ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - FC Inter Milan

Posted by Gianni Serra on 01/20/2011

A 5-star Inter got the fifth win in a row. Five wins out of five in 2011. A remarkable achievement for the new coach Leonardo who couldn't foresee a better impact on Nerazzurri. Inter are fourth, only six points behind AC Milan, with one game in hand.

Tired, knackered, slow, confused, negative, disillusioned, afraid, frightened - were the most recurrent adjectives used to describe Inter players attitude and performances under Rafa Benitez. The same players now run, try, show desire to win and enjoy the battle. A couple of weeks under Leonardo have been enough to shape a new Inter that seem to enjoy playing bravely at high tempo. Credit to the Brazilian coach but it also means that the quality was already there - Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool is struggling to change Reds fortunes because of the amount of mediocrities inherited by the previous regimes.

Against Cesena Leonardo picked Pandev for the 'Sneijder position' behind Milito and Eto'o, placing Stankovic in the holding midfielders line alongside Zanetti and Cambiasso. A very offensive choice that paid off straight away as Pandev, Milito and Eto'o created two goals in one minute. Game over? Not really.

After 20 minutes Diego Milito limped off to be replaced with Jonathan Biabiany. But the real problem was the choice to recall the 37-year old Materazzi - as Ranocchia had already played for Genoa the 16th day fixture and there were doubts about his eligibility. Matrix presence unsettled the fans and Lucio too.

Never seen at Inter the Brazilian centreback caught out of position so many times [always trying to cover his mate disgraceful positioning].
Someone at the club must find a desk for Materazzi and give him one sheet and some colours. As a player he's really embarassing and someone has to tell him.

Cesena exploited Inter centrebacks' lack of cohesiveness by scoring twice. Four goals in 29 minutes: 2-2. But they could have been more due to Samuel Eto'o's outstanding vein. Despite knowing only too well the Cameroon striker phenomenal condition, it's still amazing to see how easily he can dribble and shot. However, playing well and scoring goals is bread and butter stuff for Sami. It cannot be said of Christian Chivu. The Romanian left back has been Inter's most disappointing defender for two seasons. The weakest player in the back four line. Against Cesena, he suddenly looked explosive and very keen on attacking. As a former left fullback himself, Leonardo must have passed some good tips. Chivu's winning header at the end of the first half was a deserved reward for his surprising performance.

Far less fun in the second half. Inter controlled the game and only Obi and Maicon tried to do something. After Giaccherini's second yellow card [excessive to be fair] Cesena had no more hope to get anything from this game. This match will be remember as the 520th league game for Javier Zanetti, one more than Bergomi - wonderful achievement. There will be many more for the 'Argentinian highlander'.

MAN OF THE MATCH. Christian Chivu. Eto'o was devastating, he scored and hit the crossbar in the second half, but the Romanian in the first half looked again the brilliant player admired with Ajax and AS Rome. Never seen before with Inter.

Serie A 2010-11 - Day 16 (rescheduled fixture)

INTER-CESENA 3-2

INTER: Castellazzi; Maicon, Lucio, Materazzi, Chivu; Javier Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Pandev (85' Cordoba); Milito (20' Biabiany, 75'Obi), Eto'o. Coach: Leonardo
CESENA: Antonioli; Ceccarelli, Benalouane, Von Bergen, Lauro (64'Dellafiore); Parolo, Colucci, Sammarco (69' Caserta); Jimenez (77' Budan), Bogdani, Giaccherini. Coach: Ficcadenti

Referee: Russo
Goals: Eto'o 14', Milito 15', Chivu 45'; Bogdani 23', Giaccherini 29'
Red card: Giaccherini
Yellow cards: Materazzi, Benalouane

