APPIANO GENTILE – It's straight back into league action for Inter and Andrea Stramaccioni as they prepare to face Roma in Week 2 of the 2012/13 Serie A campaign. After the great turnout for the Europa League match at the Stadio Meazza on Thursday, the coach is hoping for a repeat on Sunday against the Giallorossi. Speaking during his pre-match press conference this afternoon, he explained: "I said right after the game against Vaslui that it spurred us on to see the whole stadium behind us, even when we had our backs to the wall. That gave us extra strength, it was as if the crowd were on the pitch with us trying to win the ball back. I remember two tackles in particular that Guarin won - it seemed as if 40,000 people had worked to snatch the ball back. Our fans need to see action, not words."
Stramaccioni's begin his career at Roma, first as a player and then as a coach. But he was keen to stress that there would be no desire for revenge on his part: "If I'm here at Inter now, it's thanks to the six years I spent at Roma. The only thing I will ever have to say to the club and the people who work there is thank you. If I managed to make it as a professional, I achieved it on the pitches at Trigoria. I was sad when I left but I think that's a normal sentiment, and I'm a normal guy. That was the dawn of a new stage in my career, one where I was given an amazing reception by everyone. That's where I am now. But none of that changes the fact that we are Inter and we want to win tomorrow."
Tomorrow's clash at the Meazza will be the first time he faces the Giallorossi and Francesco Totti as an opponent: "I can't deny that this game will stir up special feelings. It will certainly be different to other matches for me on a personal level. That's normal but I don't want to bring these aspects to the fore. Those who know me know that certain personal ties are important to me, but what matters is that Inter play Roma tomorrow and we must make sure that we're ready for it."
