INTER, AGAINST LECCE A "MANDATORY" VICTORY. NERAZZURRI WITHOUT STANKOVIC, MILITO – PAZZINI FAVORITE AT FORLAN. RANIERI WARNS HIS PARTY: "TO BEAT LECCE WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE OUR BEST".
Smiles and a relaxed atmosphere at Inter. In Appiano Gentile the atmosphere is serene and relaxed, which was unthinkable until a few weeks ago. Power of results, able to change judgments at the speed of light. The three consecutive victories (four in the last five games) have allowed the Nerazzurri to return to the top of the table, even if the Champions area is still eight points away.
Thanks to the direct clash between Udinese and Juventus, Inter could however get even closer to the top positions, as long as you don't play jokes against Lecce. On paper, tonight's match seems obvious, but Ranieri doesn't want a drop in tension: “Lecce are a team that, as far as we have seen, don't deserve the place they occupy. There are good quality players, who will give us a lot of headaches. He has scored just one point in the last few games but seven goals. He scored two victories away from home, so he's an opponent to take into consideration: they close the spaces and start again on the counterattack, Inter's best performance will be needed”.
Ranieri keeps the tension high, because he knows that a misstep against the bottom in the standings would bring the Nerazzurri back into the crisis tunnel. A victory, on the other hand, would give further enthusiasm to a troop that until recently seemed to be on the way to sunset. To beat Lecce, goals from the strikers will be needed, a real rarity this season, especially at San Siro. Ranieri should confirm the attacking duo Milito-Pazzini, with Forlan on the bench. It will perhaps be the last appeal test for the two, given that the Uruguayan will return to full capacity in January. Then the market rumors continue about Milito, which Ranieri has tried to deny: "I'm selfish and for my own good I would like him here, he has to be released because he's trying his best".
