APPIANO GENTILE – Mauro Icardi has called on his Inter team-mates to give everything they can to ensure the club has a successful Europa League campaign, starting with Thursday’s match against Hapoel Be’er Sheva
"We must focus on tomorrow’s game," the Inter captain said at the pre-match press conference in Appiano Gentile. "We’re playing in the Europa League and we have to give our all. If we want to qualify for the Champions League then we need to take it game by game.
"It’s only natural to look forward to the Juventus game, but we’re professionals and need to focus on this one.
"I saw part of the Israel v Italy match and from what I know Hapoel Be’er Sheva are a good football side. If we do what the boss asks of us then we can make life hard for them."
Icardi also explained that he believes Inter are well stocked with leaders on and off the field.
"We have lots of leaders here at Inter. People say that as captain I should be the leader but all of us need to be pushing in the same direction. I’m a striker and my job is to score goals. Eleven players start each match and we all have that responsibility.
"I’ve scored three goals this season, two headers, but every goal is credit to the work my team-mates do. I shouldn’t be the only one to carry Inter – we must all contribute. In football the most talked-about aspect is scoring goals and I’m the one that needs to score them, so that’s why people talk about me a lot. But you make a team together."
The Inter captain was also asked what he puts his recent hot streak of headed goals down to.
"I’ve scored two this season – we have excellent players like Candreva and Banega who’ve given me great assists. I don’t know why I’ve not scored many headers in recent years. In my eyes it’s just a coincidence because as a lad it was one of my specialities. I train hard every day so that I’m ready for anything.
"I enjoyed playing in the system we used against Pescara, because it means I have quality players around me to help me score. In the first game we played with a 3-5-2 formation but we weren’t so used to it. I think we looked good in a 4-2-3-1 but at the end of the day it’s down to the boss."
Talk then turned to the possibility of Icardi’s early-season form being rewarded with a call-up to the Argentine national team.
"People talk too much about the national team. The coach makes the decisions, not me. If he decides to select me then I’ll be ready and I’ll give my all. I want to play to my very best with Inter to convince the Argentina coach."
One player Icardi would link up with if he were to be selected is new Juventus signing Gonzalo Higuain.
"Higuain is worth the money Juventus paid for him – he scored 36 goals last season. My clause? Messi has one worth 250 million and I don’t think anyone can match that. The club will decide if mine surpasses 100 million. I’m happy at Inter and I want to stay here for as long as I can."
It was also put to Icardi that his goal-to-game ratio is now similar to that of the great Ronaldo Nazario, but the Inter captain was quick to shake off any comparison.
"No – there’s nobody like him. In my opinion he’s the best striker in the history of the game. I want to be successful with Inter and as captain I would love to win this competition."
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