Inter's Andrea Ranocchia says that pressure on Coach Walter Mazzarri was ‘excessive’ and discussed his relationship with President Erick Thohir.
Walter Mazzarri was signed in May 2013 in an effort to kick-start a new tactical project with the Nerazzurri, but failed to produce results during his tenure and was replaced with Roberto Mancini this November.
The departing 53-year-old was subject to a great deal of criticism before and after his exit from Inter, but his captain at San Siro has looked to distance from that.
Inter's Andrea Ranocchia says that pressure on Coach Walter Mazzarri was ‘excessive’ and discussed his relationship with President Erick Thohir.
Walter Mazzarri was signed in May 2013 in an effort to kick-start a new tactical project with the Nerazzurri, but failed to produce results during his tenure and was replaced with Roberto Mancini this November.
The departing 53-year-old was subject to a great deal of criticism before and after his exit from Inter, but his captain at San Siro has looked to distance from that.
“I don't want to blame the Coach, it wouldn't be right of me. I'd rather talk about responsibilities, his own as much as ours,” Ranocchia has told the Gazzetta dello Sport today.
“Mazzarri was really being grilled – the tension was real and we were all subject to it. It was excessive.
“Perhaps he should have handled this tension better, but so should we.
“But in our team there are also kids who are 21 and 22-years-old, who will be top European players in a few years but who are 21-22-years-old.
“And if you so much as botch one ball you hear people grumbling – it's not exactly easy.”
Ranocchia says that the team was troubled, among other things, by the contestations of the tifosi.
“We left our supporters without results, yes, but it's also true that somebody could have given us a hand and it didn't happen,” said Ranocchia.
But through all the negatives, the player was able to find some kind words about his President Erick Thohir.
“I hope he returns soon. I remember that shortly before the match against Atalanta he took me to a side and said: ‘Captain, take this team into your hands and let's win the game’.
“We won it, 2-0. I wouldn't mind other results like that…”
Inter next play Udinese on Sunday night at San Siro.