APPIANO GENTILE - "We're close to having lots of players back who weren't available towards the end of last year: Mudingayi, Coutinho and Obi are big players coming back. No one is ready to start tomorrow but they are fit again." Andrea Stramaccioni began today's press conference by discussing the return from injury of several players who feature in the squad for Inter v Pescara.
The coach is upbeat, explaining to the press that this "past week has been very constructive, we got a lot done and saw what the lads are made of. Tomorrow's match is an opportunity for us to strike the right chord and get back to winning ways."
Inter v Pescara is the first match of the second half of the league season, and Stramaccioni was asked to assess the first: "I don't think we had a positive start, we struggled to gel due to so many changes in personnel, but from Week 5 onwards we laid the tactical foundations which brought us a run of good results both in Italy and in Europe. Then our results tailed off but I strongly believe we are a good side who had a bad run, rather than an average team that had a good start. I think my Inter side will be in there fighting until the end of the season. Our results will ultimately determine that."
What's the reason behind so many injuries? "Injuries are something you can't legislate for and we've had a lot of stress injuries during matches. I think we've done great work with our players on the sidelines. Thanks to the great work of Franco Combi we've got almost everyone back. Either way I'm playing it safe tomorrow: I won't risk players getting injured again. Mudingayi is fit, Coutinho is halfway there, and we're going to wrap Obi up in cotton wool."
Stramaccioni was then asked about the fitness of Milito and Gargano: "Milito had a problem on the eve of the Udinese match, a slight problem with his knee, but it's nothing serious. He's fit now and he's available for selection tomorrow: he won't be 100% but he's recovered. Gargano is in the group but we'll give him a late fitness test tomorrow morning. It's shame it's happened at a time when we're a bit light in central midfield."
Nagatomo's name also features in Stramaccioni's squad for tomorrow but the coach explained that, "he's in the squad because he asked to be around the players, just like Milito came to Udine, and Cassano came to Parma. He loves this club and he wants to make his presence felt. He's not fit and he won't play, but I hope to have him back for Roma."
