APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini believes Inter are making constant improvement despite the setback of their recent defeat to Torino.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the Nerazzurri's visit to Sassuolo, the coach declared: "It was a bad result against Torino but we must aim to keep improving every day and hope to get a bit more luck while playing well.
"It won't be easy tomorrow because Sassuolo are a handy side. They have quality up front and a very good coach.
"My lads are putting everything into it, both on the training pitch and in matches. Regardless of the result we've made progress on an individual level and as a team. Of course my hope is that we continue to improve. We need to score goals and to do that we have to show a bit more flair in the final third and be more clinical in front of goal. We could also do with a slice of luck in certain match situations."
The boss went on to discuss his injury crisis in defence: "We have a few problems at the back. I hope to have Ranocchia available again. We're very short in the full-back slots but we'll make do in one way or another."
He also fielded a series of questions about individual players.
"Yes, Podolski could play at centre forward – that's one of our options. He's played there before and is experienced enough to do so for us too.
"Icardi is very talented and he can get a lot better through hard work. He applies himself well and I'm sure he will develop into a great centre forward. He's still very young and we can't expect him to perform as consistently as more experienced players.
"Dodo has had some physical problems, that's why Obi played against Torino.
"Brozovic is a central midfielder who can also play in a three-man midfield or in a more attacking role."
With the transfer window set to slam shut on Monday, there was the usual round of questions about possible signings.
Mancini said: "I don't know about Cassano. We've never spoken about that. At the moment we're working on other areas but it's not easy to find players capable of changing things for you in January. Do we need a striker? We need other things. You build a team from the back.
"Rhodolfo? I've been keeping tabs on him for years. At the moment we only have one fit centre-back. We certainly need someone in defence and probably in midfield too. We're going to be playing three games a week soon and we need as well-rounded a squad as possible.
"Bonazzoli moving to Sampdoria? At the moment Federico is an Inter player and I think he will be in future too. Sometimes you need to find solutions that help you respect Financial Fair Play."
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LIVE! CONFERENZA STAMPA ROBERTO MANCINI PRIMA DI SASSUOLO-INTER 31.1.2015 H:12:30CET
