Preview
Internazionale midfielder Dejan Stankovic believes the Nerazzurri's
inability to convert draws into wins this season is down to a lack
of concentration and communication.
Roberto Mancini's side - who take on struggling Brescia on Sunday -
are the only team in Italy's professional ranks that has yet to
lose this season, but an incredible 12 draws in 15 games has all
but ruined their title chances with Juventus and AC Milan way ahead
in the Scudetto race.
Mancini, nicknamed `Mr X' due to the team's large number of matches
in the draw column, has often said luck deserted them, while
striker Adriano has claimed the pressure for the club to win its
first Serie A crown since the glorious 1988-89 season has weighed
too heavily on them.
The latest excuse has come from Inter's Dejan Stankovic, the
Serbo-Montenegrin midfielder. ``I think our main problem is lack of
concentration at times,'' he said.
``We also lack, at times, communication which helps in the
difficult moments of a game. Obviously the advantage that Juventus
and AC Milan have burns us but we have to think about the
present.
``They deserve to be in the top positions but let us not forget
that neither have been able to beat us so far. We have to be the
ones to change.''
The latest draw, a 2-2 result at Siena, truly irked owner Massimo
Moratti. Inter had earned a point against Juventus, and followed
that with a comprehensive victory over Messina, and Moratti thought
his players were starting to build some momentum.
``We really should have won at Messina - period,'' Moratti said.
``We should have given a display of continuity considering what we
had achieved in the previous two weeks, but this was not the
case.
``Certainly the missed penalty by Adriano influenced the draw, but
then again it's not as if he missed it.
``When you hit the post, it means you've been unlucky.'' The real
problem for Inter is that the team have given away too many goals
from set pieces. Free-kicks and corners have cost them 12
points.
``I'm really fed up,'' Moratti said. ``How can it be that you give
away goals in dead-ball situations? They really need to find a
solution to this problem.''
Fortunately for Inter, they are so good going forward with Adriano
that the woeful defending has not put them in the lower part of the
table.
If Inter believe they have been unlucky, Brescia have a right to
feel even more aggrieved after last week's defeat against Roma left
them fifth bottom.
Two minutes into injury time, Brescia defender Victor Maresco gave
away a penalty after handling the ball.
Mancini, Roma's Brazilian midfielder, converted the spot-kick for
the only goal of the match. Brescia boss Gigi De Biasi said: ``We
still have an advantage over the teams in the relegation zone and I
believe the fact that we have a team of new, and young players,
that we would have accepted to be in this position at this point of
the season.''
Inter winger Kily Gonzalez has already returned to Argentina for
the Christmas break as he is still injured and unable to play while
defender Giuseppe Favalli serves a one-match ban.
The good news for Brescia is the return of captain Luigi Di Biagio,
who missed last weekend's game through injury.
Otherwise, Brescia are set to play with the same starting line-up
that lost against Roma last weekend.
