APPIANO GENTILE – Walter Mazzarri previewed tomorrow's fourth round Coppa Italia encounter with Trapani in an interview with Rai Sport's Thomas Villa.
We're just a day away from Inter v Trapani now. Do you feel more or less angry about the draw with Sampdoria?
"This is a period when things aren't going our way because we played very well against teams like Bologna and Cagliari, for example, but unfortunately it ended up with the same result – in a draw. In football, when there are points to play for, draws mean that you've dropped points so it's regretful. It's true that we didn't play as well against Sampdoria as in other games. That's something we need to think about, but you could say it's quite normal to have a performance like that after 13 matches in which we've produced some lovely football. It's a shame but we can learn from it because we've got a young team and we're coming off the back of a not very positive season: we had to build up morale again and lots of other things. So it's par for the course. What matters is that we take something from it, and by that I mean that we learn from our mistakes in order to improve in future."
What's the most important thing that this team still needs to develop?
"Consistency. We must understand that every team comes to play against us in a certain way and if we don't match them, at the very least in terms of our compactness, then you risk coming a cropper against any side. Of course a lot of it is down to us too, because when we're able to do our part well we've shown that we can hold our own against small and big teams alike."
Erick Thohir said he'd like to see Inter in the top three. Is that an achievable target?
"I'll be honest with you, as far as I can tell he hasn't set any specific targets but instead has spoken in more general terms. Of course a president has to give the impression that he believes the team can go as high as possible, but I think he's praised the way Inter play and has spoken about growth, getting back to competitive levels again, entertaining football, and other things that are very different to what you hear many presidents saying. We're all on the same wavelength there."
At the start of the season, you said it was pointless talking about winning the Scudetto. Can this team still aim for third place?
"I stand by what I said: if you listened to me in the summer, you already know that our aim is to make Inter competitive again as quickly as possible."
Are you missing not having a true centre forward?
"Back in the summer I think we had Milito and Icardi... but now they're injured. We're missing two players in the same position – and not because the club didn't sign them but because they got put on the sidelines. Until January we have to work with what we've got. Besides, with the players that we have been able to field we have the best attack in Serie A."
What do you think of Juventus' flying form in the league?
"I'm reluctant to talk about other teams. All I'll say is look at the squad they have and what they did in previous seasons. Those are objective facts."
What has surprised you most about president Erick Thohir?
"I haven't had the time to get to know him that well because as you know he was very busy. Of course the coaching side is important and so it's normal for him to be interested in it, but there were people who have been doing their jobs well here since the summer and they haven't' changed. I'm sure he's found out a lot through president Moratti, the managing director, Marco Branca and Piero Ausilio, but unfortunately I'm always on the pitch so I haven't had much time for meetings. There'll be time for those in further down the line."
How important is the Coppa Italia?
"The Coppa Italia comes after the Scudetto and it's an important trophy. It's a good thing. We know that in Italy the cup is only really seen as important when you get to a certain stage, but it's also true that if you don't play well at now – against a Trapani side who will come here tomorrow with all guns blazing – we won't be going very far anyway."
What can you tell us about Lavezzi?
"If Lavezzi did what he did at Napoli and then joined PSG it's because he's a player who would be useful at any club. But going from that to saying that Inter should buy him, well, there are lots of factors to consider"
Massimo Moratti was inducted into the Hall of Fame of Italian football yesterday.
"You know what I'm like, I'm not very good at lavishing praise on people, but I'll say that from the very first day that I had the chance to speak to him, he's come across as a real gentleman."
What differences are there between living in Milan and living in Naples?
"Unfortunately or fortunately I don't get to spend much time in the city becase I spend a lot of my time at La Pinetina, and before that I spent lots of time at Castelvolturno [Napoli's training ground]. I live for my work and if my job is good for me then every part of me feels good."
What do you want to say to the fans?
"To the fans I'll say – as has been my impression so far in this early stage of the campaign – that they've really got behind the team. We have a moderate, well-grounded set of fans. They understand the spell we're going through. If we all stick together we can achieve some great results."
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