INTER, THE MISSION IS TO OVERCOME THE CATANIA OBSTACLE.
NERAZZURRI DECIMATED: SNEIJDER, JULIO CESAR AND FORLAN ALSO OUT!
BUT RANIERI IS OPTIMISTIC: "WE GO TO WIN".
Healthy or bad stop? At Inter they no longer know what to think. Two weeks ago, after the searing (for many reasons) defeat against Napoli, the Nerazzurri welcomed the arrival of the national teams, which in Ranieri's plans would have allowed some of his team to catch their breath, others to recover from injuries, others still to distract themselves a bit by breathing a different air. But Sor Claudio hadn't counted on bad luck, which at the moment seems to have decided to attack the Nerazzurri team. In fact, the national teams took both Julio Cesar and Forlan away from Ranieri, with the latter having to be out for 40 days. Furthermore, Wesley Sneijder, undoubtedly the most awaited man, didn't have time to recover, and this afternoon he won't take the field at Massimino. The away match in Catania is frightening, for the health of the Sicilians and for the previous ones, given that two years ago (with Mourinho on the bench) the Nerazzurri made up for a resounding 3-1 defeat, while last year they managed to snatch a win after a race of enormous suffering. Ranieri, however, is not looking for excuses: the Inter coach is well aware that, injured or not, the world champions must win, to shorten the standings and regain morale. “Catania is a difficult and hostile field – he said yesterday in the press conference – but we want to win. We are only thinking about scoring points, not breaking away from the leading group. That's all that counts."
MILAN, AGAINST PALERMO WITH THE UNKNOWN ROBINHO.
ALLEGRI'S CHARGING: "WE NEED COURAGE, MENTALITY AND CONCENTRATION".
BUT MANGIA WARNED: "WE WILL PUT THE ROSSONERI IN DIFFICULTY".
Who will surely have found positive aspects in this 15-day break is Massimiliano Allegri's Milan. On 2 October last, the Rossoneri left the Juventus Stadium in Turin with broken bones, beaten in the result, in the game and above all in the motivations. Milan had appeared tired and drained, in need of pulling the plug and recovering some valuable piece. In this sense, compared to Inter, the break seems to have done well: Ibrahimovic played only one match (he missed the other due to disqualification) Cassano two, but the brace against Northern Ireland has more power than one week off. If anything, the two AC Milan aces created havoc with their declarations: "I'm tired, I no longer have the stimuli I once had" said Ibra, "I'll stop in 3 years" added a few hours later the Pibe of Bari. In via Turati they minimized, but it is certain that Raiola's (Swedish's attorney) visit to the headquarters did not go unnoticed. Returning to the pitch, Allegri will be able to count on the return of Robinho, who has finally recovered from his injury. However, the Brazilian hasn't played an official match since last August 6 (Italian Super Cup won against Inter), which is why Allegri could decide to let him start from the bench, preferring, at least from the start, Alberto Aquilani, until now a mysterious object. The Rossoneri coach appeared serene and charged, even if aware that he can no longer afford mistakes: “You always need to have courage, we'll have to be careful and concentrated, leaving little depth to the opponent and ready to give something extra to win again. In current football you don't play with heel-toe but with technique, aggression, courage and running".
More or less what Devis Mangia asked of his Palermo. The rosanero coach is living a dream: two months ago he was still coaching the spring, while tonight he will attempt the feat in the "Scala del calcio". So far Mangia has done very well, especially against the big teams (victory over Inter, draw in Rome against Lazio) but he knows very well that Zamparini doesn't take much to change his mind. Despite this, however, Mangia won't come to San Siro to barricade: “We'll try to put them in difficulty even if we can't look at the standings. The important thing will be the attitude, with the right one we could create problems for them”.
NAPLES, BE CAREFUL NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE PARMA!
TURNOVER PROHIBITED, HAMSIK, LAVEZZI AND CAVANI PLAY.
CATEGORY MAZZARRI: "WE WILL THINK ABOUT BAYERN ONLY FROM TOMORROW".
The emigma stops, however, above all concerns Naples. The Azzurri had experienced the stop almost as an injustice, given the moment of grace they were going through. It's not often that you beat Villareal and Inter in 3 days, which is why Napoli would have gladly done without this stop. The Neapolitan capital is hungry for football and victories, as evidenced by the continuous sold out of the San Paolo. There will be at least 40.000 people tonight against Parma, but the city's attention is already projected to Tuesday, when Bayern Munich arrives in Fuorigrotta (even breaking the historic box office record of the UEFA final against Stuttgart in 1990).
Paradoxically, all this Champions League fever is the biggest risk for Napoli. In fact, before Bayern there is Parma to think about, who certainly won't come to the San Paolo to play the sacrificial victim. The ducals come from a victory (3 – 1 against Genoa) which has calmed their ranking, they can also enjoy a Giovinco in a state of grace. In short, Parma should not be taken lightly, as underlined in the press conference by Walter Mazzarri: “The real leap in quality is to make the players understand that the Champions League must not distract us. We saw how Chievo and Fiorentina dealt with us, I told the boys: we only have to think about Parma now, but the excellent training done yesterday gives me hope”. To further convince his players, Mazzarri will field the starting lineup. No turnover therefore, at the San Paolo we will see the trident of wonders Lavezzi - Hamsik - Cavani. "The mind is only at Parma, there will be no turnover" declared the Napoli coach, adding "that the changes will only be made after the match against Bayern".
