APPIANO GENTILE - inter.it offers the full version of the statements given by
Claudio Ranieri to Roberto Monzani with Inter Channel on the eve of Napoli v
Inter, the Coppa Italia quarter-final match (the interview will be broadcast as
part of today's programming)."
Ranieri, what is necessary to 'silence' the roar of a stadium like the San
Paolo?
"We need a top performance, something necessary if we want to move on in
the Coppa Italia. It will be a great game."
Years ago the Coppa Italia was faced with a certain lack of seriousness, but
now there's a tendency to play hard until the end.
"I also think this depends on the fact that, by winning the Coppa Italia,
it opens a path to Europe. Now, however, we're only thinking of Napoli, who
beat us in the league in Milan. We had done almost everything right and I
recall a beautiful first half. We scored and it was correctly disallowed. Then
there was the second yellow card shown to Obi and the controversial penalty. We
played a lovely game, especially in the first half, and that defeat set us back
considerably in that period of the league. In the Champions League Napoli have
done very well and now we must face them in the Coppa Italia. Last year, again
in the Coppa Italia, Inter won on penalties and we expect a battle
tomorrow."
Is there a desire for revenge after the defeat against Napoli in the league?
"For me, there's always a desire for revenge. I always have respect for
the opponent and you need to be focused one hundred percent. Napoli have found
their dimensions, and since De Laurentiis has been president they've improved
year after year. They're doing great things and we'll face a healthy team.
Sunday, for example, they drew against Siena, but they created very many
scoring chances and deserved something more. Tomorrow night we're expecting a
beautiful game, both inside and out."
How important has Walter Mazzarri's work been in Napoli's growth process?
"He's doing very well, but before him also Reja had done well. Obviously
the club is healthy and has clear ideas. In fact, sooner or later a great club
finds the right coach and the right players, and so it continues to grow, as
Napoli are doing."
Is there a particular player at Napoli that you like?
"There are so many. But I like our own."
The Coppa Italia is important to Inter fans, and in recent years they've
travelled a lot to Rome. Is this the objective?
"You're asking me, a Roman? I want to go to Rome as well...
[smiling]."
