the difficulties. I repeat, I hope he’s right.”