Category: News

The Nerazzurri boss believes the Giallorossi will be a match for anyone this season and tipped them to win Serie A

Inter boss Walter Mazzarri has played down the significance of his side’s recent defeat to Roma and says the capital club can go all the way in their bid to take Juventus’ league crown.

The Nerazzurri were humiliated 3-0 by Rudi Garcia’s men on home soil two weeks ago, with the Giallorossi now five points clear at the top with eight wins out of eight.

“It’s normal to suffer a little playing against a Roma of that quality,” the 52-year-old told reporters ahead of Sunday’s clash with Torino. “They look like a team with a top coach. They have every chance of going all the way.”

“We lost the game but we didn’t play all that badly. Torino have also picked up fewer points than they deserve so far this season. It’s going to be another big test for us.

“I’m confident we can put on a good performance. I’d like us to be more clinical and make the most of situations in the final third.”

Ricky Alvarez is unavailable for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico, but Mazzarri does not believe under-fire midfielder Fredy Guarin is a suitable replacement in a more advanced position.

“[Mateo] Kovacic is one possibility but I must say it’s a shame Alvarez isn’t fit,” he continued. “In any case I’m confident about whoever comes in to replace Ricky.

“Guarin in the hole? I tried that out [on pre-season tour] in the States. With the attributes he has, he could find it hard receiving the ball in a certain way.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out between now and May but it would be wrong to confuse him by giving him a different job to do right now.”

The Croatian, who has not been a regular at San Siro since his January arrival, wants to play a major part in the club owner’s first victory

Mateo Kovacic is aiming to break his goalscoring duck for Inter at Torino on Sunday and give new owner Erick Thohir his first victory.

Thohir’s takeover from Massimo Moratti was announced last week, and Kovacic would love to get his first goal for the club to help them take three points back to Milan. 

Kovacic – a January signing from Dinamo Zagreb – has struggled to cement a place in Inter’s first team due to injuries, but insisted he is ready to play a big part under new coach Walter Mazzarri.

“We are here to play and to win, [and] we want to give Thohir his first victory,” he told SportMediaset.

“My problem is that I can’t score goals at the moment.

“I must admit I feel the fact I haven’t scored my first goal for Inter yet.”

The Croatian has only started two Serie A fixtures this season, but has found himself playing in a more advanced position under Mazzarri compared to previous coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

“I like to play in any of the midfield roles and am at the disposal of the coach,” he added.

“With Andrea Stramaccioni I was in a deeper role, whereas Walter Mazzarri wants me in a more advanced position to provide assists and try to score.”

In a modern game which demands deep resources, much depends on a club’s ability to build a squad of great strength. But which of Italy’s challengers boasts the greater reserves?

ANALYSIS
By Kris Voakes

The fantastic start made by some of Italy’s least-fancied clubs has provoked much talk regarding the potential for an absorbing title race ahead, with Juventus’ trip to Fiorentina on Sunday marking just the latest huge clash between Serie A’s finest.

But while seven rounds gives us a reasonable idea as to who may challenge, already there are some sides rueing the rotten luck which has forced them into significant changes to their first XI. The Viola are one of those, losing Mario Gotze and Juan Cuadrado among others, while AC Milan have a long list of injury casualties.

So who can cover best for such misfortune in the longer term? We’ve taken a look at the six biggest-hitting clubs in Serie A and picked a second-choice lineup for each side, using their current preferred system in each case.

Vincenzo Montella has already had to make a number of alterations to his side this term, and it is up front where they have their most notable shortfall when injuries strike. The losses of Adem Ljajic and Stevan Jovetic may have been covered by the return to fitness of Giuseppe Rossi and purchase of Mario Gomez, but already the lack of depth beyond their two big names is being felt.

Inter have a very deep squad on the surface, with plenty of Serie A appearances to boast. While skipper and club legend Javier Zanetti would not normally appear on this list, his permanent place in the first XI will have to be questioned after his return from the first major injury of his career. Elsewhere, there are names such as Ricardo Alvarez, Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Walter Samuel and Luca Castellazzi who all have significant experience, as well as young Mateo Kovacic. The one question mark which remains over a number of those names is whether they could change the Nerazzurri‘s fortunes this term having been unable to have their say last season.

Juventus have arguably the most capable second XI considering the regular use of many of these players over the past two years. While Simone Pepe may have missed much of the last 18 months, he was key in the 2011-12 Scudetto win, and Claudio Marchisio has been a regular member of one of Europe’s most revered midfields until recently, with he and Paul Pogba now battling for one spot. Up front are two players of great repute, with Fabio Quagliarella also a possible option for a striking berth.

Milan’s lack of sheer quality in defence appears to be the only real letdown of their second string. In the attacking third there are players such as Valter Birsa, Riccardo Saponara and Mbaye Niang who don’t even feature in the side even after Kaka, Mario Balotelli and Alessandro Matri are taken out of the equation, but behind them there are weak spots. The midfield depth is functional without being filled with flair, while the back four is even more unconvincing.

Rafa Benitez has a first XI of significant quality these days, and he has a number of great secondary options to go with them. All of the second choice back four have decent experience at first-team level, especially in the shape of former captain Paolo Cannavaro. Ahead of them the likes of Blerim Dzemaili, Goran Pandev and Dries Mertens are all set for plenty of game time this term as key squad members, but a handful of injuries may start to stretch the Napoli resources.

Roma’s fantastic start has not only proved that the Giallorossi have a great coach at the helm this term, but also that Rudi Garcia has a significant amount of quality in his first-team squad. While Mattia Destro is no Francesco Totti, Michael Bradley doesn’t boast the range of Daniele De Rossi and Nicolas Burdisso can’t match up to Mehdi Benatia, all have plenty to give. Alessandro Florenzi could easily be interchangeable with any of Kevin Strootman, Miralem Pjanic or Adem Ljajic, helping to show that many of these players are knocking on the door for first-team football.

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Inter will be looking to extend their 19-year unbeaten streak against Torino when the two sides meet on Sunday.

Walter Mazzarri’s men have taken just one point from their last two games and suffered a 3-0 defeat to Roma in their previous fixture which has resulted in them falling away from the top three in Serie A.

Inter eased to a 2-0 win in last season’s fixture at the Stadio Olimpico, although Torino did earn a 2-2 draw at San Siro.

Argentine attacker Rodrigo Palacio leads the way for the Nerazzurri in the goalscoring charts with three, and will be expected to add to that tally against a team without a win in their last three matches.

However, defenders Cristian Chivu (foot) and Javier Zanetti (Achilles) are both still sidelined while this game is likely to come too quickly for Ricky Alvarez, with reports suggesting he might make the bench.

Torino have a few concerns of their own as they look to end their long wait for a victory against the 18-time Serie A champions.

Defender Kamil Glik is suspended, while forward Marcelo Larrondo (foot), defender Guillermo Rodriguez (hamstring) are unavailable.

Omar El Kaddouri and Migjen Basha are to be assessed for Giampiero Ventura’s side, who will look to Alessio Cerci to continue his fine form in front of goal.

The former Fiorentina and Roma winger Cerci has already scored six times this term, and is overshadowing strikers Ciro Immobile and Riccardo Meggiorini.

Torino’s last win over Inter came in 1994, when they earned a 2-0 success.

The hosts have kept just one clean sheet this season, though, and Ventura’s men will need to remedy their defensive issues if they are to record a victory.