New Inter Milan coach Rafa Benitez has said he expect his team to get even better in the coming season.
Inter won a treble of Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup titles under Jose Mourinho, but the team was often criticized for a dour, counter attacking style of play.
"I understand that this team still wants to learn," Benitez told Tuesday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are not yet a complete team, but the players show that they are intelligent and can do what I ask."
The Spaniard has signed a two-year deal with Inter following six seasons with Liverpool. At Anfield he won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006.
The 50-year-old Benitez made his name with Valencia after he led the team to two Spanish league titles and the 2004 UEFA Cup.
"I would like us to play better, with the team further up the pitch and able to hold on to the ball for longer," Benitez said. "The team asked me for this, though it won't be easy to achieve.
"I studied the team and saw that Inter won when it counter attacks quickly," he said. "The team didn't have the ball for long, but got it forward quickly when it did."
Benitez also said he would like to give Inter's young players more of a chance. The team that won the Champions League was criticized for not having one Italian in the starting lineup.
Veterans Marco Materazzi and Francesco Toldo were on the bench, along with young striker Mario Balotelli.
There are hopes across Italy that clubs give more opportunities to young players after Italy was eliminated in the group stage at the World Cup with a team containing a number of players over 30.
"Our objective is to give them a chance," Benitez said. "Everyone talks about the need to give young players a chance, but then they just want to win and no one has the courage to wait."
