Rolando Bianchi has hailed the creative influence of Manchester City midfielder Elano.

"Elano is very important for the strikers," he conceded. "He reads the game brilliantly and can pick a pass. His supply is crucial.

"We are a team that likes to pass the ball so good team work is vital and if myself or Emile (Mpenza) plays as a lone striker more emphasis is put on that part of my game but I have done it many, many times in Italian football so I am comfortable with it.

"If you make the right decisions and have the right mental sharpness and eye for an opening you can be very successful in England as well as in Italy even playing on your own up front. You don't have to be scoring all the time to make a vital contribution to the side.

"We have a lot of intelligent, technically gifted players in the squad, clever footballers who can exploit runs from the strikers and goal scoring positions."