APPIANO GENTILE - During this afternoon's press conference Andrea
Stramaccioni spoke openly about his relationship with Massimo Moratti and the club's directors. And, once again, he fielded questions about the transfer market.
"I'm very happy with the relationship I have with the directors. I'm in constant contact with Marco Branca and Piero Ausilio. They listen to my ideas, which are aimed at building an Inter side that is as functional as possible to our plans, and this all goes on with the president's supervision and approval. I'm lucky in that I have a president who you can talk football with, even about technical matters. I've always found him very easy to speak to. I obviously take responsibility when it comes to making the final decisions. No players have been signed that I didn't want, so it's down to me.
"An understudy for Milito? There isn't another centre forward as good as Milito. Would we ideally have a player who can act as back-up for Milito as well as operate in a wide role? It's hard to find someone who can carry out the centre forward role the way he does and do a job on the wing too. Maybe Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo could do it... Quagliarella? He's a second striker who can also play as a wide forward. Lucas was a wide player but in a four-man midfield. I haven't come across any wingers who play in a four-man midfield who can also operate as a target man. Palacio can play wide or as a centre forward but not as a target man."
The 'calcioscommesse' scandal was another topic brought up in the press conference, with Andrea Stramaccioni asked if he was worried about Andrea Ranocchia's position: "That's a question that has nothing to do with footballing matters. 'Worried' is not the right word as far as I'm concerned. I can say that on a personal level I'm extremely close to Andrea. I'm right behind him, we all are, and we'll always stick behind him."
