Serie Aaaaargh!…

Napoli ready for summer long party after Italian Cup triumph

2012-05-21T12:17:00Z

Napoli brought the curtain down on the Italian season with a stirring Italian Cup final victory, ending what had up until that point been an unbeaten campaign for Juventus.

The 2-0 scoreline denied the Turin club the double, but it was a perfect way to celebrate a year which had seen Walter Mazzarri's Napoli bring an attack-minded approach to both the domestic and continental stage, winning them plenty of admirers both home and abroad.

Inconsistency in the league cost the Azzurri a return to Europe’s premier competition, but hoisting aloft the cup for the first time since the Diego Maradona era was more than adequate reward – and how the Partenopei enjoyed their evening in Rome.

Over 30,000 Napoli fans danced and sang in the rain inside the Olympic stadium, while back in the Bay area the mother of all parties was well under way even before the final whistle sounded.

Success was built around stifling Juventus at source, with Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi closing down the Bianconeri back-three, thus denying Leonardo Bonucci in particular the space to bring the ball out towards the halfway line.

There is no doubt Mazzarri outwitted Antonio Conte tactically, and when Juve were forced to hit the ball long, Hamsik was already shadowing Andrea Pirlo in the centre of the pitch.

With the Swiss pairing of Gokhan Inler and Blerim Dzemaili forming a formidable defensive wall through the centre, Pirlo was forced into ever more risky passes. When he turned to the flanks, Christian Maggio and the very impressive Juan Zuniga were quick to press forward, leaving Napoli’s back three relatively unscathed apart from a late Salvatore Aronica challenge on Claudio Marchisio inside the area which went unpunished.

Winning the ball higher up the pitch unleashed Napoli’s best weapon: the counter-attack, with Inler and Dzemaili taking it in turns to break forward to support the attack while Zuniga and Maggio kept their opposite wing-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Marcelo Estigarriba pinned back - and more times than often forced to track back, leaving Napoli with superior numbers to repel any Juve counter.

It was the perfect strategy to make the champions look almost ordinary, but the night belonged to the men dubbed ‘The Three Tenors’: Cavani, Lavezzi and Hamsik.

It was a much-used routine that broke the deadlock just after the hour-mark, when Hugo Campagnaro’s long throw was flicked on by Cavani for Lavezzi to burst into the area where goalkeeper Marco Storari could do nothing but bring the Argentine crashing to the floor.

In the stands, owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, who had dragged the club out of the third tier some eight years ago, could not watch as Cavani stepped up to dispatch the penalty in a manner befitting his moniker ‘The Matador’.

From that moment, Napoli as a whole were equally clinical in everything they did, as Juventus, as was to be expected, poured forward in search of an equaliser.

The gaps were there to be exploited, and after Mazzarri withdrew Lavezzi, who had run himself into the ground on what was more than likely to be his last appearance for the club,. El Pocho’s replacement, Goran Pandev, took up the mantle to play Hamsik in for the all-important second goal seven minutes from time.

Juventus may have fought back from 2-0 and then 3-1 down at the San Paolo earlier in the season, but there was little time left to mount another comeback - The Invincibles were vanquished, with Fabio Quagliarella shown a straight red card in added-time for elbowing Aronica.

The Napoli team and its travelling support could not wait for the final whistle to go as they crowded around the edge of the pitch; Lavezzi was so overcome by the moment that he broke down in tears and missed out joining his team-mates in tossing Mazzarri up into the air.

De Laurentiis strode around the pitch like a conquering Cesar while Hamsik made good on his promise by allowing his team-mates to shave off his Mohawk – it was one of those evening where you knew would end in volcanic emotions.

And what of Alessandro Del Piero on his final appearance in a Juventus shirt? Well, it was a low-key evening, ending earlier than expected when he was substituted with 22 minutes still remaining, but in truth his parting gift had come last weekend back in Turin during the title celebrations.

As ever, he was gracious in defeat, as were Juventus, who left the stage for Napoli to party the night away. Knowing Naples, the party will continue right up until the two sides meet again in the Italian Super Cup in August.

Tearful farewells take centre stage on final day in Serie A

2012-05-14T10:44:00Z

RESULTS Sun 13 May Catania 0-2 Udinese, Cesena 2-3 Roma, Chievo 1-0 Lecce, Fiorentina 0-0 Cagliari, Genoa 2-0 Palermo, Juventus 3-1 Atalanta, Lazio 3-1 Inter, Milan 2-1 Novara, Napoli 2-1 Siena, Parma 1-0 Bologna.

With the top two and bottom two places already sorted, attention on the final day of the season turned to third, with third from the top offering a place in the Champions League preliminary round, and third from the bottom offering a place in Serie B.

While Lecce and Genoa nervously eyed the score from each other’s match to see who would join Novara and Cesena in relegation, there were four teams in the chase to join AC Milan and champions Juventus in having their eardrums troubled by the belting out of the Champions League anthem from a stadium PA system next season, a couple of times at least.

The permutations were bountiful, so it seemed we would be in for a day of typical Italian intrigue and excitement. But sadly it was a little more straightforward.

While high drama seemed in the offing, the reality was very different: Udinese secured third spot with a routine win at Catania, while Lecce were condemned to the drop by their own failings at Chievo, leaving Genoa and Palermo to half-heartedly kick the ball around inside an empty Luigi Ferraris stadium.

Grooooooooup huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuug!!!

Udinese can be genuinely proud of their achievement of going one better than last season, considering that each year they can expect to lose their star players - as happened with Alexis Sanchez and Gokhan Inler last summer - with Mauricio Isla widely tipped to be heading for the exit door.

In fact, Francesco Guidolin is well aware that making the group stages of the Champions League will be quite an achievement – last season the Bianconeri ran into Arsenal in the preliminaries – and the coach is now seriously considering stepping down, unsure that he can cope with another year of keeping such a small squad competitive on two fronts.

Most of the other top clubs pay their star performers more than Udinese’s overall wage bill, so attempting to overcome the likes of Napoli and Inter next season will become even more taxing.

Even Lazio will find it difficult to keep pace with Napoli and Inter, despite finishing ahead of them in qualifying for the Europa League, which sparked mass indifference, such is the prospect of Thursday evening in Minsk. No wonder Biancocelesti coach Edy Reja is not committing anything to paper just yet…

There were certainly groans of despair within the Inter ranks, with their final-day defeat to Lazio meaning they will start next season’s European campaign in early August.

But there are some who can bask in the sun for as long as they want, as the real emotional highlight of the final day was produced by a smattering of fond farewells up and down the country. Unsurprisingly, many of them dragged on a bit – at times it was like watching a whole room of pre-schoolers who had scuffed their knees, such was the uncontrollable bawling.

Alessandro Del Piero bids farewell to Juventus after 19 years' service

There wasn’t a dry eye in the San Siro, with a third of the squad finally calling it a day - and they made sure that everyone knew it.

When Paolo Maldini retired a few years back, the legendary defender ran around the pitch, waved to the fans and disappeared down the tunnel without a second glance, but Filippo Inzaghi, Rino Gattuso and Gianluca Zambrotta were more like overcome Oscar winners as they blubbed away even after everyone had left and the grounds staff were trying to close up.

Mark van Bommel had embarrassed himself on the Milan Channel a few days earlier, with a farewell performance that included dabbing his eyes with a hankie, but in keeping with their truly classy performances on the pitch, Alessandro Nesta and Alex Del Piero called it a day in a more tasteful manner.

Nesta had told everyone he was off because he couldn’t face trying to keep up with the likes of Leo Messi, while Del Piero turned the kick-around with Atalanta at the Juventus Stadium into a sideshow, with an impromptu lap of honour after he was substituted on the hour-mark.

Del Piero’s beaming grin was nearly as wide as Luis Enrique’s when he announced he was too “tired” to face another year at AS Roma, but at least Juve captain’s exit was a fitting centrepiece to a final day that failed to provide much on-field drama.

Juventus return to their roots to land title

2012-05-08T10:57:00Z

It has taken six years and many a heartbreak, but Juventus are finally back top of the pile in Italian football.

The club has come a long way in rebuilding its tattered reputation, from that 1-1 draw at Rimini on the opening day of the 2006-07 season, to the 2-0 win at Cagliari which, coupled with AC Milan’s derby defeat, ensured the Bianconeri could not be caught at the top with one game remaining.

Who knows how many honours the club would have collected in the meantime if the heart of the team had not been torn out following the events of Calciopoli and the subsequent demotion to Serie B, even if it their spell in the second tier only lasted one year.

One of the secrets of the Old Lady’s success through the 90s and into the new millennium was the rationale of not being afraid to allow a big name to leave as long as the sound foundations of the team – built through astute management and, of course, major investment – were not undermined.

The roll-call of star names passing through the vaulted headquarters in Turin included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Gianluigi Buffon, Pavel Nedved, Lilian Thuram, David Trezeguet and the two Fabios, Cannavaro and Capello.

When the bombshell hit in 2006, the name Juventus alone could not guarantee an instant return to the heights of previous decades, as the likes of Real Madrid and Inter cherry-picked the major assets, including title-winning coach Capello.

It has taken three presidents and six coaches to achieve this crowning moment, and although there was a third place finish on their return in 2007-08, and a runners-up spot in 2008-09 there seemed little in the way of continuity to suggest that a league title was in the offing.

At the higher management level, Giovaani Coboli Gigli arrived from a business background to lead from the boardroom, while the urbane Jean Claude Blanc put his business degree from Harvard to good use.

The Luciano Moggi-Roberto Bettega era would be erased from history, but the new line-up were mere babes in the murky world of Italian football. After a host of coaches came and left, having failed, it took a return to the past to finally get Juve back on an even keel.

It seems incredible that a club whose watch-word was once ‘stability’ would take so long to return to its roots, with the arrival of Umberto’s son, Andrea, the last male member of the clan.

The masterstroke was, of course, bringing Antonio Conte back in to the fold. As a player, the battling midfielder may not have shined as brightly as the likes of Alex Del Piero and Zidane, but he was a guardian of the Juve flame and knew what values he needed to reinstall within the playing staff.

Not only are the team unbeaten in all competitions, with an Italian Cup Final to look forward to, but they have also set a club record 21 clean sheets. Victory was built from the back in the best traditions of Italian football, while sporting director Giuseppe Marotta enabled Conte to sprinkle the side with a few sparkling diamonds.

Andrea Pirlo must be in the running for the player of the year award, proving that Milan were mistaken in not offering the playmaker a further two-year deal, while Mirko Vucinic was ripe to show off his talents in a new environment.

A return to the Champions League opens a new chapter, but it also brings with it a new set of difficulties, as Milan found to their cost this season.

But the Old Lady has at least re-applied her foundation, and she is finally back in style.

Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi pays the price for his 'Falling Down' moment

2012-05-03T11:40:00Z

There seems to be no depth to which Italian football will not plunge in order to maintain its position as Europe’s, if not the world’s, wackiest league.

We have had Genoa players forced to hand over their shirts on the orders of fans, the man-handling of the referee by Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti and now Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi topping it all by delivering a couple of solid punches to one his own players.

Many a coach must have dreamt of taking their frustrations out on a player with a few well-aimed blows, but it is rare to see it actually happen, rarer still in the middle of a match.

Fiorentina were trailing Novara 2-0 in what was something of a relegation tussle when, with just over 30 minutes gone, home coach Rossi decided he had seen enough of what he perceived was under-performing from Adem Ljaijc and removed the striker from the fray.

Naturally the Serb did not take too kindly to being substituted so early in the game and sarcastically applauded the decision as he made his way to the bench. Unfortunately, Rossi’s frayed nerves snapped and the coach stormed over to first grab the player by the throat and then deliver a couple of right hooks.

Only the intervention of the technical staff (so that’s what they are there for…) saved the former Manchester United target from receiving the hiding of his life from a middle-aged man who had allowed the pressures of the moment to get to him.

There is an old saying in Italy that goes something along the lines of “when everyone else is losing their heads, you might as well join in.”

However, Rossi crossed a line from which there was no way back. By the end of the evening, club owner Andrea Della Valle had sacked his coach and promised further punishment for the player, as if the 20-year-old had not suffered enough humiliation.

The most bizarre moment came when Rossi exited the dugout to indicate to the referee that there was nothing to see here, as if he had done nothing more than lose his footing for a moment.

The officials had not seen the incident, otherwise Rossi would have been making the long walk to career ruin much sooner. Instead, he was still able to be in the dressing room at half-time, where he no doubt jolted the rest of the team into producing a two-goal comeback to earn a point which should be enough to keep the Viola in the top flight.

We will probably not see Rossi back in football for some time - certainly not in the next three months, with the Italian FA this morning confirming that as the length of his ban - but he is not the first coach to lose his head and attack one of his own players during the course of a game.

Back in the 1983-84 campaign, Pescara coach Tom Rosati slapped Vittorio Cozzella during a league match against Como. The striker took it on the chin, so to speak, and the following week the pair were seen joking away as if nothing had happened.

In fact, Cozzella admitted he had been a bit of an annoying sort and the episode had helped him develop into a more mature player.

It is doubtful Ljajic will be feeling quite so forgiving as he nurses a sore jaw and bruised ego this morning. For Rossi, this “Falling Down” moment will prove far more costly.

Chase for third brings out plenty of erratic behaviour in Serie A

2012-04-30T11:01:00Z

RESULTS Sat 28 Apr Palermo 1-1 Catania, Cagliari 0-0 Chievo, AS Roma 2-2 Napoli Sun 29 Apr Bologna 3-2 Genoa, Siena 1-4 AC Milan, Novara 0-4 Juventus, Lecce 1-2 Parma, Atalanta 2-0 Fiorentina, Inter 2-1 Cesena, Udinese 2-0 Lazio.

With just five points between third and seventh heading into the weekend’s fixtures as the race for Serie A’s third and final Champions League spot intensifies, anxiety was always likely to be at a premium. Sure enough, from Rome to Udine, there were some surreal moments.

The barmiest came in the Sunday evening showdown at the Friuli stadium, where the two sides to have made most of the running for that coveted third spot – Udinese and Lazio – went head to head.

For a long time things were flat, with neither team showing great desire to return early for pre-season training in order to prepare for the Champions League qualifying round. Udinese talisman Antonio Di Natale scored the decisive goal on 69 minutes, with Roberto Pereyra adding a second in the dying seconds.

The away team immediately kicked off – but not in the traditional, centre-circle-based sense. The Lazio players had a heard a whistle and promptly stopped chasing a long clearance into their half. But the noise had come from the stands, and the ensuing confusion enabled Pereyra to sprint down the touchline and score from a tight angle.

Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti had fallen to his knees in despair at hearing the “phantom” whistle and when he saw that the referee was waving play on; was unable to get back in time to cover his line.

He did, however, find a good change of pace to join in with the touchline melee, where there were unsurprisingly few cool heads, with the Lazio camp fuming at this perceived injustice.

Andre Dias was shown a straight red card, the club ‘suits’ - who for some unfathomable reason are allowed on the bench - got involved in a bout of pushing and shoving, while Lionel Scaloni got up close and personal with the fourth official.

Further sanctions will no doubt follow after Marchetti was seen to push the referee, who was attempting to explain to an irate bunch of troubled souls that there was little he could do, simply because he hadn’t blown his whistle.

The Lazio players wanted the goal ruled out and the final ten seconds resumed with a drop ball in the middle of the pitch – and it seemed for a moment that the referee was going to oblige but stood by the ruling that only the man in charge can bring the game to a halt.

Napoli are currently sat in third and have the edge over their rivals thanks to a superior head-to-head record and arguably more favourable fixtures, but they could have held a more substantial advantage.

