Inter Milan News

The Portuguese coach has been linked with a move back to the Serie A giants, but the former Real Madrid ace has stressed he is unlikely to replace Andrea Stramaccioni this summer

Inter director Luis Figo has insisted that Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will not return to the Nerazzurri at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

Current head coach Andrea Stramaccioni has come under fire following the Giuseppe Meazza side’s poor performances this season, while speculation that Mourinho is leaving Madrid this summer has intensified over the past few months.

Nevertheless, Figo has made it clear that the Portuguese coach is unlikely to take charge of Inter again at the end of the current campaign.

“Mourinho has said himself that a return this summer is impossible. At least for now, it’s very difficult,” Figo was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

Inter fans displayed a Mourinho banner during the 3-2 Coppa Italia loss against Roma at San Siro earlier this week and Figo understands the Nerazzurri faithful’s nostalgic feelings.

“It’s normal that you think back to better times when you’re no longer winning. People have fond memories of Mourinho. There’s little doubt about that.

“Had we been more successful now, there would not be any talk about the past and this debate would not even exist.”

Mourinho guided Inter to an historic treble in 2009-10 before leaving for Spain.

The club’s president has given the coach until the end of the season to prove his worth and insists he has not yet considered a replacement

Andrea Stramaccioni’s future at Inter will be decided on June 30, according to Massimo Moratti.

The coach has come under-fire following a poor run of league form, Europa League exit and a Coppa Italia semi-final defeat to Roma.

Inter, who have lost four of their last five Serie A games, have slid down the table to seventh place. They are currently five points adrift of a Champions League spot, and nine points behind fierce rivals AC Milan.

With speculation surrounding Stramaccioni’s future, Moratti has revealed his fate will be decided at the end of the season, but remains adamant he has not yet considered replacing him.

He told reporters: “You will know the future of Stramaccioni on June 30. At the moment it is difficult to judge his actions as we have been hampered with injuries. Names that circulate? I’ll give them to you guys, we have not had contact with anyone.”

The Nerazzurri have been hit with a long list of injuries, with Antonio Cassano, Rodrigo Palacio and Diego Milito all sidelined and Esteban Cambiasso and Fredy Guarin joining a growing list of casualties.

Moratti is sympathetic with the current situation, but believes the team’s approach to games must not alter.

“Is it a problem of the preparation? I have not had time to analyse it, but I think the results do favour for something like this, maybe something in the preparation must be changed.”

The Nerazzurri boss is in the dark over his position at the club and felt Roma deservedly progressed to the cup final

Andrea Stramaccioni has admitted he could leave Inter at the end of the season, but says he will continue to give his all for the club until president Massimo Moratti has made a decision on his future this summer.

The Nerazzurri sit only seventh in the Serie A table at the moment following a string of poor results, with Champions League qualification having become nearly impossible, while they also missed out on the chance to save their season by winning the Coppa Italia as they were beaten 5-3 on aggregate by Roma in the semi-finals.

“I’ve never shied away and I’m not going to now. I’ll give everything I have for these colours from now till June 30, then the president will tell me what’s going to happen in the future,” Stramaccioni told Rai Sport.

“I’ve often stuck my neck on the line because I’m the coach and it’s right that I should do that. I have no problem working for the club and the president, defending them even if it means exposing myself. I’ll always do that and those who know me know that.

“Do I feel abandoned by the club? I’ve never had that problem. I’ve often put my neck on the line, as I said, and that’s right because I’m the coach and I have no problem doing that for this club. And I’ll keep doing that for as long as I’m the coach of Inter.”

The beleaguered boss then went on to discuss his side’s 3-2 second-leg defeat at the Giuseppe Meazza on Wednesday and stated the Giallorossi deserved to progress.

“I can only compliment my players, as we put everything we had on to the field. I think the team had an excellent first half and we could’ve doubled our lead with Tommaso Rocchi. In the second half Roma improved, while we lost physical intensity.

“The regret is we conceded a goal on a counter-attack when our defence was set out. The Giallorossi did well to take advantage. It’s a bit of a difficult period, as we had Ricky Alvarez and Juan Jesus back for this game, then lost Esteban Cambiasso in the warm-up.

“I will say over the two legs that Roma deserved to reach the final, so I compliment them and also compliment my players for giving their all. I thank the fans, who understood the situation and supported us to the end.”

Inter resume Serie A action on Sunday when they take on Parma.

The Argentine defender believes it is time for the Nerazzurri to assess what has gone wrong this term in order to be well prepared for next year

Javier Zanetti has admitted Inter have little left to play for this term after their Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Roma on Wednesday and has stated they can slowly start thinking about next season instead.

The Nerazzurri needed to overturn a 2-1 defeat from the first leg of the semi-final tie, but were unable to turn things around at the Giuseppe Meazza as Roma recorded a 3-2 away win (5-3 on aggregate to the Giallorossi) to book their ticket for the cup final, much to the disappointment of Zanetti.

“Now we must end the season as best we can and try to get a few players back who can give us a hand,” Zanetti told Inter Channel.

“Then, calmly, we need to assess what needs to be put right so that we can start again next season and get back to being successful.

“You just need to have clear ideas and a joint target, a team that wants to play a leading role. Inter are a club that needs to be challenging every year.”

Inter resume Serie A action at the weekend at home against Parma. They currently sit seventh in the Serie A table, trailing third-placed AC Milan by nine points.

The Inter boss rued the unfortunate injury to Esteban Cambiasso before kick-off, but hailed the commitment of his side on the night

Andrea Stramaccioni believes Roma deserved to reach the Coppa Italia final after their 5-3 aggregate win over Inter.

A double from former Nerazzurri forward Mattia Destro secured a Roma a derby date with Lazio in the final after Jonathan’s exquisite opener, and though Stramaccioni was quick to praise his side’s commitment, he believes the Giallorossi were good value for their aggregate victory.

“I can only compliment my players, as we put everything we had on to the field,” he told Rai Sport after the match.

“I think the team had an excellent first half and we could’ve doubled our lead with Tommaso Rocchi. In the second half Roma improved, while we lost physical intensity.

“The regret is we conceded a goal on a counter-attack when our defence was set out. The Giallorossi did well to take advantage.

“I don’t want to talk about myself, as I want to discuss the players. It’s a bit of a difficult period, as we got Ricky Alvarez and Juan Jesus back for this game, then lost Esteban Cambiasso in the warm-up.

“I will say over the two legs that Roma deserved to reach the final, so I compliment them and also compliment my players for giving their all. I thank the fans, who understood the situation and supported us to the end.”