APPIANO GENTILE – "They've just beaten the best team in the world and we're coming off a period in which we've been inconsistent, so they could be considered favourites. But I could also say that last season we looked like lambs to the slaughter and then we gave them a hard time." Andrea Stramaccioni gave short shrift to claims made by reporters that AC Milan are the favourites heading into the derby.
The Nerazzurri coach was then asked about the fact that Inter are yet to settle on a stable formation: "I think there's an element of truth in all criticism. This season every time we've found ourselves getting used to a certain playing system, something has happened to disrupt it. When a club starts from scratch at the beginning of the season, you obviously begin with a way of playing that you hope will bring results. But when you lose key players, you're forced to rethink a lot of things from a tactical point of view."The reporters in the press room then tried to tease some information out of Stramaccioni regarding tomorrow's line-up, quizzing the coach for example about the use of Antonio Cassano in Florence and Cluj. "When you coach a team like Inter, you have to follow the ideas that will get you the best results possible. And I think a coach who is looking at how to win a derby has to considers all his options, even possibly leaving out an important player. I want to put out the best team possible to win the derby."
The coach then spoke about the team's defensive crisis. "I don't even know if I'll have three first-team centre-backs in total including on the bench... Ranocchia's and Chivu's fitness will clearly determine the line-up, because I have to find alternative solutions since we want to win. If Andrea was fit then I'd try not to risk Cristian - an important player coming back from injury. If Ranocchia isn't available, our options are rather limited. Then you either reshuffle the whole team or you ask Cristian to play through gritted teeth. We've got a defensive emergency. How did Ranocchia look? Horizontal when I saw him... [joking]. More horizontal than vertical at the moment. He'll only play if there's no risk and at the moment it's more likely to be no than yes. Regardless of how important this game is, the season doesn't end tomorrow. In any case, both to keep the group together and because of our injury doubts, I'll only announce the squad list after the team train again tomorrow morning."
