MILAN – The Nerazzurri were in San Siro this afternoon to complete their preparations for tomorrow’s league clash with Atalanta – to be played on the same turf in just under 24 hours’ time.

Today’s session saw the lads practise set pieces then do a warm-up and some sprinting drills before playing a match on half the pitch.

Mateo Kovacic was forced to withdraw from training early after picking up a knock. Marco Andreolli couldn’t finish the workout either due to a gashed knee that required five stitches.

MILAN – Walter Mazzarri previewed Inter’s match with Atalanta by analysing tomorrow’s opponents in detail during a news conference today. He said: "Atalanta play good football, they have some quality players and they’re also free of any pressure because they’ve already ensured their top-flight status. They’re tough opponents and this is a game we must approach very carefully. Atalanta are a bogey team for lots of sides. We have to perform to the best of our ability because they’ll be giving it a good go."

Speaking to the gathered media at the Stadio Meazza, the coach added: "There are no easy games in Italy. You have to respect all the teams and approach every match with the same level of concentration. We must focus first and foremost on ourselves because we’ve seen that when we’re on the top of our game we can make life difficult for anyone. We mustn’t think about anything else right now. We’ll see where we are come the end of the season.

"Where could Inter have improved? There have been times when we’ve
made the wrong choice on the edge of the box when given the
option of shooting or passing – we even did that against Verona.
It’s something we’ve sought to fix this week.

"In terms of our season, we got off to a strong start then
went through a spell when we dropped too many points by drawing games
we could have won. There are lots of reasons for it, lots of
incidents that penalised us, but in such an unusual season I think
the team’s progress can still be considered excellent. The way we end
this year will be important for us going into the next season."

Mazzarri was then asked to comment on the team’s defensive solidity: "I think the way you set the team up both when defending and attacking helps, regardless of the individual performances and how the defenders do in any given match. They all know what their jobs are.

"I believe I’ve been able to give my teams a clear playing identity over the years. It’s the team performance which is of primary importance. I’m not interested in how individuals do if it doesn’t help the team get results."

The Nerazzurri boss also fielded questions on a number of individual players.

"Ranocchia? All the lads know that it’s my job to look at what happens on the pitch and observe how they work. Andrea has performed well since coming into the side and if a player is doing well he has a good chance of keeping his place.

"Jonathan’s career has taken off? There was a time when we thought about signing him while I was at Napoli. Now he feels protected here at Inter and he’s having a great season. He needs to be pushed constantly. He must make sure he keeps doing his best.

"Nagatomo only trained with the rest of the group yesterday for the first time. I’ll take a look at him today and hopefully he’ll make the squad.

"Hernanes? He’s proof that you do need a bit of quality in there; you need quality and experience.

"How’s Juan Jesus doing while not being able to play for a few weeks? When I first came here he was a little indisciplined tactically speaking. He’s a lot more mature now and he’s been training even better since he got suspended. He’s firing on all cylinders, working harder than anyone else."

MILAN – Ricardo Alvarez answered questions from journalists at the Brooks Brothers store in Via San Pietro all’Orto in Milan this afternoon.

Quizzed about his contract renewal, he said: "We’re having talks. I want to stay because I’m happy here. But it’s not something I’m giving much thought to at the moment because I’ve only just started straining with the team again. My agent will discuss it with the club, I don’t ask him about it every day.

"When will I be fit for selection again? I think I’m there now. It’s up to the gaffer but I can train with my team-mates again and I’m happy about that. I hope to feature on Sunday, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench, but the main thing is that we win and keep doing the things we’re capable of because we’re on the right path."

"Hernanes? He’s a key player for us. He’d already proved himself in Italy ans he was a massive signing for us. He’s helped bring us results.

"Inter’s future? For the moment we’re concentrating on this season and on ending it was well as we can. When the year’s out the people who make the decisions will make them; we just have to make sure we produce a strong finish. The best thing we can do is try to win every match then we’ll see where we are come the end.

"After we lost to Juventus the best thing we could do was keep plugging away to try and turn things around. We’ve been working hard all season, sometimes the results don’t come for you but the main thing is you don’t let up. That’s important and now the results are coming for us.

"Cambiasso going to the World Cup? "I know Cuchu, he’s a tremendous player but it’s not up to me."

MILAN – As Inter head into tomorrow’s game against Atalanta on the back of a six-match unbeaten run, Mauro Icardi spoke to Inter Channel this afternoon about the Nerazzurri’s recent form: "We have to keep doing what we have done in the last few games. We all want to take this team as high as possible."

He then joked with Inter Channel’s Roberto Scarpini about a rule from bygone days, when a penalty was awarded if you hit the woodwork five times: "Yeah, it would be good for me it that were true!"

Commenting further on how bad luck has prevented him from getting on the score sheet in recent games, he added: "You can’t do much about it really except keep knuckling down. How desperate am I to score? I want to celebrate in front of our fans, that would be great for everyone. Will we celebrate with a dance? No, we already did that once when I scored against Cagliari earlier this season. That’s enough."

SARAJEVO – Off on another flight to reach the Inter Campus centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina where the
local partners in Sarajevo and Domanovici were waiting for us for a week of
training and lessons. We had feared encountering harsh weather, since there is
still often snow on the ground in Sarajevo in March. However, what was in store
for us was sunny weather, which illuminated the white headstones in the city
parks.

The first two days in Sarajevo were very useful
to better understand how, during the harsh winter months, activities were
proceeding at the multi-ethnic and multi-religious centre of our partner Sprofondo
Bezdan. We were happy to see the way the children followed the instructions of
instructors Yasmin and Ahmed, as they proclaimed, "He’s better than
Mourinho!", and how they have been carrying out the coaching work that our
coaches Lorenzo and Silvio assigned them last September.

We found a few problems in coaching in the gym
during the winter due to the distance of the facilities and the lack of
heating. However, these things were balanced out by Sprofondo Bezdan’s
excellent organisation, thanks to the hard work from coordinators Hajrija,
Sinisa and all the volunteers (http://www.sprofondo.ba/).

The Inter Campus delegation then moved on to
Domanovici, near the better-known city of Mostar and it’s symbolic bridge,
where the programme has been going at full throttle. The number of children from
other schools requesting to take part continues to grow, despite the
differences in ethnicity; it seems the passion for football trumps everything
else. Also, the number of children has jumped to 100 and the training sessions
have increased from 2 to 3 per week. Local coordinator Zorica told us, "Two
years ago, I never would have imagined seeing Muslim and Croatian-Catholic
children getting on so well together. Beyond playing together, they’re also
inviting each other to birthday parties." It just shows how a goal is a
goal, no matter who takes the shot.