Full squad available for Derby, Spalletti says

During his pregame interview at Appiano Gentile, Inter Milan head coach Luciano Spalletti said the team is ready for Wednesday’s Derby della Madonnina.

He said the last two games – both Inter wins – have shown him the team’s form is better after a lackluster start to the new year.

“Nobody is missing out on anything. We’re where we were aiming to be in the table,” he said on the team’s website. “The team is strong and in good shape, the club supports us and the fans are pushing us on to the objective that we all have in mind.”

He added that players like Marcelo Brozovic – who has struggled to regain his early season form – have started to come around and develop more.

“All the statistics and pieces of play that we saw from Brozovic said that it would be a risk to play him in front of the defense,” Spalletti said. “Instead, this gave him more responsibility, it’s made him feel more important and he knows he needs to be commanding in that part of the pitch.”

With the addition of Andrea Ranocchia, Spalletti will have a full squad at his disposal for the Derby.

“We have a full squad available to us because Ranocchia has also returned,” Spalletti said. “Everyone is eager to be picked for such an important match. The players have always wanted to put things right during tough spells while they looked to find the solution.”

Even with the win streak, Spalletti said he is well aware of what AC Milan brings to the table. Despite their recent 3-1 loss to Juventus and falling out of the Europa League with a two-leg loss to Arsenal, he said “they are doing well. They play a style of football based on possession where they build from the back and get it forward suddenly.”

Wednesday’s Derby della Madonnina starts a three-game road swing – although the Derby will be at the San Siro – that includes trips to Torino and Atalanta.

Spalletti added the importance of the Derby is not lost on him or the players. A win and Inter moves into third and strengthens their hold on a Champions League position. A loss or a tie and that becomes less certain.

“I know what we have to gain from this match and the players know as well. Individual duels? The attitude of the team will be what decides it for the winning side,” he said. “This is a derby that has features that I like, it’s played with the top spots at stake. It’s a derby worthy of a marvelous city such as Milan.”

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