Monday, 08 August 2005 13:21:03
APPIANO GENTILE - Ahead of this week's Champions League qualifier away to Shakhtar Donetsk, Nerazzurri striker Adriano answered questions in a news conference at Angelo Moratti Sports Centre on Monday morning:

Inter's summer spending is more or less over with the arrival of some very important players. What do you think about this new Inter?
"The club has certainly made some very important buys for the team. You can see that the squad has a different mentality, and we're playing in a different way. Let's hope we have a good championship and a nice Champions. The most important thing is that we all have clear goals. We want to do well."

Is there any new arrival in particular that you can't wait to play with. Luis Figo or Santiago Solari, for example?
"I have already had the chance to play with Solari. He's a very important player that crosses well, and this is something we lacked last season. In this Inter there are Figo, Solari and others who can make things easier. There are such strong players that we can create problems for any team. For example, I hope I can work well with Figo to find the right understanding. It will be a bit difficult at the start because we have never played together."

Inter have decided to focus on you and Christian Vieri's transfer is a precise signal. Do you feel you have more responsibility because of this?
"I definitely have more responsibility now Vieri has left. But I also had big responsibilities last season, and in the coming years I will certainly be able to do more than what I did last year. Everything clearly becomes easier with the help of my teammates. The club has bought some important players and we can do a good job."

You will play against Shakhtar on Wednesday. How do you feel physically?
"Very well. I had a fortnight's holiday and I tried to have a good rest after the the end of last season and the Confederations Cup. I'm fine now, I have done a good job with professor Bisciotti and the other trainers. I hope I can help out my teammates on the pitch now. I still need to work a bit more to reach the physical fitness of last August, but I'm fine and I hope I can gain match fitness immediately. This is the most important thing. I want to play a great qualifier, I want to play and show once again what I can do. I want to show everyone that I have improved."