Zanetti: "Here to win"
Tuesday, 11 December 2007 19:58:13


EINDHOVEN - Javier Zanetti represented the first team at today's UEFA news conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Matchday 6 tie with PSV Eindhoven.

Inter are already through to the knockout stage, but Zanetti stressed that his team-mates have not come to Holland to lose.

"We are here to do well and we will try to honour the match as best we can because we are Inter and this is Europe," he said. "We want to continue our positive run and do like we're doing in the championship."

Referring to the newspaper reports about Mourinho and Moratti's denial of a meeting between the two, the Inter captain said: "The president was very clear. Mancini has the confidence of the whole environment and our only goal is to continue to win with Inter."

Zanetti added: "We have had to grit our teeth lately because we have a lot of team-mates out through injury. We hope they will be back soon because the team really needs them for the continuation of our season."

Mancio: Playing to win
Wednesday 12 December, 2007

Inter boss Roberto Mancini insists that the Nerazzurri will go out to win against PSV tonight - even though they have nothing to play for.

The Italian champions have already secured top spot in Group G and have little motivation, but their Dutch opponents are fighting for a place in the last 16.

"Inter, like all great sides, always play to win," Mancini stressed at his pre-match UEFA Press conference.

"We have brought all our top players and we won't be experimenting. I think that it's the right thing to do to play your best even though you have already secured qualification."

It won't be a full side, however, as Olivier Dacourt, Luis Figo, Francesco Toldo, Patrick Vieira, Luis Jimenez and Dejan Stankovic are all injured.

"We would have liked to have left some of the more tired players at home, but we can't do that as we wouldn't even have 15 players," Mancio moaned.

"So it's down to the lads to grit their teeth and wait for next week for a rest. We will see how fit the players are when we get to Holland.

"Maxwell has a knee problem and we aren't sure if he will play. Cristian Chivu will be in midfield with Nelson Rivas in at centre-back.

"Marco Materazzi played well for 60 minutes against Torino, but I don't know whether he can manage 90 yet - it's up to him.

"This will be a good chance for Hernan Crespo, as he will play up front," Mancini concluded. "He has been impressive over the last 10 days and hopefully can use this as a chance to regain fitness."

Champions League: PSV 0-1 Inter
Wednesday, 12 December 2007 22:37:55


EINDHOVEN - Inter beat ten-man PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadium to collect their fifth consecutive win in the Champions League, finish Group G with 15 points from 6 games and stretch their unbeaten run to 17 matches.

Julio Cruz converted David Suazo's assist 20 minutes into the second half to condemn the Dutch club to a place in the knockout round of the UEFA Cup.

The Nerazzurri, already through to the UCL knockout stages after their 3-0 win over Fenerbahçe in Matchday 5, started with a 4-3-3 formation, with midfielders Bolzoni, Chivu and Solari behind an attacking trio of Crespo, Suazo and Cruz.

PSV needed to win and hope Fenerbahçe would be held by CSKA in Turkey, and the Dutch champions made their intentions clear from the outset, Culina firing narrowly wide from distance in the opening minute.

Inter could have taken a 7th-minute lead but Solari, put through by Suazo, shot straight at Mendes.

Culina had a second chance on 21 minutes but Julio Cesar was equal to the Australian's volleyed effort.

Jan Wouter's side suffered a setback just before the half hour when Mendez was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Suazo.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, PSV battled to gain the upper hand and almost edged ahead in the 38th, Lazovic's swift strike finishing inches wide.

Inter imposed their game against ten-man PSV after the interval and should have taken the lead on 60 minutes but Cruz blazed over after brilliant approach play by Suazo.

El Jardinero made amends four minutes later with his tenth goal of the season, nudging in from close range to finish off Suazo's swift and skilful counter-attack.

Inter Primavera midfielder Gabriele Puccio replaced Cruz in the 75th minute, becoming the 19th academy player to make his first-team debut under Roberto Mancini.

Solari struck the upright in the closing stages after Puccio's left-wing cross was half cleared by the Dutch defence.

Milan's 0-1 victory against PSV during the Group G, Champions League soccer match between PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Wednesday Dec. 12, 2007.

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Inter confirm Carvalho capture
Thursday 13 December, 2007

Inter have confirmed the signature of Brazilian attacking midfielder Daniel Carvalho from CSKA Moscow.

