Mancio relies on young guns
Monday 9 August, 2004
Roberto Mancini insists Adriano and Obafemi Martins will be his first choice pairing this season, but both could miss the Basel clash.
“Adriano and Martins will create an incredible partnership upfront, not just this year but for a decade to come. Perhaps I will teach them a trick or two.”
This is an important statement from the former Sampdoria and Lazio legend, who had convinced Christian Vieri to stay on at the club despite interest from Real Madrid and Juventus.
“Vieri won’t play every single game,” conceded Mancini, “but I’m sure his input will allow us to win a few matches.”
The Italian international is notoriously ill tempered when forced to sit on the bench, as Alberto Zaccheroni learned last season when Vieri often refused to take his seat.
However, there are rather more pressing problems for the Nerazzurri as they prepare for Wednesday’s Champions’ League preliminary round trip to Basel.
There are injury worries to contend with, as Vieri, Martins, Fabio Cannavaro, Cristiano Zanetti and the suspended Sinisa Mihajlovic are out of action, while Nicolas Burdisso is at the Olympics with Argentina.
“I don’t know if Adriano will be able to play,” admitted Mancini as the Brazilian returned to Italy this morning following the tragic death of his father last week. “He is free to choose what he wants to do, but obviously we’d love to have him with us in Switzerland.”
It looks likely that Alvaro Recoba will take one of the starting places, with Julio Cruz perhaps stepping in if Adriano is not 100 per cent fit.
“The Swiss outfit are not to be underestimated,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport, “as they have already beaten Manchester United and Juventus on their home turf. Above all, they are five weeks into their League season and are therefore at a more advanced stage of fitness preparation.”
Much is expected of Inter this season, as Mancini must provide entertaining play as well as results.
“Attractive football is a way of getting victories rather than an end in itself. At Inter there is a fear of failure and the best way to be rid of that is for players to enjoy their work, but that doesn't mean the result is secondary."
"I have learnt a lot from maestros of the game like Vujadin Boskov and Sven Goran Eriksson, but I can see Arrigo Sacchi’s influence in a lot of my teams.”
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that English referee Graham Poll will be in charge of Inter’s crunch match against Swiss outfit Basel and German official Herbert Fandel oversees Juve’s tie with Djurgarden.
Monday 9 August, 2004
Roberto Mancini insists Adriano and Obafemi Martins will be his first choice pairing this season, but both could miss the Basel clash.
“Adriano and Martins will create an incredible partnership upfront, not just this year but for a decade to come. Perhaps I will teach them a trick or two.”
This is an important statement from the former Sampdoria and Lazio legend, who had convinced Christian Vieri to stay on at the club despite interest from Real Madrid and Juventus.
“Vieri won’t play every single game,” conceded Mancini, “but I’m sure his input will allow us to win a few matches.”
The Italian international is notoriously ill tempered when forced to sit on the bench, as Alberto Zaccheroni learned last season when Vieri often refused to take his seat.
However, there are rather more pressing problems for the Nerazzurri as they prepare for Wednesday’s Champions’ League preliminary round trip to Basel.
There are injury worries to contend with, as Vieri, Martins, Fabio Cannavaro, Cristiano Zanetti and the suspended Sinisa Mihajlovic are out of action, while Nicolas Burdisso is at the Olympics with Argentina.
“I don’t know if Adriano will be able to play,” admitted Mancini as the Brazilian returned to Italy this morning following the tragic death of his father last week. “He is free to choose what he wants to do, but obviously we’d love to have him with us in Switzerland.”
It looks likely that Alvaro Recoba will take one of the starting places, with Julio Cruz perhaps stepping in if Adriano is not 100 per cent fit.
“The Swiss outfit are not to be underestimated,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport, “as they have already beaten Manchester United and Juventus on their home turf. Above all, they are five weeks into their League season and are therefore at a more advanced stage of fitness preparation.”
Much is expected of Inter this season, as Mancini must provide entertaining play as well as results.
“Attractive football is a way of getting victories rather than an end in itself. At Inter there is a fear of failure and the best way to be rid of that is for players to enjoy their work, but that doesn't mean the result is secondary."
"I have learnt a lot from maestros of the game like Vujadin Boskov and Sven Goran Eriksson, but I can see Arrigo Sacchi’s influence in a lot of my teams.”
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that English referee Graham Poll will be in charge of Inter’s crunch match against Swiss outfit Basel and German official Herbert Fandel oversees Juve’s tie with Djurgarden.
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