Before leaving for Udine, where his Inter will play the 16th round of the Serie A match against Stefano Colantuono’s Udinese, Roberto Mancini held the usual press conference the day before in Pinetina.
Thohir has expressed many concepts these days, the most important is the one about Inter as fighters. Do you like that as definition?
“Everyone, to win, need to know how to fight at times. Even if you have good people technically it is often difficult to win. It’s a quality that is needed.”
Could this be the game that serves as a turning point for Icardi?
“Icardi is a starting player, out of 15 he has played 13. I don’t see problems, him being on the bench can happen just like it can happen for the others. He is part of the team to address these situations, sometimes he is a starter, sometimes he has to start on the bench. Icardi will be our top scorer, there are no problems.”
Is it possible to win all three games before Christmas?
“That is everyone’s objective. The Champions League is the year-end objective, we hope to reach it.”
You have often given five starting players, what do you say today?
“Handanovic is playing, then Miranda, Murillo, Ljajic and Telles.”
What message have you sent to the team for tomorrow?
“We have an objective, we play to win and hope to do so tomorrow. Udinese are in a good moment, with good players and an experienced coach. A great game is needed. The head to heads? They don’t change much, at the moment the positions can change from one Sunday to the next. We will wait until after January.”
What is the plan for January? Get players that make a difference or seek reinforcements in certain positions?
“If we go on like this there is no need to change anything. Then there are variables that needs to be evaluated, but we don’t need anything. Things are fine but you never know.”
A comment on the referees?
“No, now I’m thinking of other things.”
According to the statistics, Handanovic is the best goalkeeper in Europe. But can you say that he is in an incredible moment?
“Goalkeepers are like the attackers, if they make a mistake they allow a goal. But it is physiological. The other players are camouflaged when they commit errors, these are the two ‘uncovered’ positions, but Samir has always been a top player for us. Even last year when perhaps something was wrong, but he was there.”
After November there has been improvement in the game. But did you expect to be first at this point?
“I was hoping to be in a good position at Christmas, close to first. Breaking away a lot could create a problem. Also, the championship gets settled after November, I think it’s normal.”
Have you talked with Mihajlovic about economic comparisons?
“No”.
Perisic has been a starter only once recently. Do you expect more from him?
“No, I think he has been a starter twice. Now there is also Biabiany, who gives us more chances to change, but Perisic remains fundamental for us.”
Thohir spoke of expulsions, but Mancini has never thought of immediate change?
“A player who has been cautione must be careful, because the smallest tackle can give him his second yellow card. There’s no need for me to say this. But I can’t substitute a player who gets a yellow card after 15 minutes, I hope he’s smart enough not to be caught again. Then it is possible that the substitution takes place in the first minutes.”
Guarin in turnover for tactical requirements or to stimulate him?
“Guarin is important just like Perisic. In midfield, we are 4-5, you still have to choose according to form. We don’t want to sell him the same way we don’t want to let go of Telles or Ljajic. He is important.”
Have you trained playing with ten men?
“No, because when it happened we won. But it is better to play in eleven.”
Is there no risk of incurring ups and downs for Inter the way it has happened to Napoli?
“Anyone can run into that, no game in Italy is easy unless it’s addressed in the right way. Then it can happen that a team that is superior concedes three goals in half an hour like in their match against Bologna. Tomorrow will be tough and we have to be fighters.”
Do you like Calleri?
“He’s young, he’s good, has quality. I don’t know if he will come to Inter but we have been following him for some time.”
Is it a choice between Perisic or Jovetic for tomorrow or can they play together?
“They are in the ballot along with Manaj, Palacio and Icardi.”
Did you talk with Icardi after the particular Saturday he experienced?
“I must say he wasn’t that upset.”
Has it ever happened that you have reached an objective and been booed the way it happened to Roma?
“I honestly didn’t see Roma’s match, I only read about it. The important thing is that Roma has qualified, then the disappointment is part of the game.”
In January, would you prefers to keep the current squad, keeping players like Brozovic and Murillo?
“Brozovic will not be sold, if so with whom would I take the photos? He’s young, he will become very strong, I don’t think about selling him. We don’t want anybody to move, I hope that everyone is happy here. Murillo? I don’t know what will happen in the future, but he is 21 years old and he has improved a lot here in Italy.”
Are you never tempted to use Perisic and Biabiany and a striker near Icardi to help him?
“We played like that against Frosinone and against Genoa there were four offensive players on the pitch. I don’t think that Mauro needs to recover, because a player who plays 13 games out of 15 doesn’t have to recover. He will score the goals, then it could happen that he returns to the bench but he will score 20 goals and will be one of those who played most. It happens that those who score goals may go through a period of difficulty, but against Frosinone he scored a goal of an attacker. I don’t think he has great problems apart from the displeasure of being on the bench, but it happens to everyone. It’s not a problem.”
But the strikers often were untouchable for Inter…
“Yes, but they were different teams, with a base line-up.”
Source: fcinternews.it
