Mancini doesn't rate Milan
Roberto Mancini has launched another attack on Milan, insisting Inter are “the better team†despite their cousins reaching the Champions League Final.
The Coach was irked by a survey in the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ today in which eight pundits said the Rossoneri were a stronger side. Only Giancarlo Antognoni, Zbigniew Boniek and Fabrizio Ravanelli opted for the Scudetto winners.
“Personally I believe that we were better this season,†said Mancini in his Press conference. “Milan have done very well to progress in Europe, but when we have faced off in Serie A, Inter won both matches.
“What was written in the newspapers today was to fill up headline space and create some folklore around the football. Milan are very strong in media terms and can always do what they want.â€
This is a continuation of Mancio’s rant against what he called “media prejudice†against Inter, as their record-breaking campaign has been tainted in the Press by the Calciopoli verdicts ruling out their major rivals.
“Whether we also win the Coppa Italia or not, this has been an extraordinary season for Inter in every respect. It was disappointing to go out of the Champions League, but for us it was more important to take the Scudetto.â€
The tactician also responded to complaints from Alessandro Del Piero and Clarence Seedorf, who urged the Nerazzurri to stop talking about this as a ‘clean’ title.
“I can say Del Piero is right when he says we must stop talking about the past and focus on the future. However, these things may irritate him, but other events have irritated many others.â€
The Beneamata continues its Scudetto celebrations on Sunday afternoon against Messina and is expected to rest most of its stars ahead of the Coppa Italia Final with Roma.
“Records are an extra motivation that can push us on to end the season on a high note. We want to always win, though obviously with tiredness being an issue I will rest a few players.
“Others are just coming back from injury and need to gain match fitness, so Hernan Crespo and Patrick Vieira will play a little.â€
Inter squad: 1 Francesco Toldo, 12 Julio Cesar Soares, 79 Fabian Carini; 2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 11 Fabio Grosso, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 23 Marco Materazzi, 62 Giuseppe Figliomeni, 77 Marco Andreolli; 7 Luis Figo, 14 Patrick Vieira, 15 Olivier Dacourt, 21 Santiago Solari, 91 Mariano Gonzalez; 10 Adriano, 18 Hernan Crespo, 20 Alvaro Recoba, 99 Lampros Choutos.
