APPIANO GENTILE - José Mourinho spoke to the press ahead of Sunday afternoon's all-Nerazzurri clash between Inter and Atalanta in Bergamo and once again, Mario Balotelli was the subject of journalists' questions.

"I'm satisfied with what he has done this week, most of all because he has been clear with me," explained Mourinho. "He told me he's not thinking about a loan move anymore, and that he wants to work with us and think about football professionally. This was a very important step. But I thought it right to confirm my faith in Crespo, Adriano, Ibrahimovic and Obinna, who played well against Genoa.

"I can't call up many strikers. I'm sorry for Mario but also for Mancini and Quaresma who are making sacrifices to adapt to our way of playing. It's not always easy for a coach to organise the team for a match because sometimes there aren't many of us and sometimes there are too many."

As for his midfield to face the Bergamo Nerazzurri, Mourinho has no doubts about who will slot into the playmaker position. "Stankovic is the most suitable player to play behind the strikers," he said.

Whichever way Sunday's match goes, Inter will be crowned 'winter champions' at the midway point in the Serie A season. But Mourinho warned: "Atalanta have quality and play well. They have a good coach, they are organised, compact and are not frightened of playing when their opponents are in possession. It won't be easy, but they know it won't be easy to face Inter, a team that goes into tomorrow's match with just one defeat in eighteen league games."