Inter Coach Roberto Mancini says the club must still aim for the Champions League, and compares Mauro Icardi to Mario Balotelli.
The Nerazzurri are 10 points away from the third and final Champions League place, and the club’s President Erick Thohir has said that qualification for the tournament is not essential.
However, the former Manchester City manager believes that the Beneamata should always aim high.
Inter Coach Roberto Mancini says the club must still aim for the Champions League, and compares Mauro Icardi to Mario Balotelli.
The Nerazzurri are 10 points away from the third and final Champions League place, and the club’s President Erick Thohir has said that qualification for the tournament is not essential.
However, the former Manchester City manager believes that the Beneamata should always aim high.
“Inter are always Inter,” Mancini insisted to Il Giornale.
“So we have to work toward the Champions League and even more. If it goes wrong, we’ll build for next year.
“We’ll aim for the Scudetto, because [next year] we’ll be ready. I see good things that others have not.
“And even when things seem impossible, they can still happen.
“If it [Champions League qualification] happened it would be on a par with the title I won at City, in the 94th minute of the last game, after making up eight points on [Manchester] United.
“I’ve taken over the team halfway through the season and that’s never easy. It takes time and patience, but I’m satisfied, even if it’s true we should have five or six more points.
“We’re in midtable, but we’re on the right path. I’m happy with the last two performances against Sampdoria and Torino. We’ve dropped points at home, but that’s football.
“The carelessness against Torino must not happen again. The other goals we’ve conceded are as a result of having played with five defenders. It’s a results of the change of formation, now there’s one less back there.
“After three or four months we mustn’t make any mistakes. We have to greatly improve our technique, and show real leadership on the park.
“The strikers must move well, be obsessed with goals and be clinical. I speak for [Mateo] Kovavic too, he must be decisive.”
Mancio also spoke about Mauro Icardi, warning that he must avoid ending up like former Inter strikers Mario Balotelli and Adriano.
“Icardi is young and has quality, I hope he scores a hat-trick every game and is always decisive, but he has to improve a lot.
“It reminds me of the situation with Balotelli and Adriano, who both have been lost in one way or another.
“It’s not enough just to have talent, he has to live for his family, and work, and I mean work hard.”
Despite those words, the Coach insists he only has good memories of Balotelli, and discusses Dani Osvaldo.
“With Mario I only have good memories,” Mancini reflected.
“We won the League in England and in Italy. Some arguments are part of daily life.
“As for Osvaldo, I’m truly sorry [for him]. I was hurt for three days.
“He’s a good player, and I don’t understand why it [the bust-up with Mancini and Icardi] happened.”