Javier Zanetti has wished Inter a happy birthday, as the Nerazzurri turn 104 years old today.
Following a break from Milan Cricket and Football Club, FC Internazionale was formed on March 9, 1908, partly because of the wish to create a club more open to foreign players than other Italian sides had been up to then.
Fittingly in celebrating entering their 105th year of existence today, the club received a birthday message from Argentine captain Zanetti.
“Happy birthday greetings to my dearest Inter,” the 38-year-old began in a statement from the team hotel.
“Being part of this beautiful family for so many years is a source of great pride. I can never stop thanking President [Massimo] Moratti for having given me this opportunity.
“And over these many years it has been a great honour to share in the triumphs, but also the difficult times, with many directors, Coaches, teammates, staff members, and all the fans who love this club and who I thank for having always been so supportive.
“We are all special, because we are Interisti. So once again - happy birthday Inter, and may there be another 100 more years like these!”
La Beneamata are in League action tonight, looking to end a winless run of seven Serie A games with a visit to Chievo.//football-italia.net
Cesare Prandelli believes 2012 is Italian football’s year with the Champions League and European Championships, but how would he solve Inter’s woes?
There are three Italian sides in the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition, as Milan beat Arsenal 4-0 while next week Napoli face Chelsea and Inter visit Olympique Marseille.
Cesare Prandelli believes 2012 is Italian football’s year with the Champions League and European Championships, but how would he solve Inter’s woes?
There are three Italian sides in the last 16 of Europe’s top club competition, as Milan beat Arsenal 4-0 while next week Napoli face Chelsea and Inter visit Olympique Marseille.
“In a one-off game, Napoli can beat anyone,” said Prandelli. “Nowadays all clubs would prefer to avoid taking on Walter Mazzarri’s men in a decisive match.
“I am confident all three Italians will go through to the quarter-finals. Milan have practically booked their ticket with that 4-0 victory over Arsenal.
“Inter are going through a strange season of highs and lows. At the moment it is difficult for them, but they have the players to rise up again. They need to push back with the pride of their champions.”
This year also sees Euro 2012 and Prandelli’s Italy qualified unbeaten, although they face Spain, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in the first round.
“We’ll see what happens, but it’s not easy, as we have Spain in our group.
Diego Milito feels the derby victory will give Inter “the confidence to face the next games” in the Scudetto race.
“I am so very happy. We had a great performance against an opponent of excellent quality,” he said after scoring in the 1-0 result over Milan.
“We knew it would be difficult and remained concentrated throughout, so we’re happy to have won the derby.”
The Nerazzurri had previously lost the head-to-heads against Juventus, Udinese and Napoli, but are back in the title race and now fourth.
“We really needed to beat one of the other big clubs and knew winning this would give us the confidence to face the next games.
“Winning the derby is wonderful, especially for all those who stayed close to me in difficult moments. Being fortunate enough to score the only goal makes me doubly happy.”
Inter President Massimo Moratti has said that he wouldn’t hesitate in re-signing Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli.
Moratti allowed Balotelli, who scored his first goal for Italy on Friday, to join City in the summer of 2010 for a transfer fee of €28m.
“I’d take Balotelli back tomorrow if I could,” the Nerazzurri patron stated on Monday morning. “Why would I say no? He’s one of the best players around.
Inter President Massimo Moratti has said that he wouldn’t hesitate in re-signing Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli.
Moratti allowed Balotelli, who scored his first goal for Italy on Friday, to join City in the summer of 2010 for a transfer fee of €28m.
“I’d take Balotelli back tomorrow if I could,” the Nerazzurri patron stated on Monday morning. “Why would I say no? He’s one of the best players around.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect for him. It seems to me that he is making a breakthrough and this experience in England with Roberto Mancini is good for him.
“However, I’m not thinking about him and I have no regrets in selling him. Certain things happened that year and it was difficult to keep him here.”
Balotelli was signed by the Beneamata in 2007 after Inter hijacked Fiorentina’s move for the then Lumezzane youngster.
Last week the Palermo-born forward stated that he could possibly consider a return to Inter if the right conditions were in place.
Inter boss Claudio Ranieri also revealed today that he would welcome the player with open arms if a move back to San Siro was possible.
