Mourinho: "A positive display"

Sunday, 13 September 2009 18:16:10

MILAN - José Mourinho reflected on Inter's performance against Parma and looked ahead to the midweek Champions League clash with Barcelona in a post-match interview with Sky Sport Italia.

He said: "I didn't see a negative display from my team - not even in the first half. Perhaps the tempo was too slow to score, but we had many chances with many different players. Instead, I saw a Parma that were very well organised by their coach and I saw an Inter do enough to win a difficult match, but after two weeks of matches with the national teams and the thought of Wednesday's match against Barcelona, it's fine like this.

"Will we start on equal terms with Barcelona? Yes, in the first minute the result will be 0-0, but Barça are a team who can play with their eyes closed. They have had the same players for a long time. Ibrahimovic is among the new players but basically the structure hasn't changed. We have five new players but I don't want to say anything with this. The match will start at 0-0 and we obviously believe we can win this game."

Mourinho brought on Mario Balotelli for Thiago Motta at the start of the second half against Parma. "Mario has to improve a lot. He keeps doing well but at the same time he forgot a bit of defensive and tactical work in a team that was already playing in a very offensive way with Eto'o and Milito," admitted the Inter coach. "Against Milan there was no need to make a half-time substitution and against Bari I didn't succeed in making a team that could win. Changing is the job of the coach and I like making changes when I feel that the team needs a tactical and mental change at the same time. A strong intervention produces a reaction in the players, but who knows, if Biabiany had scored we might be talking in a different way now."

Asked if it was true that he said he turned the television off after Mauri's goal for Lazio against Juventus was disallowed, Mourinho explained: "No, I didn't say this at all before the match. They asked me if I saw the Juve match and I replied 'yes' and I watched it until Mauri's goal because we were about to have dinner. The squid was waiting for us. There's nothing controversial in what I said.

"Was I expecting Juventus and Sampdoria to do so well? I'm not talking about this because I did it last year, saying that Inter would win the championship, and I was criticised. I prefer to think about us. We have seven points after three matches. It would have been more normal to win against Bari and Parma and draw with Milan, but it's fine all the same."

And to those who accuse Mourinho of having already forgotten Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Portuguese said. "A player who has given me a lot, like Ibrahimovic, will always be in my heart, but I'm a person who forgets immediately and now I think about my players. I'm satisfied with his work at Barça but I am very happy with my strikers. On Wednesday we will give each other a big hug before the match but during the game I don't even want to know who he is. He did a lot for Inter and Inter did a lot for him. Inter are a team in the making but we have the potential to become a more spectacular team."

http://inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=32172&L=en

Inter 2-0 Parma

Samuel Eto'o scored a second-half stunner and his strike partner Diego Milito added a cheeky goal as Inter saw off a gritty Parma at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

The Cameroonian striker's goal - straight out of the top drawer - came at just the right time, with frustration setting in after seventy goalless minutes.

Two minutes short of the ninety, Il Principe tucked home Balotelli's cross to make sure of the points.

Chivu and Stankovic returned from international duty with the flu, forcing José Mourinho to make two changes to the team that beat AC Milan 4-0 a fortnight ago. Santon slotted in at left-back while Vieira patrolled the right side of midfield with Zanetti filling the central role.

Eleven minutes into the match Inter had two quick chances to take the lead. Sneijder latched on to Eto'o's deflected cross and saw his snapshot parried by Mirante. Thiago Motta failed to find the target with his header from the resulting corner.

Parma's only meaningful chance of the opening forty-five fell to their captain Morrone, who wriggled into the box before sending a diagonal shot straight at Julio Cesar. Inter launched a fast counter-attack and Mirante kept out a fierce drive from Zanetti.

A goalless first half called for a change in formation and Mourinho threw on Balotelli in place of Thiago Motta. The nineteen-year-old Italian made an immediate impact as the Nerazzurri looked more dangerous coming forward.

Parma, though, were always a threat and Inter youth academy product Jonathan Biabiany made two teasing runs, pulling his shot wide after the second.

The breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Eto'o received from Balotelli and turned Lanzafame to create space to curl his brilliant shot beyond Mirante and into the top right corner.

