Inter winger Antonio Candreva refuses to rule out a Champions League finish for the Nerazzurri, urging the team to 'aspire to the max'.

The Azzurri international arrived at the club from Lazio in the summer, but did he expect to have been working with four different Coaches by December?

"Honestly, no," the 29-year-old told Corriere dello Sport. "We have to accept the choice of [Roberto] Mancini who decided not to continue with us.

Inter winger Antonio Candreva refuses to rule out a Champions League finish for the Nerazzurri, urging the team to 'aspire to the max'.

The Azzurri international arrived at the club from Lazio in the summer, but did he expect to have been working with four different Coaches by December?

"Honestly, no," the 29-year-old told Corriere dello Sport. "We have to accept the choice of [Roberto] Mancini who decided not to continue with us.

"[Frank] De Boer did a great job, but the results weren’t there, and for this he was penalised.

"After the two games with [Stefano] Vecchi, now we have [Stefano] Pioli and we will try to improve our league position with him."

Results have improved of late, but was it a handicap to suffer such a poor start?

"A little, yes. I say this not because I want to try to hide or make excuses, because as players we have to take some of the responsibility if we are in this situation.

"We could do more, that’s for sure. Now that things are in place, we are obligated to improve and forget the bad start to the campaign.

"De Boer had good ideas, but Serie A is difficult and unfortunately doesn’t wait for anyone.

"Even if the team plays well, if you do not get the results and victories, the first to pay is the Coach."

What was the opinion of Candreva when it was announced that Pioli would come to Inter?

"I was happy because I knew him and I know how he works. We are a strong team, we have some important players, but unfortunately we have not proved it this season.

"We want to do it from now on. Maybe with an well-organised Italian Coach, that knows the league, we can make a big comeback.

"And it is not true that the club sought my opinion on him.

"Personally, I think I’ve played well, but I can still improve. If I have to define my best game I’d say the derby, because scoring under the Curva Nord against Milan was fantastic.

"We know it is difficult to reach the Champions League places because there are several teams that are ahead of us, but we are Inter and we have an obligation to play in this competition. We have to aspire to the maximum."

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