APPIANO GENTILE – Roberto Mancini sees tomorrow's highly anticipated Milan Derby as an opportunity to claim three big points to keep Inter up near the top of the table.
Speaking at a news conference the day before the match, he explained: "It's not decisive but it is important. Winning the derby is always a boost for morale and confidence. Like any match it's worth three points and it's important for us so that we can stay up there with the leading pack.
"We have to try and perform well and win this game thinking about where we want to be ourselves, not who is behind us."
There were of course questions about Inter's latest signing, Eder Citadin Martins.
The manager said: "It was a great opportunity for us to add something different to our striking options. He can come in very handy but we can't expect him to come in and instantly change everything by himself. He'll need a bit of time to settle in.
"When assessing your moves in the transfer market you have to decide what's best for you. Eder is an extra option as he can play anywhere up front and he does it well."
The coach was also asked about the Nerazzurri's recent form, with results having dropped off in recent weeks.
"January is a strange month for everyone, not just us. You can have dips in form for many reasons and it happens to all teams. Hopefully we'll get out of this rut quickly. We did brilliantly to stay top until 6 January but the season is still long and we can make up ground again. We have to keep working hard – that's what got us up to the top in the first place.
"Nothing serious has happened. We've gone through a run of games in which we perhaps deserved more, or at least not to lose. We did well before then though and that's why we we're still up there with the top teams."
The coach was also asked about his relationship with president Erick Thohir.
"I know some people wrote there were problems between me and the president but it's not true. He's not the sort of person who gets all worked up like we Italians do if we lose a game. He knows we're following a path and that it takes time. He's happy with what we've done so far. We always aim for the top and we have an excellent relationship."
Mancini went on to field questions about a number of different players
"It's not easy for a lad like Gnoukouri when he's not playing. He's made it to Serie A and he'll get other opportunities. It's important for a lad his age to be playing more regularly.
"Ever Banega is a very good player who will be a free agent at the end of the season but for now he belongs to Sevilla.
"Felipe Melo is an experienced player who knows how to deal with lots of different situations. Sometimes he makes mistakes, as we all do. Things don't'change in the dressing room just because you don't get results for two or three games. We all have to start doing better if we think we've done less well the week before.
"Nagatomo is a smashing lad. Even when he's not playing he's always very professional in training. He's doing well at the moment so yes, he has a chance of playing tomorrow."
Chinese network Le Sports then asked Mancini about Fredy Guarin's move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
"I hope Guarin can be a success in China. I like him a lot as a player and as a person. He scored in the last derby and he's a top-quality footballer. I wish him all the best for his time in China."
Finally, the coach revealed some of his starting line-up for the derby: "Handanovic, Murillo, Miranda, Medel, Brozovic."
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