Rene Krhin came on for Sneijder in the 78th minute and celebrated his competitive debut for Inter ten later when Milito controlled Balotelli's right-wing cross in the box and fired past Mirante with the outside of his right foot.

Inter 2-0 Parma (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Eto'o 71, Milito 88.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 39 Santon; 14 Vieira (11 Muntari 70), 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta (45 Balotelli 46); 10 Sneijder (15 Krhin 78); 9 Eto'o, 22 Milito.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 7 Quaresma, 18 Suazo.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Parma: 83 Mirante; 19 Zenoni, 24 Paci, 2 Panucci, 6 Lucarelli; 5 Zaccardo (23 Amoruso 76), 17 Mariga, 4 Morrone, 14 Galloppa (9 Lanzafame 55); 20 Biabiany, 43 Paloschi (86 Boijnov 80).
Subs not used: 1 Pavarini, 7 Castellini, 10 Dzemaili, 15 Dellafiore.
Coach: Francesco Guidolin.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Turin).

Booked: Vieira 9, Galloppa 14, Thiago Motta 41, Eto'o 72.

Genoa 4-1 Napoli: Gutsy Grifoni Grab Spoils In Thriller

What was billed as a goal fest didn’t disappoint with both teams throwing everything and more at each other for 90 minutes of splendid Serie A football.

Sep 13, 2009 4:39:23 PM

Hernan Crespo - Genoa (Grazia Neri)

Following a wonderful display of attacking football from both sides, Genoa inflicted a heavy defeat on visitors Napoli to join Sampdoria and Juventus at the top of the Serie A standings.

The visitors took the lead following a wonderful angled goal from Marek Hamsik, but with just seconds to go before half time Sergio Floccari leveled the scoring from the penalty spot.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s men took the lead following a second half wonder strike by Giandomenico Mesto, and with just 15 minutes left to play Hernan Crespo dashed Napoli hearts with his first league goal of the season.

Kharja grabbed a fourth late on from the spot, and Genoa went flying back to the top of the standings with their perfect start still intact.

Napoli came storming out the blocks as they looked to demonstrate their worth as a real contender for the Champions League places.

The home side were quick to stamp their own authority on the game however, and they came flying back at the Azzurri after just five minutes of early Napoli domination.

On 15 minutes Genoa again went extremely close as Domenico Criscito smashed a wonderful crack on goal from 25 yards. Fortunately for Napoli their keeper Morgan De Sanctis was equal to it and palmed the ball clear with a wonderful outstretched dive.

Just seconds later Roberto Donadoni’s side found themselves with a chance to take the lead when Inacio Pia found himself with an opening inside the box. The Napoli forward took a great touch before he smashed his shot goal bound, but Marco Amelia showed great reflexes to block from close range.

On 27 minutes the game took a turn for the worse for Genoa when Criscito was sent off in extraordinary circumstances. Following a challenge on Cristian Maggio which seemed to merit less than a bookable offense, the Italian full-back expressed a brief discord with the match official, who immediately responded with a red card.

The Partenopei looked to make good use of their numerical advantage, but Genoa were by no means ready to sit back as they continued to press forward at every opportunity.

On 35 minutes the Grifoni again went close following some great approach play by Sergio Floccari. The former Atalanta man layed off a great pass to Mesto, whose vicious shot finished just wide of the post.

Just five minutes later it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when Hamsik rounded the keeper. The Slovakian was fed into the box by a delightful pass from Fabio Quagliarella, and he was razor sharp to find the net from the tightest of angles.

The Grifoni were handed a golden chance to level just seconds before the break when Giuseppe Sculli was brought down inside the box by Hugo Campagnaro. The Napoli defender was shown his marching orders for a second bookable offense and Floccari was unforgiving as he coolly slotted the penalty kick past De Sanctis.


Razor Sharp | Hamsik Scored From The Tightest Of Angles

Gasperini introduced Rodrigo Palacio into the fray after the re-start, and Genoa were keen to push forward with numerical parity having been restored shortly before the break.

Both sides continued to throw everything they had in search of that extra inch, and the action move from end to end at a frightening pace.

On 54 minutes Genoa found their inch in magnificent style when Mesto gifted the Grifoni the lead. The Italian cut in from the left wing and didn’t think twice before firing a thunderbolt from 30 yards, past a helpless De Sanctis in the Napoli goal.