They looked to be cruising to victory at AS Roma, where they had the full backing of most of the Olympic Stadium as the home fans turned their back on their own team.

However, with the clock ticking down and the away side 2-1 up and looking like extending their lead, Roma substitute Fabio Simplicio scored an unlikely equalizer, before haring off into the stands to hug his wife and child – and it wasn’t as if they were sitting in the first row.

It was so off-kilter that even the locals stopped verbally abusing Luis Enrique for a moment to enjoy the spectacle, but at the final whistle the Curva Sud – home to the diehard support – demanded that Francesco Totti follow his crest-fallen team-mates over for a good dressing down, before urging the captain to have the coach sacked forthwith: cue quick exit.

Weirdness of a different kind was unfolding at the San Siro, where Inter had not so long along seemingly given up any hope of getting into Europe at all when Andrea Stramaccioni was promoted from the youth team to replace Claudio Ranieri.

But the coach, who is a couple of years younger than Javier Zanetti, has overseen a run of six games unbeaten, culminating in a 2-1 win over Cesena.

However, the Nerazzurri have the toughest fixture list ahead, with a trip to Parma on Wednesday evening, a derby – a nice little quirk considering AC Milan are trailing Inter’s least favourite club, Juventus, at the top - and then a trip to Lazio.

There is little time to settle nerves with another midweek round looming and with Napoli, Udinese, Inter and Lazio level on 55 points, the chase for third looks guaranteed to bring out plenty of more erratic behaviour.

Proud of Turin: Juventus and Torino top the bill (again)

2012-04-27T14:54:00Z

As Turin's two clubs - Torino and Juventus - sit atop Serie B and Serie A respectively, Adam Digby looks at what the clubs' rivalry means to the city...

The Mole Antonelliana is a major landmark in the northern Italian city of Turin. It is named after the architect who built it, Alessandro Antonelli, and stands tall above its surroundings, its distinctive spire every inch as synonymous with the town below as the world famous Shroud housed just a mile away.

In the Italian language, the word mole literally means 'size', and is often used to denote a building of lavish proportions. As such, it is perhaps fitting that the derby encounter between the city's two clubs derives its name from the term.

Juventus and Torino contest what is known as Il Derby della Mole and, thanks to them currently leading the top two divisions, Turin is once again becoming a major force in Italian football, having spent the last few years in the shadows of Rome and then Milan.

The cross-city encounter has been one of Italian football's fiercest rivalries since Torino were founded by former Juve President Alfredo Dick in December 1906 following a less than amicable split.

The divide between the two sets of supporters was often seen as a symbol of the class divide of those pre-Second World War days. Juventus were closely associated with the wealthy Agnelli family - owners of car manufacturers FIAT, with Torinese novelist Mario Soldati remarking that the Bianconeri were "the team of gentlemen, industrial pioneers, Jesuits, conservatives and the wealthy bourgeois". Torino were, according to Soldati, "the team of the working class, migrant workers from the provinces or neighbouring countries, the lower middle-class and the poor".

There have also been comparisons with another northern industrial town, Manchester, with Juve's widespread support across the country compared to that of United, while Torino's more localised fan base draws parallels with City.

Looking at results of their 227 encounters to date, Juventus are the side in the ascendancy, with 91 wins and 62 draws, but il Toro (74 wins) have enjoyed their own spells of dominance, particularly before the tragedy of Superga in 1949 when they were undeniably Europe’s premier club.

During the 1970’s Torino went over five years unbeaten against their neighbours, while they also overcame them in the 1938 Italian Cup final by an aggregate score of 5-2.

Yet since Torino's last win – a 2-1 Serie A triumph in April 1995 – Juventus have taken control, with eight wins and four draws.

Throughout their 106 year history, Torino have only spent twelve seasons outside the top flight and ten of those have come in the years since that last derby triumph. Strangely, one of their two seasons in Serie A in that intervening period coincided with Juve's year of exile in the second tier, much to the delight of their fans, who took great pleasure in seeing their rivals finally take a turn below them in the lower tier.

Giorgio Chiellini celebrates scoring the winner in the most recent Turin derby

Fast forward to today, however, and the Granata are enjoying a superb season, sitting first in Serie B after 35 games, boasting the best defensive record in the division and having suffered just five defeats.

Coach Giampiero Ventura has a squad built specifically to win promotion, blending veteran campaigners such as Alessandro Parisi and Ferdinando Coppola, with promising young players such as Matteo Darmian and current Italy International Angelo Ogbonna.

Across town, having moved out of the Stadio Olimpico – which the two clubs previously shared – Juventus are three points clear of Milan at the top of Serie A, and amazingly still undefeated after 34 league matches.

That Ventura is the Torino coach is one of many links between the two clubs and, given the style and philosophy he seemingly shares with his Juve counterpart Antonio Conte, the one which echoes with greatest resonance.

When their paths first crossed, Conte was at Bari and Ventura in charge of Pisa. The future Juventus boss was left hugely impressed by his opposite number's tactical approach, and would go on to mimic the 4-2-4 system used by the Tuscan side that day, making it his first choice formation until his arrival in Turin last summer.

This made it relatively easy for Ventura to replace Conte when the latter left Bari for Atalanta in 2009, although both men retain an open outlook and have since developed far greater tactical flexibility.

But the similarities run far deeper than that and the fact both currently have two Serie A promotions to their name.

Both extol the team ideal over individual qualities as the relatively low tally of each sides’ top scorer attests; Mirco Antenucci has just nine for the Granata while Alessandro Matri has ten for Juve.

They both also maintain, despite the effort demanded by their defensive strategies – in each case based on almost relentless pressing – a small turnover of players. Both squads contain eleven men who have started at least twenty-two games as the two men continue to concentrate on a small core of key players who have earned their trust.

With a league title still far from guaranteed for either team, perhaps even hoping for a return of the derby is a stretch, given Torino's woes in recent seasons.

They have established a strong lead atop the Serie B table but losing in the playoffs hit the side hard last season and ensuring automatic promotion must be the first objective for Ventura and his team.

Across town, both the fans and the financial position of the club make a Champions League berth the absolute minimum required return from a season which has already promised so much.
Supporters on both sides will watch and hope their teams end the campaign as strongly as they began it. Their city awaits.

Luis Enrique's Roma experiment going up in smoke

2012-04-26T10:31:00Z

Luis Enrique arrived at AS Roma in the summer with dark hair on his 41-year-old head and a reputation for being a no-nonsense coach. Nearly nine months on he has grayed considerably and for many in the Italian capital he has stopped making any sense at all.

When he turned up at the club's Trigoria training centre for his first session in August wielding an iPad, he was immediately dubbed Zichichi, after Antonino Zichichi, the silver-haired doyen of nuclear physics. But in recent weeks he has been acting more like the nutty professor.

The latest experiment to go up in smoke came in Wednesday’s rearranged fixture home fixture with lowly Fiorentina, a match which ended in a frustrating 2-1 defeat. In truth the damage had been done last weekend at Juventus, when the Spaniard had decided to start Simone Perrotta, who had not played since December, leave the in-form Francesco Totti on the bench and once more deploy Daniele De Rossi out of position in central defence.

The gossamer-thin line-up was torn apart by a marauding Juve to the tune of four goals. However it was not just the defence which was shredded, but also the whole camp’s fragile confidence

The cold shouldering of the captain turned into a full-blown bout of flu which had the Romans fretting that their inspirational leader would miss the midweek fixture, yet it was Enrique’s pre-match press conference which caused most distress in the Capital.

Asked to explain how the team had failed to provide Juventus with any semblance of a competitive run-out, silence ensued. And ensued. And ensued, before being briefly broken by a muttered, “I am thinking.”

Nearly a minute passed before he launched into a long, meandering and at times incoherent explanation, one which was more awkward than the silence that had proceeded it.

Among the topics touched upon were 'taking responsibility', 'believing in the team' and 'not always relying on Totti'. One couldn’t help but wonder if the team talk had been equally as rambling.

Having gone a goal down to Fiorentina after only two minutes, it seemed Roma had rescued a point when Totti stuck out a foot to fortuitously divert Fernando Gago’s wayward effort home with 12 minutes remaining.

But the rest of the match had been a similar to the debacle in Turin: a mish-mash of misplaced passes and nervy defending, so it was no real surprise when the visitors scored a winner two minutes into added time.

Roma’s soft centre was exposed once again, as was the team’s ill-discipline. Forward Pablo Osvaldo was shown a straight red card for dissent and joins Erik Lamela - caught spitting at Juve’s Stephan Lichtsteiner in Sunday's defeat - and De Rossi in being banned for this weekend’s match against Napoli.

Enrique has been strict with his code of ethics off the pitch, banning Osvaldo for a dressing-room dust-up with Lamela and dropping De Rossi for turning up late to a team meeting. However, once they cross the white line, the players seem to lose all respect for the team ethic.

At least the coach was willing to accept this most recent set-back had been his fault, and thought better than to mention the “project” which the local media firmly believe isn’t going to make it past the blackboard stage.

He still couldn’t let go of his growing bitterness towards the press, claiming they should be pleased to see he was only four games away from leaving the club, with the season drawing to a close. However, in doing so he fed himself to the lions, which now include a growing number of the fans: a giant banner on Wednesday read: “If you are a real man Luis then leave now.”

In fairness, a foreign coach taking on his first major job with the plan of changing the philosophy of the Italian game was never going to have an easy time of it, especially in the high-pressure environment of Rome.

Patience is something generally in short supply among the media and fans in Rome, but not within the club, it would seem. Sporting director Franco Baldini reiterated that Enrique would be in charge next season – a stance unlikely to change over the course of the run-in, even if the team does fail to qualify for Europe.

But if Enrique is still around in August, he better have a new formula stored in that iPad.

Genoa fans get shirty as players left humbled and humiliated

2012-04-23T11:08:00Z

The run-in to the end of any season calls for cool heads, but there were few in evidence at Genoa on Sunday.

As if trailing Siena 4-0 with only 50 minutes played of what was a vital relegation encounter may have been bad enough, further humiliation was heaped upon the home players by their own fans in whar could be the moment that sends this proud club into freefall.

Not only did a section of the home support disrupt the match by throwing flares on to the pitch and climbing atop the protective covering above the tunnel, they then demanded those they deemed not worthy of wearing the shirt remove them.

The majority of the players duly obliged to do so, rolling over in submission much as they had done to the visiting team.

Team captain Marco Rossi had gone over to discuss the situation with the main ultras group, numbering 70-odd supporters, before trudging back to his team-mates to inform them they would have to de-robe.

There were a fair few long faces among the players as Rossi turned kit-man and gathered the sweat-soaked shirts, to parade them in front of the triumphant tormentors.

In that instant inside the Luigi Ferraris Stadium, it seemed the team bond was broken, and for many looking in from the outside it was a reflection of each player’s own character that they meekly succumbed to the demands of the masses.

However, there were two players who refused to hand over their work clothes: Giuseppe Sculli and Sebastien Frey.

The incredulous look Frey gave the ultras should be cherished by anyone who ever needs to stand up to a bully. “This is my shirt and I am not giving it to anyone,” was the French goalkeeper’s response as he stood in front of the stands.

Sculli is another who does not like to be messed with, and the midfielder marched right into the crowd to explain that he too was in no mood to show off his bare chest.

Although it was certainly a primal demonstration of breast beating, there was not a dry eye in the house as footballer and burly fan embraced across the fencing thus enabling the match to proceed without further incident.

No one had seen so few hold so many to ransom since, well, since Serbia had been in town. As with the events which lead to the Euro 2012 qualifier of October 2010 being abandoned, some may well ask where the officials and the forces of law and order were while the madness was unfolding.

While the police stood by and monitored the situation from a safe distance, gathering video evidence and blaming the Genoa players for bowing to the ultras’ demands, club president Enrico Preziosi was left equally impotent, taking his ire out on coach Alberto Malesani, sacking him for the second time in four months.

The team will be forced to play their remaining two ‘home’ matches at least 250km from Genoa and behind closed doors – which will probably be a welcome relief for the players.

Luigi De Canio has been handed the task of ensuring Genoa do not go the way of city rivals Sampdoria and drop down into Serie B. But after the events of Sunday, few would put their shirt on it.

Italy falls silent for Piermario Morosini

2012-04-16T08:15:00Z

The death of Piermario Morosini has naturally left the world of Italian football and sport in general reeling.

The official announcement that the Livorno midfielder had lost his life during the Serie B game at Pescara was swiftly followed by the decision to postpone all matches over the weekend.

At the San Siro, AC Milan and Genoa players were warming up for their late afternoon game and the stadium was slowly filling up as the players went through their paces.

In the press room, the journalists were already in possession of the shocking news and few had drifted out to the stand, leaving the international television commentators to inform their viewers that there would be no football.

Down on the pitch, the players were taking the news in and as the team officials explained the situation, they slowly walked off in pairs or alone, some of them shaking their heads, others looking up to the stands seemingly for further confirmation that such a tragic event was in fact true.

There was a muted exit from the stands as fans made their way into the early evening and 45 minutes after the announcement the San Siro was left in eerie silence – as all stadiums up and down the country would remain.

In a country where footage of car-crash victims is flashed across prime-time news screens, replays of the moment the 25-year-old collapsed on the pitch were re-shown through the evening – not through any morbid fascination, but that is how Italians deal with death: in a very open way for all the world to see.

The Livorno players arrived at the hospital in stunned silence and left emotionally drained and in tears of genuine grief.
Tributes flooded in from the whole world of football, from former team-mates to those who had never met the player; in Spain and England a minute’s silence was held ahead of their late Saturday and Sunday games.

Morosini may not have been one of the big names of the Italian game but he was a popular figure who had been building a solid career after having come through the Atalanta youth ranks before joining Udinese where he made five appearances, and was still under contract.

He also had spells at Bologna, Vicenza on two occasions, Reggina and Padova, and had represented his country from under-17 to under-21 level. Many of those players preparing for the Euros this summer – such as Domenico Criscito, who had been his room-mate at under-17 level and described him as “a brother” – had played alongside him at international level.

Morosini had known enough tragedy in his short life. Both of his parents had died when he was a teenager, his disabled brother had committed suicide and his elder sister, who will now be supported by Udinese and Livorno, is handicapped. He was active in the footballers’ union, especially in helping players who had difficulties of their own.

Morosini’s death immediately drew comparisons to the case of Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba. As at White Lane so inside the Stadio Adriatico there was a doctor in the stands who happened to be head of cardiology at the nearby Santo Spirito hospital.

The doctor, Leonardo Paloscia, raced on to the pitch in an attempt to revive the player and although there were reports, backed up by photographs, of a traffic police car blocking the emergency entrance – Pescara players Marco Verratti and Damiano Vanon sprinted to the stranded ambulance to retrieve the stretcher – ahead of the autopsy Paloscia maintained that everyone had done all they could and carried out their duties in a professional manner.

No one could deny this was the case, but with former Italy volleyball international Victor Bovolenta collapsing and dying during a match last month, there have been calls for great prevention of life-threatening incidents, with every sports club forced to have a defibrillator on site and someone trained in its use.

Italy is proud of its screening for those participating in sports at all levels and can point to the check-up that discovered Nwankwo Kanu’s heart defect, while Antonio Cassano is back playing after having a heart malformation diagnosed and corrected.

As the Italian Medical Sports Federation head Maurizio Casasco pointed out, even the most intense screening cannot always prevent cases such as this – and most times only a rapid response can help save lives.

