COLOGNO MONZESE – Because "you have to put yourself on the line" after a bad defeat like yesterday's. Because "we don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves, since we've got the derby coming up on Sunday - that could be the turning point." Because Diego Milito "is ready to get going again" and he'll be the first one in line to welcome him back. Javier Zanetti spoke about these things and much more during this evening's edition of "Undici", hosted by Pierluigi Pardo, set to air on Mediaset Italia 2 at 21:30.
The chat with the Nerazzurri captain naturally began from where we left him last night, in Florence. "I think first of all we have to give credit to our opponents. They played superbly and we were unable to reproduce anything like our real potential. I tend to be optimistic by nature but after the game yesterday we were really down - about our peformance as much as the result."He's experienced joy and pain with Inter but in the difficult times he's always stood up to be counted: "It's right that I should come out and speak after we lose. I did it soon after I arrived, when we went through some truly tough times. You should never hide away, you have to take responsibility so that you can move forward and grow – because I'm convinced that these difficult moments do help you to grow. We didn't lack determination against Fiorentina, but we did struggle to get the better of them."
After the game Andrea Stramaccioni "was very sad, like the rest of us. No one expected us to play like that. Fatigue? I don't think we should look for excuses, Fiorentina were better than us, there's no point denying it."
Was the Inter seen in Florence the same one that beat Juventus at the Juventus Stadium? "At the time, we were doing better away from home than at the Meazza, whereas now it's on the road that we're struggling. We're a new group, there have been lots of changes and it takes time to build something big. You go into these things aware of the potential for growth and the possibility of reaching the top. We must aim to go all the way in all the competitions we're in. There are lots of teams packed close together in the table. We've changed formation, tried a three-man defence with good results, now we've reverted to four at the back. I think the coach decides based on which players are available as well. We mustn't forget that we've had lots of injuries too."
On Diego Milito: "Mentally, he's already ready to get going again. He's seen his brother undergo two knee operations and Walter Samuel have one too, but Diego's got an unflagging spirit. He wants to be playing again as soon as possible."
Zanetti is not particularly bothered by the sight of Mario Balotelli in a Rossoneri shirt: "We experienced a very intense period together at Inter. Now he's on the other side. On Sunday I'll be happy to say hello to him and then once the first ball is kicked we'll be opponents. Me join AC Milan? The thought has never crossed my mind and that's something that will never happen in my career. Who am I most worried about in the derby between Balotelli and El Shaarawy? They're both fantastic players, but what matters is that Inter are on form."
On Mateo Kovacic: "He's 18 years old, he needs time to develop and to get to know Italian football. We were all poor yesterday, except for Handanovic. I think Mateo will be an extremely useful player but we mustn't expect too much too soon. He needs time and support to grow. You need to help youngsters in tough times more than any other."