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Comments

Posted by Sam on 01/20/2011

Great article Gianni, summed up all the pertinant points nicely.
Fair call on Matrix. You would struggle to find any Inter fans who dont have a soft spot for the big fella but you would also struggle to find any who think he belongs on the pitch anymore. He is a walking disaster. He has a severe lack of pace and timing (see Zlatan penalty v Milan), has lost any positional sense he had and is generally at least a goal disadvantage to this team when he is named in the starting lineup. The big man needs to admit he has had a good run but that it is time to hang up the boots.
As for Chivu, I have been consistantly disappointed about his play and often call for him to be dropped for Santon. The Inter coaches have always seen it different however so obviously Chivu shows on the training pitch that he is a class above any of his replacements. It was nice to finally see this on Wednesday, he played with verve and skill and deserves the plaudits. Another win and another three points. Well done

Posted by Pedro on 01/20/2011

Matrix has been a legend. Now he is a walking disaster to quote Sam. IMO he is very influent in the dressing room so Leonardo was obliged to pick him ahead of Natalino. Yesterday Materazzi said that Jose will come back is it the right time to say it? I used to like you Marco but your time's up

Posted by george on 01/20/2011

Eto is a bomp in deed. Outstanding and collective player

Posted by Antonio on 01/20/2011

@ Sam what exactly has Materazzi done to make him a team hero? The only notable things he has done is be dirty, like beating up Cirillo in the tunnel, or kicking Shevchenko in the jewels. The man is a waste of space and perfectly matches the scum mentality which Moratti has developed at Inter over the last three or four years.
Another game handed to Inter by the ref, although tbf it is only the first or second this season, unlike over the last two years, were every other game was a gift.

Posted by Robbie on 01/21/2011

@Antonio, well at least its only been two years of gifts by referees, instead of a decade of referees scared shitless by the Moggi mafiosi.

Posted by Sam on 01/21/2011

Hey Antonio, he is a team hero precisely because of the feelings of hatred he inspires in people like yourself. Inter fans admire the way he can get all the fans annoyed just by the sight of him, it makes us laugh. As for the scum mentality that we apparently have, it seems to have served us pretty well, we have an internationally successful team, a great youth system and a promising future (ignoring the Benetiz blip). Hopefully you presonally will be able to move on from your conspiracy theories and begin to enjoy this Serie A season which is shaping up to be one of the best in years with a number of teams challenging and the reemergence of old powers like Napoli!

Posted by dave on 01/21/2011

THAT'S NOT TRUE GIANNI, MOST OF THIS PLAYERS WERE OUT INJURED WHEN RAFA WAS AROUND.

Posted by Professor Lembach on 01/22/2011

I'll never understand why a big club would goout and sign a manager like Benitez so soon after his sacking. Didn't Moratti see any of Liverpool's performances under Rafa last season? Without Gerard or Torres to prop him up, Liverpool would be West Ham. So why would Moratti think things would be any different at Inter? At least he moved quickly to repair his mistake.

Full disclosure - I'm a Milan fan, but I have so much dislike for Ibra and Robinho I just couldn't stand the Rossoneri winning the Scudetto with those two chumps.

Posted by bate on 01/22/2011

eto is the best center forward in the world right now.Continue and make Africa proud.

Posted by Pedro on 01/22/2011

No need to worry Prof Lembach Rossoneri are finished. Come March Inter will top the league

Posted by ken on 01/22/2011

Up inter good job, But remember in any serious game to win, MATERAZZI should be on the bench.

Posted by kayode on 01/23/2011

Forza Inter. I bless the day I heard the news of Rafa's exit. Let's get it right till may and lift the trophy once more. We need a center back and I hope we get it right this January.

Posted by Pangeran on 07/24/2012

May19Mara No es por empezar la eretna discusif3n de si es homenaje o inspiracif3n, pero del mismo estilo que este anuncio es el veddeo de Smack my bitch up, de The Prodigy de 1997 (que ya me extraf1a que nadie antes lo haya sacado a colacif3n). Hasta el detalle del vf3mito incluye. Los dos consiguen que te metas en la escena y que te pique el gusanillo de hacer lo que reflejan. Porque la noche que aparece en Smack es completita, completita.

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