In one of the many eulogies through Saturday evening, former Udinese coach Giovanni Galeone, who was in charge of Morosini for a season, recalled that the player had a real sadness in eyes but his face was always lit up by a wonderful smile.

Morosini had been popular for many reasons and that more than anything was why the stadiums were rightly silent this weekend.

Del Piero and Totti grab the perfect wave on Big Wednesday in Serie A

2012-04-12T11:33:00Z

RESULTS Tue 10 Apr Chievo 0-1 AC Milan Wed 11 Apr AS Roma 3-1 Udinese, Catania 1-2 Lecce, Napoli 1-3 Atalanta, Parma 2-0 Novara, Fiorentina 0-0 Palermo, Inter 2-1 Siena, Genoa 1-1 Cesena, Juventus 2-1 Lazio.

Wednesday evening was an emotional one for two players whose careers have basically been a window into the true heart of Italian football over the last two decades.

It was 'Big Wednesday' in Serie A and two veterans caught the perfect wave. Alessandro Del Piero scored the winner for Juventus against Lazio and Francesco Totti netted the goal that put AS Roma 2-1 up at home to Udinese.

Both players are coming to the end of their illustrious careers, but still possess the ability to grab the limelight away from any young pretender – and retain the title of genuine fuoriclasse.

Del Piero was making his 700th appearance for Juve when he trotted on to replace Mirko Vucinic with just over 15 minutes remaining in the perfect setting of the Juventus Arena.

Suddenly the volume was amplified to such levels that even Antonio Conte was forced to give up screaming at the top of his lungs and instead settled for some manic arm-waving from the sidelines.

With the home side encamped in the Lazio half, but with Vucinic giving the ball away at every turn, the match was evenly poised at 1-1 – a scoreline which would have left Juve a point shy of AC Milan at the top of the table after the champions had sneaked a 1-0 victory at Chievo 24 hours earlier.

But the stage was set for Del Piero to once more roll back the years and produce a moment of sheer drama, with one of his trademark curling free-kicks with just eight minutes remaining.

It looked as if Andrea Pirlo was set to try his luck but, with the visitors unable to get their wall set up, the referee gave Del Boy the nod. With Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti rooted to the spot, the ball was in the net before he could move, and the stadium was soon in a state of delirium.

An instant poll among Bianconeri fans demanded club president Andrea Agnelli reverse his decision to make this the 37-year-old club legend’s last season, but it seems there is no going back.

Conte has only given Del Piero three starts throughout the campaign, but he has scored against Inter in the league and Milan in the Cup in the new stadium.

Having made his debut for the Old Lady as an 18-year-old mop-haired youth at Foggia back in September 1993, he has now scored 187 Serie A goals, taking him into the top ten in the all-time goalscoring charts.

Before last night’s game, Totti had scored 211 league goals to put him fifth amongst the greats. Just moments after Del Piero reeled away with his familiar tongue-out celebration, down in the Capital the Roma captain was sticking his thumb in his mouth to indicate he had moved on to 212.

Roma were desperately searching for a win against Udinese in order to keep their hopes of holding on to third place alive, but much like Juve, the Giallorossi had dominated their opponents only to be left labouring with the scores locked at 1-1.

Totti’s vital goal may have been a tap-in, but it lifted the Romans after the debacle that was their 4-2 defeat to relegation-threatened Lecce at the weekend, and they would ultimately go on to secure a 3-1 victory.

Two years Del Piero’s junior, Totti, much like his old friend, can still unlock any defence with his movement and quickness of – and of course he too is a leader and team player.

While his team-mates and coach Luis Enrique had to listen to jeers as their names were announced, one name received only cheers and applause. However, in the post-game melee with the press, Totti’s first words were “we win as a team and lose as one.” Almost at the exact same moment back in Turin, Del Piero was saying much the same thing.

Class, as they say, is permanent, and these two greats of the Italian game are still on the crest of a wave.

Amauri finally comes good as Juve take control at the top of Serie A

2012-04-10T08:15:00Z

RESULTS Sat Apr 7 Atalanta 1-2 Siena, Cagliari 2-2 Inter, Cesena 0-0 Bologna, Chievo 3-2 Catania, Lecce 4-2 AS Roma, AC Milan 1-2 Fiorentina, Novara 1-1 Genoa, Udinese 3-1 Parma, Palermo 0-2 Juventus, Lazio 3-1 Napoli

It was a weekend of shocks and surprises around Serie A, with the biggest coming at the San Siro, where Amauri scored his most important goal yet for Juventus.

Sure, the striker happened to be wearing a Fiorentina shirt at the time, but although his late winner against AC Milan helped ease the Viola’s relegation worries, it was the club who had previously discarded him that benefited most.

The Ital-Brazilian had been shown the door in the most acrimonious of circumstances by the Turin club at the start of the season, after returning from a loan spell at Parma. He had hung around like a bad smell until January, training with the youth team, until a window of opportunity finally opened in Florence.

Having failed to score since April 2011, the gangly front man broke his duck in the most unlikely of surroundings and in the most unlikely manner, having only charged on to the pitch like a bolting horse in the final quarter of a match from which the visitors had been more than willing to take home a point.

Even if Juventus had not been preoccupied with the preparations for their early evening match at Palermo, there was little chance of Antonio Conte or anyone else from the Turin club calling the 31-year-old to offer their congratulations and thanks.

Not that Amauri would have cared that much after his fractious break from the Bianconeri, and who better to enjoy the moment with than the missus, who was straight on the phone to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.

But you can rely on Sky Italia to take the shine off anyone’s day, and one of their reporters was quick to ask the tousled-haired forward how good it was to have done Juve a favour.

Although he may have lost his beaming smile for a moment, he bounced back by chirpily insisting all he was interested in was helping Fiorentina.

Amauri is all too aware of how football can turn against you, and Massimiliano Allegri is beginning to learn the same lesson. With the Champions League now gone by the wayside, the Milan coach is duty bound to defend the club’s Serie A title, but his side looked completely spent after their exertions at the Camp Nou last week.

It was the first time the time Milan had lost two in a row under Allegri, and he was at a loss to put together a compelling defence for his side’s below-par performance, one which saw the champions blow a 1-0 lead.

The only bright note on an otherwise listless afternoon was the return of Antonio Cassano, who was given a ten minute run-out after receiving the all-clear to at last resume playing. The forward almost produced something out of nothing late on with a darting run into the area.

However, even with his cardiac problems hopefully behind him, it will take time for the 29-year-old to rediscover his match fitness, and with it the sort of form that can give Milan a much-needed fillip in the run-in.

Impetus is something Juve do not need and with the positive news arriving from the north, down in Sicily they then tore into Palermo to take command at the top of the table.

Conte has been chipping away at Rossoneri confidence for some time and last week he led a 12-minute motivational speech in the centre of the training pitch, tellingly in full view of the TV cameras.

It was almost akin to Al Pacino’s rousing pre-game team talk in ‘Any Given Sunday’ - a loud and clear battle cry of intent and one that Allegri would do well to heed.

There is little time to be introspective, however, with a full midweek round to face: so confident are Juventus that even the arrival of third-placed Lazio, who saw of a very tired looking Napoli on Saturday, looks unlikely to knock them off their stride.

Milan, on the other hand, with injuries and suspensions mounting, will travel to Chievo knowing they need to bounce back immediately or risk handing the physiological advantage to the Old Lady once and for all.

Little Aeroplane's managerial career taking off as Catania aim for Europe

2012-04-02T11:06:00Z

This time last year Vincenzo Montella was in the middle of his spell as caretaker period at AS Roma, attempting to keep the team on course for a European place in the dog-end days of the Sensi family ownership.

A sixth place finish and a ‘thanks but no thanks’ from the incoming owners from across the Atlantic brought an end to his eleven-year on-and-off association with the Giallorossi, with a loan period at Fulham at the tail-end of his playing days leading to his first steps in coaching with Roma’s under-15 side.

The Little Aeroplane’s career in the dug-out has really taken off since being offered the job at Catania soon after leaving the capital, where he has brought all that experience of a big-name club to the more homely surroundings of Sicily.

The good citizens of Catania have never known a season like it, and another sixth place finish is not beyond the realms of possibility for Montella, but this time it will be beyond expectations of his employers, a club whose annual wage bill would hardly cover the Roma reserves.

With the freedom to apply the ideas and methods he has gleaned from the likes of Luciano Spalletti, Fabio Capello, Sven Goran Eriksson and Walter Mazzarri down the years, Montella has turned the unheralded Elephanti into a fearsome beast.

At just 37, he is at the forefront of a new generation of tacticians – Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Luis Enrique - who make sure the ball does the work, but that the players do not stand around and admire their craft.

Last week a 2-2 draw at Napoli extended Catania’s unbeaten run to seven games and just two points behind Roma who were in the final Europa League spot.

Leaders AC Milan were the most recent to feel the heat of the Massimino stadium when they arrived for the early kick-off on Saturday. The match had been sold-out a week in advance and almost full two hours beforehand as the fans awaited their fortnightly treat of seeing their local heroes take on the mainland.

In a first half in which the visitors showed no ill effects of their tussle with Barcelona, it seemed Catania had accepted their place in the pecking order as they fell behind to a Robinho goal. But half-time is when the coach has that precious opportunity to get his ideas across – quickly and no doubt simply.

Catania’s problem was failing to get the best out of their key men in midfield, with Sergio Almiron, Francesco Lodi and Mariano Izco unable to get forward to support the front-three which included Pablo Barrientos.

Dropping the latter further back on the right flank and pushing the fleet-footed Alejandro Gomez even further out to the left wing brought the midfield further up the pitch to support the hard-working central striker Gonzalo Bergessio.

With Milan once again hitting the long ball towards the imposing figure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Montella could afford to play three at the back, thus pushing the full-backs up where they could deliver the ball quickly into advanced positions.

The equalizer may have come from a corner, but a sustained period of pressure had stretched Milan to the limit. It is this high-intensity style of play that is ensuring that Catania’s journeymen, many of them Argentine, are travelling in the right direction. In doing so, they are also causing Montella’s own stock to rise.

There have been reports that his next destination will could be either Inter or Napoli, with both clubs in need of a revamp in the summer.

The Nerazzurri would seem a perfect destination for Montella’s burgeoning talents, with Massimo Moratti stumbling around in the dark since Jose Mourinho’s departure in the summer of 2010.

He got rid of Claudio Ranieri at the start of last week, turning to youth team coach Andrea Stramaccioni, whose tenuous qualification for the post was having won the NextGen Series the day before.

Stramaccioni - a year younger than Montella and also a former coach in Roma’s junior sector - certainly brought some school-yard football to his first game in charge. Inter held on to beat Genoa 5-4, but if Moratti wants to see his team play in a grown-up fashion again, he should head south and land the leading candidate for the coach of the year.

Milan put bodies on the line to keep Barça at bay

2012-03-29T09:52:00Z

AC Milan will head to the Camp Nou next week knowing that they will once again have to exert every sinew and fibre of their bodies to deny Barcelona progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

What Massimiliano Allegri’s side will probably need to add to all that effort will be a goal from open play – something they could have had after just two minutes if Robinho had kept his head when left free inside the area, but the Brazilian could only volley high over the bar.

It was certainly not an evening for artists at the San Siro, where once again the pitch was well below the standards of a top-class European venue: in fact, a few hours before kick-off the sprinklers had been on maximum. The soggy top surface was perfect for all those last-ditch sliding tackles that the Milan players would have to put in – and on two occasions Luca Antonini aquaplaned in to deny goal-bound chances.

"No…"

Pep Guardiola had pointed out in the pre-game press conference that he was expecting the opposition to defend in strength through the middle – but if he was hoping to exploit the flanks, then he was sorely disappointed.

Antonini was hardly beaten on either flank, switching from the left to the right when the equally impressive Daniele Bonera moved into the centre to replace the imperious Alessandro Nesta after the veteran’s back finally gave out.

Allegri had made some crowd-pleasing promises that his side would take the game to the Catalans, but having already conceded three goals to the same opposition at the same venue in the group stages there was no way Milan were going to play an open, expansive game.

"…no…"

It wasn’t exactly catenaccio, but as it had been against AS Roma at the weekend it wasn’t free-flowing football going forward. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was once again left to battle for long balls, although the Swede could have scored early on – but while one part of the gameplan didn't flourish, the other excelled.

SERIE AAAAARGH!, Mon 26 Mar: Milan go Route One on Roma

If at times it looked like a training exercise, with Barça patiently passing the ball around in midfield, then Allegri can take credit for schooling his players in the art of defending in the build-up to the encounter.

In front of the back four – which after all was missing regulars Ignazio Abate at right-back and probably the world’s best central defender Thiago Silva – Massimo Ambrosini was another imposing figure.

The club captain might not have played if Mark van Bommel hadn't been suspended, but his harrying of Leo Messi was a key element in keeping the visitors as far away from the penalty area as possible.

"…no!"

Clarence Seedorf – not normally noted for his defensive abilities – and the equally hard-working Antonio Nocerino helped to seal up the centre, forcing the ball to be moved wide where Antonini and Bonera were rarely troubled.

And when the first and second lines of defence were breached, goalkeeper Christian Abbiati smothered the efforts – and in truth there were only two – thrown his way. Only once did the stopper fail to move quickly enough, when Alexis Sanchez burst into the six-yard area only to exaggerate his fall – otherwise it may well have been a penalty.

It was one lapse but it could have been costly and any lack of discipline and organisation in the Nou Camp will surely be punished. The Rossoneri will tackle the return leg with an even more hardened None Shall Pass attitude – but finding an away goal will be just as important.

Milan go Route One on Roma – and Mr Juventus comes up trumps

2012-03-26T09:40:00Z

As a general rule in the final third of the Serie A season, league titles aren't won by playing pretty football but ground out game after game. AC Milan certainly proved that point against AS Roma on Saturday.

After being outpassed by their visitors for most of the game, Massimiliano Allegri’s teak-tough title-holders dragged themselves back into the contest via an aerial assault on the visitors' backline to complete a stirring 2-1 comeback victory.

The sight of Zlatan Ibrahimovic chasing down one long ball after another or pulling down another hoofed clearance was contrary to what we have come to expect of a club that likes to put style before steel.

RESULTS Sat 24 Mar Milan 2-1 Roma; Palermo 1-1 Udinese Sun 25 Mar Atalanta 2-0 Bologna; Lazio 1-0 Cagliari; Napoli 2-2 Catania; Genoa 2-2 Fiorentina; Novara 0-0 Lecce; Cesena 2-2 Parma; Chievo 1-1 Siena; Juventus 2-0 Internazionale

However, Allegri had to tailor his gameplan to the resources at his disposal – especially after Thiago Silva limped off in the opening 10 minutes with a thigh problem.

Allegri had taken a major gamble with his influential Brazilian, who had gone through a personalised pre-game warm-up. Once he had to change gear into a sprint, pulled up immediately and will miss both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.

With a midfield of hard-hats like Massimo Ambrosini, Sully Ali Muntari and Antonio Nocerino, subtlety was never going to figure that highly; instead, Milan expertly used Ibra’s power and Stephan El-Shaarawy’s pace.

Wednesday’s San Siro showdown against the La Liga champions will be a world away from the Route One approach employed by Milan against the Giallorossi. Despite their neat possession football, the Romans created a grand total of two clear-cut chances; Pablo Osvaldo scored one and Francesco Totti attempted his trademark chipped finish when a straightforward drive would have done the trick.

Such pussyfooting was steamrolled at the other end by Ibrahimovic. The Swedish wrecking ball had one of those evenings where he lumbered around crashing into opponents and falling over himself – but still stumbled away with the man-of-the-match award and two goals to take his tally to 22 in the league.

