Inter took a big step toward the play-off round after easing past Croatian club Hajduk at the Stadion Poljud on Thursday, thanks to goals from Wesley Sneijder, Yuto Nagatomo and Philippe Coutinho.

It was Inter's first official match of the new season, but Stramaccioni does not think his players were feeling the pressure before kick-off.

"We were not nervous, just very focused," he told the club's official website.

"We prepared for this game in minute detail.

"Look at the fans here and that is after losing 3-0; imagine what it would have been like if we had lost 3-0. Hajduk might have been fitter than us but I think Inter played the perfect game tonight.

"We are keeping our heads down. It is a good result but what I liked was the fact that we never stopped trying to play football and we gave very little away."

After taking over from the sacked Claudio Ranieri in March, Stramaccioni is this season charged with improving on Inter's indifferent sixth-place finish from last term.

"We are working well together and we are a close-knit group, both on and off the pitch," he said.

"We also had a surprise visit from the president today. It shows that Inter are united, compact and determined to let their football do the talking."