Inter manager Luciano Spalletti spoke in great length to Gazzetta dello Sport on a whole array of topics.

Starting out, Spalletti discussed the Nerazzurri’s summer transfer dealings as a whole: “Another mercato was expected, it’s true, I was convinced I could have been able to deal with some players. I’m now 100% satisfied though. When I said at Riscone that promises were made to me and that I would talk if their word wasn’t kept, the transfer window wasn’t over yet and I didn’t know all the players yet. The boys have amazing qualities, I’ve found them available, motivated and really professional. Being professional means to have skills and passion in what you do. The 55 000/60 000 fans who will cheer for us on Sunday at the stadium will do so because they’re convinced by what they’ve seen by the players so far.”

The former Roma manager then discussed each of the new signings that arrived through the doors of the San Siro: “Borja Valero and Vecino are used to our football, to our rhythms, they’ve got a lot of character. They never give up, they get on at the first minute of the game and only turn off at the very end of it. They give what they have to. Maybe it’s this kind of player Inter were missing, that’s at least what I thought observing the team from the outside. Skriniar will become a great defender. He’s got the qualities, the will and amazing margins of improvement. By next year every top club will want him, I’m sure about that. His eyes tell so much: he’s not afraid when the opponent comes close. He’s not the most beautiful player to watch but he’s really efficient and plays very well with the ball. Dalbert has an amazing left foot, great physical skills and crosses well. He doesn’t defend badly but he must learn to keep his position. He’ll be the Emerson Palmieri of this situation. Do you remember? When Emerson got in Roma, there weren’t a lot believing in him. Dalbert and Cancelo together? Sure! Don’t forget about D’Ambrosio and Nagatomo though, it’s not easy to get over them, they give the right balance and make the opponents uncomfortable. Karamoh is still a little boy. You can see that by some reactions he has when he trains in front of the goal for exemple. He’ll grow and be advised with attention, he can run very well. When he starts, he burns the ground under his feet. He’s got great technical skills, but must learn about making the right choice when arriving in the opponent’s area”.

Spalletti then shared the ambitions he has for this season: “We’re starting from -29 from Juve, -25 from Roma and -24 from Napoli. We’d need 7-8 more wins this year. All of us need to improve but I’ve got a perfect team in my hands, we’ll show that to you. We’ve taken players that will help us.”

Much has been made of Inter’s lack of central defenders in the media and Spalletti had the following to say on it: “It’s true, no need to hide that we need a central defender. I didn’t want to buy for the numbers though, it’s not our policy. I’ve then talked and worked with the ones who were already there: I can tell you that Ranocchia and D’Ambrosio are two Inter central defenders. I don’t care about the past, I judge by what I see on the field, otherwise everyone should be out right? We’ve got Miranda and Skriniar who are really fast despite how people consider them. I like the Brazilian especially because he can adapt himself to his opponent, like not many are able to.”

The 58 year old then spoke on a whole host of the current squad and the roles they would be playing in his whole system: “Our midfielders will switch to be our Nainggolan or Vidal. I’ve got 5 great players for three spots. Borja like Pirlo is the ideal thing, the other can and must do a bit of everything else. I like Joao Mario too, who’s been decisive lately from the bench. He’s shown a leader character, and he’ll play against Spal. Brozovic? He’s always by the ball, he never stops. He also can score, he can feel and see the goal. Medel gone? I told him, Gary, you are a trequartista to me. He looked at me like I was joking… As an offensive midfielder he would have bitten everyone until he would have found a bone. In the meantime I have been sincere to him, I couldn’t give him a big role and he wants to keep playing for his national team. Gabigol? He must play, he would have spent another year out of the squad here without a lot of possibilities to grow. I advised him to leave, we are curious about how much he’ll do or how much we were wrong about judging him. But I’m confortable regarding the attack with Candreva, Icardi, Perisic and their great substitutes. Icardi is a good guy and I want him to feel I trust him with all my heart. He’s strong like Perisic is too. We’ve talked with the Croatian player, the club has been wise to find the right arguments to keep him. He’s been told he weren’t to leave and he stopped doing that strong arm try to leave: the normal thing with great players. Candreva? Another player who makes so many kilometers during a game. He must improve when he crosses the ball in the opponent’s area though. Who’s the vice-Icardi? Eder, then Pinamonti.”

Spalletti concluded discussing this Inter’s biggest strength: “This Inter’s strength is that the team isn’t completed yet. We want a team which understands that the most important thing isn’t the opponent: firstly, the ball, then the teammates, so the space to be covered; only after comes the opponent. We’re working hard and I’m lucky to have real coaches as collaborators. My staff is the extension of myself.”

Source: gianlucadimarzio.com