APPIANO GENTILE – Stefano Pioli was keen to stress that Inter are thinking about nothing but Empoli and a return to winning ways on Sunday when he sat down to preview the game at a press conference today.
"We've been focusing solely on our football and the jobs we have to do," he told the gathered journalists at Suning Training Centre. "We've moved on from last Sunday, from the result and from the talking points. We matched a very good team. Our work is paying off but of course small details can determine whether a match is won or lost.
"Our performance should give us the incentive to get going again. Inter must get back to winning ways.
"We need to stay focused at all times because every ball could be decisive. We're going to need to pick up lots and lots of points in the second half of the season so we can't afford to get anything wrong.
“I've seen plenty of desire and determination and those are big positives we must build on. There's no problem on a mental level but it's up to us to prove that on Sunday.
"The lads have cut themselves off from everything that's gone on this week. It's not the first time we've seen something like this when big clubs are involved. I said what I had to say on the matter after the game. Since Monday we've been focused on Empoli."
The Nerazzurri will be missing some key players this weekend but Pioli is adamant that Inter have the strength in depth to make up for any absences
"Icardi is an important player for us, as are Perisic and Brozovic, but now we have a chance to show our quality as a squad.
“It's not true that we don't have a replacement for Icardi: with Pinamonti, Eder, Palacio and Barbosa I have plenty of options. We know what each of them can do. We can play with a traditional centre forward or with a more mobile player. Eder and Palacio both have great movement, for example. It depends on the game and how our opponents set up."
Pioli went on to underline the importance of Sunday's fixture and reiterate that Inter's destiny lies in their own hands.
"This game against Empoli is really important. We must be fired up for it and switched on if we want to start winning again and go on another run.
"We can decide our own fate: there are 15 matches left to play and we must win as many of them as possible. There's not much difference between us and the sides at the very top.
“Defeats hurt but it's precisely when you lose a game that you need to show your togetherness. I expect to see a reaction tomorrow."
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