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MILAN - Roberto Mancini spoke on Italian television after the Nerazzurri's Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven.
"The boys did well because it wasn't an easy game, and we knew we had to win at all costs after losing the first one in Istanbul," said the Inter coach.
"PSV are a fast and tough team to face and we gave almost nothing away. Even when it was ten men against eleven they hardly ever had any shots on goal. The boys did really well."
Inter brushed aside the Dutch outfit thanks to a first-half brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. "He's a great player, he's a champion who is decisive," said Mancini. "He's the finisher in our team and it obvious that he scores when he's in form. Players like him who have more class are always decisive.
"Can he win the Ballon d'Or? He has the qualities to win it but he needs to win the Champions League because it's usually given to a player who has won the cup."
Returning to Inter's display against the Dutch outfit, Mancini added: "You always have to be focused in the Champions League and you can never make mistakes. We got knocked out after two draws last season and we mustn't forget this. It's a hard, fascinating and strange competition; we will see what happens."
Asked to comment on the dismissal of David Suazo, Mancini said: "I didn't see it. I think the fourth man made a mistake. From the replay you can see he played the ball and tried to move forward. He was caught off balance and there was a clash of heads. He did absolutely nothing wrong."
Zlatan Ibrahimovic denied that his long-awaited European strikes against PSV last night were anything other than a team benefit, the Swedish striker setting aside all talk of the Ballon d'Or as he seeks glory with his club...
Zlatan Ibrahimovic shrugged off suggestions that his long-awaited European strikes were of great personal significance to him.
'Ibra' struck twice on Tuesday night as Inter sank PSV Eindhoven at the San Siro, an early penalty and later follow-up goal giving the Milan side their first victory of the European campaign.
The Swedish striker said, "I don't think ending my European drought was really that important.
"Rather, I'm far more interested in the fact that Inter won.
"Nor do I care about the Ballon d'Or. All I'm bothered about is Inter."
Ibrahimovic, formerly of Ajax, had perhaps his finest European game yet for the nerazzurri, drawing the plaudits from opposing coach Ronald Koeman.
The PSV boss enthused, "Zlatan is a class above. The second goal showed fantastic intuition and, unfortunately, it prevented us getting back into the game."
Ibrahimovic has endured a hectic month with Inter and it may yet get worse, the striker perhaps being called upon to face Napoli at the weekend before the impending international clashes with Liechtenstein and Northern Ireland for Sweden.
APPIANO GENTILE - Inter continued their preparations for Saturday evening's Serie A visit of Napoli with an afternoon training session at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti.
The squad began Thursday's workout with abdominal and warm-up exercises, continuing with technique drills and a training game. Several of the players who played most of Tuesday's Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven (Esteban Cambiasso, Luis Figo, Santiago Solari and Dejan Stankovic) went through a light aerobic session.
Marco Materazzi started and finished with physical therapy and strength-building exercises, taking part in the training game in between.
Patrick Vieira (physical therapy, strengthening exercises, technique drills with ball) and Olivier Dacourt (physical therapy) worked separately.
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