APPIANO GENTILE – Tomorrow is Inter's first game of the season at the Stadio Meazza and the Nerazzurri fans are getting behind the team again. A large group of Interisti made the trip to Split last week, and now pre-match interest ahead of tomorrow's return leg has led to the second tier being opened. Andrea Stramaccioni was keen to thank the fans during his press conference today: "It was great to see all those fans with us last week, on 2 August. That group following us and the numbers expected in San Siro tomorrow show how close the supporters are to us. It's easier to fill the stadium when you're winning league titles and Champions League trophies, but you don't necessarily expect it coming off the back of a season like we had last term. And yet our fans are showing us how important we are to them and I want to thank them for that."
The Nerazzurri coach was then quizzed about tomorrow's line-up and in particular whether players like Walter Samuel and Matias Silvestre are likely to feature, considering the three-goal advantage built up in the first leg and the new turf at the Meazza, which the team tested for the first time yesterday. Stramaccioni replied: "Generally you make decisions on whether to play people based on what is best for the overall squad management, not the first-leg result or the state of the pitch – which we found to be in excellent condition anyway. We'll assess everything properly but our main concern is not to take any risks."
More from the coach's press conference to follow on inter.it.
