Mancini, president Moratti described your press blackout not as something contentious, but as a time for reflection. Has it been a useful chance to reflect upon things?

"No, nothing in particular. The president has certainly had more to reflect upon than me, because of his role. (Smiles) I'm happy because on four or five occasions I have not spoken and I have gone home earlier... After everything that was said and written the day after the match against Parma... There had never been such an uproar over a penalty or a half foul in the area. Maybe it was right to do this and not stir up disputes."

But do you think there is anything not quite right between the referees and Inter?
"It's not as if there's something wrong. It's the first time something like this has happened since I have been at Inter, and it (the press blackout) wasn't long either. I think it was done to put an end to the polemics after the Parma game."

But against Udinese it was Inter who were complaining...
"We didn't say anything after match. And this is in the past as well."

With many important players out, can we say the team has improved even more after the victory over Juventus in Turin?
"It was a Tim Cup game, but it was still Inter-Juventus and it's always a special match. We got through the round and everything is quite normal, but they'd have passed it off as a European Cup final if we'd been knocked out of the Coppa Italia quarter-final. Technically, is was an important two-legged clash for us. We played most of the first leg with ten men and we were 2-0 up before the draw at the end due to a bit of bad luck. We played a good game against Juventus in Turin and played younger lads like Rivas who are new this year and doing very well. This is a further reason to be satisfied."

Ahead of the Champions League clash against Liverpool you have some matches that on paper seem easy...
"The match against Parma didn't seem like a very difficult match on paper, but unfortunately there are no easy games, and I say this from personal experience because players give a lot more at San Siro than they might give in another game, because they're playing against Inter in a great stadium. Also, the teams that come to Milan have nothing to lose and maybe they play the match of their lives. There are no easy matches."

You are recovering almost all of your players ahead of the Liverpool game. Figo included?
"We'll see how he does next week when we play a friendly match to see how he reacts on a full-size pitch. It's hard to say on a small pitch. He's okay, but we will look at him calmly. The others seem to be doing quite well."

What kind of Empoli side are you expecting tomorrow? Their coach (Alberto Malesani) managed to draw at San Siro last year with Udinese...
"Malesani's Udinese played an excellent game in our stadium last year. Empoli are a very hard team to face and they also did very well against Milan at the Meazza. We will have to be very careful from the start and get off on the right foot."

What do you make of all this talk of Balotelli and Pato in the week? Do you think more attention is being paid to young players at the moment, or not?
"Sometimes maybe too much importance is given to these things. They are young boys and it can sometimes be dangerous when they are catapulted into our reality."

Is it true that you told Balotelli to forget about his goals against Juventus?
"Yes, because they are in the past now and don't count anymore. He did very well. Mario is enormously talented and has an extraordinary physique for his age. He has to grow because at seventeen your mind is still not the same as your physique and technique, but I think this is all quite normal. He needs to be helped, and he will certainly have a great future if he keeps the right attitude."

What do you think of the transfers made during the January window?
"Napoli have brought in two good youngsters from Brescia. Did we like Mannini too? We were following him just like we follow many other boys. He certainly has quality. Fiorentina have also brought in a few good players. However, players join teams and they have to settle in quickly. It's not easy."

Mancini, the June transfer window will be talked about now. Could a big name for the centenary undermine a solid squad like Inter's?
"We will certainly plan for the future, but I don't think it's appropriate to talk about June. We have four hard months of matches ahead of us. We will see later on, but no one will undermine the squad's tranquillity."

From your recent matches, even those with ten men against eleven, we can see that Inter are in much better physical shape. Does this mean you have worked off the great workload of the Dubai training camp?
"We're definitely better. Playing two matches with ten against eleven shows what a good job we did in Janaury. We have four very hard months ahead of us, and it would be easier if we manage to put together a run of victories and try to increase our lead in the championship before the Champions League. But I wouldn't mind if we have to fight for point after point until the end of the championship. To be honest, I would prefer to win a championship by three points than by twenty like last season."

What advice have you given to your son Filippo, who is preparing for his adventure with Manchester City?
"I hope he's happy and that he has a nice experience."

How hard was it to leave off your Champions League list an experienced player like Santiago Solari?
"It was a technical decision, just like the other times. It's always like this when you make a decision. You think about what might be the best thing. Adriano and Cesar were left out of the first list, and this time it's Santiago. I'm very sorry, but it was a choice we had to make. I can understand Santiago's disappointment, but unfortunately this is what we decided."

You have reshuffled your teams a lot in your recent games. Any new indications?
"I think having Vieira and Stankovic back is important. Rivas has improved a lot in these past months and I think he's a player we can count on. Before, we weren't sure what his role within the team could be. He has improved greatly. Pelé has also improved in these months. However, I don't think the team's foundation changes much."

Is Vieira's national team call-up risky?
(Smiles) "Touch wood... He's doing well and I think playing is useful for him. It could do him good if he goes and plays a half. Two halves? A bit less."

Are you worried about Roma being five points behind you?
"Not much changes, whether it's seven, five, three or nine points. Roma are doing very well and we are too. As always, it will be a nice duel."