TRIESTE - "It's a shame. We played well in the first half and we deserved the lead, and we hit the post through Cambiasso. They stayed back and broke when we misplaced a pass. Then there was that challenge on me on the edge of the area: the Cagliari defender pulled me back, but the referee told me that although there was contact, it wasn't a foul. This has already happened to us, it gets us down and we're not able to react. We need something positive to happen to give us more belief." This is what Tommaso Rocchi had to say to Inter Channel following the Cagliari match.
His thoughts turned quickly to Wednesday night's Coppa Italia semi-final second leg match against Roma at the San Siro. "It will be 11 against 11. It all starts in our heads, we need to find the right focus to play a good match which will allow us to go through. But we've already got our minds on that game. Our squad has been decimated by injuries and suspensions? That happens in football, we'll go out there to show who's the better side. Is it a special match for me? Of course it means a lot because I played for Lazio, but I've played in plenty of derbies against Roma. I'll be motivated to play well for Inter, we want to get through."
Finally, a word on the newly relaid turf at the Stadio Nereo Rocco: "The ball didn't bounce properly, it certainly wasn't the best surface. But I won't say any more on that because it'll look like I'm moaning. The pitch needed time to bed into the ground, that's why players were slipping. But it's not an excuse because both teams had to play in those conditions."