Stefano Pioli met with the press today in front of Saturday’s game against Pescara. Here is what he had to say:
With three games in seven days, is there a chance you might underestimate Pescara? “No, now we are fully focused on this game, the standings and to continue this momentum.”
How is Gabigol? “Today, everybody is available, they all work hard except Murillo who is under evaluation. After that everybody will be at my disposition and up for selection.”
Will any players be rested in Saturday’s game? “The most important game for us is always the next one and we want to continue like this. Also at Palermo everybody thought we would win easily but instead it turned out to be a tough game. We want to give everything we have on Saturday, only after the game we’ll think of other stuff.”
Despite your streak, Roma and Napoli are still ahead of you. Is that frustrating? “Those of you who follow us and the championship know that our destiny also depends on other teams. If we continue to win we will surely gain a couple of points on them, but we have to remain concentrated on our games and then we can play about it when we meet them.”
You play a lot of games in this period? “Every game is an important milestone for our growth, of course the games in the Italian Cup are of a do-or-die type but we prepare in order to be ready for every game. We have to play as a team and we have to play every phase well, being proactive, trying to find rhythm and to overcome the opponents.”
If you would have arrived when the championship started, Inter would have been amongst the top teams. Do you feel superior to everyone? “I know how to coach a strong team with great players that sacrifice themselves, working in a certain way always available. I found this attitude and now we can always play to win.”
In the last six games there has always been one of your ex-teams. Now there isn’t, what do you have to say about that? “I haven’t noticed, it’s you guys who lay more focus on these statistics. I only know that each opponent must be addressed with great care, Pescara have less points than they deserve because they play well with good counter attacks. It will be tricky and we have to be careful.”
You have played a lot of games the last couple of months, were you physically ready for a streak like this? “During the winter break we worked well, physically we are fine, the four players who played last week have held up well despite not being rested at all, but it gives us a mental boost.”
Without Ansaldi is there a chance we will see Nagatomo? “One of Nagatomo and Santon will play for sure.”
What’s the problem with Murillo? “He have some symptoms of the flu and haven’t practiced. Tomorrow we will see.”
What do you think of the tactical evolution of Juventus that they tried against Lazio and yesterday in the cup? “Now, my only concern is Pescara, we want to be in the right moment.”
How should your Inter attack the games against the top teams? “By being aware of their capacity, by knowing how to stay in the game with determination, by knowing that if you are amongst the top teams every detail can be decisive. We have to be mean and always concentrated. We have to have the mentality only the best teams have, the exact mentality we are trying to keep and are trying to show that we have. Especially in the games against the top teams.”