APPIANO GENTILE - "We've had this injury crisis for a while now, we've never used it as an excuse and we won't start now. In fact, I'm sure we'll have added motivation and strength to get a result which some people think is beyond us. Roma are an excellent side and we've not even beaten them when we've been at full strength. It will be a very tough match, but we are up for it and want to upset the odds." This is what a determined Andrea Stramaccioni had to say ahead of Inter v Roma, tomorrow at 20:45.
Massimo Moratti yesterday gave a vote of confidence to the Nerazzurri coach and Inter. Today Stramaccioni was quick to highlight that the president not only has faith in him, but in Inter as a whole. "He has faith in the whole club at the moment, not just the coach, we all need it give it everything, right down to the ground staff. I saw faith in Inter - not just the coach - in what he said. There's no point judging the work of the coach and team at this stage, everyone can have their say later. Then we'll see where we are, but I don't think my future will be decided by tomorrow, but by what I've done over the course of a year. Although tomorrow's match is very important, I don't think it will make or break the coach's future or other issues. The president has put across to us that this a bad situation, a storm, that we'll ride out together. The president will give his verdict at the end, not based on Inter v Roma, but on the season as a whole.
"We shouldn't only be judged on the last ten games, even though in football the last ten matches are the most important, not the first ten. We're now in an injury crisis which has meant we've lost the confidence we had at the start of the season. But Inter haven't always been on this run, my players have shown they can compete with anyone. Yesterday I read that Lazio were missing three players and lost as a result, we've been in this situation for I don't how long. But now we're just thinking about Inter v Roma, about doing everything once we cross that white line. Either way it's too soon to start making judgements, or to talk about the future, on the eve of such an important match."
Stramaccioni was then asked about what Inter would do in the transfer market this summer: "The president has clear ideas on this, the club are already at work, based on what went on this season, whilst keeping in mind that, despite negative results, some players have stood out. Either way, the club has already finalised a number of deals and I was consulted on them, but I don't know if this means anything. I'll bring the season to a close in the best way possible and then the president will decide whether to stick with me or go for another coach. What the president has to say is always important but we must now think about Inter v Roma. He has his view on what's going on. The coach and players need to come up with something special tomorrow, to give that bit extra on the pitch, given what's going on."
