Roberto Mancini has “worried” Fredy Guarin back for Inter against Carpi and feels Adem Ljajic “can be our Samuel Eto’o.”
It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Guarin was only in the stands for Wednesday’s 2-0 Coppa Italia victory at Napoli, but negotiations with Jiangsu Suning have hit problems.
Roberto Mancini has “worried” Fredy Guarin back for Inter against Carpi and feels Adem Ljajic “can be our Samuel Eto’o.”
It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday at 14.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Guarin was only in the stands for Wednesday’s 2-0 Coppa Italia victory at Napoli, but negotiations with Jiangsu Suning have hit problems.
“He was worried before and I let him rest for the Coppa. He looked better over the last two or three draws and he is at our disposal,” said Mancini in a Press conference.
“I have a soft spot for Guarin, but not everyone thinks the same way as I do. Some players might think they’ve finished their journey at a club, but if he were to go I’d wish him all the best, otherwise he’ll give everything to Inter.
“Fredy is extraordinary on a physical level, different from all the other players we have. If he did go, it would be his choice. We’d have the money to replace him in midfield.
“If Andrea Ranocchia goes to Sampdoria, then we’ll see about getting another defender in, otherwise we have tested Danilo D’Ambrosio as a centre-back.
“Rolando? I don’t think that’s possible, we’d be looking for a free loan.”
The Coach was also asked about his own future after links to Chelsea and the Italy job.
“I am close to matching Helenio Herrera’s record and I’d like to achieve that, so nothing has changed. Anyway, nobody has contacted me in the past or now.”
Mancini wants to beat Herrera’s record of Serie A games on the Inter bench, he’d need to reach Week 33 of the 2017-18 season.
Inter have lost their last two home games in Serie A, so Mancini warns there’s the risk of a third with minnows Carpi.
“Carpi represent one of the toughest challenges, because you think they’re going to be easy, but Carpi are doing very well in the fight to stay in Serie A. We absolutely must get back to winning ways with the utmost concentration, the same way we did against Napoli.
“We could’ve done without the two defeats to Lazio and Sassuolo, as we could’ve had more points and must try to recover lost ground now.
“Inter must also be confident, because this season no opponent has been superior to us in a head-to-head, apart from Fiorentina when we went down to 10 men. We are Inter and we should be aware of what that means.”
Mancini is considering another change of tactics against Carpi, using Ljajic in a wider role, but don’t expect Stevan Jovetic to partner Mauro Icardi.
“We don’t have Eto’o, but we have Ljajic who is doing very well, even if defensive movements are not in his DNA. Ivan Perisic does better when defending, but both are sacrificing themselves for the team.
“Jovetic and Icardi will sooner or later form a rapport on the field, though it might take a little more time. The important thing is that the team wins.”