Italy international Andrea Ranocchia: Claudio Ranieri has brought a sense of calm back to Inter

The 2010 Champions League winners found themselves struggling in the bottom four of the Serie A table earlier in the season, but the appointment of the former Chelsea, Juventus and Roma supremo has resulted in a staggering turnaround, with Sunday’s derby win over AC Milan leaving it just six points off the pace set by leaders Juve. And Ranocchia is quick to give the majority of the credit to his coach.

"I would say that the mister has added a tranquility to the environment that was a little bit rough before," the Italy international defender told Goal.com. "He has helped us to find ourselves again. It was not an easy situation for a team not used to looking up at so many teams from down below.

"The first thing he sorted out was the defense. He told us: ‘First, we must not concede goals, then, with the players that we have up front, something will always happen.’

"I would say that he brought calm to the squad, and that was the most important thing."

The 23-year-old admitted that Barcelona is the team he admires the most, saying "It gives me a great feeling to watch them play," and he stated that the club's model can be replicated in Italy.

"I don’t believe it would be impossible to copy what they have done in Italy, but it would take great investment in the youth sections," explained Ranocchia.

But despite his fondness for the European champions, the talented defender is happy to be at Inter and wants to continue giving 110 percent to the club’s cause.

"In football you always have something to prove. Just look at Inter. Two months ago people were saying that the players of the treble season were finished, that they couldn’t run any more, that they were tired. Everyone seemed to have forgotten what this group of players had won.

"That’s how it is in football, you must always prove something, every day, and you also have to win everything."

One example of this is Ranocchia’s teammate and captain Javier Zanetti, who at 38 continues to defy many with his consistent performances. And the youngster knows what a privilege it is to have the Argentine around.

"In my first few days with him it was really something surreal," he says. "It really didn’t seem real to me. Then, with time, I started to get used to the idea [of being Zanetti’s team-mate] ... But at the start it was just crazy!"

Despite Inter’s Zanetti-inspired renaissance of late, Ranocchia is aware that there is still much work to be done in the league, in particular thanks to Juventus and second-placed Milan.

"They are the best equipped teams, those with the most important organisations, but we are going up against them all the way."

One subject Ranocchia refused to be drawn on, though, is Euro 2012, and his possible participation in national coach Cesare Prandelli’s squad.

''No, no, I won’t talk about Euro 2012. Before the World Cup in 2010 I was talking about it and then I got injured. So I will speak about Euro 2012 when the time comes."

With thanks to Lotto for their valuable contribution.