Roberto Mancini has been speaking to the media in his pre match press conference ahead of Inter’s meeting with Juventus in the Derby D’Italia on Saturday 16 May (kick off 18:00 CET).
Mancini covered a range of subjects including tomorrow’s match, his thoughts on individual players as well as extending an invitation to ‘Inter Night, an event the club is organising for 2015/16 season ticket holders on 26 May at San Siro.
Here is what the Inter coach had to say:
The fans and ‘Inter Night’:
“Obviously we need the supporters because playing in front a packed San Siro is something else. They can help us and the hope is we have as many season ticket holders as possible.”
Tomorrow’s match, Inter will be without Guarin and Hernanes:
“I’m disappointed I can’t select them. The Brazilian is on good form, while Guarin is an important player for the side. I think the team is improving and with that so are our performances. Tomorrow’s match will be tough. When a team wins and makes a final, it gives their players a lift. Plus, those who play will put in even more than those not involved. It will be an awkward fixture. Shaqiri’s fitness has improved and I hope he puts in a big performance.”
Juventus:
“Juventus deserved to win the title and I would like to congratulate them on reaching the Champions League final. As for those in line to play, they’ll definitely be fresher than their other players. I don’t believe it’s going to be easy by any means. There’s a rivalry that stays on the pitch. Juventus had a tough time of it but managed to rebuild. The same goes for Inter, projects like these take time.”
Kovacic:
“Kovacic is a player with great ability and he’s improving. He’s got massive potential and we’re looking to him as we go forward.”
Inter’s progress so far since you took over:
“In terms of the difference in our results at home and on the road, you need to consider that teams come to San Siro and keep things tight which makes it hard to find space. We need to improve on that. There are two main factors we have to assess in the second half of the season compared with the reverse fixture. The team has improved and we’ve become just that – a team. That’s positive. The negative side has been the results because we hoped to finish in the top three.”
Finally a word on Uefa’s FFP sanctions:
“UEFA appreciate the efforts Inter have made, the president will invest and we’ll definitely improve the team. Thohir wants a winning Inter side. We need to see who we bring in and who leaves the club.”
Source: inter.it
For everybody who want Guarin out of the squad, he’s got 6 goals and 8 assists in 28 games this season + 1 goal and 1 assist in Europa league. He is second best goalscorer and first assist man alongside Palacio this season. Yes he makes mistakes, but he is also one of the few who play with heart
Nice comment. Thet means Guarin is very bad player (as many of Inter fans claim) only in big suqad like Barcelona or Bayern. In our team he is one of the best players. Your statistics says that.
I can bet my house if Kovacic play as starter than Guarin, Kovacic surely pass Guarin statistic
Inter’s progress so far since you took over???What??? xxaxaxaxaxaxxa
Go hang yourself, idiot, you can’t find better coach than Mancini, he knows italy, he knows inter, he will definitely make an impact as he did in the past.
You are looser like Mancini scumbag.He is looser in Champions League and Europe League.In first period in Inter before Calciopoli he was king of draws .In City with many superstars he win one title in last match and last minute.In next season he will buy some old stars like Toure with big salary and he will hope players will make a diffenece because he is tactical idiot and coward coach.
We are in no position right now to seek Champions league success, We should first start to dominate in Italy, and for it Mancini is perfect choice, only then Mourinho may come to win CL cup.
Love that he said we actually became a team. The results are bad, yes
But we actually have a frickin tempo in our game
“while Guarin is an important player for the side.” i’m lost for words.
I just don’t get why everybody is so freaking mad at Guarin. Yes, he makes mistakes, yes he make bad passes. But also he is the only one at Inter with guts to take the ball forward and push for something from the beginning to the end of the game. He is probably involved in more attacking plays than any other midfield which statistically means he has to make more mistakes too. That is why Mancini plays him all the time that is why Mazzarri played him all the time. Because he is the don’t stop never give up player. Medel can’t pass the ball forward he has zero vision, Hernanes rans 20 min and then he is out. Kovacic has great vision, but when he is surrounded he seems to freak out and pass the ball back to easily. Brozovic has a lot o potential but he is not ready yet he can get completely lost in the game sometimes. So, I think that as today Guarin is the only box to box midfielder we had. He would take on Rube players like Chiellini without problem. Kovacic, Brozovic, Shakiri they just don’t know how to face the dirty Rube players like Chiellini, Bonucchi…
Checking statistics at whoscored.com we will see that having played almost identical number of minutes this year Guarin rating is 7.6 and Kovacic is 7.11, Guaring has 6 goals and Kovacic has 5, Guarin has won Man of the man 4 times Kovacic has won it one. Now I am not saying that Guarin is better player than Guarin, but I am making the point that Guarin is an important player for the team like Kovacic.
This is going to be a very physical game. So, it is really a shame that we cannot have a physically and mentally strong player like Guarin.
You lost me at Brozovic has potential.
He is really good. But honestly in how many games has he been decisive?
None
He is an engine, not a playmaker.
But there always something more that Guarin can really show us isn’t it. I never said he is bad, it’s just sometimes he doesn’t seems to be on the pitch when playing. He was a different player before that infamous almost done juve swap deal. Sometimes he doesn’t have the hunger. That consistency hurt Inter because like according to the stats you put up, RM depends much on him. Its just a matter of time if he’ll be a starter, if both toure and motta do come.