Source : http://www.football-italia.net
Diego Milito hopes to put the transfer speculation to rest. “I am very happy to be playing for Inter.”
The striker has been at the centre of reports he’ll quit San Siro to follow Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.
However, his agent held talks with the Nerazzurri staff and it seems to have done the trick.
“I don’t want to talk about my future right now, but I will say that I am very happy to be playing for Inter,” said the Argentine.
It is reported his wages will rise from €3.5m per season to €5m as a reward for his excellent first campaign at San Siro.
The contract is also expected to last until June 30 2013.
Milito is currently in South Africa with Argentina’s World Cup squad.
“It is difficult to take your opportunities when space is limited, but I am at peace with myself, because there is so much competition here.”/http://football-italia.net
Nerazzurri will go to Stamford Bridge to win...
Inter defeated Chelsea 2-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza this evening and Wesley Sneijder said he felt that the Italians merited their victory.
“I think we deserved to win,” Sneijder told Sky Sports. “We were dominating the first half, with a little bit more luck we score the second one [before half-time] but we know that Chelsea are a very strong team with very good individual players so it's not done yet.”
The Dutchman was eager to reinforce this message, but pointed out that if Inter scored then it will be tough for Chelsea to progress.
“We were never the favourites so I don't want to say that,” he explained. “I see that we are defending a 2-1 victory and it means we have to play 0-0 but if we score then it will be difficult for them.”
Sneijder concluded by saying that Inter's objective will be to win at Stamford Bridge.
“You can tell a lot of stories but the only thing is that we go there and we go there to win.”( Source : Goal.com)
Inter's search for a player capable of complementing the creative talent of Wesley Sneijder has accelerated so much they now want Antonio Candreva in January.
The Livorno trequartista has been a revelation this season, making his full international debut for Marcello Lippi's Italy squad against Holland last month.
Il Corriere dello Sport understands Inter President Massimo Moratti will buy Candreva as a reward should Jose Mourinho qualify the Nerazzurri for the next stage of the Champions League.
It has been reported that a deal had already been put in place for Candreva next summer, but Inter's lack of an alternative for Sneijder has forced them into action sooner.
Mourinho has often spoken of his desire to add more Italian elements to his team, as Inter are now infamous for fielding a starting XI solely comprised of foreign players.
Candreva is the subject of an ownership dispute between Livorno and his parent club Udinese.
Livorno claim to part-own the 22-year-old while Udinese believe he is still only on loan after spending last season in Tuscany.[www.football-italia.net]
Reports from English newspaper Daily Mail suggest that Mourinho is far from happy in Italy and that the Portuguese tactician will return to the Premier League to coach Manchester United once Alex Ferguson announces his retirement. But Inter shouldn't think about Mou's replacement yet because Ferguson in one occasion said that he will stay put in United until his health permits it .
It is also mentioned about bad relations between the coach and Inter president Masimo Moratti so Mourinho could be sacked if he is not able to win clash against Rubin Kazan.
His record of just one win in nine Champions League games has tested Moratti's patience especially given the investment he made in the summer both in renewing Mourinho's contract and reinforcing his squad.
Mourinho and Moratti also disagree over Mario Balotelli, who Moratti would like in the squad, as he broke into the first team through the club's youth ranks. Last reports suggest that Arsenal has offered 30 milions for Italian striker but Mourinho want an exchange with Cesc Fabregas.
Turin, 30 November - It is true if the guard in the hunt for Juventus scudetto. But that did not discourage fans Bianconerri to remain in the field to support his favorite team ahead of the Italian derby against Inter on 5 December. Inter are currently top the standings with a difference of 8 points from Juventus.
Ticket sales for this 15 giornata to be bought sold out since opening this morning, just a few hours ago, the ticket is no longer available. "There is no one place left in the entire area of the stadium, all sold out within hours." Closing one official in Olympico.
Diego Milito has claimed that Inter have a good chance to win at the Nou Camp when they travel to face Barcelona in the Champions League.
The Argentine is hoping the Nerazzurri will end the group stages at the top of the table and book their place in the next round.
“We come here to Spain following a good run,” noted the former Real Zaragoza man.
