APPIANO GENTILE - "When we go out onto the pitch, especially at home, we always try to go for it. We prepare to play attacking football, to try and run the game. It takes time to build a mindset and we're rediscovering the winning mentality." This is what Andrea Stramaccioni had to say ahead of Inter v Sampdoria, tomorrow at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (kick-off 20:45).
"We might not always win but we need to retain this mentality," the coach was quick to point out with his entire focus on Sampdoria. "They're a pacy side and they've got good players on the flanks who can stretch a back three, we need make sure we nullify this threat."
From the way his team are set up to play tomorrow, to his side's general system, Stramaccioni was keen to stress that: "Today Inter don't have a best XI. We have two systems which allow us to change tactics. You need a touch of unpredictability. We can play with two or three up top, and the ability to switch formations is a strength of ours: so indeed is the desire of my players. I've never seen any lack of desire or determination."
Speaking of determination and desire, Stramaccioni announced the Nerazzurri's aims: "We want to be back in the Champions League. Inter are hungry. And we're happy that we've managed to create a team in such a short space of time."
Finally the coach was asked his thoughts on chief executive Ernesto Paolillo leaving the club: "I'm not going to be drawn on the club's or Ernesto's decisions. All I will say is he was very important for me, he was one of the people who wanted to bring me to Inter and I think he had more meetings with Roma than anyone else to sign me. He helped me to settle here and I will forever be grateful for that."