Still chasing fifth place and therefore Europe, Roma gained more than pat on the back; it was more like a size-13 boot imprinted on their fragile backline.

If Milan were dogged, Juventus were dominant against Inter 24 hours later. Knowing that they couldn't afford to allow the leaders to maintain their overnight seven-point advantage, Antonio Conte’s men tore their old nemesis apart in a second half full of guile and craft.

With the visitors doing little more than aiming long hopeful balls towards Diego Milito or Diego Forlan, with Gianluigi Buffon foiling the former twice, Conte dispensed with a defender, bringing on Leandro Bonucci for three at the back, flooding the midfield with five and introducing Alessandro del Piero.

Not only did the veteran’s entry suddenly lift the crowd, his goal to make it 2-0 nearly took the roof off at the Juventus Stadium such was the delirium in the stands – not to mention on the home bench.

Juve had opened the scoring in a more routine manner when Martin Càceres headed home from Andrea Pirlo’s corner and the alarming lack of concentration in the away defence was further exposed when Arturo Vidal worked a neat pass into the area for “Mr Juventus” to finish with a low angled shot.

The old maestro will bring to a close his glittering career with the Old Lady at the end of the season, and having played a mere bit-part throughout the campaign it was fitting that his first goal in the league should come against Inter in front of his adoring public.

Unbeaten Juve and underimpressive Vucinic finally show class to fire five past Fiorentina

2012-03-19T10:55:00Z

After a week's media blackout from a club convinced there is a plot to stop them returning to the summit of the Italian game, Juventus locked away their conspiracy theories to turn in a dominant performance at Fiorentina.

The 5-0 trouncing of the feeble Viola, who played 70 minutes with 10 men after Alessio Cerci booted Paolo De Ceglie off the ball, was the Bianconeri’s highest score of the season and came after four consecutive draws had handed the advantage to AC Milan at the top of the table.

RESULTS Sat 17 Mar Parma 0-2 Milan; Fiorentina 0-5 Juventus Sun 18 Mar Cagliari 3-0 Cesena; Internazionale 0-0 Atalanta; Bologna 2-2 Chievo; Catania 1-0 Lazio; Siena 0-2 Novara; Lecce 1-1 Palermo; Udinese 2-2 Napoli Mon 19 Mar Roma v Genoa (ko 1945)

The feeling is that even if Antonio Conte’s men let their football doing the talking, the title is still Milan’s to lose – and the way the champions are going about picking off opponents, that four-point lead might as well be 10.

However, it was pleasing to see the Bianconeri enjoying themselves and especially the goal celebrations between Artur Vidal and Leonardo Bonucci who re-enacted their supposed punch-up at a nightclub following last week’s draw at Genoa.

Conte watches his men get physical

Having scored just three goals in the last four games, they managed five from just seven shots on target. Such clinical finishing was built around the mercurial talents of Mirko Vucinic, who opened the scoring with a stunning strike from the edge of the area.

Since his €15 million summer move from AS Roma, Vucinic has struggled to justify his price tag – but the Montenegrin finally broke loose of the malaise that has been hanging over his game, displaying the masterclass of movement, passing and general forward play that his coach had been demanding.

Setting up Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo – the latter dedicating the win to Fabrice Muamba – Vucinic was reminiscent of the reason why Milan take to the pitch in such confident manner: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Like the Swede, Vucinic can be unstoppable when he decides to turn it on and he's just as adroit at taking up positions from which he can play his midfielders into goal-scoring positions, as demonstrated at the Artemio Franchi.

Only fifth goal-scorer Simone Padoin wasn't a recipient of a pinpoint delivery – and probably only because Vucinic had left to a standing ovation, his work well and truly done.

Conte knew his side needed to make a major statement on the pitch after Milan had strolled to a routine 2-0 win at Parma, although there were the now-typical complaints that a Rossoneri goal shouldn't have stood after Urby Emanuelson raced through from the halfway line and almost right through Ibra, who was trotting back from an offside position although adjudged not to be interfering with play.

Silvio Berlusconi was in the stands for his first away match in 18 years, but whether the returning president will be present at the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday evening is another matter.

The Italian Cup semi-final return leg has been given even more significance, coming at such a crucial stage of the season with relations between the clubs at an all-time low.

In order to progress, Milan must become the first team to defeat Juventus this season – and by two goals, considering the Old Lady's 2-1 win at the San Siro last month – which would make the encounter more than a sideshow to the title race.

However, it could end up being the highlight of the campaign for Juve if they can keep their 100% record intact.

Napoli bow out with heads held high, but it's the final curtain for Inter

2012-03-15T12:10:00Z

It had all the makings of Napoli’s greatest evening in European football. They hoped the party would go on forever, but it all went flat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The final 4-1 scoreline was more than harsh on Walter Mazzarri’s men, but in truth they were well below their vibrant best – the form which had seen them take a 3-1 advantage into the tie.

There were early chances for Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani, which may have given the team impetus to push on and put the contest beyond doubt, but it all started to go wrong when Christian Maggio limped off with an ankle injury just after the half-hour mark.

In Napoli’s five-man midfield going forward, the Italy international provides extra support and telling crosses from the right – as he had already demonstrated in the opening moments with a curling ball to the back post, which Cavani slid into the side-netting.

In fact, the opening goal of the evening came in part from Maggio's inability to run freely and close down Ramires, who had time to come inside and whip in a pinpoint cross for Didier Drogba to head home.

With Maggio off and a reshuffle requiring Juan Zungia to move over to the right to accommodate left-footed substitute Andrea Dossena, Chelsea began to find more space down both wings – and in particular Branislav Ivanovic was given far too much time to bring the ball forward down Napoli's left flank.

Maggio: midfielder much missed by Mazzarri's men

Napoli were always prone to Chelsea's aerial threat – and with the wide positions exposed, the back three dropped ever deeper into their own area. Unsurprisingly, the second and third goals came from the centre-halves having to back-pedal and concede corners.

Undoubtedly the Azzurri's best period came they were two goals down and played much further up the pitch, using the flanks to their advantage. Again, it was a deep cross that saw Gokhan Inler react quickest to fire home a stunning half-volley from the edge of the area.

However, partly through choice and partly through force they again dropped too deep, leaving Cavani and Lavezzi too isolated to become the decisive factors everyone back in Naples had hoped.

Surrendering a two-goal lead and conceding four may not happen in the future, with Mazzarri’s men gathering valuable experience against a Chelsea side who are well used to such tense European nights – and at times it seemed as if Roberto di Matteo's home team were cast out of the Italian mould.

There was plenty of falling on the ground and precious seconds taken at set-pieces, especially in extra-time, and maybe for the neutral the thought of another packed house at the San Paolo with Cavani and Lavezzi rampaging forward would have made for an more entertaining quarter-final than watching the more pragmatic Blues.

As it stands, Serie A joins the Premier League in having just one representative in the last eight – that being AC Milan, who will be hoping not to draw Chelsea in light of their most recent performance in London.

SERIE AAAAARGH!, Wed 7 Mar: Milan sober up in time to avoid embarrassment at Arsenal

Inter exited the tournament on Tuesday after a half-spirited effort against a very average Marseilles side. Going out to the away goal finally brings the curtain down on the Nerazzuri's ageing stars, who had in truth made one too many encores.

The former Treble winners will finish the season without a trophy but more damning is the fact that while Napoli ended their European adventure with their heads held high, Inter could only bow theirs in shame.

Goal-fest could spell good news and bad for Napoli ahead of Chelsea showdown

2012-03-12T12:25:00Z

RESULTS Fri 9 March Napoli 6-3 Cagliari, Chievo 0-2 Inter Sat 10 March Palermo 0-1 Roma Sun 11 March Cesena 0-2 Siena, Atalanta 1-1 Parma, AC Milan 2-0 Lecce, Genoa 0-0 Juventus, Catania 1-0 Fiorentina, Novara 1-0 Udinese, Lazio 1-3 Bologna

Napoli may have warmed up for their Champions League showdown at Chelsea with a 6-3 rout of Cagliari, but given AC Milan put four past Palermo prior to their embarrassing narrow escape at Arsenal, Walter Mazzarri’s side will still be more than a little cautious ahead of their trip to London.

The Azzurri hold a narrower lead than Milan did heading into the second leg of their last-16 tie, and although they have demonstrated that scoring goals comes easily to them, they have also shown that conceding goals does too. With the tie delicately poised at 3-1 in their favour, there is still plenty of work to be done.

Cagliari forward Joaquin Larrivey’s hat-trick may have been little more than a personal triumph, with each goal ultimately proving a mere consolation, but worryingly for Walter Mazzarri all three were simple headers from routine crosses.

The first came with Napoli already leading 3-0, when an in-swinging free-kick from wide on the right put the home defence on the back foot; enabling Larrivey to guide his header home unmarked.

The second and third were both the result of chipped crosses into the six-yard box, where once again the back-line were out of position and goalkeeper Morgan De Santcis rooted to his line.

Chelsea will no doubt attempt to pepper the Napoli box with a few high balls in the early stages, but the visitors will also need to prevent their opposition from getting to the by-line to deliver crosses under the crossbar of a keeper who is less than secure with his handling.

Much will depend on the back-three of Hugo Campanaro, Salvatore Aronica and the commanding figure of captain Paolo Cannavaro maintaining a tight line to ensure that they no one is left isolated one-on-one.

However, the wing-backs will have an equally crucial role on closing down the space along the flanks, and if the team can repel Cheslea through the first half an hour then space will open up for Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edison Cavani and Marek Hamsik to work their magic on the counter-attack.

Lavezzi and Cavani in particular have been in breathtaking form, with the Argentine scoring for the sixth consecutive game in all competitions on Friday to equal a club record set by compatriot Diego Maradona back in the 1987/88 season. For many, El Pocho is the man who can take Napoli all the way in Europe.

Cavani, of course, has been bubbling over nicely in front of goal, but Hamsik has been a little quiet of late, despite the spikey-haired playmaker being back on the scoresheet against Cagliari.

With Lavezzi free to attack from wherever he feels he can do the most damage and Cavani drifting out to either flank, Hamsik has been restricted into playing a more withdrawn role. Although he doesn’t get into the opposition penalty area as much as did last season, the Slovak is developing into something of an all-rounder – and a very good one, at that.

He could be the key to stemming the Chelsea side higher up the pitch, while also acting as the launch pad for attacks involving the pacy front-two as they search for that vital away goal.

Napoli’s trip to Stamford Bridge promises to be another emotional European night for Serie A, with most involved in Italian football hoping the only tears shed by the visitors will be those of joy, which was how exactly Claudio Ranieri greeted Inter’s win over Chievo.

Such has been the pressure on the ever personable Roman to halt the Nerazzurri’s recent slump that when Walter Samuel and then Diego Milito struck to secure a first league victory in seven, it all became just a little too much.

The result, which just happened to come on the club’s 104th birthday, and the coach’s misty-eyed reaction certainly gives the much put-upon side and its weary fans a massive lift ahead of their European encounter with Marseille.

With Inter trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the San Siro should finally resound to some genuine cup-tie atmosphere, but even qualification to the quarter-finals is unlikely to save Ranieri’s bacon in the longer term.

As he was drying his tears and calming his nerves, reports were filtering through that Moratti had already met with Andre Villas-Boas to sound out the recently-sacked Chelsea manager about taking charge next season.

In the meantime it would be a crying shame if Serie A does not have three representatives in the quarter-finals come Wednesday evening.

Milan sober up in time to avoid embarrassment at hands of Arsenal

2012-03-07T09:44:00Z

Winning a European tie by a goal over two legs has long been the stable of Italian clubs. But when it's achieved after holding a 4-0 advantage from the first, then it's certainly not living up the best traditions of Serie A sides: closing up shop and playing out the dullest of goalless draws.

AC Milan are no ordinary Italian side. Having all but put the matter beyond doubt at the San Siro without conceding a goal, their decision to go to Arsenal with a trident attack had been questioned by many back home.

However, Massimiliano Allegri is in his job because he follows the club mandate etched into every coach’s mind by president Silvio Berlusconi: Milan always line up to attack and entertain.

The Gunners’ tormentors from a fortnight ago, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho, were joined up front by inexperienced Stephan El Shaarawy on his Champions League debut – but apart from the young striker and winger-turned-left-back Djamel Mesbah, the rest of the team had plenty of European big-match experience.

We can confidently assume that Berlusconi, or anyone anybody else with Rossoneri leanings for that matter, failed to enjoy the first half at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal not only restored some much-needed pride but scored three unanswered goals to set up what looked likely to be a grandstand second period.

However, to misquote an old Italian saying of knowing when to put the wine bottle down, Milan sobered up during break when it became clear that they were close to embarrassing themselves by crashing out of the competition in a style they had managed before.

Back in 2004 they had also scored four at home to Deportivo La Coruna, but tellingly conceded one; in the return leg, Carlo Ancelotti’s men – Paolo Maldini, Clarence Seedorf and all – let in four but could not find the vital away goal.

Just when they thought such a capitulation would never happen again, along came that evening in Istanbul where they gave up a 3-0 lead against Liverpool – so Milan have form of throwing it away in the one-off occasion.

An early goal in the Gunners net was what was needed, but instead Thiago Silva & Co. conceded one after six minutes – and then a second and a third. Even so, they could have gone into the dressing room with at least one away goal if El Shaarawy had a cooler head when faced with a presentable chance.

The second half was much more in keeping with a team with genuine hopes of making the latter stages, if not the final, with the midfield closing space up and then spreading the ball wide to good effect.

In fact, Milan probably had the better chances in the second 45 minutes – apart from one moment when Christian Abbiati stuck up an arm to deny Robin van Persie from right in front of the goal. His full-length save from the same player in the first leg was wonderful, but this time his intervention was vital.

Soon after, Antonio Nocerino missed an open goal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was far below his majestic best but still better than most, fired wide when presented with the ball just outside the area and the goalkeeper out of position.

There's no doubt that the events of the first leg had a bearing on how the players approached the return, but at least they can come back down to earth again and understand that this is a team that will need a very a favourable draw to get anywhere near Munich come May.

They could end up facing either Napoli or city rivals Inter, which would take us back to the tensions of previous one-country meetings, but at least there would be few surprises. Alternatively, they could run into the Spanish – and run the risk of being carved open, as they were last night.

It was a sobering experience for Allegri and maybe in the future he won't want his side to have a seemingly unassailable lead going into a second leg.

Ten-man Roma lose derby as Lazio boss Reja has the final word

2012-03-05T12:33:00Z

Attempting to win a derby with eleven men is difficult enough, but when your team is reduced to ten after a mere seven minutes, the feat becomes nigh on impossible.

Not only did AS Roma find themselves in that very situation against bitter rivals Lazio, but the man dismissed was goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who also conceded a penalty following a last ditch foul on Mirsolav Klose.

Forced into a change a little earlier than anyone could have reasonably expected, Luis Enrique withdrew birthday boy Erik Lamela and threw on reserve keeper Bogdan Lobont, who was immediately picking the ball from his net having been sent the wrong way by Hernanes from the spot-kick.

From that point it should have been plain sailing for the Biancoclesti, but the Rome dust-up is not known as ‘the derby of derbies’ for nothing. With nothing to lose and pumped full of the adrenaline of the occasion, Roma equalised less than ten minutes later through Fabio Borini.

At that stage it seemed that perhaps the unlikely would happen, but with tiring limbs came tiring minds and Lazio were able to exploit some slack defending, with Stefano Mauri sliding home the decisive second goal midway through the second half.

