APPIANO GENTILE - "Our fans have responded with 50,000 due at the Roma match and this gives us a huge lift: we'd be so pleased if we could get a result tomorrow, we'll try to give everything we can for our fans, using this injury crisis to show more bite and desire." Andrea Stramaccioni was keen to recognise the fans' importance tomorrow in his press conference this morning.
The Nerazzurri coach is focused on his side's opponents: "Roma come into the game on good form, they've been able to rest six or seven players who I think will start tomorrow, while we'll have the same team out, actually with two fewer players. I coach Inter though, and I know the character and temperament of my players, we'll give it all we've got. Roma are one of the best teams out there in terms of talent, they've got quality young players, alongside some greats of Italian football. They can push on over the coming years and become one of the top sides. Whichever way it goes we have six matches that we need to play our best in. The squad has always kept together even during the tough times."
The dubious penalty awarded to Cagliari once again came up, with TV footage being used but the coach was quick to dismiss the controversy saying, "we're disappointed they were given a penalty when it clearly wasn't one, but that's it now, we've moved on and we're only thinking about Roma."
During the press conference, reference was made to what president Massimo Moratti said yesterday, specifically his comments relating to José Mourinho: "I haven't picked up on the idea of everyone's against us, but of course there is a huge rivalry. Inter has finished a great winning cycle, there might be added antagonism because the club won trophies until recently. But I've not been in football as long as my president and Mourinho."