PINZOLO – Andrea Stramaccioni gave an interview to Rai Due's 'La Domenica Sportiva' programme from Inter's pre-season training camp in Pinzolo.
The conversation began with the coach's beginnings in the youth academy, from where he embarked on a journey that led where he is now, at the helm of Inter. He explained: "Yes, the adventure has turned into reality now and I'm totally absorbed in trying to be successful with my team. How has my life changed? Obviously with everything going on around you, you realise that some things have changed, but I'm still just a simple guy on and off the pitch. It's a huge responsibility all right, but I've taken to it with passion."
Stramaccioni built up an immediate rapport with the players and president Moratti, but he was keen to point out: "I don't think I have a secret as such, it really is just about being yourself and putting your ideas into practice on the pitch. Having always working in the youth sector, when I found myself face to face with these world-class players I said to myself, 'Andrea, just keep doing the same things.'"Returning to the present, the coach was asked if the Inter seen in Pinzolo might be the finished product: "I don't have a huge amount of experience," Stramaccioni replied, "but I think it's fair to say that you're not going to see a definitive Serie A squad on 10 July – that goes for Inter but also in general, considering that there has been minimal movement in the transfer market so far. I must say that I'm lucky because I have a good core to work with but we'll have to wait until 31 August."
During the team's presentation in the main square in Pinzolo, Giampaolo Pazzini said he no longer feels part of the Inter project but that he'll do everything he can to change people's minds. Stramaccioni commented on the striker's statements: "Naturally if Giampaolo said those things, there must be a reason for it. What I can say as the Inter coach is that it's early to be drawing any conclusions, or to talk about a settled squad. That's the way I see things and while I have the utmost respect for Pazzini, I think Inter must come before anything else. That's how it should be in football, while always showing due respect, and it's something I've been able to see at this club ever since I joined. Some players come in and some players move on, at Inter just like at any other club."
Asked specifically about Destro, Stramaccioni replied: "Mattia is a striker who came into the spotlight last season on the back of the goals he scored. At the moment he's one of the names everyone is talking about because he's one of the most interesting prospects around. Is he a player we should lure away from Juve's clutches? I wouldn't say we should lure him away from Juventus because as things stand he belongs to Siena. That's as much as I know."
