May 23rd, 2013 |
0 commentsThe Inter chief has suggested the former Manchester City manager could be replace Andrea Stramaccioni and downplayed rumours they have already agreed terms with Walter Mazzarri
Inter president Massimo Moratti has refused to rule out a move for former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini amid ongoing speculation that they are ready to part company with current head coach Andrea Stramaccioni.
The 48-year-old, who coached Inter to three consecutive Serie A titles during a four-year stint from 2004 until 2008, was dismissed at City earlier this month and is believed to be one of the candidates to replace Stramaccioni if the latter were to leave the Giuseppe Meazza side.
“Is Mancini an option? Anything’s a possibility in football,” Moratti told reporters, before stressing that no final decision has been made about the future of Stramaccioni.
“There are no statements to give. I know he’s not feeling well, so it’s right that he’s had to rest. Nothing more than that. I really don’t think there’s any earth-shattering news to tell you.”
Aside from Mancini, Walter Mazzarri has also been linked with the position of Inter coach, but Moratti has insisted that no agreement exists with the former Napoli coach yet.
“Is Mazzarri signing? The rumour was going around but it’s not true.”
Mazzarri recently announced his decision to step down as Napoli coach after guiding them to second place in the Serie A table.
May 22nd, 2013 |
0 commentsThe 43-year-old has warned the reigning Italian champions to keep on improving in order to avoid a decline like the Nerazzurri’s in the past three seasons
Antonio Conte has stressed that Juventus cannot afford to rest on their laurels after winning back-to-back Serie A titles and make the same mistakes as Inter following their treble in 2010.
The coach feels the Giuseppe Meazza side failed to build a team for the future after their successful 2009-10 campaign and has warned that Juve must not allow a similar scenario happen.
“We must keep growing. It’s not just about winning trophies. The objective should be to always keep on improving, because you can also win it all without really building anything for the future,” Conte told Corriere dello Sport.
“Look at what happened to Inter after they won the treble. They peaked that season, but did not build anything for the future. And this has been a very poor season for them, only three years after their successes.
“Our recent successes seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. Last year we won the Scudetto without losing and this term we won it three matches before the end of the season.
“You have to look at the past in order to improve in the present and for the future. It’s crucial to always remain hungry for more.”
Juventus collected 87 points from 38 games this season to finish nine points clear of runners-up Napoli.
May 22nd, 2013 |
0 commentsThe forward thinks it will not be easy to close the gap on the Scudetto holders and is pleased with his performances in 2012-13
Inter star Antonio Cassano fears that it will be difficult to end Juventus’ Serie A dominance next season if they strengthen their squad even further this summer.
The Turin powerhouse finished the 2012-13 season nine points clear of runners-up Napoli after pipping AC Milan to the Scudetto last term and Cassano believes that it will not be easy to close the gap again in the near future.
“Juventus are already a superb team and it looks like they are keen to sign some more top players this summer,” Cassano told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It will be very difficult to beat them next season if their team becomes even stronger.”
The 30-year-old then reflected on his performances in 2012-13 and stressed that he gave his all for Inter this term.
“I gave everything for the team this year and could not have done more.”
Cassano netted eight goals in 28 Serie A appearances for Inter this season.
May 21st, 2013 |
0 commentsThe Inter president says he will take his time before deciding whether his head coach will remain next season after a disappointing campaign
Inter president Massimo Moratti says he is undecided about whether coach Andrea Stramaccioni will stay on with the Nerazzurri next term.
The club concluded a frustrating season with a 5-2 home defeat against Udinese on Sunday, leaving them 18 points off the Champions League places in ninth.
“We’re still making decisions, nothing’s been done yet,” the 68-year-old told reporters. “[There is] no chance of anything this evening, but there’s no rush. We’ve got time.
“On the one hand he’s a talented guy who will definitely be a success in this business, on the other we have the situation we find ourselves in. So I’m thinking about the best choice I can make.”
Moratti was also asked whether he was a fan of former Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, should Stramaccioni move on.
“They’re all good coaches, but they they have to work at Inter, which is something different,” he concluded.
May 21st, 2013 |
0 commentsGoal hands out the awards to the star men of the past few days in Italy after the final round of fixtures
Another Serie A season is over. While Juventus fans celebrate another Scudetto and Napoli and Milan make plans for the Champions League, Palermo, Siena and Pescara will be thinking about how to approach their Serie B campaign to next term.
But one last order of business needs clearing up first, with the Goal Team of the Week for round 38 dealing out the final awards of the league season,
Antonio Mirante is the first of six maiden appearance makers in the Team of the Week for this season, following his magnificent performance in denying Palermo a farewell win over Parma.
Davide Astori‘s powerful defensive display helped Cagliari past Lazio, while over in Siena, Cristian Zapata and Claudio Terzi were equally important for their respective teams as Milan snatched the Champions League play-off spot at the death.
Alessio Cerci scored one, made another, and generally had a hand in everything good about Torino’s display in the 2-2 draw with Catania. Over in Pescara, Mati Fernandez helped push Fiorentina to within a whisker of Champions League football with a goal and two assists, while Giampiero Pinzi ensured Udinese made it to the Europa League with a first-minute goal and sparking a commanding performance in the 5-2 win at Inter. Massimo Gobbi, meanwhile, was busy putting in a goalscoring shift for Parma at Palermo.
Palermo said goodbye to Serie A and to Fabrizio Miccoli, but the club captain and icon signed off with a goal and a stirring performance despite defeat to Parma. Cyril Thereau equalised twice late on to ensure that Chievo got something out of their trip to Atalanta, but Adem Ljajic was the star of the round despite his hat-trick against Pescara coming too late for Fiorentina to claim a Champions League spot.
