Inter Milan News

MILAN – President Massimo Moratti paused on his way into the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to take a few questions from the waiting press. He spoke about yesterday’s results which seemed to have temporarily halted Juventus and Napoli’s progress. "There’s no must about it but we could make up ground on them and we’ll see after the game. It’s good from a purely mathematical perspective. We deserved to lose against Atalanta, we’ll need to do better. Is today a test of our maturity? We’re not looking at it that way, we just want to improve game by game. Stramaccioni has said we’ve talked too much about the Cassano-Conte spat? He’s absolutely right, it’s silly to get hung up on something like this – even you journalists – when football is like a book which changes on a daily basis. It’s all unnecessary and I’m just going to enjoy a game of football."

MILAN – Here are the two starting line-ups for Inter v Cagliari, Week 13 of Serie A 2012/13, this afternoon at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (kick-off 15:00).

Inter:
1 Handanovic; 23 Ranocchia, 25 Samuel, 40 Juan Jesus; 4 Zanetti, 21
Gargano, 19 Cambiasso, 55 Nagatomo; 8 Palacio, 22 Milito, 99 Cassano.

Subs: 12 Castellazzi, 27 Belec, 6 Silvestre, 7
Coutinho, 11 Alvarez, 17 Mariga, 31 Pereira, 33 Mbaye, 41 Duncan, 42
Jonathan, 52 Romanò.
Coach: Andrea Stramaccioni.

Cagliari:
1 Agazzi; 14 Pisano, 15 Rossettini, 13
Astori, 8 Avelar; 20 Ekdal, 5 Conti, 4
Nainggolan; 7 Cossu; 27 Sau, 18 Nenè.
Subs: 25 Avramov, 19 Thiago Ribeiro, 21 Dessena, 23 Ibarbo,
24 Perico, 32 Casarini, 51 Pinilla.
Coach: Ivo Pulga.

Referee:
Piero Giacomelli (Trieste).

MILAN – You can say a lot about the book just by leafing through it: that it’s great, it’s got hundreds of amazing photos, that children bring happiness to people all over the world. In this first look at "Inter Campus, sport, passione, impegno" (Inter Campus, sport, passion, hard work), published by Skira and compiled by the Nerazzurri staff who have worked with children, we learn about those involved and the author, Franco Origlia. A reporter and photographer, Origlia began his career as a journalist 15 years ago with a phone conversation about the favelas in Brazil and has since travelled to the 25 countries where Inter Campus work. He’s written the book. "Every picture brings back memories, of different faces and trips abroad. The war in Kosovo for example where the kids in the refugee camp had never seen the sea and they experienced it all like a big camping trip. Their pride, which I’ve seen all over the world, at wearing the Inter shirt, the focus they showed at training. I’ve seen a lot of suffering, but the people living through these things don’t waste time crying about it. They do something about it and look towards the future. If you’re a part of Inter Campus you know all about that."

Alongside him, Don Gino Rigoldi of the Children’s Association in Romania, who has worked with Inter Campus in orphanages, summarised the situation in real terms.

"In Romania, kids in orphanages were the lowest of the low. Now though, thanks to football, the kids leave the orphanages, they’re accepted and they go from being the lowest to being the best, by wearing the Nerazzurri colours. Football provides a playful environment where you can learn how to interact with one another in life, it’s better than any sermon."

Francesco Toldo, Inter Campus ambassador, prefers to describe himself as a "witness". He’s travelled a lot, and has plenty of stories and memories from his "life after football."

"Fifteen years is an awfully long time, the Moratti family have approached this project with a lot of hard work, and their presence here today is important (Carlotta Moratti, president of Inter Campus, along with her mother Milly are sat in the front row). I thank them for the opportunity they gave me. It might sound strange in Italy, but we were holding a training session in Venezuela and we heard gunshots and the kids were the least scared of anyone. Or when in Cambodia, the kids knew absolutely nothing about football but were delighted when we brought them a piece of mango as a snack and when we played with the ball. These are the stories we see all over the world."

The book has been published by Skira who always follow Inter with great commitment and professionalism. Once again Massimo Vitta Zelman was in attendance today. The book will be on the shelves in early December, following its official opening at bookstore Rizzoli in New York on 29 November. Before that Inter Campus will appear at the UN.

MILAN – Tickets in the away section for Parma v Inter – Week 14 of Serie A 2012/13, Monday 26 November at the Stadio Ennio Tardini (kick-off 20:45) – go on sale tomorrow, Monday 19 November at 10:00. 

Tickets are reserved for those holding a supporter card and are available on Lottomatica (tickets can be resold on www.listicket.it). The away section has a capacity of 2,500 and tickets cost 25 euros. 

ABU DHABI – Inter Academy’s second session of the season in Abu Dhabi got under way this morning. It follows the course held in October and continues the activities organised between FC Internazionale and Abu Dhabi Sports Council which have been ongoing since their partnership began five years ago.

The Inter Academy staff will be working at Al Dhafra from today, Sunday 18 November, until Wednesday 21 November. Head coach Marco Monti, fitness coach Matteo Fiorenza and goalkeeping coach Gabriele Zanon will alternate theory sessions in the morning and technical work in the afternoon as they work with the coaches and youngsters from the Abu Dhabi-based club.