Password: react. The beating from London still hurts but Inter must restart immediately and, possibly in a big way. The standings dictate it (at the moment third place is 4 points away) and 105 years of history, "celebrated" (so to speak) just yesterday.
Watch out for Bologna though, fresh from two consecutive victories against Fiorentina and Cagliari, which earned Pioli's men a truly worthy eleventh place in the standings. The opponent is worrying but the real problem is Inter, too discontinuous and unreliable to be able to establish themselves permanently in the top three of the standings. “I think it's normal that there are difficulties – admitted Stramaccioni. – The president has embarked on a project that is based on football players and a coach. There have been ups and downs this season: as long as we didn't have any problems, we finished within one point of the first place in the standings. Then there are many problems that have characterized our season: it's not an alibi, we continue to race". Also because the classification doesn't wait and neither does Massimo Moratti. The president has already contacted Leonardo to offer him a managerial role for next season, which would imply a new exam for Stramaccioni.
“I understood that this is a very demanding square – the coach reiterated. – For me it is a crazy pride to be the coach of Inter. A dream that has come true, seeing so many people being close to the club, the team and me too after a defeat has given us a lot of boost. The fans have understood the moment and are close to us: this gives us double strength." But the Nerazzurri won't wait forever and they expect a victory tonight, otherwise their patience could run out. Strama will have to give up one of the best of the whole season, that Samir Handanovic who has guaranteed so many points up to now but who is disqualified today. In his place will be Carrizo, who arrived in January like Kuzmanovic and Schelotto, all on the pitch from the first minute. “I will field the freshest players because tactically and technically it will be a difficult and demanding match – declared the coach, before returning to the defeat in London. – I hope I don't have to talk about elimination next Thursday, but qualifying is uphill, it will be very difficult. We will try, the great regret is having faced Tottenham in their best moment and with so many unavailable players. We have not snubbed the competition, we must recognize the merits of the opponents".
But if the Europa League mission is almost impossible, so is not the fight for third place, still widely within reach, provided you collect three points tonight. Strama will rely on the usual 4-2-3-1 in which both Palacio and Cassano will act from the first minute. "I've read that he would be overweight, but that's absolutely not true" was the coach's thought on the Bari player, evidently back in tune with the Nerazzurri environment. Also because the fight for the Champions League will also and above all depend on his plays.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Inter Milan (4-2-3-1): carizo; Zanetti, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus, Pereira; Kuzmanovic, Gargano; Schelotto, Guarin, Palacio; Cassano.
On the bench: Belec, Di Gennaro, Chivu, Jonathan, Kovacic, Stankovic, Cambiasso, Pasa, Benassi, Mbaye, Rocchi, Belloni.
Trainer: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Unavailable: Samuel, Obi, Castellazzi, Silvestre, Nagatomo, Mudingayi, Milito.
Disqualified: Handanovich (1).
Beware: Palacio, Cambiasso, Juan Jesus.
Bologna (4-2-3-1): Curci; Garics, Sorensen, Antonsson, Morleo; Perez, Taider; Christodoupoulos, Diamanti, Gabbiadini; Gilardino.
On the bench: Agliardi, Stoianovic, Motta, Abero, Naldo, Carvalho, Khrin, Pazienza, Guarente, Riverola, Pasquato, Moscardelli.
Trainer: Stephen Pioli.
Unavailable: Natali, Cherubin.
Disqualified: Cone (1).
Beware: Taider, Garics, Motta, Diamonds.
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese (Teramo).
Line Assistants: Sparrows – Marrazzo.
Port Assistants: Russo-Pinzani.
Fourth official: Maggiani.
