APPIANO GENTILE - "I think what Cagliari have achieved since the new coach came is there for everyone to see, and not only in terms of results." That is how Andrea Stramaccioni opened his press conference the day before Inter v Cagliari.
He continued: "They're playing very well and that's not just my opinion, it's clear to see on the field of play. Although they lost away to Fiorentina, in the first half in particular they were perhaps the team that has played the best football in Florence this season. They are also one of Serie A's least changed outfits and having a well-established group is an advantage for them."
Inter go into tomorrow's game hungry for three points after losing to Atalanta, but the coach was keen to point out that "we don't need to pick ourselves up mentally for Cagliari because we all feel that defeat in Bergamo has done nothing to diminish our prospects. We didn't deserve to lose. Having said that, we do need to starting getting points on the board again now. I hope that coming away from Bergamo empty-handed can be an extra incentive for us."
Reflecting further on last Sunday's game, the coach noted that, "it was probably the match when we've had the most players unavailable so far this season. We were rather short. We're not looking for excuses but that's how it was. Now that we have fewer players missing, the Inter we'll put out tomorrow will have more certainties. We'll try to win it but we're aware that we're up against a team that likes to get at you. Cagliari are perhaps the worst opponents we could face at the moment. Inter will try to win the game without underestimating them and they're the sort of team that can hurt you, but we want to take the game to them. We'll respect our opponents and their strengths but take the game to them."
