PESCARA - "We're happy. It's only the first step but we're happy." That was Andrea Stramaccioni's first reaction after the 3-0 win over Pescara.
"Let's say it's a good start, but we know there are things we still need to work on. It's good that we've followed up Thursday's performance with another decent one tonight. A great team that takes a two-nil lead into the dressing rooms at half-time at a difficult ground is a sign of strength. Our quality comes through when we move the ball around. It was a good start but there's a long way to go. We have to keep our feet on the ground."The coach was asked when he had taken the decision to put Antonio Cassano in the starting line-up: "I made my mind up after the first training session. I wanted to play with two strikers and an attacking midfielder. He repaid my faith with his performance today."
Asked to elaborate further on the use of his attacking players, Stramaccioni said: "We tried to bring in players with the characteristics to play wide and we couldn't. But this Inter team can play with two men out wide or two strikers closer together. Perhaps we could do with an alternative at centre forward, but I'd rather stick with what we've got if the player doesn't fit in with my ideas. Gilardino? Borriello? The players who best fit Inter's profile are at Inter. Still, we'll keep an eye out between now and the 31st. We've almost got everything we want in all areas of the pitch."
Stramaccioni was then quizzed about the situation with Maicon, who was left out of the squad to face Pescara: "Inter and Maicon have a wonderful relationship. It's not about what he's worth. If he stays, I'll be happy, but it's an individual thing. He's coming to the end of his contract... Why didn't I include him in the squad? I thought that with two games so close together it was better that he didn't play both. Let's see how things develop."
