Forced victory. For everyone, without exception, that's why at the end of this day, inevitably, someone will be disappointed. In particular Roma and Inter, who this evening (20.45 pm) will compete in a sold-out Olimpico for different objectives, but with the same need for points. Milan also risks a lot: success has been missing since 19 October (1-3 in Verona), since then 4 draws and 1 defeat, so they really can't go wrong at San Siro against Udinese.
“Roma is ahead of us in the standings but we are Inter – Roberto Mancini's speech. – We have to make the most of it, even if we risk losing it”. Words that will have pleased Thohir and the Nerazzurri people, increasingly in love with the coach from Jesi. However, he is well aware of the difficulties of the Roman away game, so far fatal to all Serie A teams (6 wins out of 6 for the Giallorossi at home, 14 goals scored and 0 conceded).
“They have many chances to win the Scudetto, they are close to Juve – Mancini thought. – Sabatini has done a great job in recent years, Garcia is doing the rest. And then there's Totti, for years one of the greatest players in the world. He won little because he espoused a cause, a bit like me at Sampdoria ”. Inter will try to make the coup, albeit with some important absences that make the undertaking even more difficult.
In addition to Jonathan, Hernanes, Nagatomo and Vidic have not been called up either, so formation, from the waist down, is almost obligatory. In defense, in front of the amazing Handanovic (6 penalties saved consecutively between the last two seasons!), it will be the turn of Campagnaro, Ranocchia, Juan Jesus and Dodò. In the median space for Guarin, Medel and Kuzmanovic, with the task of protecting and launching the Palacio-Osvaldo-Kovacic trident. The Italian-Argentine will thus replace the late Icardi, while the Croatian will once again have the responsibility of turning the team on, albeit from the unusual position of winger.
“I can't judge Inter from the last two games – explained Rudi Garcia. – They play differently now, then it's clear that when a new coach arrives, there's a stronger attitude. However, we will have to be Roma, thus preventing them from demonstrating their qualities". The French coach didn't like the controversies of the week, daughters of the results (the draw against CSKA left a bad taste in the mouth) and otherwise. The by now famous (yellow)red light evening in Moscow has aroused several discussions, hence the piqued reply in the press conference.
“Enough of this nonsense, I'm here to talk about football – he glossed over annoyed. – We are all angry and disappointed about the Champions League, but the group has shown that it is united". But the real broadside came later and, like other times in the past, it aimed at Juventus. “In Europe only Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern have done better than us – he explained. – I won't mention the Bianconeri because they have three points more and you all know how they got them…”.
Any reference to direct confrontation (the one refereed by Rocchi, for those who had descended from Mars today) is not purely coincidental. Returning to the field, Garcia has recovered Maicon who should therefore play from the first minute, in a defensive department also made up of Manolas, Astori and Holebas. In midfield, space for the "usual" Pjanic, De Rossi and Nainggolan, in attack sure of a Totti and Gervinho shirt, the other is played by Florenzi (favourite) and Ljajic.
The three points, as previously mentioned, are also fundamental for Milan, who are playing at San Siro against Udinese (15pm).
“We have to get the three points by all means – admitted Inzaghi at the press conference. – We care a lot about this game, the time has come to get back to winning ways. It won't be easy though, Udinese are an excellent team and then there's Stramaccioni, a great coach as well as a friend”. But today there will be no room for sentimentality, on pain of losing further ground from the leaders in the standings and, therefore, from the European placings. Of course, the injuries don't help: the Rossoneri coach will have to do without Abate, De Jong, Alex, Muntari and De Sciglio, all starters so far.
It is possible that Armero will make his debut from the start, with Bonera climbing to the right alongside the central couple Rami-Mexes. A "desaparecido" could also return to midfield: it is Van Ginkel, chosen to compose the median with Essien and Bonaventura. The big doubt, as usual, is in attack: Menez or Torres? It is probable that the Frenchman appears as a "false nueve", in a department that would be completed by Honda and El Shaarawy, but the Spaniard retains some small chances (at that point he would be 4-2-3-1).