“We are hoping to win this and qualify for the next stage. Our victory over Dynamo Kiev gave us confidence and spirit to approach this match.
“If we will beat Barca it will be a further boost to our morale.”
After a not so perfect start Inter are now flying high and Milito has been one of their key men this season.
Their first leg against the Catalan side was far from impressive though, as the Blaugrana left San Siro with a point after a 0-0 draw.
“I believe we played a great game against Barcelona in the first half. We must remember that on the night we faced the Champions of Europe and managed to cause them troubles.”[www.football-italia.net]
Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro is aware that Inter have a significant lead in the Scudetto race at this early point of the season, but he is not about to give up hope of winning the title.
The Bianconeri lost crucial points last weekend, squandering a two-goal lead at home to Napoli, a match that finished 3-2 in favour of the visitors.
"It's true there are seven points [between us and Inter], but we must look at ourselves and be confident we can do well," the veteran explained to Il Corriere dello Sport.
"We want to do well in all competitions.
"In the second-half [of the Napoli game] our spark was extinguished. Against Maccabi Haifa we had a good match."
This weekend, Cannavaro will come up against former team-mate Antonio Conte, who is now coach of Atalanta.
"In Bergamo, we must play a great match, though it will be difficult. Conte is a good friend and is very charismatic," the centre-back revealed.
"He is not going through a great time right now. I'm sure he will bounce back soon because he has done so in the past."[www.goal.com]
Roma kept their hopes of progressing from the group stages alive, with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Stadio Olimpico.
Despite going behind to a first half penalty, a red card to their English opposition early in the second half opened the door for the Giallorossi, who made the most of their opportunity by scoring twice within the space of seven minutes in the latter stages of the encounter.
“The victory was the best thing that the team could have asked for tonight,” Julio Baptista was quoted as saying to Roma Channel after the match.
“It took us a while to adapt, as they were very fast and difficult to play against.
“I am happy with my game, and although I didn’t play the best, I was happy to at least contribute in some way. For a player it’s very important when a coach gives you confidence, and you always want to do better when this is the case.”
Irrespective of their crucial result though, the Brazilian concluded by warning his team-mates that this weekend’s league clash against Inter will be a whole lot more significant.
He added, “I am a bit tired, but we must now think about Sunday. This will be a very important game for us, and we know that we can go to Milan and do well.”[www.goal.com]
Results painted imperfect rivals Inter Milan to 2-0 win over Livorno host increasingly overtaken at the top Italian league Serie A.
Slow first half and both teams are equally unable to create dangerous opportunities opponent's goal. Strategy Livorno players piled in the middle sector of the field making plays Inter difficulties of their attack patterns.
In fact, in the 28th minute Inter have lost Sulley Muntari was injured when a duel with Marcus Diniz and had to be replaced by Esteban Cambiasso. The first round match was closed with the score 0-0.
Entering the second half, Inter tried to appear more aggressive. The result they were breaking the deadlock on 49 minutes through Diego Milito kick from the edge of the penalty box Livorno, using feedback from Dejan Stankovic.
After the goal Milito, Inter looked more comfortable in playing with more control of the ball in play a slow tempo.
Yet they are able to increase the advantage in the 80th minute when he passed a quick counter-attack Patrick Vieira off Maicon bait to a successful finish to the Inter goal.
Inter are now practically flew alone with 28 points, 7 points ahead of Juventus and Sampdoria in the second and third rank equally collecting 21 points
Midfielder Esteban Cambiasso believes Inter Milan could miss injury victim Thiago Motta more than suspended coach Jose Mourinho against Napoli tomorrow.
The Portuguese manager will serve a one-game ban at the San Siro following his dismissal during the win over Cagliari, a decision which has caused plenty of the pre-match focus to be diverted to the controversial coach.
But Cambiasso insists most of Mourinho's influence occurs in the build up to a game and that the on-field presence of Motta is a more serious setback.
Motta is out for around a month after rupturing a muscle in his right thigh.
"I don't want to talk about Mourinho's ban because no-one has any intention of complaining," said the Argentina midfielder.
"The boss has his personality and this is why he is loved and hated by many. His ban obviously makes news because he's a winning coach who has no problems saying what he thinks, but in these last few days a lot less has been said about Thiago Motta's injury than Mourinho's suspension.