The visitors refused to back off following the Genoa advantage, and coach Donadoni threw on Walter Gargano and Ezequiel Lavezzi to give the Azzurri some added clout going forward.

Genoa nearly added a third when Palacio’s inviting cross found Alberto Zapater with a chance to head goal bound. Unfortunately for the Grifoni the former Zaragoza man couldn’t make a clean contact and Amelia managed to get down in time to smother the danger.

On 75 minutes the Rossoblu took one step closer to victory when Hernan Crespo opening his Serie A scoring account with a wonderful finish following some great interplay with Palacio.

With just five minutes left to play Aronica was sent for an early bath when he bundled Palacio down inside the six yard box. Houssine Kharja stepped up for the subsequent spot-kick and put the game to bed with Genoa fourth.

The Grifoni kept possession for the final minutes and joined city rivals Sampdoria at the top of the table with Tagliavento’s final whistle.

Genoa hadn’t won their opening three Serie A fixtures since the 1932-33 season, but following the manner in which they dealt aside a dangerous Napoli, they will certainly be confident of pushing all the way for a top for finish next May.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/13/1499607/genoa-4-1-napoli-gutsy-grifoni-grab-the-spoils-in-end-to-end

Palermo 1-1 Bari: Late Budan Goal Rescues The Rosanero

A 90th minute goal from Igor Budan saved Palermo's blushes as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bari at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.....

Sep 13, 2009 4:25:00 PM

Miccoli, Kjaer & Cavani - Palermo (Grazia Neri)

Riccardo Allegretti gave Bari the lead in the second minute but Igor Budan equalised for Palermo in the last minute of normal time.

Palermo started in the wonted 4-3-1-2 formation with Javier Pastore playing behind strikers Edinson Cavani and Fabrizio Miccoli. Visitors Bari designed a flat 4-4-2 system with Vitali Kutozov and Riccardo Meggiorini leading the promoted side's attackline.

The match began 20 minutes late than originally scheduled as the pitch was allowed to dry. It had become wet after shower in the morning. And when the match started, it was visitors Bari who took control of the proceedings as Riccardo Allegretti scored with a right-footed shot from a very close range as custodian Rubinho was caught in two minds and left his goal open.

Playing, though, was difficult as the pitch was still not fully dry and it was no surprise that neither side came close to scoring immediately after the second minute shock.

However, Palermo got a great chance in the 12th minute when Miccoli's shot was sensationally saved by Bari custodian Jean- Francois Gillet. Moments later summer recruit Javier Pastore had a great chance to equalise when Miccoli swerved in a perfect free-kick, but the Argentine youngster's header failed to find the target.

Gillet was called to action again just a couple of minutes later when Miccoli once more asked questions of the Bari defence.

The next good chance for either side to find the net came in the 27th minute when Pastore again found himself in the thick of things but once more failed to keep his header on target. Eight minutes later the hosts had yet another chance when Miccoli's free-kick from the right found Simon Kjaer but the defender couldn't retain his cool.

By this time Bari were firmly on the backfoot and were somehow holding onto that early goal. They survived yet another Rosanero attack when Mattia Cassini's whipped in a dangerous cross but Cavani's header was too weak to trouble Gillet, who was the best player for the Galletti in the first half.




The second half started on a similar note on which the first half had ended: Palermo launching attacks after attacks and Bari staving them off one way or the other. Four minutes into the resumption, it was again Miccolo who found himself with a good chance of scoring but it yielded no product.

A couple of minutes later the hosts constructed yet another concrete move as Pastore and Balzaretti combined but Gillet again came to Bari's rescue once more. Pastore then fired a rocket from 20 metres but it didn't do any damage whatsoever.

It was all Palermo by this stage and they seemed pretty likely to score. But just after the 60-minute mark Bari could have doubled their lead when Allegretti sent in an inviting cross that Bari striker Meggiorini somehow managed to keep off target. Ten minutes later Palermo goalkeeper Rubinho was called into action as he had to stretch himself to cover a shot.

Bari had grown a bit more confident by this time and were trying to launch attacks of their own. But they kept themselves open at the back and Palermo did try attacking on the break on one occasion.

