APPIANO GENTILE – "Despite all the problems we have at the moment, the lads have just been getting on with training. I think we've worked well and the players who are available are in good shape." Those were Andrea Stramaccioni's first thoughts as he looked ahead to tomorrow's meeting with Napoli in his pre-match press conference this afternoon.
The coach then went into more detail about some of the players recently discharged from the Nerazzurri treatment room: "We've got Guarin and Cambiasso back with us and yesterday Cassano returned to the group too, though he's obviously a bit further behind. Guarin and Cambiasso are important players to have back. I don't know if I'll use them straight away but they're important.
"Why did Antonio start training with the squad again before Palacio? The recovery period can be different even with the same injury. Will Cassano be available against Lazio? He's raring to go and we'll have to see when he can play again, considering both his urgency to return and his fitness. He might make it for Lazio, we'll have to see.
"Who's fit enough to be included in the squad for tomorrow's game? Palacio isn't, Cambiasso and Guarin are, although we still have another training session to go. Chivu? I'm trying to get him fully fit again. With Samuel out injured, we're a bit thin at the back. I didn't risk him against Palermo but he really wants to do his bit for the team. He'll grit his teeth against Napoli."
"Facing Napoli? It would have been tough if we'd been on top form... They've put some great results together since they got knocked out of the Europa League. But we're going to Naples to play our own game and make life difficult for them."
