APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini insists that Inter's season should be viewed as a good one overall despite the lull experienced in the middle.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's encounter with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, the coach added that Inter must keep looking to win all their matches even if third place now looks unlikely because you never know in football.
"We can talk about any regret we may have next Saturday. There hasn't been a single game where we haven't set out to win. We've always done our very best but this is football: you win some and you lose some.
"It hasn't been a disastrous season and the fans should know that. We're fourth behind three very well-equipped sides. We were superb in the first half of the campaign, then we had a natural dip in form and dropped points but overall it's been an excellent season.
"I gave myself a low mark the other week because I'm very demanding. I have to assess other things but I don't think it's been a negative season."
Could the last three games help decide the futures of certain players?
"As I've said lots of times before, all the players have shown 100% commitment from day one. We need to proudce three top performances because you never know what can happen. As long as third place is still possible we'll keep trying."
Mancini also responded to questions about possible comings and goings at the club over the summer months.
"Banega is a Sevilla player so it would be premature to talk about him now. He's top-quality, skilful and experienced and he plays for Argentina but he doesn't play for Inter.
"It's hard to say what sort of players we're looking for in the transfer market. It depends on how various situations develop in the summer. It's difficult to assess now.
"Ljajic and Telles are both quality players. Alex is younger and has more room for improvement. Adem had a problem in training today so he won't be available for tomorrow."
Will Inter keep hold of the big names?
"I hope the team gets better every year and how that happens is not important. Inter are a great club and must aim to improve constantly. We're on the right track.
"We have lots of good young players because the club has an excellent scouting network. How much we spend depends on FFP. Not everyone can have the same role at Inter that they might enjoy in a mid-table side. Inter are a huge club and playing at San Siro is different to other places."
The coached also spoke about Juventus: "They're a very good team and they've done well to build their own stadium - that's a key factor. They've invested and bought some excellent players. They're the Italian club with the highest turnover and they have an advantage at the moment."
Asked to comment on Atletico Madrid and the comparisons drawn with Inter in the first half of the season, Mancini added: "They've achieved results by playing their own distinct brand of football. They've invested in players and enjoyed three or four great years now, winning the Spanish league and reaching the Champions League final. They're up there challenging again this year. Diego Simeone deserve credit for everything he's done there."
The coach then had a few special words for Leicester and Claudio Ranieri, Crotone and Simone Inzaghi.
"Leicester will win the Premier League and everybody's talking about it – rightly too. I think they should name a road after Ranieri. I'm delighted for him because he deserves this success.
“I'd also like to congratulate Crotone. I think it's a wonderful thing for football that they'll be playing in Serie A.
"And I'm really happy to see Simone Inzaghi in the Lazio dugout because he was a team-mate of mine and then a player under me."
