Ranieri Post Match Reaction: “Of course we believe”

“It was important to get rid of the ‘San Siro taboo’, although it seems strange to say it, but we hadn’t won here, nor scored here either,” says Claudio Ranieri, who can finally smile in what is now his stadium.

“The team was solid and determined. They really wanted this victory with all they had. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy game but it went well, against a team that has a good collective play and runs a lot. I’m satisfied. After the goals the team even expressed itself better. Teams like Chievo make all the big teams suffer a bit, but we locked up the three points at home. Now our thoughts are on Atalanta; another difficult team to face,” added the coach.

He continued: “We put ourselves back on track against a good Chievo. It was a diligent performance and I’m satisfied – I repeat – with both the result and the performance. It’s also clear that we can do more. We’ll reap the fruit of the good things that we’re sowing; this is the moment to provide consistency to put ourselves back in the race. We’re still not fluid in the phases of play but I think it’s due to the recovery of confidence and self-esteem, which come with results. To recover greater clarity we need a series of positive results; in Lille and today we picked up two important victories. By the law of large numbers the goals were bound to come [smiling]. It’s what I thought before the match to break the San Siro taboo. In the second half we wanted to kill off the match but we didn’t succeed.”

The coach then highlighted the good performance of Cristian Chivu, who played in central defence as he did in Lille: “We need to hang on to him. He directs the defence well and manages the play. It’s important to have a player like him. Besides, he’s always said that it’s his position.”

“We must continue to work tactically and physically, although tactically, always playing, you can only take the team on what they did well or poorly. However, this team knows how to play by memory. Maicon? Today he was more assertive than usual, and that was good. However, when he takes off he should also quickly get back, but you can’t expect it all too soon. Milito on the bench? It just seemed logical to continue with the team that won in Lille. There hasn’t been any change in the rankings of the forwards; they’re all very good and we’re lucky to have them. And you’ll see Milito on the pitch Wednesday in Bergamo. Castaignos? He’s in form. I was amazed that he didn’t put that ball in the net. I’m convinced that he’s an excellent player,” smiled Ranieri.

Wesley Sneijder was also someone who stood out: “I think that when you get here you immediately realise who the reference points are in a team, and that’s what Sneijder is. He’s a complete champion and he has an ability to invent that other players don’t have. His substitution? I spoke with Wes before Lille and explained to him that coming off of an injury I would have him play also to get his conditioning back, but it’s clear that these champions would like to always play every minute. But there are many games ahead and we have to measure out our strength.”

Ranieri was then asked how much he believes in the Scudetto: “Coaching Inter of course you have to believe in it. Let’s not forget that up to December the team is the world champion, and so of course it must stay up there.”

Finally, he ended on the transfer market: “Right now I’m not asking myself questions like this. I’m only thinking of getting to know all of my available players better.”