APPIANO GENTILE – Roberto Mancini says Inter's strong start to the season has helped build a positive atmosphere about the place but insists that the team has achieved nothing yet.
The Nerazzurri head into tomorrow's meeting with Hellas Verona sitting top of the league, having taken maximum points from their opening four games, yet the boss was quick to stress that there is still a long way to go, maintaining that the most important thing is his side's continued growth.
Before talking about tomorrow's game, he commented briefly on the Football Therapy project presented in the press room before his media conference.
"It's a wonderful initiative that will help out a number of children going through a hard time. It's another great activity this club has organised," the coach said of the project that will run for the first time at the Fiorentina game next Sunday.
Turning to matters on the pitch, Mancini explained: "We've won our first few games but that doesn't change the path the team is on. We have to keep growing and improving. The only thing the points earned so far enable us to do is get on with our jobs calmly.
"I hoped we would get off to a strong start and it's good because it gives us an idea of how far we might be able to go. It's given us confidence too but we know that if we want to go all the way we have to do even better.
"We did well in the transfer market over the summer, signing players in areas where we needed to strengthen, and we worked well in pre-season too."
Mancini was then asked to respond to claims that Inter aren't playing well. "I've been hearing that about the team that's top of the league since 1982, regardless of whether it's Inter, Milan or Juventus. It's just a habit we have in Italy, but we respect the views of everyone."
What about comparisons being made with successful Inter sides of the past? "You can't compare them because we haven't won anything yet – all we've done is make a good start to the season."
Verona visit the Stadio Meazza tomorrow night with a number of injury problems and suggestions have been made in some quarters that it could be an easy match for Inter. The Nerazzurri boss replied: "There are no foregone conclusions in Serie A. Carpi gave us a really tough game, and it was no easier against Chievo and Atalanta. To win a match you need to give 120% and stay totally focused.
"Verona are an excellent side. They're solid, defend well and they don't give you much space. Mandorlini is a great coach too. It's going to be tough and we'll have to fight as hard as we did in Verona if we want to get three points."
Mancini then fielded a series of questions about individual players.
On Perisic's position: "He's only been training with us for ten days but we know he can be a big player for us out wide."
On Miranda's fitness: "He's been training with the rest of the squad and I think he's in pretty good shape. Tomorrow morning we'll make a decision on whether to play him."
On whether Ljajic and Brozovic could play: "Adem will be an important player for us because he's tremendously talented and very handy against teams who get everyone behind the ball. He would have come on last Sunday if Murillo hadn't got injured.
"Marcelo could play. We have 20 players so some will play and others will sit out. No one is untouchable here but we have a squad of great players."
On Felipe Melo's competitive streak: "He was the fairest player on the pitch on Sunday. He committed a normal foul – you get those in football. People have gone over the top this week. I see the fouls too and I know a thing or two about the game so I can tell you that lots of untrue words have been said about the way he plays."
On Murillo's injury: "I don't think it's that serious. We'll see how long it takes him to recover."
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