PINZOLO - Andrea Ranocchia chatted to Sky Sport Italia's Andrea Paventi after training today. You can read the defender's words here on inter.it.
First of all Andrea, how are you doing from a fitness point of view and how have you found the first part of this training camp?
"I feel good and mentally I'm ready. I've trained and I've shaken off the various niggles that affected me a bit last season. Now we're training really well and although we're finding it quite hard that's how it should be in this period."
Do you get the impression from these first ten days of training camp that Walter Mazzarri has shaken things up most of all from a fitness point of view and that you're also trying out new things tactically?
“Definitely, yes, and you can see that from the enthusiasm in the stands too. The stadium is always packed and that gives us a boost. We're putting in a lot of work and the coach is trying to drum into us his ideas and his instructions. We're putting everything into it and trying to get ready to have a great season."
What one thing do you absolutely have to change to avoid a repeat of the disappointing end to the campaign you had last year? If you had to pick out one thing, what would you say?
"The sixty [smiling] injuries we had last year certainly affected things because we got to a point where we only had 12 first-team players available and the rest were youth kids. It's virtually impossible to think about doing well when you get to that stage. So yes we'll definitely have to do better with injuries and hope we don't get any."
You got on really well with Andrea Stramaccioni. Were you sad about the way things worked out? What can you take from last season?
"I was sad because when a coach leaves it means we've all failed, everyone involved with the team. But it happened, now I'll take the positives and try not to get the same things wrong that didn't go well last year."
What was your first impression of Walter Mazzarri? Did you know him before or had you been told anything about him?
"I didn't know him personally but Christian Maggio [who played for Mazzarri at Napoli] told me about him when we were on international duty together and he was always full of praise. Mazzarri's been a really positive note on this training camp so hopefully we'll keep up the good work we've started over the last few days and take his ideas on board as soon as possible."
Have you ever worked this hard and sweated this much in pre-season before?
"I worked with Antonio Conte back in my Arezzo days and it was very similar then but that's how it should be: really hard going now then less tough during the year."
What was the most important thing Mazzarri said to you, given that he spoke to all of you one by one?
"I prefer to keep that to myself but let's say he explained his tactical concepts very clearly during those chats. The other things I'd rather keep to myself."
On a personal level, how are you dealing with the training camp? Last year you came here in a similar condition, then you worked your way up the pecking order and were one of the best performers in pre-season as well as being a regular starter. Do all the rumours we hear unsettle you at all or do you think it will end up the same way as last year?
"For me it's the same every year! Every year I come into pre-season with rumours about whether I'm staying or not but, as I've always said, I just keep going about my job professionally as I have done ever since I started playing. My contract runs until 2015 and there's no getting away from that. My thoughts are on staying here and being a success here, also because leaving Inter after winning just a Coppa Italia would be a personal defeat and I don't want that."
How much do you want to stay at Inter and repay the fans for the way they've got behind you in this period?
"Yes, I want to repay them and I'd fail in that respect if I were to leave. My aim is to repay them for all the support they're giving me."
Is this team capable of challenging for the title already?
"I hope so because that has to be the target for a club like Inter. We'll keep working hard as we're doing now and we're preparing for a tough year because all the big teams have strengthened."
Can Ishak Belfodil and Mauro Icardi become real 'Inter' strikers?
"They're both very talented players and watching them in this early phase of training they're keen to learn and put in the effort so they've come here with the right mentality for this team. It's what we need and I hope they'll learn from Milito and Palacio too, experienced strikers who have won things and can certainly help bring them on."
What are your personal hopes for a season that at international level leads up to the World Cup and at club level has to be the rebirth of Inter?
"I've learnt that what happens at international level is a result of what you do at your club so at the moment I'm just thinking about playing really well for Inter. I hope we have a fantastic season and I hope to go to the World Cup."
A promise for the fans?
"To give my all, as I've always done and as I always will."