"The boss will be able to do his work with us, whereas Thiago Motta won't be able to give his contribution to the team for a while."
Cambiasso also raised the possibility of player fatigue in the Inter ranks, with the match coming either side of the Cagliari workout and this weekend's visit to Sampdoria.
"It is a tour de force because we are playing every three days with all the consequences in terms of physical and psychological tiredness," said Cambiasso.
"Last Sunday's match was probably the most difficult because we faced Cagliari after the very tiring match against Barcelona.
"We earned three very important points at the Sant'Elia but it's a completely different story now. Napoli are stronger than their current position in the table suggests and they will want to play a great game against Inter after their draw against Udinese. They will be motivated."
Napoli, meanwhile, are continuing to look for the right formula.
Edy Reja was sacked as coach after a dismal run of form last season and the appointment of former Italy coach Roberton Donadoni as his replacement has yet to have the desired effect.
After an unfortunate reverse against Palermo and an expected win over Livorno, their season has already taken a turn for the worse with a 4-1 humbling by Genoa and a particularly lacklustre stalemate against Udinese.
Donadoni will be hoping his forward pairing of Fabio Quagliarella and Ezequiel Lavezzi find their stride sooner rather than later to get the goals flowing, but Napoli will have to reverse recent form at the San Siro for that to come about.[sportinglife.com]
Inter captain Javier Zanetti is confident that his side can be protagonists in the Champions League this season.
The Argentine made the up-beat claim after last night’s 0-0 draw against reigning European champions Barcelona.
Although the versatile veteran concedes that they’ll have to improve, he’s confident that they are on the right path to potential glory.
“I’m sure that we’ll be protagonists,” stated the South American. “We will have to get better, but the squad is convinced that we can do it.”
Barcelona arguably had the better of the game at San Siro, but Zanetti insists that the side’s organisation bodes well.
“We took on the best team in the world who treat the ball well,” he continued. “We did well to close down space and counter-attack.
“This is a point of departure for us and we hope to win the next game.”
Zanetti came up against former teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic last night.
“We said hello to each other before the game, but after the match it is only right that everyone thinks about their own team.”[football-italia.net]
Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho claims there will be no hard feelings when his former striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to the San Siro on Wednesday with Barcelona - the club he joined this summer.
The Nerazzurri had wanted to keep Ibrahimovic, who was last season's top scorer in Serie A, but he opted to sign for European champions Barca.
"I will welcome Zlatan with a big hug," said Mourinho. "I cannot know how our fans will welcome him.
Ibrahimovic believes Mourinho's Inter has done a fantastic job in the summer transfer market by luring the likes of former Genoa stars Diego Milito and Thiago Motta.
He even thinks his former team is the favourite to win the European crown this season.
"It's a very strong team," he said. "It's stronger than in previous years as Inter have reinforced the squad with the signing of important players.
"That makes them favourites for the Serie A title and for the Champions League."
Juventus' perfect start to the new season continued as they posted a 2-0 win at Lazio on Saturday.
Ciro Ferrara's side moved three points clear at the summit thanks to second-half strikes by Martin Caceres (72) and David Trezeguet (90), although they will see that lead wiped out if Genoa and Sampdoria win their games in hand on Sunday.
The victory was Juve's second successive Serie A triumph at Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The Bianconeri triumphed 3-1 at Roma in their last match before the international break thanks to two goals from top summer signing Diego.
Defeat for Lazio was their first of the season after also kicking off their campaign with two wins. Davide Ballardini's side remain in fourth place.
In the day's other game, AC Milan's disappointing start to the season continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Livorno.
The Rossoneri looked bereft of ideas as they failed to make amends for their 4-0 defeat to Inter Milan a fortnight ago with a lacklustre display in Tuscany.
Four-time defending champions Inter Milan are fourth after goals from Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito proved enough to end Parma's stubborn resistance at the San Siro.
Alberto Gilardino scored as Fiorentina beat Cagliari 1-0 while goals from Giampiero Pinzi and Sergio Pellissier gave Chievo a 2-0 win at Bologna.
New Roma boss Claudio Ranieri got off to a winning start thanks to an 89th-minute strike from substitute John Arne Riise against 10-man Siena.
