MILAN – "We're going to take the game to Torino." Andrea Stramaccioni knows what he wants – to see his Inter winning again. He respects tomorrow's opposition but he is also confident in his team's own ability: "Ventura, like Zeman, stamps his mark on his teams. Torino have a very clearly defined way of playing but we're going to the Olimpico to take the game to them. Thanks to the work his club has done, Ventura has been able to bring in lots of players that he's coached before. That's different to the situation here at Inter, where a lot has changed. We know it will be tough but we want to get back to winning ways... [he smiles]. We respect our opponents: they're in good form, enthusiasm is high and they have all the ingredients to do well."
Stramaccioni then spoke specifically about some of his own players: "Alvarez's return is important because he is an important player for us. He can do a job on the left, on the right and in the hole. He's probably the only one with those chacteristics. He also has fantastic dribbling ability. How did Pereira come back from international duty? On the plane with Gargano... [smiling]. Joking aside, the three who had transatlantic flights did come back a bit tired, but they are professionals and they're used to exhausting trips like that. Pereira's position? Full-back, winger, wide in a three-man midfield. That's why we signed him – he's a player we wanted because of his versatility. Chivu and the other injured players? Chivu has trained with the rest of the team for the first time. Obi has been improving over the last week, Mariga needs a bit more time, Stankovic is recovering but we don't want to rush him, Mudingayi will have a final test and a scan at the start of the coming week."
The Nerazzurri coach was also asked how he intends to replace Maicon: "There is no other player like Maicon, we've said that before. But the captain is a sure thing in that position and he played there for many years. We're working on Jonathan and Nagatomo can also perform there."
