APPIANO GENTILE – During his pre-match press conference ahead of Inter v Fiorentina, Walter Mazzarri was asked if he's considering any tactical adjustments to his team. He replied: "I don't see why I should change anything when the team is working perfectly well as it is. Besides anything else, this is probably the least appropriate game to be experimenting. The players who are starting at the moment offer me guarantees. If someone had told me he was tired, I might have thought about changing one or two, but I don't think there's any need at the moment."
It was then put to Mazzarri that Icardi and Belfodil aren't getting a lot of playing time. "You know that you're allowed 11 players in football, right? Who should I take out so that they can play? There's no reason to do that now because those who are playing are doing superbly."
The coach was also asked about his time coaching Vincenzo Montella, and if he ever saw the makings of a coach in him: "I could see that he had quite a character because he never wanted to sit on the bench!" he grinned. "Even when he had problems with his knee and was slower than the others he still wanted to play... [smiling]. No, he's a good lad. I might have guessed he would become a coach. I found out later when he called me to learn about the job."
On Ricky Alvarez's form: "I spoke to him yesterday actually. He just needs to concentrate on keeping up what he's doing. I'm trying to keep him away from the spotlight because people on the outside change what they say about you every five minutes. But if he were to play the whole season at the level he is now, I'd struggle to find words to describe him. When there was talk that he might leave, I said I wanted to take a look at him first."
After completing his media duties, Mazzarri spoke briefly to Inter Channel about the atmosphere he found at the club when he arrived: "A great atmosphere. President Moratti has shaped the club like a big family. When you arrive, everywhere you look you see people hard at work. That embodies my own life and work philosophy."
