APPIANO GENTILE - Inter host Torino at the Stadio Meazza tomorrow looking to make it three home wins on the bounce after recent triumphs over Genoa and Sampdoria.
Ahead of the Nerazzurri's Week 20 encounter, Roberto Mancini opened his press conference today by explaining what he wants to see from his team.
"I hope they can play well and keep on making progress, building on what we did against Sampdoria.
"Torino are an excellent side with an excellent coach in Ventura. We have to try and boss the game, maintaining possession and pressing high."
Erick Thohir was at the training ground to visit the team today. What did he say to the coach? "We only had time to say a quick hello and wish each other a happy new year - this is the first time we've met in 2015. I'll have a chance to talk to him later as he's going to be spending some time with us."
Mancini also reflected on the Nerazzurri's last league match: "Empoli are a team that run a lot, play good football and are set up superbly. We did well to remain compact and the point earned there could prove decisive when we add everything up at the end. Obviously our aim is to impose ourselves away from home as well but the Castellani is a tough ground to play at. We must strive to reproduce the same things we saw at home against Sampdoria when we're on the road."
The boss then took questions on a number of individual players.
"I don't think Shaqiri has 90 minutes in him. We'll see tomorrow whether to start with him or use him from the bench.
"It's been a great week for Icardi. His daughter's birth is a wonderful event, then he got a goal and I hope he can carry on scoring.
"Do Guarin and Hernanes need to improve? Fredy played very well against Empoli even though we had a man less in midfield. Hernanes has the ability to do better, but then the same goes for everyone.
"Kovacic in a deep-lying role? When the time comes we'll try him out there too.
"Ranocchia is fine. He could play tomorrow.
"Osvaldo? I have nothing against him. I wish him all the best."
There was of course the usual string of questions about the transfer market, starting with the possible signing of Marcelo Brozovic. "Right now we have to focus on Torino. If we bring anyone else in, there'll be time to talk about that during the week," Mancini replied.
"Yaya Touré? I wanted him at Man City so he's a player I know pretty well. He's one of the best footballers in the world but he belongs to City at the moment. I don't know what might happen in future but I can say that Inter have a big enough appeal to attract players of that calibre. The club has over 100 years of history behind it and a huge collection of silverware."
Asked if some players might leave in January, the coach went on: "I don't think we'll sell any of our regular starters. We can only make three changes to our Europa League squad. One of those will be Shaqiri or Podolski. We'll look for people who might be able to help us in Europe too.
"I must thank Thohir, Ausilio and Fassone because they're doing a fantastic job, working in Inter's best interests.
"Do we need another striker? As things stand I think it's other areas of the pitch where we might need to do something.
"Lucas Leiva or Diarra? I don't think either of those are easy routes to go down."
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LIVE! CONFERENZA STAMPA ROBERTO MANCINI PRIMA DI INTER-TORINO 24.1.2015 H:12:15CET
