STEVE McClaren pressed all the right buttons as he played footsie with the Italian press tonight.
The Boro boss - much maligned for his media image making in the past - played a blinder in the pre-match press conference in the Stadio Olimpico.
He bigged up the Boro - "they are fantastic for us and will be playing a big role in the game" - played mind games with the Italians and refused to divulge th eslightest bit of team news.
And it came with a media coaching manual's worth of open, honest gestures, engaging smiles and neat non-committal one liners.
He deflected questions about the England job, why Boro's 'greatest investment' does not play more games ("you must play him more if you want to sell him to an Italian team" ... "Possibly.")
The only time he faltered was he was thrown a bolt from the blue. "Will Boro be wearing their kit with asponsors logo on tomorrow?" Blank looks. "It is against Italian law." More blank looks.
The Italian government passed a law in February outlawing gambling interest advertising in sport.
Quickly Boro commercial chief Graham Fordy and spin doctor Dave Allen jumped in on Mac's side. "That is a question you should put to UEFA who have agreed the shirt logo." "Can we restrict the confernce `to questions about the football side".
Come on Steve, he's not worth it.
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