PINZOLO – After the afternoon workout, Mauro Icardi spoke to Andrea Paventi of
Sky Sport Italia about the Nerazzurri’s pre-season training camp in Pinzolo and
his first few days at Inter: "We’re working hard. It’s a new team with a
new coach, a new staff and a lot still to prove. We all want a starting spot
and are giving our all. You can see this from the muscle fatigue that Kovavic,
Obi and Kuzmanovic have suffered."
On Walter Mazzarri: "He’s making us all play and getting the best from
each of us. I still have to learn more. In football you’re always learning and
I have a way to go."
Training every day alongside champions like Rodrigo Palacio and Diego Milito
can only serve to stimulate a player even more. "They’re both great
players who play the same role I do. What I need to do is follow the way they
train, observe their movements and learn from them. Have they already given me
some advice? No, we've just started. It’s still early," said Icardi.
Regarding the upcoming season: "Everyone that plays the game wants to be a
starter, but at Inter there’s so much competition with so many great players
here. Does being at Inter mean I’ve made it? I’d say it’s more of a starting
point. At Sampdoria I did well and arrived here, now I have to do well
here."
The advice he received from Walter Mazzarri: "To work hard. From his first
day here he spoke to all of us. I don’t know what he told the other players but I
know what he said to me, and it was this."
On Juventus: "Last year they were favourites for the title. I believe it’s
the same again this year because they’re the champions and have strengthened
their team. We have to give our all. What would I take from Tevez? I’d like to
score as many goals as he does."
Mauro has come to a team that, like the others coached by Mazzarri, brings out
the best in the forwards. However, this fact doesn’t frighten him. "No, it
doesn’t put more pressure on me. It’s part of a forward’s job. But yes, I’ve
been told that all the forwards usually do well with Mazzarri. Have I set a
minimum for myself of 20 goals? Perhaps. Let’s see… [smiling]"
