Walter Mazzarri warned Inter will “run into real difficulties” against Catania on Sunday and has plans for Mateo Kovacic.
Walter Mazzarri warned Inter will “run into real difficulties” against Catania on Sunday and has plans for Mateo Kovacic.
The Nerazzurri visit the Stadio Massimino tomorrow at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT). Click here for a match preview.
“Catania are quite rightly being positive about this match,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“They were unlucky in their last game away to Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”8″>Fiorentina and deserved a draw, which suggest we will run into real difficulties. Since Tuesday we’ve been preparing mentally and physically to do well in this game.
“We have to realise what this team needs. In my view we have to shake off the ties of the past. We must attack and be wary of the counter-attacks of other teams, which last season did not happen. We need to be confident we can attack without leaving ourselves exposed.”
Kovacic is still trying to find full fitness and his place within Mazzarri’s tactical system.
“I don’t know if he’ll play 90 minutes, so I’ll evaluate his condition today. He can be important when the opposition are more tired, which is what happened against Genoa last week.
“I am evaluating his role too. He should express his quality in the final third, because he has so much talent, whereas in front of the defence he needs to go past a man and pass it. In future I’d like to see him as a trequartista or on the left, where he could free himself to score.”
Mazzarri confirmed Diego Milito is “doing much better” after making his comeback for the Primavera youth team.
“Are Inter defensive? That depends on the tactical approach. We will do something to stop Pablo Alvarez and Pablo Barrientos, but I won’t say what! The important thing is that we attack, as Catania have to worry about us.
“I think the team is already showing good signs of having assimilated my style of football, though of course it’s normal that it will take time to grow. We have to play the ball quickly, which we saw against Genoa once we took the lead and the lads relaxed.
“We need to treat this as Year Zero, building game by game and not looking at what the other teams are doing. This is what the President says and the fans have understood it too.”