APPIANO GENTILE – One of the topics brought up in today's press conference was the rumoured managerial merry-go-round set to take place this summer. Andrea Stramaccioni was asked – half in jest – if he too has signed a three-year contract following today's reports about Massimiliano Allegri's future. "I signed a three-year deal with Inter last season!" he grinned. "Would I be surprised to hear that Inter had made contact with Allegri? When they called to tell me this morning I thought 'Well, we've heard them all now...' I don't think there's any truth in it. All parties, including Allegri, have denied it. However, I do have a lot of respect for Allegri for what he's achieved."
Commenting on the current situation at Inter generally, Stramaccioni said: "I don't think the coach and players should always be judged as having done badly when things don't go well. Inter have started something new and difficult after closing a fantastic cycle. The first years of restructuring are always difficult – just look at Borussia, Juve etc. I believe Inter have laid some good foundations and only people with ulterior motives can say any differently. I'm sure the president will keep building on these foundations. I can see from the way the president is working, from the way people are working on the transfer market, that Inter are going to be a competitive team. People are working to bring players who are worthy of playing for Inter to the club. The fans needn't worry about that. We're going through a desperate situation and people who analyse things objectively take that into consideration; people who don't take it into account are just twisting things."
The coach was then asked about the fact that Mateo Kovacic won't be taking part in the U-20 World Cup. "That was agreed between the club and the Croatian national team. We brought him to Milan early to beat off the competition from Real Madrid and Manchester, and it's paid off because he's grown in confidence in these first six months and he'll keep doing so. Kovacic is going to get better and better and it's important to have him here with us."
Stramaccioni was also asked to comment on Juventus' Scudetto success and remarks made by Conte this morning: "I think the team that is top of the league is the team that has played best and most consistently this season. As for Conte, I don't have anything particular to say. He has his finger on the pulse of the situation and knows what's going on at his club."
