Inter and Juve both play at home, so you'd expect them both to pick up 3 points so it is very important that we win. We can't allow Inter to get more than 3 points away, otherwise catching up takes too much time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I think max 5 points difference, otherwise it would be too blurry chasing the merda

As long as we keep it under 5, I'm not worried. Eventually, the team's gonna get into must-win mode, and Inter have to play CL. With all due respect in the UEFA cup, playing Zenit or Fiorentina(assuming they don't qualify) will not require the same level of preparation as playing Barca or Chelsea.

I know Inter will drop points. So far, Milan are doing well considering we're playing badly, and still in second. I take that as a good thing. I'm also sure, about the winter renaissance, since it's been that way for the past 3 years.

So its Palermo next ... This is a tricky fixture .. w/o Kaka' Milan might go for two strikers. I have a feeling Shevchenko - Pato.

btw, when does Borriello return ?

Zanetti ready for 'deadly' Lavezzi

Saturday 29 November, 2008

Javier Zanetti is worried at having to face Napoli’s Ezequiel ‘Pocho’ Lavezzi on Sunday. “He’s deadly.”

Inter welcome the San Paolo side tomorrow afternoon and there are no doubts over who the main threat is considered to be.

“When Lavezzi gets into space, he is deadly,” noted the Nerazzurri captain and fellow Argentina international.

“I had already noticed him at San Lorenzo and you could see he was far too good to remain in Argentina.

“Napoli got themselves a great bargain, because there are few around with his pace and dribbling skills.”

Lavezzi has scored three Serie A goals this season, but his main job is to provide assists, earn free kicks and generally terrorise the opposition defence.

“We cannot leave him any space, because he is a phenomenon,” continued Zanetti in the Corriere dello Sport.

“He already proved it last season when Napoli ended our unbeaten record after such a long time.”

Inter had not lost for 31 consecutive Serie A games when they fell 1-0 at the San Paolo to Marcelo Zalayeta’s strike on March 2.

This term Napoli have been doing even better, as they currently share third place with Juventus.

“They have had a great start to the season and are the undoubted surprise of the tournament. We must not underestimate him.”

Zanetti is now Lavezzi’s teammate at international level, as both play a part in Diego Armando Maradona’s Argentine squad.

“Maradona is a great motivator and nobody is better at helping us understand what it means to remain in the history of your country.”

The Inter star was the captain of Argentina, but the armband has been handed to Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano.

“I took his decision in a very relaxed manner, because you don’t need to have a piece of cloth round your arm to feel important to the team.”

Cambiasso shrugs off trophy talk

Friday 28 November, 2008

Esteban Cambiasso gives Zlatan Ibrahimovic his opinion, but also insists “the Ballon d’Or is worthless” because Paolo Maldini never won.

His Inter teammate Ibra is determined to win the trophy presented by France Football next season, although the favourites are Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.

“Is Ibrahimovic the best I’ve ever played with? No, Zinedine Zidane could not be matched in my opinion, as he had everything required in the football manual,” said the former Real Madrid midfielder.

“I also had the opportunity to play alongside Messi for Argentina. It is difficult to say where Ibra belongs in the list of greatest strikers in the world.”

Cambiasso has again shown himself to be perhaps every bit as decisive for the Nerazzurri as Ibrahimovic, but would never be considered for European Player of the Year.

“For someone who doesn’t play in the final third, the Ballon d’Or is a miracle or a bizarre coincidence. When you see that heroes like Raul and Maldini did not win in their careers, then I think the Ballon d’Or is worthless.”

Ibrahimovic did his candidacy no favours when Inter lost 1-0 at home to Panathinaikos in a result that nonetheless qualified them for the second round.

“Our first objective was to qualify and we achieved that, but if you only look at the last game, then clearly we didn’t do everything we wanted to,” he told Sky Italia television.

“Every now and then a team can get it wrong. Of this week’s encounters, the appropriate one to get wrong was against Panathinaikos, not Juventus or Napoli.”

That 1-0 victory over Juve sent the Scudetto holders three points clear at the top of the table.

“Juventus have a great squad based on the side that got them out of Serie B. It is not true to say that last season they were not real title contenders, as they are this year as well.

“Milan made investments and will want to fight to the end, which they did not manage in recent years. The surprise was Roma, who had a bad start due to a series of setbacks.”