APPIANO GENTILE – Nine of the ten Nerazzurri players involved in midweek international fixtures reported back to the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti this afternoon, as Inter prepare to host Chievo in next Sunday’s Serie A encounter at the Stadio Meazza. Fredy Guarin is due to return tomorrow.
Today’s training session saw the team put through a brisk warm-up, followed by a tactical drill and a practice match.
The Nerazzurri president has admitted that they were never really gunning for the Scudetto as their main goal is Champions League qualification
Inter president Massimo Moratti has insisted that the Giuseppe Meazza side did not start the 2012-13 campaign with the objective of winning the Serie A title.
The Nerazzurri seemed to be one of Juventus’ biggest rivals for the Scudetto earlier this season, but have dropped to fifth spot in the table following a string of disappointing results.
Nonetheless, Moratti has seen enough in Inter’s performances so far to be confident that they can still make it into the Champions League.
“At one point this season everybody was convinced that we could fight for the title, but winning the Scudetto was never our objective at the start of the season,” he told Tuttosport.
“We are Inter so you can never really sat that out loud. It’s clear, though, that we have a very young coach and some young players.
“The important objective for me and for the other people at the club is qualifying for the Champions League. Not just from an economical point of view, but also from a sporting point.”
Inter will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Chievo on Sunday.
Juan Pablo Carrizo has voiced his delight with his transfer to Inter in the January transfer window, and feels honoured to be part of Andrea Stamaccioni’s squad.
The 28-year-old joined the Nerazzurri from Lazio on loan until the end of the season, and is determined to show what he can do at his new club.
“It’s a great honour for me to have joined Inter,” Carrizo was quoted as saying on the official Inter website.
“I’m here to give my all, to help my team-mates. I’m very proud to be part of this great group of players, many of whom I already know.
“It’s a very special moment. Tuesday I heard from [Javier] Zanetti and [Rodrigo] Palacio, they congratulated me, it was great.”
Carrizo will serve as first-choice goalkeeper Samir Handanovic’s deputy for the remainder of the 2012-13 campaign.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has revealed that he still has confidence in the team’s coach Andrea Stramaccioni and denied he gave him a vote of confidence via text message.
The Nerazzurri are fifth in Serie A, three points adrift of a Champions League place and 12 points behind league leaders Juventus.
“Yes, I still have confidence [in Stramaccioni]. We need to work hard, stay very alert and defend against attacks – especially those closer to us – in such a way so that things start working again,” Moratti told Inter.ie.
“No, I never sent any SMS,” he added. “I also read this but I didn’t send anything. Stramaccioni and I had a chat.”
Moratti, who became president in 1995, also commented on his club’s new signings acquired during the January transfer window.
“The two from eastern Europe did very well, but I can’t say the same for [Ezequiel] Schelotto. It wasn’t his fault however as he hadn’t played for a month. He tried, but it’s not the player’s fault if he didn’t turn in the greatest performance.”
Antonio Cassano has insisted that Inter still have every chance of having a successful 2012-13 campaign.
The Nerazzurri have been struggling to find their best for in recent weeks, and have dropped to fifth place in the Serie A table, 12 points behind leaders Juventus.
Nevertheless, Cassano has pointed out that they can still qualify for the Champions League, while they also remain candidates to win the Europa League and the Coppa Italia.
“Everyone is making out that Inter are dead and buried, but we are three points off the Champions League places, in the last 32 of the Europa League and still have the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final to play – we could still make the final,” the attacker told Sky Sport Italia.
“Milan have caught us up? This means they did very badly at the beginning, but no one mentioned it, while now everyone’s saying Inter are struggling. But hey, that’s fine. I accept that, I like this situation.”
Cassano then went on to praise the team’s spirit, while stressing that he is very happy with life at Inter since moving to the club from Milan in the summer.
“I’ve been playing a long time and I’ve never seen a better team spirit than the one we have here. The lads are humble, champions who are always there to help the youngsters. This is a really special squad, I really like it.
“I didn’t even used to like Milan, but since I’ve been at Inter I’ve come to like the city: this shows how happy I am here. Obviously now we need to get out of this with classy players, with great individuals. And there are a lots of those here.”
Cassano has netted six goals in 20 Serie A appearances so far this term.