The 24-year-old has agreed a switch from the Russian giants and will arrive in the summer.

It is believed that the former Internacional man will put pen to paper on a four-year deal as soon as he becomes a free agent in June.

"Carvalho is a player that our scouts have been tracking forever," Inter's general manager Ernesto Paolillo stated. "He is an important figure for the future."

Carvalho is a non-EU player and may need to be sent on loan when he arrives as the Nerazzurri have a full complement of foreign players.

Reports suggest that Inter's new man is in Milan today to undergo provisional medical tests and clarify his personal terms.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/dec13k.html

Ibra: I keep getting better
Thursday 13 December, 2007

Star Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is thriving with the Nerazzurri and says he has never been happier. "Every year I get better."

The Swedish marksman has found the net nine times so far this term for the reigning champions and is becoming a talismanic figure.

"With every year and every championship I do better than the last," Ibra beamed on Sky Sport Italia. "This has been the best year of my career."

A major reason for Zlatan's success has been his impressive partnerships with fellow strikers Julio Cruz and Hernan Crespo.

"This season I have played with Cruz a lot, whereas last campaign it was Crespo more," he said.

"Crespo scored lots and now so is Cruz. This is my second year with them as teammates and the more time that passes, the better I get to know them on and off the pitch, the easier it gets.

"I get on so well with Cruz in life as well as football, but I also really like the other strikers.

"David Suazo was superb against PSV yesterday - he was the Man of the Match.

"He is growing and he just needs to learn our tactics and the way we play so that he can become one of our most important players," he concluded.

Suazo's settled at Inter
Friday 14 December, 2007

Inter hitman David Suazo is enjoying life with the Nerazzurri as he prepares to return to former side Cagliari this weekend.

The Honduran striker made his name with the Sardinians and fired his way on to Inter's shopping list with a 22-goal haul in 2005-06 and 14 last term.

Suazo hasn't found as much playing time at Inter as he would have hoped, but he shone against PSV on Wednesday and is happy to wait for his chances.

"I will be emotional at the Stadio Sant'Elia," he revealed. "But "I'm settling in with each day at Inter.

"I knew that there would be competition here, but I decided that at least I would learn something from the others.

"The captain Javier Zanetti helped me by explaining the rules of the dressing room and Roberto Mancini has taught me in a way that I can understand best."

Suazo was at the centre of controversy when he seemed to have agreed to an eleventh hour switch to Milan before signing with Inter - a choice that he doesn't regret.

"Perhaps I would have played more for Milan, but I am happy with the Nerazzurri," he insisted. "A promise was given to Massimo Moratti and life is based on words and respect.

Mancini: "Happy at Inter"
Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:25:23


APPIANO GENTILE - Part two of Roberto Mancini's Cagliari v Inter news conference:

Mancini, will you now have to choose between Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel?
"Marco is still a bit behind. Playing regularly could become a problem on a muscular level. For the moment it could be hard for him to play two to three consecutive matches. But if we need him, he can play."

And when they are both fit?
"Like I have already said other times, all of Inter's defenders are good, but they can't all play. With the problem we have the midfielders, we can use Chivu or Burdisso in midfield. They will be rotated because we're playing every three days, so each one will have his turn. We will see. If they are all in form and we recover all our midfielders, we will give each one of them a rest in each game. Sometimes decisions depend on tactical situations - there are teams with strong headers of the ball and others with fast players. But it's better to be able to choose than have players out."

Which is the harder game? Cagliari v Inter or Torino v Roma?
"I honestly think we just have to think about our game and think about doing well. We just have to try to win, the rest doesn't count."

Would you too like to coach a national team one day?
"Who knows? But I'm happy at Inter."

Can we say that you would stay at Inter for life?
"These phrases are banal. It's like when a player scores a goal and immediately after says he wants to end his career with the shirt of the team he plays for. It's impossible to know these things. A coach's situation is always linked to results - you stay at a team if you do well, otherwise you don't stay. Also, a coach sometimes has to change after a few years, but this could happen after seven or eight years. I'm happy here, but you never know what might happen in life."

As an Italian, would you be pleased if Milan beat Boca tomorrow in the Club World Cup final?
(Smiles) "You have already asked me this question a few times... I watch football because I like watching matches. I don't support one team or another. I support Inter and I might also support Sampdoria and Lazio, two teams I played for. I only watch the others because I like watching football."

