Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 9y

Walter Mazzarri doubts exit rumours, Inter Milan team 'united' behind him

Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri cannot quite understand the doubts over his future after saying he had seen "his" Inter on Wednesday night.

A Mauro Icardi penalty was enough to earn the Nerazzurri all three points against Sampdoria and move them to within a point of third-placed AC Milan.

The pressure had been mounting on Mazzarri of late, but back-to-back 1-0 wins should have brought an air of calm back to the club according to the former Reggina, Sampdoria and Napoli coach.

Mazzarri doubts that president Erick Thohir -- who has publicly denied issuing the coach an ultimatum over his future -- was ever considering relieving him of his duties.

"To be honest, I didn't really [understand it]," he told Sky Sport Italia. "Particularly not some of the absurd things I've heard lately, and that's only saying the half of it.

"All I can say about the president is that I got to know him midway through last season and he saw how I work. He was impressed with what he saw. As a big boss of a big company, he evaluated his staff and made up his own mind.

"Today, in my opinion, I'm working for a club where everybody has clear ideas, and the players too of course. They're going to give me great satisfaction."

The biggest satisfaction they gave him was on Wednesday night at the San Siro by showing that they have fully adopted his style of play and footballing philosophy.

"This is a united group of players made up of big men," Mazzarri continued. "I truly feel that this is my team now.

"I think this was a great performance from my team tonight. We beat a side who were unbeaten and the only negative aspect was that we didn't score from the many chances we created. We're delighted with the way the players are playing."

The San Siro crowd did not share Mazzarri's enthusiasm at half-time with a chorus of whistles accompanying them into the dressing room.

"I didn't hear them," Mazzarri added. "I always go straight into the dressing room at half-time and I isolate myself to gather my thoughts for the team and what we've got to do in the second half so I didn't hear any whistles.

"Everybody has the right to have their voice heard, but I just let the figures my assistants give me do the talking."

Inter travel to bottom-placed Parma on Saturday looking for a third straight win before hosting Hellas Verona. After the international break, they are back at the San Siro as guests of city rivals AC Milan on Nov. 23.

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