APPIANO GENTILE –
"I agree with Mazzarri, no game can be decisive at this stage of
the season. It is a six-pointer, not make or break, but it is a
six-pointer. And it’s important for us." That was Andrea Stramaccioni’s assessment ahead
of Inter v Napoli, scheduled for a 20:45 kick-off at the Stadio
Meazza tomorrow.
The coach went on: "With Mazzarri, Napoli
have reached the peak of their current cycle. In many ways we’re at
the opposite end of the spectrum, in the sense that we’re in the first year of a new project."
After stressing that Diego
Milito is "the best penalty-box striker in Serie A," Stramaccioni
gave his opinion about two Napoli players in particular, Edinson Cavani and Marek
Hamsik, offering sincere praise: "Cavani is an
exceptional player, a lovely lad and a true professional. He’s
living up to the status of one of the world’s best strikers. It’s
rare to see someone who can combine the physical characteristics he
has with such talent. He helps out defensively, he’s the perfect
example of a modern forward. Hamsik gives them an extra gear:
he’s got incredible stamina and amazing attacking prowess. At the moment Hamsik is
the reason Napoli are as good as they are, because Cavani, while
extraordinary, is a striker, and the opposition’s defence can pick him up on
their radar."
The Nerazzurri coach then identified one of the main threats to his side tomorrow: "If we’re not careful in certain situations in the middle of the
park, we could find that we are the perfect victims for a team like Napoli.
Their strengths coincide with our weaknesses. However, we’ve been
working all week to ensure that doesn’t happen."