Roberto Mancini met the gathered press at Appiano Gentile to answer questions ahead of tomorrow night’s Serie A fixture between Inter and napoli at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milano’s San Siro district. Below is the entire press conference as it occured.
Do you have more hope to reach the third spot or regret over the missed chance against Torino?
“I think that the chances aren’t that big but there are 18 points left to play for and we have the to think positive.”
Playing Napoli without Higuain is an occasion not to lose…
“Napoli is a great team even without Higuain, who has made the difference. Gabbiadini will play who is very good, we need to pay attention.”
Aside from Icardi up front there hasn’t been much continuity, is that due to your work or the lack of players?
“We have never told the players not to score. There are monets where the attackers score goals, others when it doesn’t happen. It’s been our Achilles heal, with 7-8 goals more we would have had 6 points more.”
Liverpool-Dortmund was a great game for football, dis that made you want to return to the Premier League? What kind of match could Inter – Napoli be?
“I didn’t see the match but I know that Anfield is indredible when they have to stage a comeback, I don’t think there is anything similar in Italy. I hope tomorrow night will be a great match, two great teams are playing and this is the hope.”
Thohir is back, will you ask him for a big player?
“I think his objective is the same as everyone elses, to improve the squad year by year. I don’t think there are any differences.”
Napoli aren’t superior in the direct encounters, do you have any regrets when you loook at the league table? What is missing at Inter?
“We have to think about the last 6 matches. The team is beginning to find it’s shape, having reference points for the future. We’re missing important players who can help this young team improve. But it’s fundamental to have reference points. Now we’re thinking about the remaining 6 points.”
Is there anything that could make you decide to want to leave?
“Inter has been paying attention to FFP for quite some time, I knew this before and it will be like this for some time. We are looking to do our best and not make mistakes. If I’ll stay? I can’t keep replying to the same question [laughs].”
Is it possible to see the same spirit shown against Juventus in these last few matches?
“That’s what we need to do, unfortunately we’ve lost points and now we’re trying to fix the damage, we need to have a little luck on our side. We have 6 difficult matches left, the teams left to meet are solid, some have nothing to lose.”
What is your relationship with Icardi?
“Never had a problem, if a player is on the bench he’s never happy for this, it happened to Icardi, Jovetic, palacio. There have never been problems like the ones that have been reported. I don’t know why they’ve written these things.”
Will you shake Sarri’s hand?
“Yes, this episode belongs to the past. I’m not in favour of replays, they are more for the refereeing errors, not the assitants or the goal-line referee’s, but the referee.”
Can Kondogbia and Perisic be Inter’s future reference points?
“Perisic needed some time to understand Italian football, he had less physical problems that Kondogbia, he came from a much more competetive league. In France, until last year there was only PSG and Monaco, Geoffrey needs more time. Recently he’s been on the bench due to injury, otherwise he would have played. he’s doing well now.”
Did you ever consider bringing Mertens and Gabbiadini to Inter?
“I have liked Gabbiadini since his days at Atalanta for his characteristics. Mertens is very well knows. They are Napoli players, who are creating a competitive team and so they are difficult to sign.”
Why isn’t Telles a regular starter?
“Telles is young, he came to Galatasaray when I was there after 6 months in Brazil. He needs to work and adapt to Italian football, he has quality and he needs time.”
Are the rumors surrounding the clubs ownership having any kind of impact on the team?
“I don’t think so at all.”
Could Inter have more than 6 points that you spoke about earlier?
“Yes, we’ve lost many points. We could have one or two less than Napoli.”
Are Manaj and Gnoukouri ready for bigger a bigger stage?
“They have played, s few months back Gnoukouri was amongst amateurs, like all young players he needs to play in order not to lose tempo. Manaj is more ready physically, he could have a future at Inter.”
How much would Italian football benefit froma reserve team league?
“In England it’s like the Primavera team, just that many times first team players could play. The problem is that in Italy the youngsters need to play more but the results are so important the the coaches don’t give chances to possibel starters.”.
Will Gnoukouri be able to play more now? What is your idea of Mihajlovic?
“I’ll reply to the first question. Gnoukouri needs to play, just training undermines a kid liek that. I hope that he will have his chance, but next year will be fundamental to find a situation where he can play more.”
Will something change for you with the absence of Higuain?
“Absolutely not.”
You know Erkin, when did the idea to bring him here become concrete?
“I have seen him playing, he’s a good player and with expiring contract, it’s a good idea to take good players, not too ‘old’, in a cheap way but it’s soon to say that we can take him or another one”.
