Dejan Stankovic is grateful to Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni for backing him.

The veteran midfielder has returned after suffering a serious Achilles injury.

He said: "Stramaccioni and I ran the risk and I thank him for it very much. I respect the Coach a great deal and we must all follow him.

"In my game against Chievo, I was focused only on not pushing the tendon too hard after so long on the sidelined, but in Catania I felt more part of the team.

"At the end of the day we achieved a very important victory. We are Inter, so must find the strength to go all the way in the three competitions."