MILAN – It was a point gained but there were bound to be regrets, as Claudio Ranieri explained to Sky Sport Italia after the goalless draw between Inter and Atalanta. "It's not that we're disappointed; we want to do well and we're not doing that - not that we're going to give up. President Moratti came into the dressing room during the interval to spur us on. We know what we're doing but we also know this isn't an easy year – everyone can see that. I can't blame my players for anything. We knew we'd find it tough after Tuesday's Champions League game, against an Atalanta side who defended well and attacked on the counter. We missed a penalty and we could have done without that. Now we'll plan our work week by week to prepare for one game at a time. This is sport: you win, you lose and you draw, but we're not giving up."
Ranieri admitted there was some doubt over the decision not to award a penalty for foul by Lucio on Gabbiadini: "You could give it or not give it. He didn't win the ball immediately as he slid in but then he did." The coach continued: "It's true that the draw today was a missed opportunity but all we can do now is take each game as it comes; out of respect for the fans we can't talk about third place or anything like that. Too much has already been said. We'll try to be professional in everything we do because this group is united and compact. Did Forlan refuse to come on? It was a tactical decision. During the week Diego and I spoke about ideas in football and about how we can understand each other's."
Ranieri then analysed the football produced by Inter: "We are creating chances, though admittedly with some difficulty, and we missing them too. Perhaps we need to be a bit more determined, more clinical. We know this is a year of suffering, but this group won't throw in the towel. We're fighting and I'm happy to coach these players. The lads still believe in what they are doing and they're working hard in training, although clearly things aren't going as we want during games. We're struggling this year and we're aware that it's a negative period but what are we supposed to do – just give up and go home?"
Remarks were then made about the transfer market and the team fielded at the Meazza today, to which Ranieri replied: "There's no point you asking me about what the club did or didn't do in January. This is who we've got now and it's up to the coach to get as much out of them as possible. If I always field the best formation available it's because I can't do any differently. Thiago Motta? You can't hold onto a player who calls the president every day to say he wants to leave. Could we have kept him anyway? We saw against Napoli what sort of consequences there can be in cases like these..."
Claudio Ranieri continued his analysis speaking to Radio Rai: "We tried to win it, especially in the first half because we knew that after the break we'd start to feel the effects of the Champions League. It's a shame about the missed penalty. The fans got behind us but at least we've managed to put together a little run in the league. Now we have the possibility to manage our resources and plan our work throughout the week. We're don't want to deceive anyone, we just have to give it our best in every game and we'll see where we are at the end."
The Nerazzurri coach also spoke to Mediaset: "The penalty miss is another sign of the so-so year we're having. We needed to be a bit quicker and more determined, but we went for it. Forlan didn't refuse to come on. I asked him to do a certain type of job and he said he didn't feel he could do it. What sort of job? The stadium steps [laughing]. I swear, I've been in football for more than 40 years - and we know this is not Inter's year - but I have never come across a club, a dressing room and a group like here at Inter. I'm saddened, of course I am, but I'm calm and determined not to let up an inch. People might get a certain impression from the outside but it's wrong. You should have seen what the players were like the day after getting knocked out of the Champions League; they were all there, no one had an "ear ache" or "hair ache" like I've come across before in my career. Am I a part of Inter's new project? I am at the moment, absolutely. In what way? We talk about plans, players, situations... Of course anything can happen in football but I can assure you that my relationship with the president is always totally honest and sincere. It's easy to smile and to be present when you're winning, but you're still the president, the club, the coach or a player in situations like we're in at the moment and here at Inter everyone is present - obviously disappointed for the season, but calm and doing our jobs."