Palermo poured men forward in the final 10 minutes of the game as Igor Budan and Miccoli both came close to scoring. Eventually it would be the former who would score his side's equaliser in the 90th minute when assisted by a Federico Balzaretti cross he scored with his right foot from the centre of the Bari penalty box.to rescue a point for Walter Zenga's side.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/09/13/1498426/palermo-1-1-bari-late-budan-goal-rescues-the-rosanero

Siena 1-2 Roma: Riise Rocket Sees Ranieri Begin With A Win

Tinkerman' starts with a win.

Sep 13, 2009 9:55:26 AM

Philippe Mexes - Roma (Grazia Neri)

Claudio Ranieri's reign as Roma coach began with a win as a ferocious 89th minute free kick from substitute John Arne Riise saw off ten-man Siena at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Siena had taken the lead in the first half through Massimo Maccarone, but Philippe Mexes equalized with 17 minutes remaining, and Riise took full advantage of Paul Codrea's red card to steal the three points at the end.

The Giallorossi came into the clash with their injury situation slowly clearing up, although Alexander Doni and Cicinho were still sidelined. Juan returned to the line-up, while David Pizarro supported lone striker Francesco Totti in a very defensive 4-4-1-1.

With the exception of injured defender Luca Rossettini, Siena had virtually a clean bill of health as they looked for a repeat of their week 2 victory over Cagliari. Emanuele Calaio and Maccarone led the offensive charge.

Roma started the game the better, with Totti curling just over and Gianluca Curci coming to the rescue from Simone Perrotta.

However, the Giallorossi received a blow just past the quarter-hour mark as Matteo Brighi was forced off injured to be replaced by Julio Baptista.

This seemed to have a negative effect on the away side as Siena found it easier to attack with the defensive Brighi off. On 26 minutes the Tuscans broke the deadlock as Maccarone turned Philippe Mexes in the box and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. It was a wonderful individual effort.

Roma tried to react through Baptista, who sliced wide after a great pass from Pizarro.

On 38 minutes 'The Beast' went close with a free kick that deflected and span just past the post. Moments later Emanuele Calaio's mishit cross almost looped in over Julio Sergio, but it was just too high.

Maccarone broke the deadlock

There were no changes at half time. Roma attempted to up the tempo, yet it was Siena who threatened first as Maccarone was released in the left channel, but his first touch was poor and Marco Cassetti cleared.

On 55 minutes Roma had a golden chance to equalize as the ball broke to Simone Perrotta inside the area, but he delayed too long and a defender managed to block the ball.

Despite this chance, Roma were lacking ideas going forward - perhaps not helped by Ranieri's ultra-defensive system.

Just past the hour mark, 'Tinkerman' made his second change of the game, introducing Riise for Juan. Siena looked to tighten up the ship as midfielder Lukas Jarolim replaced striker Calaio.

Ranieri played his final card as he threw on Mirko Vucinic for Baptista. A couple of minutes later Roma were level as Totti cut the ball back to Mexes, who had stayed forward, and the Frenchman volleyed the ball into the ground and past Curci.

The tiring Maccarone made way for Reginaldo, but with 12 minutes to go Siena received another blow as Paul Codrea received his marching orders for a second yellow card after fouling Totti.

Roma threw men forward in the closing stages, and Vucinic saw a shot blocked. Time seemed to be running out but in the 89th minute the Giallorossi found a winner as Riise unleashed a ferocious 20-yard free kick that was too hot for Curci to handle as it almost put a hole in the back of the net.

This win means that Roma are finally off the mark in Serie A, and they join Siena on three points from as many games.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/13/1499606/siena-1-2-roma-john-arne-riise-rocket-sees-claudio-ranieri-begin-

Fiorentina 1-0 Cagliari: Viola See Off Rossoblu With Gilardino Goal

A lonely goal from the Italy striker proved the difference here...

Sep 13, 2009 3:51:20 PM

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Alberto Gilardino - Fiorentina (Grazia Neri)

Without Adrian Mutu, who was left out of Cesare Prandelli's plans for this match due to fitness problems, Fiorentina were made to work hard to beat Cagliari 1-0 at the Artemio Franchi.

