Under-fire coach Walter Mazzarri insisted he has the support of the Inter Milan dressing room amid reports that this week could prove decisive for his future.
“This is a united squad full of good players. This team feels truly mine,” said the 53-year-old Mazzarri.
Inter snatched only their fourth win in nine games on Wednesday when Mauro Icardi’s late penalty secured the points at the San Siro against previously unbeaten Sampdoria.
Having dropped to just above mid-table, 10 points adrift of Juventus, Inter are now in eighth spot and seven points behind the leaders following the Bianconeri’s shock 1-0 defeat away to Genoa.
A shaky performance saw striker Rodrigo Palacio miss several clear chances and Inter were whistled off the park at half-time, but Mazzarri added: “I think we put in a great performance in terms of the football we played.
“We’ve beaten a side that hadn’t lost this season. The only downside is that we couldn’t capitalise on our chances. But at the end of the day, we took all three points.”
Asked about the whistling at half-time, Mazzarri said: “I didn’t hear them. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I prefer to let my team and our points tally do the talking.”
Club owner and president Erick Thohir earlier this week played down reports Mazzarri’s future could be decided by the end of the current week, in which Inter faced Cesena, Sampdoria and Parma.
Having won the first two games, a third win in succession -- away to a Parma side propping up the Serie A table -- this weekend would help reinforce Mazzarri’s position.
“We have seven points from (the past) three games and we need to continue like this,” Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic told Inter Channel.
“Personally, I need to improve my shooting but Mazzarri and his coaching staff are helping a lot.
“The manager is relaxed. We’ve had a tough couple of weeks with a match every three days. Now we have to look ahead to Parma.”
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