Stramaccioni: If Conte is the Special One, then I'm the Normal One

Stramaccioni: If Conte is the 'Special One', then I am the 'Normal One'

10/12/2012 12:08:00 PM

The coach gave a jovial response when quizzed on what the Juventus boss said after his return to the touchline, while he explained his decision to play Esteban Cambiasso in defence

Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni has claimed that if Antonio Conte is 'the Special One', then he is 'the Normal One', in the wake of his side's 2-1 victory over Napoli on Sunday.

Fredy Guarin and Diego Milito both got on the scoresheet as the Nerazzurri climbed to second in the Serie A standings, despite Edinson Cavani's attempts to bring the San Paolo outfit level.

After the match, Stramaccioni was quizzed on the Bianconeri boss referring to himself as special, to which he replied: "[If Conte feels he is 'the Special One'], then I am 'the Normal One'.

"It's an important victory which helps us to understand that we're able to fight anyone. I must congratulate the boys because they were very good at breaking up Napoli's attacks.

"For me, it is the first year of our rebuilding process at Inter and I am very satisfied with my players. We are united as a group and for now that's all that matters."

Stramaccioni then explained his team selection, which included Guarin being entrusted with playmaking responsibilites and Esteban Cambiasso drafted in at centre-back ahead of the unfavoured Matias Silvestre.

"We do not have a [natural] playmaker in our group, but today [Guarin] took up the position behind the two strikers," he continued.

"Then I asked him to sacrifice some of his duties to close down Zuniga. He played wonderfully like the rest of the team.

"Napoli have plenty of quality in midfield so I preferred to start with Guarin from the beginning to keep balance in the team.

"I picked Cambiasso to improve both the quality of our defensive distribution and reading of our opponents' movement. For this reason I did not play Silvestre."

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