MILAN - No excuses, but no compromises either. Walter Mazzarri is in no doubt, he wouldn't settle for a draw before the game: "I could never think about taking a draw before going out to play... when you head out there you always try to give everything. We're going to try and produce our best. For 95 minutes, stoppage time included, I want to see a certain attitude from my players."
The Nerazzurri coach continued emphasising that "Juventus won the Scudetto last season with the best defence, Napoli had the best attack but the second best defence. How you play when you've not got the ball is important, the whole team must be compact and together, and not afford space to great players. That's a basic concept my players must always remember. We need to think about defending but also try and hurt the opposition. Should things go well for us tomorrow, it would be very important for us because we're still growing as a side, and that would help us to gain the conviction that Juventus already have. The guys could use a boost to their self-confidence but – as I've said – it's consistency that counts. What do I think about Juve being billed as favourites? Football's great because the team that's fancied doesn't always win, and this motivates me to do something more. I will call on my players to be very careful, and if things were to go well we mustn't think that one swallow makes a summer. In fact last year we beat Juve, but I want consistent performances. Fans like consistency."
Mazzarri was then asked about his relationship with Antonio Conte – with the press suggesting there's no love lost between the pair – and where it originated from: "Ask him... I don't know what you're referring to [to one journalist in particular]. If I've done something that's offended him, well, you'd need to ask him. The only thing, which for me was a compliment, was when I said they'd changed system to come to Napoli, but I meant that as praise."
How many titles have Juventus won? This was something else Mazzarri was asked: "Let's not go there!" The coach, in reference to the historic rivalry between the two clubs explained that "these rivalries are important and good for the sport, they get people fired up, as long as they still behave in a civilised manner. I hope to bring as much satisfaction to the supporters as possible."
But is this Inter side, as Gianluigi Buffon has claimed, really like the Juventus team of two years ago? "I don't know from what perspective he's saying that, I don't see a lot of similarities. I'm not sure what he's referring to," responded the Inter coach.
Mazzarri then gave an update on the team news for tomorrow: "I'll pick Milito in my squad, I want him to be with us, we'll see if we need him. But obviously he's still to find his best form. Will he go and play for the Primavera again? It breaks my heart to send him into those games, unless he asks me himself. With an attitude like his, he could regain full fitness through our intense training sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Alvarez is a flair player, what matters is that the guy is sure of what he's doing and what I'm asking of him. I hope he hasn't lost any of his sharpness travelling the globe these last few days. Taïder? They all wanted him, not just me, we all agreed, because at this moment in time Inter are trying to focus on young, quality players like him. Taïder or Kovacic? Taïder's fit, we mustn't forget Kovacic was out for six weeks, the same goes for Milito, it's not a choice between Taïder or Kovacic but a decision based on who's fitter. Is Palacio like Cavani? Palacio attacks the space high up the pitch, he's a different type of player to Cavani, but they're both top performers."
Versión Española 日本語版 Versi Bahasa Indonesia Versione Italiana
LIVE! CONFERENZA MAZZARRI PRE INTER-JUVENTUS 13/09/2013 H. 15:45 CEST
