APPIANO GENTILE – "Action and not words. That goes for me just as it does for everyone. The fans want to see results." That's Andrea Stramaccioni's target for next season, as he explained when asked during today's press conference to provide a motto for the Nerazzurri's next campaign.
He continued: "For now though, we're concentrating on ending the year well at the San Siro. We'll have to be on our toes at the back, with no Ranocchia, Chivu, Samuel or Silvestre. Andrea and Juan have shown how good they are. I'll remind you that at the start of the year Juan was seen as a promising player: he's only 21 and has got immense growth potential. I consider Andrea to be one of the certainties of this team. However, I would never look at the defence as separate from all the rest. Tomorrow we have objective selection problems at the back and at least one Primavera lad will have to start.
Is Catania's result important? We've spent a lot of time looking at others' results this year. If we get a good result then we'll look to see what Catania have done, but in any case we'll give it our all."
The transfer market was next up and the coach was asked if Inter need to sign some full-backs and wingers. "I don't think we need wide players in defensive areas, but in attack we do, yes. But I don't think there are many around in Italy.
"Could some players leave, like Guarin? I hope Inter keep hold of their best players. Fredy is important for us and I rate him, he'll stay here.
"Paulinho? He's international class. He likes to be the one who gets forward when he plays in a central midfield partnership, he's young, talented and has plenty of room for improvement.
"Markovic? A very interesting youngster and we helped to make his name known [smiling]. He's one of a group of emerging 19-year-olds that includes Kovacic. We're interested in players like him but we'll have to see.
"Florenzi? I player I'm very fond of as I coached him in Roma's youth academy. There was a time when he was almost released. But he's Roman and a Romanista so I hope he can spend many years at Roma and become the next Totti, the next De Rossi.
"Generally speaking, I think the summer transfer window will be very different this year. Things were rather static last year with most clubs keeping the same coach, whereas this time around I think a number of top clubs will change coach, and of course each coach likes to adjust a team to his liking. Inter have already built a good base and now we need to add something important – not in terms of numbers but in fulfilling precise requirements."
A Japanese reporter then brought a smile to Stramaccioni's face when he asked how Yuto Nagatomo can play with a 'broken knee'. The coach replied: "Despite being a Christian and a Catholic, I don't believe miracles happen in football so I don't think his knee is 'broken' [smiling], though he did have an injury. With the right treatment and the help of doctors Yuto was able to return to the pitch. We took it easy with him for the first two days this week because he hadn't played for a while but then he started training with the rest of the team again. He'll play tomorrow and then, touch wood, he'll be available for Japan."
