The Inter Milan coach will be hoping to guide his team to a victory which would keep their Champions League aspirations alive.
Andrea Stramaccioni, the coach of Inter Milan, admitted that while arch-rivals AC Milan will confront the city derby with the Scudetto in their sights, the game is equally important for his side.
Inter currently find themselves three points away from the Champions League qualification zone, which currently belongs to Napoli, and will need to claim maximum points against Milan to remain in the hunt for the third and final Champions League spot.
Stramaccioni, who has put in an acceptable effort since replacing Claudio Ranieri as the coach of Inter in March, is more than aware of the importance of the derby for his side.
"I hear it said that the pressure is on Milan to win for the Scudetto, but we need to win as well and want to get the victory on Sunday night. It is both to reach our objectives and because it's simply a derby, so until the last second of injury time both sides will give their all to win it," he affirmed to reporters during a pre-match press conference.
Not only do the Nerazzurri come into the clash four places away from their rivals, but they trail them by no less than 22 points, a distance which Stramaccioni wants to cut on Sunday.
"I know we are facing a team that is in front of us in the table and we want to prove there aren't 22 points separating these squads. I hope Milan have all their stars at their disposal and it will be a derby at the highest level."
While Stramaccioni has performed reasonably well since becoming the interim coach of Inter, with four wins, two draws and one loss from seven games, he believes the outcome of the derby could possibly decide whether he remains as the coach of the side next season or not.
"The city lives the derby atmosphere, also considering the importance of what is at stake. Is it decisive for my future? That is not a question for me. I think my work will be judged overall and this game will help people form a judgement on me. You’ll see what we want to prove tomorrow," he stated.
Finally, Stramaccioni provided an insight into how he went about selecting his side ahead of such a crucial encounter.
"Preparing for the derby means understanding what condition the players are in, both psychologically and physically. I will choose 11 players to start who are at 101 per cent. Everyone wants to play the derby and it is my job to pick the 11 in the best shape," he concluded.
When Inter and Milan met earlier in the season, the Nerazzurri came out on top with Argentine striker Diego Milito scoring the all-important winner.
Inter currently find themselves three points away from the Champions League qualification zone, which currently belongs to Napoli, and will need to claim maximum points against Milan to remain in the hunt for the third and final Champions League spot.
Stramaccioni, who has put in an acceptable effort since replacing Claudio Ranieri as the coach of Inter in March, is more than aware of the importance of the derby for his side.
"I hear it said that the pressure is on Milan to win for the Scudetto, but we need to win as well and want to get the victory on Sunday night. It is both to reach our objectives and because it's simply a derby, so until the last second of injury time both sides will give their all to win it," he affirmed to reporters during a pre-match press conference.
Not only do the Nerazzurri come into the clash four places away from their rivals, but they trail them by no less than 22 points, a distance which Stramaccioni wants to cut on Sunday.
"I know we are facing a team that is in front of us in the table and we want to prove there aren't 22 points separating these squads. I hope Milan have all their stars at their disposal and it will be a derby at the highest level."
While Stramaccioni has performed reasonably well since becoming the interim coach of Inter, with four wins, two draws and one loss from seven games, he believes the outcome of the derby could possibly decide whether he remains as the coach of the side next season or not.
"The city lives the derby atmosphere, also considering the importance of what is at stake. Is it decisive for my future? That is not a question for me. I think my work will be judged overall and this game will help people form a judgement on me. You’ll see what we want to prove tomorrow," he stated.
Finally, Stramaccioni provided an insight into how he went about selecting his side ahead of such a crucial encounter.
"Preparing for the derby means understanding what condition the players are in, both psychologically and physically. I will choose 11 players to start who are at 101 per cent. Everyone wants to play the derby and it is my job to pick the 11 in the best shape," he concluded.
When Inter and Milan met earlier in the season, the Nerazzurri came out on top with Argentine striker Diego Milito scoring the all-important winner.
