Europe is calling, is Inter ready to answer? With this question as big as a house, the Nerazzurri will watch the match in Udine (20.45 pm), the direct match that can lead to third place. Which means Champions League, therefore prestige but above all money, lots of money. That's why Massimo Moratti, after the defeat in Turin against Juventus, he decided to fire Ranieri by virtue of Stramaccioni, in an attempt to shake up a very depressed environment.
Three games and seven points later, Inter find themselves once again fighting for a place in the Europe that counts. and much of the credit goes to the new coach, who now sees his prices rise for next season. "If he finishes third, I confirm it" Moratti said after hiring him and Stramaccioni took him at his word: "Moratti told me "you have to win", therefore we have to win. It's a trivial pact that I believe the president will ask from now on from all his coaches. Winning is part of being at Inter, it's normal and it's nice like this. I don't know if winning from here to the end will mean staying: it's certainly a dream, but for me now only Udinese exists”.
It's hard to believe him when he says he doesn't think about the future, but Stramaccioni certainly isn't lying about one thing: Udine will be decisive. The bianconeri are going through a moment that is anything but brilliant, but they remain a difficult group to deal with, especially at home. Stramaccioni is well aware that it won't be easy to leave Friuli with the three points: “Udinese's value is undeniable. At home they then built up their position in the standings and this gives an idea of the difficulty of the game. Udinese has characteristics that could harm us: we are working to prevent this from happening, but without distorting our identity".
Reading between the lines, the Nerazzurri coach will confirm the 4-3-3 formation, which will eventually only be changed when Sneijder returns (Sunday 22 in Florence?). Compared to the match against Siena, there will be only one variant, which is obligatory: Chivu will play central alongside Lucio, with Nagatomo on the left. Samuel (who would have been disqualified) suffered a strain in the adductor of his right leg, which will force him into the pits for at least three weeks. A bad tile for Stramaccioni, just now that the fight for third place is in full swing.
In fact, from here to the end, Inter will also face Lazio: “I like to be the architect of my own destiny. But now we are behind and we have to be realistic. If whoever is in front of us doesn't make a mistake, we're out. That's why I prefer to play it to the end. We are Inter, better to play than wait for the others”.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Udinese (3-5-1-1): Handanovic; Coda, Danilo, Domizzi; Pereyra, Fernandes, Patience, Asamoah, Armero; Torje; Christmas.
On the bench: Padelli, Neuton, Pasquale, Abdi, Fabbrini, Barreto, Floro Flores.
Trainer: Francesco Guidolin.
Disqualified: Pinzi.
Unavailable: Badu, Isla, Basta, Ferronetti, Battocchio, Benatia.
Inter Milan (4-3-3): Julio Cesar; Zanetti, Lucio, Chivu, Nagatomo; Guarin, Cambiasso, Obi; Forlan, Milito, Zarate.
On the bench: Castellazzi, Ranocchia, Faraoni, Poli, Stankovic, Alvarez, Pazzini.
Trainer: Andrea Stramaccioni.
Disqualified: Samuel.
Unavailable: Sneijder, Maicon, Castaignos, Samuel.
Referee: Luca Banti (Livorno)
Assistants: Priests – Copelli.
Fourth official: Rizzoli.