Roma’s perilous position was borne out of the kind of mistake that has plagued Luis Enrique’s side all season: giving away possession in midfield and then being caught short at the back.

Opposition teams have learnt that the Spaniard has basically done away with a four-man defence, with the full-backs encouraged - perhaps even contract bound - to push well beyond the two central defenders, who are expected to sally out wide to leave space for a midfielder, generally Daniele De Rossi, to drop deep.

However, if one of the central defenders - and in this case it was Gabriel Heinz -needlessly gives the ball away, their opponents have advantage high enough up the pitch and with everyone caught out of position the back line is swept away like a paper umbrella in a storm.

It has happened against lesser teams than Lazio, including Cagliari, Siena and most recently Atalanta – and all it took was one stray pass to undo all of Enrique’s planning for a match which represented the Giallorossi’s best chance of staking a claim for third.

Lazio came into the game seven points ahead of their city rivals and level with Udinese for that final Champions League spot. This meant that, in theory, the pressure should have been eased, but a derby in the Capital brings with it a very unique set of strains and demands.

Both Curvas were full a good ninety minutes before kick-off, while the streets of the Eternal City had been left to the tourists to roam in the warm early Spring sunshine.

The Olympic stadium is a cauldron all of its own, but the two teams had done their best to keep the heat at manageable levels. There had been little or no major proclamations of intent in the week leading up to the big day, or any pre-game fist pumping, though certain elements of the Lazio support spoiled that somewhat with their unsavoury chanting towards Juan.

This was perhaps as the teams had other things on their minds. Roma warmed up for the derby by going down to nine men in a 4-1 defeat at Atalanta, while Lazio were busy attempting to calm the internal dispute which had seen coach Edy Reja temporarily resign via fax a week previously.

The veteran was back pacing the technical area after what he described as merely a ‘misunderstanding’. That ‘misunderstanding’ being one between steady Edy, club president Claudio Lotito and sporting director Ilgi Tare over January transfer activity (or a lack of it) following the recent 5-1 defeat at Palermo.

A second derby win of the season and a first in which Roma were the designated ‘home’ side since 1997 should have been enough to ease the tensions within the Lazio hierarchy, but instead Reja used the post-game press conference to perhaps sarcastically applaud the winter transfer moves Emiliano Alfaro - a lightweight striker from Uruguay - and rent-a-midfielder Antonio Candreva.

Neither player made the starting line-up, though the former did come on as a late substitute. Reja was also quick to appoint Gianfranco Zola – linked with the Lazio post during the recent times of uncertainty - as his successor, but his tongue was once again firmly in his cheek. By Monday morning he was making reconciliatory tones that maybe he would like to remain.

There is no doubt that the 66-year-old has worked a small miracle with the players he has at his disposal. Granted, Klose is having something of a swansong in Serie A with 12 goals to his name, while Hernanes can at times be inspiring, but the rest of his charges are no more than workmanlike.

The fact that they could not kill off the match when they were a goal and a man up points to a lack of strength in depth and although they currently reside in third place would be a poor reflection on Serie A if Lazio finish ahead of either Udinese or Napoli.

But the way things are going they may even feel that second place is not out of the question, with Juventus dropping two points at home to Chievo, though the Turin side do have a game in hand to extend their current three-point advantage.

Such a situation makes Roma’s position even more puzzling. In terms of individual quality they outshine Lazio and Juventus but their followers are beginning to wonder whether the “project” the club have embarked on will ever come to fruition.

Luis Enrique lamented the fact that he his side had finished another game with ten men after what was their eighth sending off of the season).

“What have I done to deserve this s**t?” he asked, to which one media wag joked that it was a better standard of stool than the punters were subjected to most weeks.

Even the usually loquacious Enrique was at a loss for another comeback on a day where Edy Reja had the final word.

Bizarre decisions in crucial San Siro clash highlight pressure on officials

2012-02-27T10:54:00Z

Nothing gets the football fraternity’s blood boiling more than bad refereeing. So if Paolo Tagliavento’s performance during the top-of-the-table clash between AC Milan and Juventus is anything to go by, those watching would have been in need of a quiet lie-down in a darkened room.

It was certainly all too much for Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani, who reportedly had to leave the stadium at half-time such was his distress at witnessing his side have a perfectly good goal disallowed – that and the fact he apparently confronted the official in the referee’s dressing room before having an ungentlemanly set-to with Juventus coach Antonio Conte.

Conte would later go ten rounds of verbal sparring with former former Milan midfielder-turned TV pundit Zvonimir Boban over whether a second-half equalizer from Alessandro Matri - which was also ruled out - merited greater complaint.

The off-field discord was a by-product of a highly dramatic match, living up to the best traditions of Serie A’s ability to court controversy at just about every turn.

The home side were already leading one-nil and basically outplaying a timid Juventus, when just before the half-hour mark Sulley Muntari headed the ball across the line from close range, only for Gianluigi Buffon to scoop it back from at least a yard over the goal line.

The Rossoneri players peeled away in mass celebrations as the majority of the opposition bowed their heads in resignation, only for the referee to wave play on. The official was aided and abetted by his assistant, who decided it hadn’t crossed the line, or perhaps suffered a complete mental blackout and couldn’t engage in any decision making process.

Passengers on passing jets who happened to be peering out the cabin window at that very moment would have vouched that the ball had crossed the line, but the men who mattered didn’t, leaving the hundreds of thousands watching from the stands or their sofas gawping in disbelief.

The fact Buffon didn’t miss a heartbeat and threw the ball to the free Marcelo Estigarriba, who raced away and nearly scored at the other end, only added a surreal coda to one of the most bizarre incidents seen on a football pitch in recent memory.

Juve had been droning on about ‘events’ going against them for the last few weeks and another talking point ensured that they could continue to do so: Matri had what replays clearly showed was a good goal ruled out for offside when he was level with the defence, but the striker and his employers still had the last laugh when he fired home the equalizer with seven minutes remaining.

Naturally, both camps had their own spin on the two disallowed goals. Milan believed that at two-nil they would have been out of sight, while Gigi Buffon countered that the match should have finished 2-2, but stated he would have never owned up to the ball having crossed the line. In which case, if Italy coach Cesare Prandelli was to follow his ‘sporting ethics code’ to the letter, the veteran would have to be dropped from the Italy squad for this week’s friendly against USA.

That will not come to pass, but once again there have been renewed calls for the introduction of goal-line technology in the wake of what La Gazzetta dello Sport called: ‘The Ghost Goal’.

However, the real problem rests with the referees and the crushing pressure they are under from the clubs, the media and of course their own federation, which has unfortunately led to officials wilting on quite a few occasions this season.

The general unruliness of Saturday evening spilled over into the Sunday fixtures, which were overseen from the fussy to the downright dictatorial. AS Roma finished their match at Atalanta with nine men, while Palermo full-back Federico Balzaretti was sent off within the first minute at Siena.

There could be further fall-out from Saturday evening: TV replays caught Philippe Mexes throwing a kidney punch at Marco Borriello, while Muntari took his frustrations out on Stephan Lichtsteiner’s jaw line.

Massimo Ambrosini had to be dragged away from confronting Georgio Chiellini as the players headed to the tunnel at the final whistle when cool heads were in short supply.

As long as this ill-tempered state of affairs persists then referees will continue to commit errors that will come back to haunt not only them but also those on the receiving end of the decisions – just ask the spooked Galliani.

Old Lady's leading man Matri building a big reputation

2012-02-24T13:12:00Z

From the moment David Trezeguet departed for Alicante, fans and journalists bemoaned the lack of a true goal scorer in the Juventus attack.

When Fabio Quagliarella arrived, the club's fans were understandably disappointed. The physical embodiment of the oft-used 'scorer of great goals but not a great goal scorer' cliché, the Italian international was viewed more as a member of an eventual supporting cast rather than a leading man in his own right.

However, once settled, he quickly established himself in the second striker role, showing attributes rarely seen at his former clubs. Of course his penchant for the spectacular remained, but the 'PlayStation player' became something of a predator too. Headers - never previously a strong feature of his game - and even a few scrappy strikes (relatively speaking, of course) saw the ex-Fiorentina man reach nine goals before the winter break at an impressive 145.67 minutes per goal.

Then came the injury, ruptured knee ligaments ruling him out initially until April, eventually seeing him miss the entire remainder of the season.

The rumour mill once again sparked into life, this time bereft of the Edin Džeko story it created a 'shortlist' that was seemingly endless. Luis Fabiano, Giuseppe Rossi, Diego Forlan, Karim Benzema and Emmanuel Adebayor appeared to be on a rota system at Turin-based sports daily Tuttosport's front page. One name featured ever more increasingly, that of Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini who became an obsession, particularly among the more realistic of the clubs fans who could see past the fanta-Calcio of the other candidates and find logical, intelligent reasons as to why he was a far more viable target.

When the then Sampdoria striker did indeed move, a €13 million deal saw him leave the Ligurian club for something of a bargain fee, but sadly for Juve (at the time, at least) it was not to Turin, but instead to rivals Inter. Juve did eventually make a move in the market, but the man they acquired was initially viewed as thoroughly underwhelming.

'Juventus Shock' was the Gazzetta dello Sport headline that greeted the arrival of Cagliari's Alessandro Matri on completing a move to the Bianconeri.

A product of Milan's youth system, Matri joined the Rossoneri in 1996 at the tender age of 12. Finally progressing to the first team in 2003, Matri eventually made his only appearance for the San Siro side in May of that year.

He then bounced around on loan in the lower leagues at Prato, Lumezzane and Rimini before joining Cagliari in co-ownership where then-coach Massimiliano Allegri made him the focal point of his attack. During a spell in 2009 he notched in seven consecutive games - a feat only bettered at Stadio Sant'Elia by the great Gigi Riva - and he ended the 2009/10 season with a total of 13 goals. He started 2010/11 in much the same vein, with eleven goals already prior to his winter move to Turin.

The fact Matri was playing so regularly - he featured in all thirty-eight games during 2009/10 - was also a good sign for this Juventus, who at that time had a reputation as being a club with serious injury issues.

Despite standing just 1.83m Matri is a classic 'number 9', strong enough to hold off defenders and surprisingly quick, as many of his Cagliari goals prove. He is excellent in the air, a trait he uses not only in building attacks and scoring goals but also to help his team defensively at set-pieces.

During his time in Sardinia he showed his suitability playing as both first and second striker in a two-man attack and as the target man in a 4-3-3 formation. This sees him able to form effective partnerships with each of the other forwards on Juve's books despite their vastly different characteristics. His first appearance saw him misfire on a number of occasions, but he brought a positive attitude to the side, something the man he replaced was clearly not doing. Getting into the right positions, making intelligent runs and linking with those around him were all good signs despite the an eventual 2-1 win for Palermo.

After that torrid debut he quickly became a vital component in the team and one of few bright spots in the end of season slump. Scoring five goals in just seven games since that encounter in Sicily quickly endeared him to the clubs fans, and by season's end he would reach the traditional striker's benchmark of 20. This impressive tally had him in fourth place in the Capocannoniere chart, ahead of players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alberto Gilardino and, most pertinently, Pazzini.

What is also notable is that his strike-rate improved at a Juve side perceived to be struggling, down to a goal every 139 minutes compared to his 153-minute average at Cagliari. Not only was that better than Quagliarella, but it also beat new teammates Alessandro Del Piero (227.75) and Luca Toni (263.5). Yet the summer of 2011 was filled with rumours of another big name striker arriving, as the club were linked once again with a lengthy list of names touted to become the next headline act in Turin.

Mirko Vučinić did arrive, followed this January by fellow former Roma front-man Marco Borriello, but still Matri remains in the lead role. Currently eleventh highest scorer in Serie A with nine goals, criticism has never been too far away, with knocks on his strike-rate a constant, particularly after any of the club's ten draws. But once again, the numbers are on his side. His goals have come from just 54 shots, far fewer than the big name strikers ahead of him such as Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani and nowhere near the wastefulness around him, as Vučinić’s three goals from the same number of attempts prove.

While flaws to his game remain - he is still learning what it takes to play for a club battling for titles rather than survival - it is often not to those peers he is being analysed against. Instead fans of the Old Lady look to their recent history and once again the name Trezeguet is never too far away who three times in his Juve career - remember he is the clubs all-time leading foreign goal scorer - broke the magic twenty goal barrier. In 2001-02 he was named joint top scorer in Serie A with 24, in 2005-06 he netted 23 and in 2007-08 exactly 20.

In doing so he took 112, 108 and 104 shots, a rate far worse than that of Matri, who required just 79 attempts to reach his tally of 20 last season. While longevity and consistency must be added to that lethal touch in order to ever favourably compare with the man known as TrezeGol, the figures prove that the sniping at Matri's finishing is misplaced.

His form in Turin has seen him become an increasingly regular fixture in recent Italy squads and Cesare Prandelli's team, playing a style closely resembling that of Conte's Juve, is ideally set-up to take advantage of the 27 year olds skill-set. With Juventus atop the Serie A table and Euro 2012 looming large, perhaps Alessandro Matri will soon have the reputation and recognition his talent deserves.

Napoli limber up for Chelsea while Inter curl up and die

2012-02-20T11:15:00Z

RESULTS Fri 17 Feb Internazionale 0-3 Bologna; Fiorentina 0-3 Napoli Sat 18 Feb Juventus 3-1 Catania Sun 19 Feb Lecce 4-1 Siena; Novara 0-0 Atalanta; Genoa 0-1 Chievo; Cesena 1-3 Milan; Roma 1-0 Parma; Udinese 0-0 Cagliari

Napoli have had one thing on their minds all year: the Champions League. Their first aim was to put in a decent display in the group stages, but drawing at Manchester City and holding Bayern Munich at home gave them the belief that in a one-off situation they could make waves in the competition.

And so it proved: beating City at the San Paolo all but saw Walter Mazzarri’s side through to the knock-out round, with qualification mathematically secured at Villarreal in a routine win – although routine may not be the right word, what with Mazzarri getting sent to the stands for impeding a home player inside the Napoli technical area.

That crime means the jack-in-the-box coach is suspended for both legs of the last–16 meeting with Chelsea, which might mean his players drop their standards: never content with what he sees, the tetchy Tuscan is constantly berating anyone in earshot just to keep them on their toes. However, even he must have allowed himself to take some satisfaction from Friday’s league performance.

It's only two years since their opponents Fiorentina were in a similar position to Napoli – preparing for a glamour Champions League knock-out tie, in their case with with Bayern Munich. They've since fallen on hard times and Napoli hardly had to break sweat to run out 3-0 winners.

The Viola are no more than workmanlike, but Napoli took few chances after going ahead inside three minutes. Using the match as a dress rehearsal in the defensive duties they may have to employ on Tuesday, they recorded a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

However, it was the form of the Holy Trinity of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi that would have raised the hopes of the Neapolitan support days before meeting the Blues. Cavani had a 100% hit-rate with his two shots, bringing his tally to 15 in the league for the season – while after missing an open goal from a diving header, Lavezzi found redemption with a snaking and then powerful run before dispatching the third late on.

Obviously the colour purple has a galvanising effect on Cavani. When he was at Palermo back in 2007, he scored his first Serie A goal against Fiorentina; then on the opening day of the 2010-11 season he repeated the feat on his Napoli debut at the Artemio Franchi stadium.

The opening goal highlighted the importance of Mazzarri’s three stars remaining in perfect sync: Lavezzi turned inside on the edge of the area to find Hamsik, who in turn flicked a perfect pass into the path of El Matador to deliver the coup de grace. Hamsik and Cavani then combined to produce the second – this time the spiky-haired Slovak's raking crossfield pass meant the Uruguayan needed only to look up and drive home a low shot.