The 151st Serie A Derby della Madonnina takes Inter’s total victories to 55 compared to 47 Milan wins.
This is the biggest margin in the derby since the Rossoneri’s 6-0 triumph on May 11, 2001. Inter hadn’t registered a result this comprehensive for 35 years, a 5-1 scoreline on March 24, 1973.
The Nerazzurri hadn’t won their ‘away’ derby since a 4-3 corker on October 22, 2006.
Luciano Spalletti has only ever beaten Juventus once in 12 years, a Coppa Italia tie, along with 15 defeats and three draws. His record at Roma in Serie A has been even worse with two points from seven meetings.
Without a point after two rounds, this is the Giallorossi’s worst start since the season of their relegation in 1950-51. Back then they lost the opening three to Bologna, Palermo and Triestina and went on to lose six of the first seven matches, conceding an average of 3.28 goals per game.
Daniele De Rossi has never previously put the ball into the Juventus net.
Diego scores his first two Serie A goals, while Felipe Melo nets on his official debut for the Bianconeri.
Cesare Prandelli has beaten Walter Zenga in all three head-to-heads without conceding, but all previous wins had been 2-0.
This is only Siena’s second ever victory at Cagliari’s Stadio Sant’Elia, the other in the 2002-03 Serie B campaign.
Genoa hadn’t conquered Atalanta in Bergamo since a 2-1 result on May 30, 1993.
Lazio beat Chievo by an identical scoreline last season, again with Sergio Pellissier scoring for the home side.
In the top flight Livorno haven’t earned a single point in Naples since a 2-1 win in December 1940.
Parma and Catania have only met three times at the Tardini in Serie A, the previous couple ending in draws.[football-italia.net]
The Champions League draw always provides entertainment. Even though the random drawing and the whole ceremony is fairly boring, it’s always interesting because it always seems to draw clubs together that are related in some way. Sometimes they’ll gift a club with revenge against a club that knocked them out the year before, or other times provide a real group of death. This time, the interesting thing the Champions League draw did was bring Kaka and Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to Italy (and back to the San Siro more specifically). Yes, Kaka and Zlatan will face their former clubs for one game during the group stage and get to play in front of the fans that once idolized them. (Unless of course they are suspended or injured for the match, which makes this all moot.) Groups of the Italian teams after the jump.
Group A
Bayern Munich
Juventus
Bordeaux
Maccabi Haifa
Juventus got an ok group. Bayern Munich is their toughest opponent, while French champions Bordeaux could provide a tough test as well. Maccabi Haifa shouldn’t be a problem but away trips to Israel are never easy.
Group C
Milan
Real Madrid
Marseille
Zurich
Milan were handed a favorable group. Real Madrid aside, Marseille and Zurich shouldn’t provide big scares for the Rossoneri.
Group E
Liverpool
Lyon
Fiorentina
Debrecen
Fiorentina have a rematch with Lyon and have the tough task of facing Liverpool. Debrecen will probably be the group punching bag. Fiorentina’s matches with Lyon will be crucial as Liverpool will be tough.
Group F
Barcelona
Inter
Dynamo Kiev
Rubin Kazan
Inter get to face old friend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and then face two Eastern European sides, and we all know how those winter trips to Russia and the Ukraine can be.
Commented Jose Mourinho the Ramadan matter that was connected with the physical condition for the football player received the criticism. A Moslem group in Italia, Union for the Communities and Organisations of Islamic in Italy (UCOII), considered the coach Inter Milan has spoken apart from the limit.
"I thought Mourinho should not often speak." The religious Islamic player did not appear weaker in the field. We knew if the medicine in the world of sport but also the mental stability as well as psychology knowledge could make the player appear good, said the leader UCOII Mohamed Nour Dachan to La Repubblica.
What was said by Dachan was the reaction from the Mourinho explanation concerning his attitude interesting went out Sulley Muntari in the first round in the Inter opener fight the end last week.
"Muntari had the problem that be connected with Ramadan." Possibly when the hot weather was not good for him fasted. Ramadan came when that was inexact for the player, said Mourinho that time.
Muntari from Ghana fasted when his team competed against Bari. He was attracted outside Mourinho in the minute to-29
