Gasperini: "We'll bounce back - with balance"

APPIANO GENTILE – "There's only one result we want tomorrow and we want to get it with a good performance." Gian Piero Gasperini was speaking in the press conference on the eve of Matchday 1 of the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League, which sees the Nerazzurri host Trabzonspor at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza tomorrow.
"Trabzonspor are a good side," the coach explained. "We've witnessed that in the last few matches they have played. And every game is difficult in the Champions League. We also have to consider that we're not going through an easy period. We don't take any game lightly, or think 'this is an easy one to win'. Trabzonspor have quality and pace; they are a tough side. They're missing a few players but they have quality replacements."
Gasperini was asked if he was going to change the team's formation for tomorrow's match: "
We'll see..." he began with a smile, "Kick-off is at 20:45. A lot will depend on the situation and on our opponents. We'll take the best things we've done and try to keep them going. And we'll take the mistakes we've made, some of them big mistakes, and try not to repeat them. We're working hard to improve and we'll look to play a different game."
So what were the biggest mistakes made against Palermo? "The worst thing," explained the Nerazzurri coach, "was exposing ourselves so much and creating an imbalance, allowing them to hit is on the break: we have to work on that. But there were positives too, let's not forget about those. Still, after a game like that there are obviously a few things that need to be corrected. We were undone and unbalanced, as I said, but we can fix that, and we'll do so regardless of the formation, which does affect things but is not really such a determining factor - everyone has to help the defence. And I've always said that with me at the helm Inter would have to be flexible in the way they play. However, it's simplistic to put everything down to a problem of formation; what we need is to find the right balance. And the players have always given me their full support in that."
The coach was then quizzed about Giampaolo Pazzini being left on the bench against Palermo – something that, according to some of the journalists in the press room, sparked a lot of debate. "Everything sparks a lot of debate... The point is that Milito is an important player and Pazzini is an important player. They are all important."
"We'll try to bounce straight back tomorrow," Gasperini declared. "We have this opportunity right away and we want to make the most of it. I'll try to be as objective as possible when assessing what went well and what didn't, and we'll work on those things."
The coach was also asked about his preferences in attack, and whether he would consider playing Milito and Pazzini in partnership: "I generally prefer to play with a centre forward and two in support. Milito and Pazzini are both excellent centre forwards, that's true, and it's one of Inter's strengths; it's certainly not a flaw. Remember that we'll be playing a game every three days. Both strikers are hitting the net regularly and Forlan has scored too. That is definitely a positive aspect."
A direct question was put to Gasperini about the chances of Sneijder starting and a four-man defence being adopted: "There is a chance, yes. It also depends on how our opponents play; it always depends on how the opposition plays. But, again, I think it's reductive to talk about a 3- or 4-man defence."
Finally, Gasperini replied with a smile when asked whether he had seen the imitation of him done recently by Italian comedian Fiorello: "No, unfortunately I haven't seen it, but I hope to make Fiorello happy very soon, as he is a huge Inter fan."