Mazzari wasn’t showing it, but he couldn’t wait to withdraw the pair from the fray and from then on it was left to Lavezzi to run amok: El Pocho's quick movement and mazy runs will worry Chelsea in the San Paolo bear-pit.

It's not even as if Napoli are a three-man show: Gokham Inler has rediscovered his form in the centre of the pitch, not only offering some neat passing but also tidying up in front of the back three.

With the attacking trident on its game, Mazzarri might have worried about his defence, but captain Paolo Cannavaro was as secure as his elder brother Fabio ever was. Miguel Britos offers a calm head in place of the erratic Salvatore Aronica. Third backline boy Hugo Campaganaro limped off in the early stages in Florence, but the Argentine was replaced by Gianluca Grava whose very existence on the pitch is to win the ball and clear his lines. This no-frills approach at the back, allied to a rich vein of extravagance in attack, could make it another memorable night at the San Paolo.

While Napoli were walking it at Fiorentina and looking forward to continental competition, Inter were sliding down the league past them as their season continues to crumble.

On another evening of listening to the San Siro chanting Jose Mourinho’s name, president Massimo Moratti legged it with 25 minutes remaining rather than stand another minute of a disjointed, listless display. While Claudio Ranieri’s tactics baffled, 16th-placed Bologna scored two unanswered first-half goals before cantering to a 3-0 result.

After losing to bottom-placed Novara the previous week, Ranieri had confidently announced that he could finally play the system he had always wanted to as he ordered the players to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

However, with Diego Forlan and Wesley Sneijder confused as to whether they were required to provide any defensive cover or remain in advanced positions, the coach solved that problem by pushing both of them out to the wings – which led to Sneijder sulking on the right flank and Forlan lost in a cloud of self-doubt on the left.

It was painful to watch, not only for Moratti but the disgruntled fans, who needed little encouragement to provide a vocal pointer to whom they think should be on the bench.

The first question is, would Mourinho want a return to the club of the walking dead? The second questions is, would Moratti actually green-light some decent signings? New faces are desperately needed, as anyone under the age of 30 – such as Sneijder – wants out, while the rest should be shown the door.

Less than two years after Mourinho's groundbreaking treble, it's time to start all over again for the former masters of Serie A and Europe, and now their only realistic hope is not to suffer further humiliation at Marseille on Wednesday. If not, then Moratti will looking at hiring a fifth man to banish the sound of the only name the fans love to sing.

Milan and Ibra prove a point to rivals across Europe

2012-02-16T11:38:00Z

Wednesday turned into a double evening of delight for AC Milan – a demolition of Arsenal in the Champions League on the back of Juventus failing to regain top spot in the league following their goalless draw at Parma.

No Italian team had won by such a wide margin against an English club since Milan recorded the same 4-0 scoreline against Manchester United back in 1958.

The Rossoneri have always felt that they are the true representatives of all that is good about Italian football and they certainly proved that against what the local press en masse felt was a “timid” Arsenal. But in a country where few youngsters get the chance to shine in Europe – Stephan El Shaarawy was left on the bench throughout the 90 minutes – they did applaud Arsene Wenger for fielding such a youthful side, although they questioned why weren’t there more English players in the team.

FEATURE: Fear the Pharoah, not the Duck

Maybe he had little other choice and despite Arsenal lacking that renowned English spirit of never giving up, it was a Milan performance of another era and the victory ranks up there with the 3-0 mauling of Manchester United in 2007, although nowhere near the 5-0 humiliation of Real Madrid in 1989.

These memorable results all came in the European Cup/Champions League and for one player in particular letting go of what he described as his “obsession” in lifting the trophy may well lead to getting closer to actually getting his hands on it after all.

We're talking of course about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who produced his best-ever European display taking into account the supposed quality of the opposition.

The Swede hasn't been in the best of moods in a domestic league where opponents like Napoli and Juventus know how to get under his skin. However, against what could be termed more “sporting” opposition, who were less inclined to indulge in shirt-pulling and verbal abuse, he was left free to get on with the top of terrorising them at every turn.

Virtually impossible to mark as he dropped deep or drifted out wide, Ibra set up two and deservedly bagged one after winning a penalty for the fourth and final goal. It could have been six if Alexandre Pato had not been wasteful on two occasions late on.

AbracadIbra: head and shoulders above Van Persie and Henry

The Brazilian was introduced as a late substitute but the damage had already been done – and a clear message sent out to Massimiliano Allegri: you'll get even more from Ibra if he is paired alongside Robinho and Kevin Prince Boateng.

The two Premier League rejects showed England that their careers had moved on seamlessly since leaving Manchester City and Portsmouth. In fact, Robinho surprised even the home support by scoring twice and generally toying with the Gunners’ defence.

However, it was the sharp interplay between the three that really provided the launching pad for this impressive display, with Boateng’s stunning volley getting proceedings off with a bang.

From there Robinho was wriggling his way all over the frontline, but always looking out for the towering figure of Ibra – who returned the favour by setting up the Brazilian twice.

The plaudits in the Italian press were mainly for those two stars, but at the back Thiago Silva must have finally won over everyone that he is the best defender in Europe, if not the world. Milan must do everything now to ensure that Barcelona’s reported interest does not start to gather momentum.

If the seven-time continental champions want to continue holding their own among Europe’s elite then they need to retain such start quality. Certainly that's what they did on Wednesday, banishing the memories of last year's Tottenham defeat and sending out a warning to their rivals that the old Devil is on the prowl again.

FEATURE: Milan's teenage Pharoah so much more than a new Pato

Milan's teenage Pharaoh so much more than a new Pato

2012-02-13T13:00:00Z

AC Milan were standing at the crossroads of their season on Saturday evening: one route led down a frozen path as Juventus disappeared into the distance, the other a charge to the top of the table.

Being Milan, they did what one would expect of them. The Rossoneri found a bit of that old devil that had been missing from their play for the last few weeks to come away from the frigid tundra of Udine with all three points, and move back to the top of the table (Juve were once again left out in the cold when their match at Bologna was postponed due to snow).

It was a show of real character from the defending champions, who were without 13 first-team regulars through either injury or suspension. The latter could potentially keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of a further two matches if the slappy Swede does not have his three-game ban reduced on appeal – an important issue as the third would mean missing the crucial match against Juventus at the end of the month.

No need to be duly concerned, however: Milan have a new star to fawn over in the shape of Stephan El Shaarawy. He is proving the old adage that if the talent is there, your age doesn't matter – unless you happen to be Filippo Inzaghi, 38, who has been usurped by the 19-year-old.

With Milan producing a performance in keeping with the glacial temperatures to leave them trailing to Antonio Di Natale’s goal, a half-time blast from Massimiliano Allegri produced the desired effect.

That, and the fact that Marco Amelia made a couple of crucial saves, kept the visitors in the contest until Maxi Lopez – another striker pushing poor old Pippo further down the Milan pecking order – was introduced to hand El Shaarawy some much-needed support.

Having laboured against the giants in the home defence, the youngster drifted out to the left flank, and it was from there that he produced a darting diagonal run before driving in a low shot-cross that goalkeeper Samir Handanovic could only push back into the path of Lopez, who grabbed his first goal for the club.

It was a case of “Carlos who?” as the new signing had waited a whole week in a Milan hotel room while Adriano Galliani tried in vain to sign Carlos Tevez on loan, with the promise to Manchester City that if he were to sell either Pato or Robinho in the summer then he might hand City some money for a permanent move.

The fact that Tevez’s Argentine compatriot Lopez went on to set up El Shaarawy for the winner, then, could well have saved Milan the bother of having to enter any more protracted negotiations with the English club.

The pair will have more time to build their budding partnership, but the feeling is El Shaarawy could even get Inzaghi scoring again, such is the ease with which he brings his team-mates into the build-up. What's more, his near-post finish for the winner had SuperPippo written all over it.

Handed the moniker 'The Pharoah' for no other reason than his father is Egyptian, the Savona-born teenager has always been destined to climb to the top of the pyramid. He has represented Italy at every level through to the under-21s – and as this blog has said before, he could yet make Cesare Prandelli’s Italy squad for Euro 2012.

Coming through the youth ranks at Genoa to become the fourth-youngest player ever to make his Serie A debut (at 16 years and 55 days), it was his player-of-the-season performances at Padova in Serie B last term that persuaded Milan they could pick up a cut-price gem.

Being a fan of the club may also have smoothed the move, and after a summer of bedding in at Milanello, where he developed some muscle for his slight frame, El Shaarawy was given his debut as a late substitute in the 3-1 defeat at Napoli in mid-September. In the following game, he came off the bench at the San Siro to announce his arrival as a genuine finisher, notching the equaliser against Udinese.

Scoring against the same opposition twice in a season will no doubt become a common occurrence for the spiky-haired wonderkid – he also found the net against Juventus in the Italian Cup in midweek – but Massimiliano Allegri will be well aware that he needs to nurture such talent.

The last thing Milan want is for him to end up like Pato, who burst on to the scene in similar fashion before succumbing to trappings of early stardom, where he was reportedly pulling much more than his hamstring.

The early signs are that, despite his extravagant hair-cut, El Shaarawy is a level-headed young man who has come a long way in the last few months.

He has scored the same number of goals as Pato this season but his four have come from two fewer starts, even though both players have appeared in 14 games overall. With the Brazilian back in full training, Allegri must decided whether to return the seemingly fragile 22-year-old to the starting line-up for the Champions League tie with Arsenal on Wednesday.

The problem, if one can call it that, is that Ibrahimovic will be back for the European tussle, and the perceived wisdom is that he and Pato are like oil and water. However, although El Shaarawy mirrors Pato with his raw pace, close control and finishing, he seems to have more awareness of what is going on around him, and so far his decision-making has been spot on.

Allegri should make the right choice on Wednesday and allow the rest of Europe to get a glimpse of this exciting new star of Italian football.

Big freeze and frosty relations hit Serie A as Zlatan sees red

2012-02-06T16:54:00Z

The big freeze sweeping through the north of Italy has had those of a certain age pining for a much simpler time. A time when all Serie A matches kicked off at 3pm on a Sunday and venerable, gravel-voiced Sandro Ciotti ruled the airwaves, as reports filtered in from around the grounds while the country collectively digested its Sunday lunch.

The last time the full league programme was played in the afternoon was the 1991/92 season, and for many it has been all downhill since. That could certainly be said of many of the country’s stadiums, which over the 22 years since Italia ’90 have on the whole fallen into a state of disrepair, in some cases necessitating them being torn down and rebuilt from the bottom up.

Juventus took the decision to raze the Stadio delle Alpi and reaped the benefits of playing on through the snow storms, though when they traveled to Parma and the uncovered Tardini stadium they had to watch their name join the rest of the rinivati (postponements).

With first the midweek fixtures and then the weekend thrown into disarray, the question asked was whether Italian football and Italy in general had it in them to drag the game into the 21st century by beginning a rejuvenation of stadiums.

Sky Italia were particularly miffed as they had paid a healthy sum to broadcast three evening matches over the weekend, which would have ensured big TV audiences, particularly for Roma-Inter and Milan-Napoli. The channel’s deputy head Jacques Reynaud wondered where the €8 billion they had invested in television rights had gone.

The simple answer is on player salaries, with 80 per cent of club expenditure heading directly into player bank-accounts.

Sky may have had to fill a hole in their weekend schedule where the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Francesco Totti and Diego Milito would usually have been running around in, but Italian football is staring into a black hole of its own making.

Apart from Juventus and the local authorities in Turin, there seems little desire among clubs and their local councils to find common ground on improving outmoded stadiums: Roma are at loggerheads with the city with regards to a new site, while Milan have all but given up on settling into a new home away from the San Siro.

It is the same story in Genoa and Florence, while the San Paolo in Naples is beginning to look like the Coliseum from the outside. The only other club to have made improvements has been Novara – and the Piedmont outfit ensured their synthetic pitch was playable for the visit of Chievo on Thursday as temperature plummeted to minus 10.

What a shame they are odds-on to be relegated, which brings us on another nostalgic boom – the call for Serie A to return to an 18-team league. This, it is suggested, would not only ease fixture congestion for those competing in Europe, but also make the step up from Serie B to A a less daunting one for those teams winning promotion each season.

Of course, all the hand wringing and calls for change will probably be forgotten in a week or so when the sun comes out again and the temperatures start to climb.

By that time we may have a clearer picture on where the title may be headed. Juventus and Milan were both frozen out on the pitch, with the leaders held to a goalless draw at home to Siena while the Rossoneri were also left empty-handed against Napoli.

One constant in Italian football is of course a good dose of controversy – both the Juventus Stadium and San Siro warmed to it on Sunday.

Juve were beside themselves for what seemed like a stonewall penalty turned down when Siena captain Simone Vergassola’s out-stretched arm blocked Giorgio Chiellini’s cross. However, memories being selective, Cagliari should have had two spot-kicks on the same pitch a few weeks ago so, as they say, these things usually even themselves out.

While Juve were firing blanks down the road in Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was getting all slap happy in a match that reflected the climatic conditions to a tee – very chilly.

In an episode that was more vaudeville comedy than vicious act, the big Swede extended an arm from behind the back of team-mate Antonio Nocerino to deliver a slap to Napoli defender Salvatore Aronica, who was so shocked that he returned the favour to Nocerino, who had not been so innocent in instigating the melee in the first place.

It may have seemed a comic incident but it could see Ibra suspended for two or possibility three games. If it is the latter then he would miss the league game against Juventus.

The pair clash in their Italian Cup first leg on Wednesday with little sign of a thawing in the frosty relations between the two: Antonio Conte has been playing down his side’s chances of lifting the title so much that Massimiliano Allegri was forced to misquote “the lady doth protest too much.”

Juve still hold a point advantage and a game in hand; and despite the leaders stalling there was little change in the chase at the top, with both Udinese and Lazio losing, at Fiorentina and Genoa, respectively while Inter’s mini revival has gone into complete reverse after a 4-0 humbling at AS Roma.

In fact, with Roma still have to play their remaining 26 minute at Catania – suspended due to heavy rain – in midweek and Luis Enrique’s exciting but frustrating side could yet warm the hearts through this bleak mid-winter.

Tumour-free Mondonico makes emotional Serie A return

2012-02-01T15:00:00Z

It feels good to see Emiliano Mondonico back in Serie A. It really does. Hearing on Monday afternoon that he is to replace Attilio Tesser at Novara brought a smile to many faces.

Not because there was any ill feeling toward his predecessor – not at all. Tesser had masterminded Novara’s historic return to Serie A after 55 years in the lower leagues, and for that the fans are forever grateful. But with the team seven points adrift from safety, it’s time now to fight for survival, and Mondonico is nothing if not a survivor.

A year ago this week, he reluctantly stepped down from his position at second division Albinoleffe. It was temporary, he insisted: “I hope to be back within two games, maybe even before.” Mondonico, to everyone’s surprise, was to undergo surgery.

The 64-year-old wasn’t checking into hospital for a routine hip, knee or ankle operation to ease the pain caused by an old injury from his playing days with Cremonese, Torino, Monza and Atalanta. He had a tumour in his stomach, and not just any tumour. It was huge. When Professor Novellino removed it at the Seriate hospital near Bergamo, the tumour weighed 5kg.

Anxious for updates on his boss’s condition, Daniele Fortunato, a member of Mondonico’s backroom staff then acting as Albinoleffe’s caretaker manager, paid a visit to his mentor’s bedside. He found Mondonico in high spirits, watching Inter play on TV. Apparently the tumour wasn’t aggressive. It wasn’t attached to any major organs. It wasn’t cancer, he said. “There’s a subtle but fundamental difference,” noted Mondonico before explaining his medical predicament as if he were distinguishing zonal from man-marking to one of his players.

