Materazzi: Serie A refs are scared

The ex-Nerazzurri and Italy centre-back believes the officials in Italy’s top flight are not up to scratch after decisions have gone against his former club lately

Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi has criticised the standard of refereeing in Italy’s top flight.

A number of decisions appear to have gone against the Nerazzurri in recent weeks which has led to the ex-Italy international to speak out.

“I do not believe in bad faith, I believe that the referees are scared, they show it Sunday after Sunday,” he told reporters.

“Against Juve, a penalty was not given on [Antonio] Cassano, then a penalty was given to Atalanta. On Sunday a penalty was not given to [Cagliari’s Victor] Ibarbo and instead one was given to [Mauricio] Pinilla that was not there. These are strange things.”

Materazzi added referees cannot be the sole blame for the poor season suffered by Inter, with the team’s defence being an issue.

“If a team concedes 45 goals in a year is something wrong there.”

Inter will face Roma in the Italian cup semi-final and the World Cup winner believes victory in that tournament could salvage something from this season.

He added: “This is a decisive game, especially since there is little they can do in the league. Our journey began long ago with an Italian Cup; I hope that it will end in victory.”

Rocchi: I want to beat Roma for the Lazio fans

The veteran forward wants to make the supporters of Biancocelesti happy by overcoming a 2-1 deficit and reaching the final of the domestic cup competition on Wednesday evening

Inter striker Tommaso Rocchi has admitted he will be looking to knock Roma out of the Coppa Italia for the fans of his former side Lazio, as well as his current supporters.

The forward moved to San Siro from the Biancocelesti in January after nine years in the Italian capital, and he revealed reaching the final at the expense of Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side would be a way of saying thank you to those who used to sing his praises.

I want to make the fans happy of both Inter and Lazio,” he told Corriere dello Sport.

“I have had messages from Lazio fans telling me ‘I know how to beat them’. I still have respect for Roma but it will be like a derby for me.”

Inter head into Wednesday’s match 2-1 down after the first leg at Stadio Olimpico, and Rocchi admitted reaching the final would give the side a huge confidence boost after a poor run of form in Serie A.

We will do everything to go through. Playing in the Coppa Italia final would give us a big boost at the end of a season in which we are coming to terms with a lot of injuries,” he continued.

It’s true that we are in a poor run of form, but this is more than an excuse to be a stimulus. I think Inter are convinced that we will play a great match.

We are starting from a position that is not easy. The victory would therefore give us more satisfaction.”

The 35-year-old, who ruled out retiring at the end of the current campaign, also commented on the rumours surrounding the future of coach Andrea Stramaccioni and claimed such stories were not affecting the dressing room.

He added: “When you are in football for years you are used to living with these situations. When things do not go your way there is always talk about the change of coach or the re-establishment of the team.

“These things do not disturb us.”

Alvarez: Inter must turn things around

The attacking midfielder says the Nerazzurri must make it to the Coppa Italia final against Lazio to save their season after a poor run of form

Ricky Alvarez is desperate to turn Inter’s season around and help them to the final of the Coppa Italia at the expense of Roma.

The Nerazzurri have been in disappointing form in recent weeks, losing four our of their last five Serie A games, and the Argentine has stressed that they must make it to the cup final in order to save their season.

“We don’t have time to dwell on our recent defeats. We must think about one game at a time. Our next match, against Roma in the Coppa Italia, is really important because we can get through to the final,” he told Inter Channel.

“We want to make the final to turn this season around. It will be tough because we don’t have any fit forwards. Whoever plays, though, must give everything to win and get through.

“Being at a club of this size means you must give your all in every game.”

Inter were beaten 2-1 in the first leg of the semi-final tie. Wednesday’s return at San Siro kicks off at 20:45CET.

Inter-Roma Preview: Visitors hold slender advantage



Andrea Stramaccioni’s preparations for the Coppa Italia second leg against Roma have taken another blow after Walter Gargano and Yuto Nagatomo picked up injuries in the 2-0 defeat to Cagliari on Sunday.

The Japanese defender has been ruled out for the season after breaking his external left meniscus, while the Uruguayan anchorman will face several weeks on the touchline with a thigh strain. They add their names to a growing injury list which includes Antonio Cassano, Rodrigo Palacio, Diego Milito and Cristian Chivu.

Stramaccioni is already without the suspended Alvaro Pereira and Fredy Guarin as Inter look to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit. Zdravko Kuzmanovic should deputise in the Colombian’s absence.

Veteran striker Tommaso Rocchi will continue to operate as the only fit senior forward, with Mateo Kovacic and Ricky Alvarez behind him.

Giallorossi coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has concerns over trio Erik Lamela, Pablo Osvaldo and Miralem Pjanic after they missed Monday’s training session, but all three are expected to shake off knocks to play on Wednesday.

Club officials also revealed that Daniele De Rossi is making significant progress in his comeback from injury, and the 29-year-old could make the bench.

Vasilis Torosidis and Marquinhos are both pushing for a return to the starting XI after being rested for the 2-1 victory at Torino on Sunday.

  • Inter defeated Roma 1-0 in the 2009-10 Coppa Italia final and also eliminated the Giallorossi the following season 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
  • Nine-times winners Roma are bidding for a record 17th Coppa Italia final appearance.
  • Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side are unbeaten in their last six matches against Inter, winning three and drawing three.
  • Club captains Francesco Totti and Javier Zanetti have made 117 Coppa Italia appearances between them. Totti has 17 goals in 48 matches, whilst the Argentine has three goals in 69.
  • Nerazzurri coach Stramaccioni was a youth coach at Roma between 2005 and 2011, where he won two national titles.

Moratti pledges support to Stramaccioni

The Nerazzurri CEO has backed the club’s trainer during difficult times, voicing his confidence that the squad will turn around their fortunes

Inter president Massimo Moratti has pledged his support to under-pressure coach Andrea Stramaccioni after two straight Serie A defeats.

The San Siro outfit currently sit seventh in the table following back-to-back losses to Atalanta and Cagliari but the 67-year-old is confident the players will turn it around.

“Stramaccioni? I can not help but support him with all the difficulties he encountered in the course of this season,” the 67-year-old told reporters.

“You can not say that it is the fault of the coach or any player. [Jose] Mourinho said to me how could I stay here with everyone against me. I told him that’s exactly where the beauty of Inter lies.

“The team know how I feel and what their duties are. They’re responsible lads, they’ll do what they have to do.”

Inter face Roma in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg on Wednesday. They lost the first leg 2-1 in the Italian capital.