It is time. After the test against Stjarnan, Inter will visit Torino for the first game of the campaign and Walter Mazzarri is hoping that Inter can return home with three points. It is a hard stadium to play on, and Giampiero Ventura‘s men grabbed a spot in the Europa League group stage after having beaten RNK Split on Thursday. However, tomorrow night is likely to be a completely different affair as the Serie A kicks off. Here are the declarations of head coach Mazzarri at the first pre-game conference of the Serie A season, held at the Angelo Moratti sport centre.
What kind of Inter will be needed against Torino?
“We have a training session to prepare for the game, I can tell you that they are a good squad at a technical level, they have a good coach and I am curious to see my boys play the first league game. The pre-season games have let us see a lot, now we want to play our own football”.
Is this the Inter you were hoping for?
“I am happy with everything, economically we have done a great job and my requests have still been met. I am happy”.
Has the balance between the top teams changed?
“I think of my own team and in the beginning I will not pay a lot of attention to the others. In addition to the top three teams last year, I think there are four or five teams who could give us a run for our money. This season will be more balanced than last year”.
Will Guarin be called up for the game?
“You will see the call-ups soon, yesterday we just did some recovery work. I will decide both the formation and everything else”.
Is this season’s Inter a stronger team and more adapted to your philosophy?
“Definitely, I knew what I wanted this year. I had already talked to the players and they knew what I wanted ahead of this season. All this mas made sure that we started off with clearer ideas this year. We want to be better than last season”.
Has Medel lived up to his good reputation so far?
“Absolutely, he has surprised me. He could play tomorrow”.
Will Kovacic play as a second striker again?
“He did a fantastic match against Stjarnan. He can play both as a regular midfielder and as a trequartista. We are still studying which position is the best to deploy him. He knows what I want and he also has more confidence in his own abilities. Performing with continuity, getting in shots on goal.. he is on the right path”.
Will there be space for Bonazzoli aswell?
“He could be called up”.
What do you think about Dodô?
“I like his physical and technical abilities. He is young and he is Brazilian, he needs to improve tactically. I will try to help him on a tactical level, he needs to work on that part of his game. I think he is improving and our way of playing helps him display his best characteristics”.
In which areas does the team still need to improve?
“When you are at a certain level you can not allow yourself to approach a game in a different way than the last. This season I want to see continuity”.
Do you feel more pressure than last year?
“We are all working together and I feel even more responsible”.
Can Medel and M’Vila play together from a tactical point of view?
“They have different characteristics: M’Vila is more of a play maker who contributes to the play, but I think that they can co-operate without problems. In the future I will be able to change our game plan by making small changes”.
Any comments on the Europa League group draw?
The Frenchmen are second in the league. The Ligue 1 is a difficult competition and the Ucrainians gave me trouble during my time in Napoli, they have made big investments and playing against them will not be easy. I still have to study the third team in detail”.
Which players will be decisive against Torino?
“The players who played the game on Iceland, even though we all need to take responibility. We have strengthened all areas and for me it is important to have 22 potential starting players. Whoever is best at the moment will play. Kovacic and Hernanes will be very important, I am still awaiting Palacio because he will be fundamental. Handanovic is a great player, and so are Vidic and Juan Jesus. These are the players who are impressing me the most at the moment”.
Torino have had a start to the season that is similar to Inter’s. Which are their strongest points? Have you requested to keep Palacio at the club during the coming international fixtures?
“He will stay here, he agrees with me on this point. I think he needs the break to regain fitness, we have given him time and I want him to be a hundred percent fit when he enters the pitch. This goes for Rodrigo and for everyone else. I am hoping to have him available for the game against Sassuolo.
Torino, on the other hand, have an excellent coach and they never throw away possession, ever. They are a team who can create problemds for everyone. they have enthusiasm. But we want to prove that we have grown”.
Is the objective to play in the Champions League next season?
“I am looking to make us perform at our best, I don’t want to set targets. I want the best in all 38 games, then we can analyse the season afterwards”.
FcInterNews: Would you like to reunite with Lavezzi in the future?
“He is a great player, very nice, in the bar aswell (laughs). He is, however, not an Inter player. You will have to ask Piero Ausilio questions of this character”.
Many experts predict that Inter will be the big surprise this season. Does this fact motivate you,and do you agree with them?
“After what he have done during the pre-season, especially against the top teams we met in America, I understand their opinion. However, I do not consider statements of this kind, personally I have always been optimistic, to motivate the players, to make them feel important, to organise the team like the other top teams or better. With these components, we have always done well and hopefully it will work this year as well. I leave the predictions to others”.
Source: FcInterNews.it
