Andrea Stramaccioni is keen to see Inter continue to improve under his reign as he welcomes Siena to San Siro on Wednesday night.
The Nerazzurri have won one and drawn one since replacing Claudio Ranieri with the youth team Coach, an unbeaten start that the 36-year-old has warned could be challenged by visitors in Week 32, Siena.
Andrea Stramaccioni is keen to see Inter continue to improve under his reign as he welcomes Siena to San Siro on Wednesday night.
The Nerazzurri have won one and drawn one since replacing Claudio Ranieri with the youth team Coach, an unbeaten start that the 36-year-old has warned could be challenged by visitors in Week 32, Siena.
“For Siena this has been a great season as [Giuseppe] Sannino and his players have done a magnificent job,” Stramaccioni reflected on Tuesday to reporters.
“Siena are a well-drilled unit and they have caused problems for everyone. They come here on the back of an unbeaten run and they are perfectly capable of causing us problems too. We must be focused and very careful.
“In the situation we're in I don't think I can be thinking about [player] rotation as such. We have to assess the form and fitness of those who have played and look at how things have gone in training in the last few days. For sure we have to field the best Inter side possible.”
Stramaccioni was asked how he felt the players had taken to his arrival as Coach.
“Positively because I really do think the response has been positive. I try to give my all, my contribution, and now I feel I'm on the same wavelength as these players.
“In Trieste [against Cagliari] we did partially well – now we're hoping to be completely satisfied tomorrow evening after the game, but Siena are awkward opponents so it won't be easy.
The young Coach was asked about why he decided to bring Mauro Zarate back into first-team plans, after the Argentine’s struggles under predecessor Claudio Ranieri.
“I don’t know what he did before my arrival, but I have found a player who has been training well and who has done so with enthusiasm and desire.
“I knew he could make a contribution and I’m glad that he is expressing himself well.”
Stramaccioni was also asked of the possibility of being reunited with Mario Balotelli, the man who interrupted his unveiling as Inter Coach last month and more recently has been linked with a return to the Nerazzurri.
“Mario is part of Italian football and is a member of the national team. But, he is at Manchester City and we still have seven games to play.
“I can speak only of Inter. With regards transfer stories, you’ll have to ask Massimo Moratti or Marco Branca.
“He is a player of international quality but we already have many of those. To talk about a player from another team for me now is not the best thing. I cannot judge him either as I’ve never coached him.”
Yet, Stramaccioni was asked to speak of another player the club have been linked with and could be facing on Wednesday, Siena’s Mattia Destro.
“Destro is doing well, he has grown much, he is much more mature and stronger, thanks to the excellent work he has done with Siena.
“He represents the future because he has become a fixed point in the Under-21s and has proven to be good. As a young striker he would do well at any Italian team. Tomorrow though, we will try to limit him.
“He was a striker with Ascoli’s Giovanissimi Regionali. We followed him at Roma and talked to his father Flavio about buying him.
“I wish him all the luck possible, from Thursday onwards, though.”