Inter director Piero Ausilio said Keita Balde Diao was signed precisely for games like Parma, while he’s fired up for the Champions League with Tottenham.
Inter-Parma kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for the line-ups and Liveblog.
“The choices were dictated by many things. These are all players with a lot of quality, the Coach evaluated several aspects, including Tuesday’s Champions League game with Tottenham.
Inter director Piero Ausilio said Keita Balde Diao was signed precisely for games like Parma, while he’s fired up for the Champions League with Tottenham.
Inter-Parma kicks off at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for the line-ups and Liveblog.
“The choices were dictated by many things. These are all players with a lot of quality, the Coach evaluated several aspects, including Tuesday’s Champions League game with Tottenham.
“However, that only starts to gain meaning if we do our duty and win today in Serie A,” Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia.
Their European campaign begins on Tuesday against Tottenham Hotspur, in a group also with Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven.
“We have so much joy at being back in the Champions League that I didn’t really mind about the draw. We expected a tough group, but we are so pleased to just be playing in Europe’s most prestigious tournament again that we are ready for anything.”
Mauro Icardi is discussing a new contract with the Nerazzurri, but is on the bench today for Keita.
“There is no particular news, other than negotiations are continuing. There’s a long way to go until it expires, so there’s no rush, but both sides want to extend the deal and so we’ll get there.
“We knew that there would be a lot of big games this season, especially early in the campaign, so it was unthinkable to face it with only one centre-forward.
“Keita was chosen also because of his versatility, because he gives us something different with his strength taking men on, his pace and ability to play either with or in place of Icardi.”