pioli

First a couple of questions from Inter Channel:

If people will  have a lot of questions? “I think there will be a lot of questions, but I really don’t know what they will ask. I’m going to keep this simple. First of all I’m overjoyed to be here. This is a great club and I will do everything I can for the colours, this club and these fans.”

The derby? “It’s impossible not to think about it, but right now we have to take everything day-by-day. We are not many now (international break), but the players that are here have shown great availability. Now, all that counts is to establish a couple of concepts then slowly we’ll get closer to the game next Sunday.”

We’ve read about some previous conflicts with Candreva, all worked out now? “I’ve always thought he is an excellent player, the conflicts are different but I’m sure he will give 110% just for this reason. I think he can do even better and he has the quality to give more. I expect a lot from him.”

At Lazio you made the players listen to the team song and you even distributed a sheet with the lyrics to the players. Are you going to do something similar here at Inter? “We must think of the team, we will reach success if everyone here gives up something of one’s self in order make all the qualities available for the team. I am convinced that we have to work, only talent isn’t good enough. I want a team that play with heart in hand, we have a fan base that has always shown passion and we have to get energy from that. But if we play with passion something can happen.”

Do you think a too big of a squad is difficult to run? I think we have an extremely important month ahead of us, starting with the derby. Until December 21st we will need a lot of players. Our workforce is quality and I will make sure everybody gets a chance, especially those players who demonstrates having the right attitude to adapt to certain kinds of play.”

You know the story of Inter very well, what do you need in order to recreate the enthusiastic times of Mourinho and Trapattoni? “I will try to have and impose a winning mentality. The team has values for a concrete and purposeful football that give us advantages against our opponents. The most important objective is to take the pitch with the desire to beat your opponent. If we use generosity and passion we have what it takes to be a strong team.”

What is the objective this season? “I will be happy if we arrive in the Champions League. There are many games to be played, a lot of games remains. At this point last year Inter was at first place in the standings and Juve was about 9 points behind I think, then we all know how it ended. I do not sell illusions, it will not be easy to recover but there are possibilities to reach the goals of the management.”

Is it better to start with the derby or would an “easier” approach been better? “We expect a great match, Inter has shown that against “big” teams there is no problem finding the right motivation for dealing with the game. Milan are doing well at the moment but we have the right motivation for this game.”

Is it harder to deal with Lotito or with the Chinese? “The negotiations was successfull, that’s what counts. I will have all the support necessary in order for me to do my job well.”

What is your objective if we speak on a tactical level? “I don’t think the formation model counts, it’s all about the principles and the attitude. I will have a four-man defense as a base, but I repeat this depends on the attitude. My ideas are very clear, regardless of the formation.”

Will you start by emphasising pysical work? “Today it’s to soon to speak about that, I’ll try to figure that out during practice. My kind of football is very intense, I’ll try to design the practices according to that.”

What have You asked the club? “I want to have the proper support considering this will be a tough job. We all have to work hard in order to get back at the top.”

What do you think about the term “normaliser”? I don’t think it’s the most suitable, Inter must go beyond what’s normal. I hope that at the end of the season we can use the word “enhancer” instead.”

Are you thinking about doing something special during the break for Christmas? The break isn’t long enough for a preporatory focus. Instead it’s more important to focus on our daily activities, but I see desire and professionalism in all of my players. They have to give everything they have, the work during practices  will make us improve. I try to do things in the easiest possible way to send my guys to the pitch fully prepared.”

Icardi seems to be the only one that shows continuity: what do you have to do in order to increase the number of goalscorers? “In anyway I’m really happy to be able to coach a player like him, an attacker who always scores and I hope he will continue to do that sacrifising himself for the team.We have to make the other guys score as well, I think a lot of them has the possibilities to score goals, put themselves in the area. As we improve I want to better occupy the area of our opponents.”

Do you think there is room for Gabigol? “Every player that can help us win can find room in the team. Gabriel is doing really well during practice, then it’s up to me to figure out in what way he can contribute the most.”

How would you describe yourself? “I’m a professional that leaves nothing to coincidence, with a staff that is competent and passionate. I want to take advantage of the potential of this team and make the players give 110%.”

Where did this opportunity to go to Inter come from? “There was an initial contact last week, then we sorted everything out with Lazio and we signed the new contract.”

Trapattoni said that it’s hard to do well in Inter, can you take the pressure? “Trapattoni used to be my coach and I always liked and appreciated him becuase he made me understand what’s passion and what’s enhusiasm. I know how to coach a club that are amongst the greatest in the world. The call was made in a good moment. Trap was right , we need to win games. But I think it’s easier to win games if you try to play good football.”

You formed as a player and as a coach in Parma, from that experience what can you bring to Inter? “Everything began during that period. After having to end my career due to injuries I knew I wanted to be a coach and there I started my coaching career. At Parma, my first technical experience didn’t go well but I would like to thank Parma  for everything they have given me, amongst others the possibility to grow in a healthy environment.”

Which player is considered ideal to put in front of the defense? “The characteristics of the player counts for sure, but also where he positions himself on the pitch and also mentality. I’m looking for fluid and unpredictable maneuvers.”

Samuel is back with Inter, was this at your request? “Absolutely, I knew that he was already involved in the club. Therefore I asked if he could be part of my staff. I know him as an opponent, but not as a person. But I’ve always considered him being a serious, humble person with great values that knows this environment really well. I’m convinced that he will help us grow and understand certain situations better. We talked yesterday and he was really happy with getting this opportunity”.

What is the most appropriate role for Banega? “I divide players into intelligent and unintelligent, I don’t divide players into roles. I haven’t met him but I definitely think he is an intelligent player who will be very useful for our way of playing.”

How would you describe your staff? “Murelli is the one closest to me and has always been that. As for the rest I have a tight group that leaves nothing to chance.”

How do you explain the current standings? “I don’t care about the past, I prefer to think about the present and the future and we all have to do that. I know we can do much and achieve a lot of goals but in doing this there is no point wasting time and energy on things we cannot control.”

Are you worried you might have to leave at the end of the season? “I don’t worry about my own future. I am the coach of Inter and I want to give my best otherwise I would pretend. We must and we can do well. The contract doesn’t matter what matters is how Inter is doing, the good of Inter. It all comes down to results.”

What do you think about this defense who has struggled during the entire season so far? “We cannot only look at one part of the team, we have to look at the entire team. If we move well as a team the first to benefit from that is the defense”

What would you say are the three cornerstones in your model? “We will work on everything, there isn’t something special to highlight. We will try to work at 360 degrees. We must be careful when playing both possession and non-possession football, change of play and set pieces are important as well. We haven’t got much time so when we work we have to work right. The most important thing is to have quality work.”

What are your best memories from your time in Parma? “As a player the promotion from Serie C to Serie B thanks to a goal of mine at Sanremo, an incredible emoition since I was so young and I  knew I was going away. As a coach there are a lot of beautiful memories, but I don’t want to look back, I only think about the present and about the future that we will face together.”