The match began at a very slow pace, with neither side able to create danger in the opening minutes. Fiorentina looked more determined to find the back of the net, but they kept finding a Cagliari man blocking their shots.

The first sight of danger came only in the 25th minute, when Marchionni sent in a low cross from the right but Gilardino could not connect to it.

On 32 minutes, Fiorentina looked close to the goal, when Montolivo fed the ball forward to Gilardino, whose low drive went just wide of the right post of Cagliari's goal.

There were penalty claims by the home side on 45 minutes, when Jovetic collided with a Cagliari defender and their goalkeeper in the area, but the referee waved away the protests.

In the second period, Fiorentina began piling the pressure and earned a number of free-kicks close to the Cagliari area in the first minutes, chances they could never put to good use.

But such pressure finally bore fruits as the Viola broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half. Vargas, with an individual move down the left, did well to find space between two defenders to swing in a cross to Gilardino, who powered a header into the net.

The Viola could have doubled their lead on 63 minutes, when Jovetic cut inside from the right before moving past two players but his shot from 25 yards out went over the bar.

Cagliari created danger for the first time 21 minutes into the second period, when Jeda sent in a well-placed shot from the right but Frey held it.

The visitors were now more dangerous and had another chance in the 76th minute, when Cossu clipped the ball into the area, forcing Frey to rush to it before unmarked Matri could do anything.

But Fiorentina refused to be mere spectators and responded just two minutes later through Donadel, who went for glory from distance but his effort went just inches over the bar.

It was a well-deserved win for the Viola, who were pretty much the only team to risk anything here. Cagliari were punished for playing on defence and rightfully walk out of the stadium without a point.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/09/13/1498697/fiorentina-1-0-cagliari-viola-see-off-rossoblu-with

Serie A Round-Up: Di Natale Hat-Trick Wins Udinese Max PointsSerie A Round-Up: Di Natale Hat-Trick Wins Udinese Max Points

Atalanta 0-1 Sampdoria

Sampdoria traveled to Bergamo on Sunday afternoon to take an Atalanta side that had lost their opening two matches in Serie A and had yet to score a goal. Therefore Luigi del Neri's players were confident of carry on their rich vein of form that has seen them pick maximum points so far, scoring five times in the process.

But it took Sampdoria 63 minutes to register themselves on the scoresheet. Again it was their talisman Antonio Cassano who was the creative mind behind the goal as he provided an assist that led to the goal from Daniele Mannini from outside the Atalanta penalty box.

Samp held on for a 1-0 victory and they now maintain their 100% record in the championship.

Bologna 0-2 Chievo

The Stadio Renato Dall'Ara saw an early season relegation dogfight on Sunday afternoon as Bologna hosted Chievo. Neither side had won in the league so far this season and with Chievo having collected no points from their opening two matches, this was supposed to a dull and insipid contest.

But it turned out to be quite different and saw two goals inside the first 30 minutes. Giampiero Pinzi made it 1-0 to Chievo in the 18th minute when he scored from a very close range. Sergio Pellissier then doubled the Flying Donkeys' tally in the 29th minute when he scored with a fierce strike from an Andrea Mantovani cross.

The second-half saw no goals and Chievo went back home with three points in their bag.

Udinese 4-2 Catania

Udinese were expected to register their first victory of the season on Sunday afternoon when they entertained struggling Catania at the Stadio Friuli. But it was the Sicilians who took the lead and that came as early as the 11th minute when Takayuki Morimoto scored from outside the box with a right-footed shot.

The hosts, though, replied just before the half-hour mark through Antonio Floro Flores but five minutes later Catania regained the lead when Giuseppe Mascara converted a penalty, which he had himself earned after Felipe had fouled him inside the Udinese penalty area.

Ten minutes into the second half star man Antonio Di Natale made it 2-2 as he headed home a cross from Gaetano D'Agostino. He then converted a 69th minute penalty to put Udinese ahead for the first time in the match.

Di Natale completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute when he latched onto a Francesco Lodi pass following a quick counter-attack and shot home from inside the Catania penalty area. It finished 4-2 to Udinese.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/09/13/1499605/serie-a-round-up-di-natale-hat-trick-wins-udinese-max-points