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BRUNICO - Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari answered questions from the press in a news conference following Friday morning's session at the Nerazzurri's summer training camp:

Solari: how is pre-season training going?
"It's going well and we're working hard. We feel good after training, we know we're in retreat and that we have to work hard. The legs might not respond how you want them to in the friendlies, but we all know you work a lot at the training camp to be fit during the season."

Roberto Mancini always plays the most in-form players. An extra incentive to do well?
"It's always like this at the big clubs, there are many matches and competitions, and there's room for everyone. Each one of us has his chance to be a regular at the start of the season. I will work to be more of a regular than in my previous seasons at Inter."

Why don't you give many interviews?
"Because I'm quite shy. I only open myself more when I know people well. Also, I like to do my job well, which is to train and play. But there's no problem, I'm always available."

Your contract ends in 2008, right? Have you already spoken about a renewal?
"My contract ends in June 2008, but I'm only thinking about doing my job well. The best thing a player can do is always work his hardest, there's nothing better than the team winning important trophies. I still haven't discussed my renewal, the most important thing is to start the season well. This is fundamental for the teams who are fighting for all the trophies."

What's your opinion of the new arrivals?
"Good, but I haven't had much time to get to know them. The only one we have spent a bit of time with in the pre-retreat is Suazo."

Can we say that the mother tongue of Inter is Spanish?
"There are a lot of us who speak Spanish, but we all know Italian. I'm trying to learn it better, I would like to know more words so I can say things in different ways and in a more complete way."

In Italy they talk about the many foreigners at Inter. What is this situation like for you?
"I have always thought that situations are more and more open in the modern world. And besides, there are more Italians than you think. Those who have an Italian passport have the same rights as the boys born in Italy. A lot of us have Italian blood because we have relatives from this country. So we all have the same rights and duties. We're all working together to win as much as possible with Inter."

Does the talk of your contract renewals bother you in terms of the work done on the pitch?
"Each situation is different. As far as I'm concerned, Inter is composed of the players who are here and those who will join us after having played in the Copa America. This is the group. It's not us who decide certain things, and in any case we're not bothered by the rumours. We're used to these things."