Fuente: © Inter de Milan
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INTER: Mancini: "Always linked to this club"

/noticias.info/ APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini briefed the press ahead of Saturday's Serie A Week 27 match against Reggina (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at 18:00):

Mancini, Inter are approaching the match against Liverpool with great serenity. But is there still a bit of tension ahead of that match?
"Today we're approaching the match against Reggina, and it's a lot more important because it's the one that comes first, and because we have to start winning again in the championship. We just have to think about tomorrow's match, and after that we will think about Liverpool. However, any result is possible on Tuesday."

How are the injured players?
"Ibra and Cruz did everything with the squad today. They are fine and they are available. Cambiasso and Stankovic are better, so things are okay."

Are Chivu and Maxwell okay too?
"Maxwell is not ready yet. He still hasn't done any running and right now he's not available for tomorrow or for the Liverpool game. Chivu did some running and trained with the squad today. He felt a bit of pain, but I think he can make it for Tuesday."

President Moratti said yesterday that it's sometimes possible to do the impossible in life. Is qualification in the Champions League possible?
"I don't think it's impossible, but looking at the result of the first leg, it's certainly hard. But these are results that can be turned around; it's not impossible."

President Moratti also said that he's not thinking about any other coach for Inter. Are you pleased?
"Yes, of course I'm pleased. However, coach's destinies are always linked to results. I hope things continue to go well and that Inter keep winning. But you never know what might happen tomorrow."

Massimo Moratti said he feels a great emotion to be president of Inter in the centenary year. As coach, how does it feel?
"The Moratti family has been connected with Inter for many years. This club is special for them. For me it's an honour to be the coach of Inter in the centenary year because Inter is one of the most important teams in the world. Great champions have played here, and great coaches have coached Inter. It is one of the few teams in the world never to have been relegated from the top division. Being here on the 100th anniversary is very important."

Did you ever imagine you'd have won so much at Inter? You have become an important part of this club's history...
"I am part of this history and I'm proud to be so, and it's thanks to Moratti who gave me chance to coach Inter. I never managed to join Inter as a player. I would have liked to, but nothing was ever done. But there has always been a link between me and Inter. For example, I made my Serie A debut aged 16 and the coach who gave me this possibility was Tarcisio Burgnich, a star of the Great Inter side. As a coach I have tried to make my contribution. Being here now is a very nice thing for everybody."

What do you think of AC Milan's exit from the Champions League, and Roma's qualification for the quarter-finals?
"Milan's elimination is proof that every match is very hard, and that you can get knocked out of the Champions League at any stage, especially if you're up against teams who are in top form. Arsenal showed they are one of the best teams in Europe. Instead, Roma played an excellent game in Madrid and deserved to get through the round. They played very well."

There are already three English teams through to the Champions League quarter-finals. Is it anything to do with concentration or culture?
"I don't think it's anything to do with concentration or luck. They even play the hardest matches with tranquillity. Playing football is fun, and playing in the Champions League is even more so. They play knowing that they might lose, and that after a defeat there are no dramas and they don't change coaches or half the team. This is because the English teams are more advanced than us in this respect. In Italy we sometimes face Champions League matches as if they are the most important things in the world, as if everything will change if you lose that match. It's just this difference that has seen Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, and let's hope not Liverpool, get through." notas_de_prensa_archivo