APPIANO GENTILE - Stefano Pioli looked ahead to Monday night's match against Fiorentina at the Meazza and the coach was quick to stress how his side plan to bounce back from their Europa League reverse in Israel: "We expect an immediate response. We did very well for 45 minutes the other night but then we played very badly after the break. I've got an intelligent group of players who can focus for the full 90 minutes."
The coach revealed he is taking things one step at a time, despite the media's suggestions that a lack of European football in the new year might prompt some departures in January: "All I'm thinking about for now is our next game, then up until 21 December. We'll decide the best course of action for the January transfer window only after the winter break."
Pioli is not one for permutations, however: "We have some ground to make up but there's no point trying to tot up our potential points. We have the chance to leapfrog one of our rivals with victory over Fiorentina."
Some aspects of what the new coach has seen so far have impressed him more than others: "I've enjoyed our approach to training and matches. We were able to take the game to the opposition in the early stages of both matches but now we have to work hard for the full 95 minutes. I didn't like the fact that we took our foot off the pedal in Be'er Sheva, thinking we'd already won the game. I want us to bounce back in style."
While he stressed the importance of the injured Gary Medel, Pioli recognised that his squad is big enough to cope with the demands of the fixture list: "Gary is definitely an important player in terms of his ability and temperament but I have a quality group of players that can make up for the odd absentee. We all have to work harder as a unit when we don't have the ball."
The assembled press claimed an improvement to Inter's defensive record could be a route back to winning ways: "There are always times when a team makes mistakes over the course of a season," Pioli acknowledged. "We must find the right balance and we actually defend better when we press high up the pitch. Our heads must control our legs and not the other way round. We will improve in several areas by working together."
There is of course no substitute for hard graft: "The lads have a great work ethic," said Pioli. "They're not pleased with results but they're doing all they can to improve. I've seen great professionalism and we know that quality, hard work and principles are needed at a club like Inter."
A three-man defence was also mooted, with the coach showing he's tactically flexible: "I won't rule out anything from a tactical perspective. Very few people realised that we actually played three at the back in the second half on Sunday. It's not an issue with the formation - it comes down to focus and attention. I expect a lot from Miranda because he's an excellent defender and consummate professional. Who he plays alongside depends on who is best prepared to step into the side."
Finally, a word on Inter's opposition on Monday night: "They're a top side and they lost in the Europa League so they'll be keen to get back on track, just like us. We have to inspire the fans in order to cause the opposition problems. Everyone can earn their chance in the side with hard work on the training ground and Gabriel Barbosa is showing that, along with his other team-mates. As I've said, it's too soon to talk transfers."
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