APPIANO GENTILE – "Honestly I can’t look too far into the future, I’m only thinking about Vaslui." This is how Andrea Stramaccioni again underlined the need for maximum focus ahead of tomorrow night’s game, without looking at the longer term, when he was asked whether Inter feel they have to win the Europa League.
The Nerazzurri coach did however spare a thought for Inter fans and is expecting a big turnout: "Their enthusiam can only be a positive, we were pleased by how many people made the trip to Pescara. The fans are a great help. What do I promise them? We try to talk very little and work hard, we are aware of things that aren’t quite right, but for the moment we’re just thinking about Vaslui and getting through. I believe in taking things one step at a time, I think we’ve heard too many promises in the past."
Stramaccioni then discussed tomorrow’s starting line-up and whether he might rest a few faces, while keeping in mind that there are absentees in midfield: "It’s hard to think of which individual players you can rest if you don’t look at the context, I need to first consider what system to play in midfield, then I can begin to see who I can give a rest to. Some of them need it. There are players who have played every game, including for their national team, and others who are not fully fit, but the team comes first. We’ll see whether I can make changes or not.
"When I spoke about the midfield crisis, I meant that Pereira, Duncan and Gargano aren’t eligible, Mudingayi is injured, Guarin came off with a knock against Pescara, he had a minor calf problem that the doctor said wasn’t serious but it was a bit stiff. He’s our bull, he wouldn’t ask to come off even if he were on one leg, but if I can I’d like to rest him. Otherwise he’ll play if we need him. On top of that Nagatomo has come down with a fever. How is Samuel? He’s fit and available for selection."