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Stramaccioni targets Champions League place
10-Mar-2013 1:33:00 AM
The Inter coach has admitted that the aim for his side is to make a return to the Champions League, but he acknowledged that it will not be an easy target to hit
Andrea Stramaccioni has spoken of his Inter side's desire to qualify for the Champions League, claiming that it is the team's main target for the season.The Nerrazzuri have been disappointing so far this term under Stramaccioni, lying fourth in Serie A, four points adrift off the third Champions League qualification place.
They have also failed to perform to a high level in the Europa League, after a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in their first leg.
However, the Italian coach insisted that his side remained fully focused on their target.
“Inter are Inter and compete for every objective, but from the first day we’ve known the club’s real target was to get back into the Champions League," Strammacioni told a press conference.
The 37-year-old continued: “It is only normal there are going to be difficulties. This season has seen ups and downs, but until the injury crisis set in we were a point off the leaders. We’ve had numerous problems that affected our campaign, though we don’t want to use them as an alibi.
“We are building for the future here, both in the current side and on the transfer market. You can’t put everything up for debate at the first defeat.
The Inter boss then moved to defend Antonio Cassano following allegations that the enigmatic forward is overweight, disillusioned and unfocused.
“Cassano is not overweight. In his last tests, he was in line with our projections," added Stramaccioni.
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