POLI: WE ARE A TOUGH TEAM

MILANELLO - Andrea Poli spoke to the press at Milanello earlier this week. This is what he had to say:"Against Lazio it will be the first match of a new movement, we want to win. We want to start on the right foot to give a positive boost to the whole environment. The meeting with the Italy coach Conte was very pleasant, he is a winning coach and Italy needs a coach like him. I will have to work hard to warrant a call-up. With Inzaghi we have started on a new path, we are trying to improve the team and we are doing just that step by step. We want to get to Sunday against Lazio in the best possible shape. I think the spirit of the team is fundamental, trying to be compact and tough. We saw it on Saturday as well. If the club do bring in players that will help but otherwise this Milan team is tough and we have to show that. I think the team to beat are still Juve and I think Milan can have a good campaign. I believe in hard work and the desire to do well and on that front we have started well. In the TIM Trophy we were a lot more compact and we wanted to win. That is where we have to move on from. Rino Gattuso is an example to follow for everyone and his kind words were very flattering. Playing for this club is a huge satisfaction, this is a special club for each and every one of us. I like to concept of a united team, everyone has to take responsibility. I like the word collectiveness and everywhere we go we must play to win."The supporters have always been an intergal part for us. Against Atletico there were 80,000 fans at San Siro and that was a real motivation for us. They are our 12th man on the pitch and we have to win them over again so that they will be even more on our side. I hope there will always be lots of fans at the stadium because together we can aim to become a great team again. Balotelli is an important player and the farewell on behalf of the club and the fans was a nice gesture. I wish him all the best. Coach Inzaghi has put me back in my favourite position, on the right side of midfield but even on the left side suits me well. I like to attack and defend and a 4-3-3 formation allows me to be more dangerous in front of goal and I hope to score more goals this season. Over the last three years the three midfielder for Juventus have been the best, the have scored the most and played the most. Conte spoke to us a few minute, which was interesting because he talked to us about his ideas."