Walter Mazzarri will be putting any fondness for Livorno to one side when his Inter team face the Amaranto on Saturday.
The tactician took charge of the outfit in 2003-04, a spell which underlined his potential on the touchline.
Walter Mazzarri will be putting any fondness for Livorno to one side when his Inter team face the Amaranto on Saturday.
The tactician took charge of the outfit in 2003-04, a spell which underlined his potential on the touchline.
“Livorno was an important experience for my career, we did some extraordinary things that season,” he stated. “However, I will be the Inter boss tomorrow.”
The Nerazzurri will start the San Siro clash as firm favourites for the three points, but Mazzarri respects the Serie A minnows.
“It will be a dangerous game against Livorno, you can’t underestimate anyone at this level.
“I’ve told the players to forget about Udinese and every game should be considered as a Champions League Final, no matter who the opponent. I hope they have listened.”
Inter, despite usually playing with only one recognised striker, are the Division’s top scorers thanks to 27 goals so far.
“I've heard people talk about the fact that we only play with one forward, and would it not be better to play with two, but I think what's important is how the players move and that we try to play positive football.
“I think about both phases of play, I like it when we score goals and don't concede them. In order to score a lot of goals you need to be careful not to allow your opponents to do likewise.
“What matters to me is how the team does as a unit, with the right spirit, that's how we can do well against anyone.”
The Nerazzurri are fourth in the standings, six points behind the Champions League zone and nine shy of leaders Roma.
“We're perhaps a point or two short in the table considering our performances, but we're happy with what we've done so far,” Mazzarri noted.
The tactician was inevitably questioned about two of his Argentines – captain Javier Zanetti and Hugo Campagnaro.
Zanetti could make his comeback from an injury he picked up in April, while the former Napoli stopper is still not fit despite the claims of Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella that he is well.
“Zanetti will be on the bench, we'll see how the match goes and then we'll decide what to do. Having a versatile player is very handy. He just needs to be fully fit and he can help out.
“Campagnaro is monitored on a daily basis. If a player is not training with the rest of the squad then it means he is not fit enough.
“There are no other considerations to make. The club have already released a statement about it.”