Could watching Milan tomorrow be useful ahead of the derby?
"We will train tomorrow morning. We will watch the match when we get back. Yes, it could be useful ahead of the derby. I think the Intercontinental Cup final was better before when it was just one match. It now seems like a friendship tournament. I think it's absurd to play six matches. There are only two teams who should play in the final: European champions Milan and South American champions Boca. But this is just my opinion. In the same way, I prefer the European Cup to be a direct elimination format."

Have you read the interview with Sinisa Mihajlovic who described you as a perfectionist and that sometimes this attitude makes you a pain in the neck?
"This might be true. You always try to do your job as best you can, and you can be a pain in the neck."


http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28198&L=en

Mancini names squad for Cagliari v Inter
Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:40:28
[FOTO Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:40:28]

APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini has called up 20 players for Sunday evening's Serie A Week 16 match against Cagliari (Stadio Sant'Elia at 20:30):

Goalkeepers: 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Paolo Orlandoni, 71 Enrico Alfonso.

Defenders: 2 Ivan Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 13 Maicon, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas, 25 Walter Samuel, 26 Cristian Chivu.

Midfielders: 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 21 Santiago Solari, 30 Pelé, 31 Cesar.

Strikers: 9 Julio Ricardo Cruz, 18 Hernan Crespo, 29 David Suazo, 45 Mario Balotelli.


http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=28200&L=en&IDINI=28202

Photos: preparing for Cagliari


Saturday, 15 December 2007 16:45:48

APPIANO GENTILE - The Nerazzurri finished off their preparations for Cagliari v Inter with an afternoon training session, watched by club president Massimo Moratti:

Serie A Week 16 - 16/12/07 (19.30 UK)

Cagliari 0 - 2 Inter
Cruz 57 (I), Suazo 79 (I)
Stadio Sant'Elia

It was far from a vintage performance, but Inter surge seven points clear after Julio Cruz and David Suazo sank Cagliari 2-0.

The Nerazzurri had to do without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Patrick Vieira, Dejan Stankovic, Olivier Dacourt, Luis Jimenez and Luis Figo remained sidelined with injury. Cagliari surprisingly dropped Italian international Pasquale Foggia in the wake of the scandal involving an attack on teammate Davide Marchini and needed something spectacular to avoid defeat after picking up one point from four games under Nedo Sonetti.

Last season this tie ended 1-1 and David Suazo was playing for the Sardinians, but returned to face them as an opponent for the first time after 94 goals in 254 games between Serie A and B over eight years. Inter were undefeated here since a 1-0 result in September 1993.

It was the home side that had the first chance, Esteban Cambiasso clearing to the edge of the box where Daniele Conti's strike skimmed the frame of the goal. Robert Acquafresca couldn't get enough power to his sliding finish and Conti's free kick was over, as Inter got off to a very sluggish start.

The Nerazzurri finally had a shot on goal after 28 minutes, Suazo holding up the ball for Hernan Crespo to sidefoot just wide from the edge of the box. A ricochet did not fall kindly for Julio Cruz following good work from Douglas Maicon.

However, a moment of magic almost broke the deadlock, as Cristian Chivu attempted an audacious strike from 30 metres that dipped to crack against the crossbar.

More Cagliari 0-2 Inter photos
Monday, 17 December 2007 12:35:46

MILAN - More Serie A Week 16 photos from the Stadio Sant'Elia in Cagliari:

Tim Cup: Mancini's squad for Reggina v Inter
Tuesday, 18 December 2007 16:53:23


APPIANO GENTILE - Roberto Mancini has called up 19 players for Wednesday's Tim Cup last sixteen first leg against Reggina (Stadio Granillo at 20:30):

Goalkeepers: 22 Paolo Orlandoni, 71 Enrico Alfonso.

Defenders: 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 24 Nelson Rivas, 25 Walter Samuel, 35 Dennis Esposito, 40 Ivan Fatic, 47 Marco Filippini.

Midfielders: 21 Santiago Solari, 30 Pelé, 31 Cesar, 37 Gabriele Puccio, 42 Ibrahim Maaroufi, 43 Daniele Pedrelli.

Strikers: [B]18 Hernan Crespo, 45 Mario Balotelli, 46 Aiman Napoli, 48 Alberto Gerbo.

yeah i know that, maybe the link is broken, so
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