“Beating it, eradicating it, was possible. We did it,” he told Il Corriere della Sera. Marco Bernardini, the journalist sent to interview Mondonico, noted that he used the plural. “Life’s a team game,” he quipped. “My life, that is. There’s me, naturally, and the surgeons who operated on me.

“After opening me up, they had the courage not to close me up again without having taken away that sick mass of fat and dead flesh. It seemed like there was nothing they could do; that it would be all be useless. Instead, they dared to do the impossible.”

To general amazement, Mondonico resumed his place on the bench 30 days later for Albinoleffe’s match against Modena. As he walked out of the tunnel, everyone in the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia stood up and applauded. He looked gaunt after losing so much weight, but the pointed black eyebrows and grey moustache were still there twitching mischievously. Football was his therapy. “By going into training every day, every kick that I gave the ball was the equivalent of kicking that beast in the face. I’m not saying that in this case it substituted medicine,” Mondonico claimed, “but I still like to think that inside.”

The road to recovery, though, was a long one, and there were many twists and turns still to come. Albinoleffe struggled and were required to win a relegation play-off match against Piacenza to stay in Serie B. Mondonico saved them, of course.

But as the full time whistle blew and the supporters rejoiced, a tear streamed down his face. Mondonico needed to save himself again. The tumour had returned. He had put off another operation for 15 days until Albinoleffe were safe. “For me, a new season starts,” he said. Visibly emotional, Mondonico had to leave the press conference for a moment to pull himself together. On returning, he let it be known: “I don’t feel defeated.” This was not the end of the world – the fine del Mondo.

For the sake of his health, he finally left Albinoleffe. This was to be the toughest game of Mondonico’s life. The second surgery, to everyone’s relief, was hailed a success. “Cancer,” he told Il Corriere della Sera, “is like the monster in Alien which has by now completed its awful work of devastation. The sarcoma I had in my belly was certainly a foul beast but not yet a winner.”

Talking shop with then Fiorentina manager Giovanni Trapattoni in 1999

At his age and faced with his situation, many of us would have retired. There are more important things in life than football like friends and family. Except that’s exactly what it represents to Mondonico. “Football is my best friend,” he told La Stampa.

It wasn’t too long before he was pacing up and down the sidelines, ball under one arm, whistle between his pursed lips. He was offered the chance to take an Italian XI to the University Games in China, but it was too early. Instead, once a week during his convalescence at his home in Rivolta d’Adda, Mondonico went to a psychiatric institute where he benevolently coached groups of men and women with addictive disorders, from drugs and alcohol to gambling. Football had helped him recover, so why not others?

“When there’s a desperate team, they’ll still call Mondonico and I’ll be there,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. On Monday 30 January, 2012, Novara president Massimo De Salvo duly picked up the phone.

NEWS, Jan 31: Mondonico replaces Tesser as Novara boss

“I’ve come full circle,” Mondonico said. “On January 31, 2011 I went into the operating theatre for the first time. Exactly a year later I return to do what I’ve always done in life. I’m sorry for Tesser, who throughout these difficult times was always close to me. But football, and life, are made up of these things.”

What Novara will get from Mondonico is pane e salame [bread and salami]: good, honest, wholesome football, the genuine kind with a dashing of experience too. Mondonico has taken charge of 915 games as a coach. He guided Atalanta to a Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final in 1988, and inspired Torino to the 1992 UEFA Cup Final.

Then came the proudest of his five promotions to Serie A, achieved with Fiorentina in 2004. That had a special taste. Why? Because he is a fan of the Viola. Check the records of the 7 Bello ultras of the Curva Fiesole and they’ll tell you that member No.72, registered in 1987, is Emiliano Mondonico.

Above all else, though, he is famous for what he did in that 1992 UEFA Cup final. Playing Louis van Gaal’s Ajax, Torino hit the woodwork three times, and when the referee denied Roberto Cravero a penalty, Mondonico rose from his chair and held it aloft. It became a provocative symbol of protest against the injustice of it all. When Torino fans heard Mondonico had fallen ill a year ago, they arranged a meeting at the Stadio Olimpico and each had a photo taken of them holding up chairs. It was a sign of solidarity and gave their hero the courage to win the game of his life.

In Novara on Thursday, Mondonico will make his first appearance in Serie A for seven and a half years, against Chievo. It promises to be emotional.

As he drives to the Stadio Piola, one wonders what song this great music lover will play in his car. As a player at Cremonese, he once deliberately got himself sent off so he could miss an away trip in order to see the Rolling Stones in concert.

Wild Horses would perhaps be a good choice now, as not even they, it seems, could drag Mondonico away from football.

Blizzard kings: all-weather Juve blow pretenders Udinese off course

2012-01-30T12:01:00Z

RESULTS Sat 28 Jan Catania 1-1 Parma; Juventus 2-1 Udinese Sun 29 Jan Fiorentina 2-1 Siena; Cesena 0-1 Atalanta; Roma 1-1 Bologna; Lecce 1-0 Internazionale; Chievo 0-3 Lazio; Genoa 3-2 Napoli; Palermo 2-0 Novara; Milan 3-0 Cagliari

It has been a week of worrying seismic activity and blizzards in the north of Italy but even Mother Nature can't knock Juventus off their stride.

The weather was fitting for the winter champions when they took on third-placed Udinese at the Juventus Stadium – where the undersoil heating meant there was never any doubt of the match going ahead.

FEATURE, Mon 23 Jan Winter champions Juve take heart in title charge

However, just be on the safe side a massive tarpaulin covered the pitch before the match. Rolling it up proved problematic, which meant that the teams had to delay their warm-ups – but once the bubble-wrap was out of the way both sides got stuck into each other in good old full-blooded fashion.

When AS Roma had visited earlier in the week, those present had witnessed the visitors pass the ball around neatly, making pretty patterns all over the pitch before forgetting the whole point was to finally score.

No such kaleidoscopic art with these two sides, who only saw the outcome in black and white – although Juve were forced to wear their pretty-in-pink shirts. Both sides lived up to Juve coach Antonio Conte’s assumption that the outcome was worth six points by playing the game at twice the normal pace – an urgency sorely lacking when they had met in Friuli just before Christmas.

The direct approach meant that the ball seldom remained in the possession of either side for more than one or two passes. It did ensure that another sold-out crowd could forget that their cars were all snowed in, but it had Andrea Pirlo parked in the centre of the pitch on many an occasion as the ball whizzed over his head for the ever-keen Alessandro Matri and Udinese old boy Fabio Quagliarella to chase after.

However, only when the playmaker managed to bring some calm to the frantic proceedings could we enjoy the full repertoire of his passing master-class as his man-marker Almen Abdi, an attacking midfielder by trade, gamely followed him around like a lost dog.

With his side trailing to a typical Matri predatory finish, visiting coach Francesco Guidolin replaced Abdi to set Antonio Floro Flores – one of the top flight’s most under-rated finishers – free in the wide-open spaces where the Juve defence had once resided.

Flo’s equaliser, which if it had been scored by his team-mate Antonio di Natale would have had the press crowing for days, looked to have given the visitors impetus to go on and win the game – and if Di Natale had been at his sharpest they may have taken the lead.

But here’s the rub: when in doubt Conte plays to the team’s strengths and rather than throw on a fresh striker for the tiring Quagliarella the touchline growler opted to shore up the midfield with Claudio Marchisio, who no one believes is an attacking midfielder but certainly acted like one in picking out the perfect pass for Matri’s winner.

We now understand why Conte signed Marco Borriello: not to pick the former AC Milan and Roma benchwarmer, but to get the best out of Matri, who has responded strongly to the thought of being replaced by someone equally concerned with personal grooming.

Despite their immaculately presented frontmen, Juventus are far from beautiful to watch – but as Conte pointed out, if his side has to win ugly so be it.

Such comments would never find their way down the motorway to Milan, where finesse and a certain savoir-faire is expected whenever the Rossoneri take to the pitch. They needed only a sprinkling of style to overcome Cagliari on Sunday evening in front of a disappointing crowd of just under 20,000 at the San Siro but once again Zlatan Ibrahimovic lit up proceedings with a delightfully executed free-kick in a routine 3-0 win.

With Udinese knocked back and Inter losing at Lecce of all places, the Old Lady and the old Devil are beginning to stretch away at the top – although much to Conte’s pleasure, there's little time to sit around and mull things over. Juve are back in action tomorrow evening at Parma while Milan travel to Lazio, who are back in the hunt for third, on Wednesday.

Three once again the magic number for Serie A defences

2012-01-23T17:11:00Z

Some games stick in the mind more than most. One of the greatest I recall watching while growing up happened on a sunny spring day in Turin in April 1997. It was between Juventus and Udinese and caught the imagination because the outcome left many in the stands scratching their heads.

Shortly after kick off, it looked like the result was a forgone conclusion. Regis Genaux’s red card meant Udinese were down to 10 men and at the mercy of Juventus, who were the reigning Champions League holders and on course to reach another final as well as reclaim the Serie A title from Milan. The writing, it seemed, was on the wall.

Yet Udinese coach Alberto Zaccheroni out-maneuvered his opposite number, Marcello Lippi. Instead of taking off a striker and bringing on a defender to form a 4-4-1, he sprung a surprise. He left three-at-the back and withdrew one of his strikers into midfield, but on the condition that when the team had possession, he’d resume his former role up front.

Juventus did not know how to react to what was ostensibly a 3-4-2. They were beaten heavily 3-0, as Marcio Amoroso and Oliver Bierhoff both found the net in the five minutes before and after half-time. Any resistance Zaccheroni had met when proposing a three-man defence to his players earlier in the season crumbled. They embraced it, went undefeated for the remainder of the campaign and finished fifth then third the following season.

Zaccheroni got the Milan job on the back of that success and led them to the Scudetto in 1998/99 with a three-man defence made up of Bruno N’Gotty, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini. He claims to be not the last but “perhaps the only” coach to win the title in Italy by using the tactic. There’s a degree of self-interest in that assertion. Osvaldo Bagnoli and Fabio Capello might have something to say about it. But it’s also fair to argue that no one is more associated with the three-man defence in Italy than Zaccheroni.

Zaccheroni's back three - including Maldini - won Milan's 16th title in '99

I mention this because, after the relatively successful re-emergence of the tactic under Gian Piero Gasperini at Genoa and Edy Reja at Napoli - both of whom achieved promotion with three-man defences in 2007 - it is no longer an odd exception in Serie A, rather a clear trend across the league as a whole.

The tipping point appears to have come at the end of last season. Walter Mazzarri’s Napoli finished third and qualified for the Champions League group stages using a 3-4-2-1, while Francesco Guidolin’s Udinese followed close behind them, ending the campaign in fourth place after adopting a 3-5-1-1.

Were the other teams missing a trick? Judging by their reaction it seems like they certainly think so.

In addition to Napoli and Udinese there are now seven other teams in Serie A from Fiorentina and Parma to Genoa and Novara basing themselves around systems with three-at-the-back. The list does not include Inter, who started the season with a 3-5-1-1, which they abandoned after a brief and ill-fated spell under Gasperini because it didn’t suit the players. Nor does it take into account the occasions Juventus have swapped their 4-1-4-1 formation for a 3-5-2 in a clear attempt to adapt to their opponents when faced with Napoli and Udinese.

Some have also made the case that Roma use three-at-the back too, but that’s simply the evolution of their 4-3-3 under Luis Enrique with Daniele De Rossi dropping between the centre-backs once the team has won possession in order to provide extra cover in defence and give license to the full-backs to push on and support the attack.

The question remains though: what’s behind the revival of the three-man defence in Serie A. Wasn’t it pronounced dead not too long ago?

In some respects, it’s circumstantial: Take for example, Vincenzo Montella. He opted for a 3-5-2 at Catania because he found himself without any full-backs. He even went so far as to convert Davide Lanzafame, a striker, into a right wing-back out of necessity. Bologna coach Stefano Pioli made a similar decision based on an appraisal of the resources at his disposal. He decided upon a 3-4-1-2 because, in his opinion, it best suited the characteristics of his players.

On the other side of the spectrum there are coaches like Gasperini, who appear to be wedded to a tactic and are dogmatic rather than pragmatic about using it even if it doesn’t fit the team. In his four seasons at Genoa, for instance, he used a back four just 20.4% of the time. Serse Cosmi also falls into this category of three-at-the-back fundamentalists. He has played that way more or less since his time in charge of Perugia in 2000. So is it really any surprise that Lecce are currently lining up in a 3-5-2?

However, for a tactic to be this widespread in Italy there must be a more profound contextual reason as to why it has suddenly become so popular again. The rise of the three-man defence perhaps coincides, at least in Serie A, with the fall of one-striker systems. Ever since Luciano Spalletti left for Zenit St. Petersburg and José Mourinho departed for Real Madrid, the most fashionable formation on the peninsula has been the 4-3-1-2. To put that into some kind of perspective, it was used more than 100 times in Serie A last season.

A three-man defence works especially well in this situation. Rinus Michels once claimed that teams should always have one defender more than the opposition had forwards, and that’s certainly the case when a three-man defence comes up against two strikers.

This is a solution to the problem posed so often in Serie A last season by teams matching up against each other in a 4-3-1-2. In this scenario, there is no attacking width to speak of and the game inevitably becomes a pitched battle in midfield. When faced with a 3-5-2, a team playing 4-3-1-2 finds itself in difficulty, as the wing-backs can exploit the space on the flanks without worrying about their defence. This is because a 3 v 2 situation means there’s a spare man, who can, if he sees fit, either sweep up or bring the ball out of defence and create an attack.

Guidolin alluded to this in a tactical discussion with Il Corriere dello Sport.

“The aspect that convinces me the most about a three-man defence,” he said, “is not so much the desire to be more covered in central areas but the part played by the three defenders in winning back possession, because if they do it well and one of the three manages to get into the other half of the pitch, you always put your opponents in difficulty.”

Elaborating on this point, Zaccheroni added: “In the medium and long term, games are always lost in central midfield and this tactical solution allows you to have a very dense one at that… The return of this kind of defence is borne out of the desire not to lose the battle in the middle of the pitch. The use of a three-man defence is not to add an extra striker to the team but an extra midfielder.”

This debate isn’t confined to Italy either. Pep Guardiola no less has taken it to the extreme at Barcelona, experimenting with a 3-1-3-3. Against Santos in the Club World Cup final in December, he essentially went without a natural striker and played with five midfielders plus Lionel Messi, who defies categorization as a classic centre-forward.

Guardiola’s reasons for using a three-man defence are slightly different from those held by his peers in Italy. Yet it’s clear that, though once considered out of date, the tactic is now back in fashion.

It seems three is once again the magic number.

Juve take heart in title charge after being crowned 'winter champions'

2012-01-23T11:06:00Z

The title of ‘winter champions’ may be merely a symbolic one, but Juventus will take heart from claiming the lead at the halfway stage of the season.

In the last seven seasons, the team that have been crowned winter champions have gone on to land the title outright.

Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Atalanta left Antonio Conte’s men four points ahead of AC Milan and unbeaten so far, with a record of 11 wins and eight draws.

Milan have won 12 and drawn four, but tellingly have lost to Juventus, Napoli and most recently Inter. It could be such matches as the city derby that play their part in the outcome of the Scudetto, such is the closeness of this year’s title race.

