Luciano Spalletti urges Inter to take their chances and not get “stretched out” against Serie A leaders Napoli, but every game is “a crossroads.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Leaders Napoli are fresh from a shock 4-2 defeat to Roma, while the Nerazzurri’s derby with Milan was called off in the wake of Davide Astori’s passing.
Luciano Spalletti urges Inter to take their chances and not get “stretched out” against Serie A leaders Napoli, but every game is “a crossroads.”
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT, click here for a match preview.
Leaders Napoli are fresh from a shock 4-2 defeat to Roma, while the Nerazzurri’s derby with Milan was called off in the wake of Davide Astori’s passing.
“Napoli will arrive fired up after a setback. We’ve had even more setbacks, so in theory we should be even more fired up,” said Spalletti in his Press conference.
“We must be almost perfect on the night, because Maurizio Sarri’s idea of football is one that’s worth being inspired by. There is no more room for banal individual reactions in this locker room.
“Last night’s 110th anniversary celebrations showed the dimension of Inter, the importance and what it means to be a part of this club.
“People have said before that a fixture was a crossroads for the campaign, but we are always tied to results. From here to the end of the campaign, we have seven out of 12 games away from home. We can’t sit back on anything, we’ve got to win.
“Even if during the course of a match we don’t control it for long periods, we still have to score goals and win in those remaining minutes.
“Napoli are so strong in attack with pace, passing, technique and they can all find the net. Having said that, my forward line is pretty good too and I don’t think I’d swap with anyone in the Napoli squad. They play between the lines and run at you.”
Borja Valero and Rafinha are in the squad, albeit not 100 per cent fit, while Mauro Icardi returns to the starting XI after a month out.
Inter are unbeaten so far in head-to-head clashes with the other top teams, drawing at the Stadio San Paolo earlier this season.
“We don’t give anything more in these fixtures, but probably the players feel more responsibility and awareness of what they need to deliver at this level. That shouldn’t happen from one game to another, but involuntarily it can do.
“In Naples we played a bit too deep and ran too many risks, which we must avoid doing tomorrow. We needed to spread Napoli’s defence, but instead tended to cut back inside at the crucial moment.
“I wouldn’t settle for a draw tomorrow, because being afraid of defeat is not a strategy. You can get a draw, but only after trying everything to win the game.
“We mustn’t get stretched out beyond 30 metres, because Napoli can juggle the ball at their feet and take advantage of any spaces. They play pleasant and impressive football, matching it with results.”
Inter squad for Napoli: Handanovic, Padelli, Berni; Lisandro, Cancelo, Ranocchia, Santon, Miranda, Dalbert, D'Ambrosio, Skriniar; Gagliardini, Rafinha, Vecino, Borja Valero, Brozovic; Icardi, Karamoh, Eder, Perisic, Candreva