Inter manager Luciano Spalletti has revealed that Mauro Icardi will start tomorrow night’s match away to Genoa as the Argentine makes a return to the squad after almost two months out of it.
“Every game is important. The table has tightened and results are needed. We must do well in this game. The team have trained well. We must fight physically before we can in a technical sense,” he began his pre-match press conference earlier today.
He then went on to speak about Icardi.
“Marotta’s work was decisive in letting the parties come together in a real way. It was a coming-together that has now put Mauro in a position to help the team.
“If mediation is born to dictate conditions, it becomes more complicated. In the context of our team, Mauro’s worth more than Messi and Ronaldo put together.
“However, he’s not alone because in football you need bolted shoes and sweat. No-one comes out as a winner, but a point of reference was needed to start over. And that point is the table.
“Mauro is capable of dragging the team forward when he’s in it. From the outside, he can’t do that. In these last few training sessions and without sending messages on social media, he’s regained his place in the squad.
“The fans are right to take their positions. They know how to assess the situation. He trained on Sunday. Yesterday he took a bludgeoning from his teammates, but he believes in the right way.
“Now we all go to work for the good of Inter. We must be by his side at every moment. For as long as I’m here, I’ll be on the side of Inter, that is, the club, team, fans and myself a little, not just one player.
“We’ve already started over because we made Sunday our starting point, with Mauro sending correct messages to the team.
“We’re stronger with him now. Whoever says we’re weaker are against us.”
Sticking with Icardi, Spalletti went on to insist that the problems are now over.
“The case is closed in all respects. Now he needs to train, sweat, smell the grass and not talk through other people.
“If not, he won’t become credible in front of the team. After this incident, Icardi is in the team.
“He’ll start tomorrow. The head counts for more than muscle. He gave the right reaction. He’ll play and see if he needs taking off. His response will show us whether he can play for the entire match.”
He concluded his press conference by explaining his outburst after the loss to Lazio which he did not call Icardi up for.
“I had to say something to defend the team. He’s worked perfectly. Our sporting department know that too. He wasn’t called up and he paid what he had to pay, from our point of view. Now we need to take advantage of Marotta’s work.”