APPIANO GENTILE – "I
always try – and I say this regardless of the moment – to
treat each game as if it were the last. It's my way of making
myself give everything I can. Criticism? It's right that I
should be criticised when things aren't going well. But the president
has great faith in me and I hope to repay him for it. My players
and my president give me strength." That's how Andrea Stramaccioni responded when asked - during his press conference on the eve of Inter v AC Milan - about some of the criticism he has received recently.
Does he feel he has the club's backing? "I don't think the president could have said or done anything more in the difficult moments. Milan backed Allegri when they were going through their crisis period and were much lower down the table, but hearing my president talk like that and seeing my players giving me their all is the best sign I could ask for. It tells me that I just have to keep on working. I know what I want to do and what I should expect. And the only person who decides is Moratti."
Moving back to the topic of his team selection for tomorrow, the coach admitted that "having experienced players in the team is important. And I can say quite confidently that we have more decisive players than they do."
Finally, Stramaccioni had this to say when reminded about his celebrations after the derby earlier in the season, which led to him being criticised for going over the top: "Ok, let's put it this way, if we win tomorrow I'll go a bit easier on the celebrations..."
