Mancini: "We want to reach the final"
Tuesday, 06 May 2008 15:43:03
[FOTO Tuesday, 06 May 2008 15:43:03]

APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini answered questions from the press in a news conference ahead of Wednesday evening's Tim Cup semi-final match at Lazio.

This is what the Inter coach had to say:

Mancini, you will take your whole squad to Rome, but have you already considered resting a few players ahead of Sunday's game?
"Some of them will rest, some will go on the bench and some will play, including some of those who played against Milan."

Many said that Inter lacked courage in the first half of the derby. What do you think about this?
"This is not true at all. There's no such thing as lack of courage. We have never played to draw, neither the derby nor any other game. We can say that Milan played better than us in the first half, but this can happen in a match between two strong teams. In the second half we went two goals down in just a few minutes and our reaction after that was furious. The criticism, however, isn't a problem. In the league we just have to think about getting three points against Siena to finish it off."

Inter seem a bit tired. Don't you think you need to change your athletic preparation for next season?
"No. These are the usual stupid things they all say when a team is having a hard time. Not many of them understand football so they come up with the preparations, Dubai and all these things..."

Is tomorrow evening's match against Lazio a disturbance ahead of Sunday's game against Siena?
"No. In fact, I think it's positive to play straightaway. We want to reach the Tim Cup final and we will do everything to win the game despite resting a few players. Also, it's a match that comes after a defeat and in these cases it's better to play again straightaway and do well again - and there's nothing better than a Coppa Italia semi-final."

Have you already decided who will rest tomorrow?
"I will decide calmly between today and tomorrow."

After five years at Inter, Giovanni Trapattoni said that there's an environment where the pressure grows on the inside. And last week, Mancini said he was tired...
"Nothing creates pressure for me. I think it's quite normal to be tired after such a long season, especially if the training sessions and matches are intense. But this happens in every job. There can certainly be more pressure when you're coach of an important team, but this happens everywhere, not just here, and I have always been used to this. Cycles always finish sooner or later, and I don't know how long mine will last. It's hard to say. I think it was a different situation when Trap was here. He's still the number one, even after his press conference in Ireland, in which he was superb, and I congratulate him."
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