APPIANO GENTILE - "It's a match we'd like to win because we're at home and we want to take an important step in our Europa League campaign. We'll approach the game with a hungry side who will take our opponents seriously. We're expecting a team in rude health, who are top of their league with 8 wins and just one defeat, which came right at the start of the season. They've got talented young players. We respect Partizan, we know it'll be a tough game." These were the thoughts of Andrea Stramaccioni in the press conference on the eve of Inter v Partizan Belgrade.
"We're working well at the moment, we saw that on Sunday. We're relaxed and keeping our feet on the ground. We have it in our minds to work hard and improve game by game without taking any notice of the league table or our aims, which could distract us from our main goal which is hard graft. As I've said, tomorrow's match is important because if we win we can take a big step towards qualifying, and that would allow us to make changes for our remaining group games."
The Nerazzurri coach was then asked about Wesley Sneijder's return to action: "I like what I've seen from him, he's highly motivated. He wants to get back as quickly as possible, he's getting restless but, as you know, players will only return if they're 100%, I don't like to rush anyone back. He had his first tests with Dr. Combi yesterday and, when he's available for selection, then we'll talk about his return to action."
From questions on individuals to his view on the group as a whole: "In the main the squad's fitness is very good, I don't think anyone is particularly jaded. Before this game I have fewer problems in terms of assessing people's fitness levels and who to rest," explained Stramaccioni in reference to questions on team selection and squad rotation.