Juve’s 19-game unbeaten run may seem impressive, but Roberto Mancini’s Inter side went 31 matches undefeated during their title-winning campaign of 2006/07. In most of the last seven years it was that dominant Nerazzurri side leading the way at the halfway stage – so this year is possibly a bigger test of the theory that the team leading in January will still be there come May.

Stephan Lichtsteiner heads Juve into the lead at Atalanta

Indeed, those looking for messages in the tea leaves will find that, ever since three points for a win was introduced into Serie A 17 years ago, only four winter champions have failed to take home the prize in May.

It will be a long hard slog for everyone through to late Spring and at present there is little likelihood of Juve or Milan suffering a major collapse in form, though the Old Lady has the kinder fixture list ahead of their meeting with the Rossoneri at the end of February.

Injuries could be a factor in the battle for the title, but Alexandre Pato succumbing to another hamstring strain and facing a month on the sidelines seems to be met with more of a sigh of relief than cries of frustration in the Milan camp.

The absence of the future Mr Berlusconi has finally afforded the Italian footballing public a glimpse of the talented Stephan El Shaarawy, who scored against Novara last week in the Italian Cup and whose entry at half-time against the same opposition at the weekend gave Massimiliano Allegri’s men the sort of zip and zest missing whenever Pato is on the pitch.

The 19-year-old will no doubt be given a clear run through the next month, and if he continues to display a keen eye for a goal then who knows he may even force his way into Cesare Prandelli’s plans for Euro 2012.

Over at Juventus, Conte can also call upon youthful vigour: Luca Marrone came on as a second-half substitute for the injured Simone Pepe at the weekend, and the 21-year-old set up Emanuele Giaccherini for the second goal of the game with a delightful flick.

If Udinese have any aspirations of remaining in the top three then they will be relying not only on their home form – having dropped only two points at the Friuli so far – but on the goalscoring form of Antonio Di Natale.

El Shaarawy, Ibrahimovic and Robinho celebrate against Novara

The Serie A capocannoniere for the past two seasons took his tally thus far this term to 14 with a thunderous volley in the 2-1 win over Catania, but the veteran striker was joined at the top by Zlatan Ibrahimovic who grabbed a brace in Milan’s 3-0 victory at Novara. His second was a dead cert for the cheekiest goal of the season – a nonchalance back-heel that even the usually stern-looking Swede could not help smiling about.

Outside the current top-three AS Roma must feel they make 2012 a year to remember, and Francesco Totti has already started on the right foot.

Vilified for missing a penalty against Juventus only a month ago, the talismanic Roman etched his name into the history books when he broke Gunnar Nordhal’s Serie A goalscoring record for one club by taking his impressive figure to 211 with a brace in the 5-1 demolition of Cesena.

Nordhal set the record some 50 years ago with Milan and it may be another 100 before we see any player surpass Totti. Suddenly now even the most sceptical critics are convinced Luis Enrique’s exciting young side will have a say in where the title ends up.

It is unlikely they will win it, but the Giallorossi are in the pack chasing Udinese and still have 26 minutes of their rain-disrupted match at Catania to play.

Another Roman enjoying a pleasing weekend was Claudio Ranieri, who saw his Inter edge past Lazio. In doing so they took their winning streak to eight matches in all competitions and leapfrogged the Romans into fourth place.

January may be considered the cruellest month for some, but for the title chasers the winter blues have already been blown away.

Della Valle vows to act as Fiorentina faithful lose patience again

2012-01-17T16:16:00Z

Delio Rossi held up his hands. “I am not Padre Pio, but a football coach,” he said. Miracle work, it seemed, was not his calling.

Yet after taking the Fiorentina job in November, some supporters were indeed shouting: “Santo Subito.” Rossi, they claimed, should be made a saint immediately, for he had exorcised a demon and delivered them from evil. Sinisa Mihajlovic was finally gone.

For 18 months the Fiorentina faithful had whistled, insulted and protested against the Serb. So when their prayers were answered after a 1-0 defeat to Chievo, it was thought Rossi would lead the club back on to the righteous path.

Sunday night’s events appear to indicate, however, that Fiorentina are still on a road to perdition, and that for all his faults, Mihajlovic wasn’t the only problem. Things go much deeper.

Condemned to a 1-0 defeat at home to bottom club Lecce, anger proved hard to contain in the stands. Owner Andrea Della Valle had left his seat in the Tribuna d’Onore out of superstition at half-time. With hindsight, it was a lucky escape. When the full-time whistle was blown, his executive president Mario Cognigni and one of the club’s advisers Paolo Panerai were spat at and subjected to a series of bad-tempered chants. Security had to be called and they were escorted to safety.

Fiorentina ultras then tried to break into the dressing room. They were held back, but a crowd outside the Artemio Franchi estimated to be 500-strong lingered for two hours after the game and demanded that their message be heard and taken on board. A delegation of seven ultras sought and obtained a meeting with Cognigni, chief executive Sandro Mencucci, communications director Gianfranco Teotino and team manager Vincenzo Guerini. After quarter of an hour or so, they re-emerged without any trace of satisfaction on their faces. The question is: what did they talk about?

According to Monday’s Il Corriere dello Sport, the ultras outlined three specific concerns. The first was that the club doesn’t appear to have total control over its players. All too often this season, there have been indications that there’s a culture of indiscipline and lack of professionalism among some of the players in the Fiorentina dressing room. Admittedly Houssine Kharja was somewhat harshly punished for arriving late for training because of his commuting to-and-from Milan where his family live. Stevan Jovetic, Adem Ljajic and Khoumar Babacar made the headlines too after they were banned from driving for not having the right paperwork. Fans can live with that.

What they can’t live with, though, is hearing about key members of the first team partying until the small hours in Florence’s nightclubs before games in a difficult season. Juan Manuel Vargas was caught in October. Alessio Cerci and Andrea Lazzarri were spotted in November. They were each named and shamed in the local press, then fined.

Cerci in particular has come in for criticism for not “respecting the city.” Asked to move his illegally parked Maserati by a traffic warden, he allegedly refused to do so until after he had finished his dinner. His case wasn’t helped last week when, in response to being dropped for Fiorentina’s Coppa Italia clash against Roma, his girlfriend launched a tirade on her Facebook page once they were knocked out. “No Cerci? No Coppa Italia!!! Ahahaha… bye bye Delio [Rossi] and bye bye Fiorentina fans,” she wrote.

The second issue on the ultras’ agenda was the Della Valle family’s growing distance from the club. The third centered on a lack of investment. The two are not mutually exclusive. For the last two years, Fiorentina’s owners have perceived a distinct lack of gratitude for resurrecting the club they had bought in 2002, which was then playing under a different name in Serie C2 and still reeling from the effects of bankruptcy. They felt let down, first by coach Cesare Prandelli, who decided to take the Italy job in 2010, then by Florence’s mayor Matteo Renzi, who shelved their plans for a new stadium with hotels and retail space. There was genuine disillusion.

Diego Della Valle, Andrea’s brother, wrote an open letter outlining the situation: “I need to know with extreme clarity what the city and the fans want and expect for the future of Fiorentina, to understand if there is still the motivation for the owners to continue down a common path of sporting passion, to build the best possible future and to restore all the pleasure of going to the stadium to spend an entertaining afternoon. If there aren’t these conditions then, as we have said before, the owners are ready to step aside.”

Amid growing protests from the fans, the moment had come to ask if their time and money could not be spent better elsewhere. Last January, for instance, they committed £21.5 million to the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome, while transfer expenditure at Fiorentina throughout the season was £13.3 million, the lowest outlay since the club returned to Serie A in 2004.

As the disenchanted Della Valle brothers withdrew into themselves, the team’s best players began to lose faith and perhaps came to believe that Fiorentina’s ambition didn’t match their own. Captain Riccardo Montolivo revealed he wouldn’t be signing a new contract after his existing deal expires in 2012 and was stripped of the armband. Alberto Gilardino’s “fire had gone out”.

While it’s useless to keep players who no longer want to play for the club, it’s also counter-productive in Gilardino’s case to sell one of Italy’s best centre-forwards to Genoa for just £7 million, as Fiorentina did last week, partly because, with Santiago Silva about to be sold back to Argentina, Fiorentina didn’t have a replacement lined up and would now be forced into playing Jovetic and Ljajic up front.

With no natural strikers in a young and inexperienced squad, is it any wonder that the fans’ raised a few eyebrows? This is a club that, in recent memory, has had Luca Toni, Giampaolo Pazzini, Adrian Mutu and Gilardino leading the offensive line. Now too much was being asked of Jovetic. As for Ljajic, on being played out of position, he missed sitters against Roma and Lecce.

To make matters worse, negotiations to sign the much-maligned Amauri from Juventus hit a snag over the players’ excessive wages demands. Then came a report that Valon Behrami, one of Fiorentina’s most committed players in a dispirited bunch, had been cheekily asked for in part-exchange by Juventus.

Interviewed on Sunday night, a shaken up but conciliatory Andrea Della Valle promised action. “It’s true we deserve more. The fans deserve it too, naturally. They do what they think is right the protest is understandable if it’s civil. It was a cold shower that we didn’t expect. With another three points we would have been nearer the European places. Now we have to roll up our sleeves and make up for our mistakes. The market still offers us two weeks of trade and we’ll do something soon.”

Fiorentina currently lie 13th in Serie A. It’s hardly a disaster, but also no real improvement in terms of results than those they achieved under Mihajlovic, even if the team’s style of football has sometimes been easier on the eye. Rossi insists that for the rest of this season “blood and tears” will need to be wept by his players. What Fiorentina need more than ever, though, is to start smiling again.

Derby specialist Ranieri once again enjoys local bragging rights

2012-01-16T11:51:00Z

From the Special One to the Specialist – the derby specialist that is.

Claudio Ranieri, the wily old Roman, has added the Milanese bragging rights to those he garnered in the capital during his spell at the helm of AS Roma, and to a lesser extent in Turin with Juventus.

There had been reports Jose Mourinho had been encouraged to send his support to his former players in the build-up to the game. The Milan derby was a fixture in which the Portuguese used to take three points for granted, but this most recent Inter success was built on good old Ranieri prudence and attention to detail.

Diego Forlan and Wesley Sneijder were both declared fit, so naturally everyone assumed they would start, but of course Ranieri has never been one to follow conventional thinking and with Gianpaolo Pazzini and Ricky Alvarez impressing last weekend in the 5-0 defeat of Parma, it was as you were at kick-off.

Milan, for their part, could easily have been without Alexandre Pato if the Berlsuconi family influence had not been such a pull on the striker remaining at the club instead of moving to Paris.

There may have been a few groans around the dressing room as the news came through that the bubbly Brazilian would be staying; especially if you happened to be Massimiliano Allegri, who had no option but to start the boyfriend of the president’s daughter.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic must not have been too happy either, if his subsequent display was anything to go by, though maybe the personalised training programme the Swede had been following all week was to mask an injury problem.

In truth, in the first half Inter had to dodge a few bullets, which turned out to be fired in a scatter-gun fashion rather than with the deadly accuracy we have come accustomed to from the defending champions. However, when it came to calm head in front of goal there was only one marksman to count on.

Diego Milito had been at his princely best against Parma, where he scored twice, but he was simply regal when it counted this time. He swept what was more of a pass than a shot to the far corner when presented with his only clear-cut chance of the game, after Ignazio Abate’s failed clearance left the striker with an angled run down the left side of the area.

As Milan started to look even more sluggish, Inter became more energised in every facet of their play – and having edged in front they frustrated their opponents at every turn.

There was one moment in particular that summed up the differing approaches of the two teams: Milito looked to have lost the ball in the centre of the pitch but as Ibrahimovic closed in the Argentine raced back to win the 50-50 challenge and at the same time retain possession.

Then there was Javier Zanetti and his right-hand man Esteban Cambiasso, who harried and retrieved lost causes to drive Kevin Prince Boateng and Urby Emanuelson to distraction.

While the likes of Boateng talk about getting another tattoo if they win the Champions League and generally give off the air of the modern millionaire footballer, the two Argentines would never be seen with a hair out of place (though in Cambiasso’s case, this is less of an issue).

They believe that football is their life - off-field charisma means nothing to them, unlike a few Milan players who have allowed the bright lights to blind to who they really are.

Tellingly, someone who is cut from the same football cloth as the Inter veterans – Mark Van Bommel – was Milan’s only decent performer on the night.

It had been a sobering week for Milan’s big names, what with Adriano Galliani forced to stand down in his chase to sign Carlos Tevez after what was apparently a very stern call from Berlusconi to call off the hounds and in future consult the powers at the very top – Silvio and Barbara.

The repercussions could yet be felt if Inter decide to make good on their claims for the Argentine, though with the way results are going at the moment, do they really need a potentially disruptive influence just when things within the club are settling down once again?

Ranieri will not be too concerned about who he has to work with, but he will be well aware how important his derby magic has been in galvanising the black and blue half of Milan.

Milito refinds his regal form as Inter fire five past Parma

2012-01-09T13:31:00Z

Written off more times than Italy's debt, Diego Milito has found a few stray goals in his back pocket to suddenly more Golden Boot than Bidone d’Oro [Golden Bin] – Italian football’s least sought-after award, for the year's worst player.

The Inter striker – and many were using that word lightly following his annus horribilis in front of goal – joined such notable such names as Rivaldo, Christian Vieri and Adriano (a three-time loser) in landing the ‘prize’ last month.

However, it hasn't signalled once and for all the demise of the instinctive goal-poacher known as El Príncipe [the Prince]. Indeed, it seems to have become more of a spur than a burden.

The Argentine had failed to find the net in the league since the end of September – and had even upset his most ardent backer Massimo Moratti after missing an absolute sitter at Atalanta – although he finally got back on the scoresheet in the 4-1 win over Lecce just before the winter break.

RESULTS Sat 7 Jan Siena 4-0 Lazio, Internazionale 5-0 Parma Sun 8 Jan Udinese 4-1 Cesena, Atalanta 0-2 Milan, Bologna 2-0 Catania, Cagliari 3-0 Genoa, Lecce 0-1 Juventus, Novara 0-3 Fiorentina, Roma 2-0 Chievo, Palermo 1-3 Napoli

The pressure was still on the 32-year-old coming into the first game of 2012, at home to Parma, but he answered the call with a dominant performance at the San Siro where he scored twice and had a part to play in two of the other three goals as a 5-0 romp nicely set up Claudio Ranieri’s men for Sunday’s derby.

The visitors contributed in part to their own downfall and were a shambles in every area of the pitch, but with Milito drifting out to either flank and basically picking when and where to make his runs there would have been very few defences capable of holding on to his royal coat-tails.

"Hugs!" Milito (2nd l) is mobbed by Pazzini, Maicon, Zanetti and Alvarez

Even through his long barren period and lack of form, the Buenos Aires man was always an unselfish runner into space and never hid from his duties of showing for his team-mates – and the biggest smile of Saturday evening came not in celebration of either of his two sublime finishes but his weighted pass to send Gianpaolo Pazzini through to score a goal of his own.

The Italy international has suffered as much as Milito this season but he too will have taken heart from his performance, remaining as he did as the target man while his strike-partner scurried off along the frontline. The pair may have done enough to start against AC Milan next weekend, even though Diego Forlan is expected to be fit for what promises to be a titanic tussle at the San Siro.

Inter were coming into the Parma match on the back of four straight wins, albeit against modest opposition, but Ranieri knew the importance of making it five in a row: the team failed in that feat last season under Leonardo even though they pushed their city neighbours for the title in the second half of the campaign.

It was of course Jose Mourinho’s Treble-winners who had last enjoyed a five-game winning haul and the bulk of the Special One’s team were still on show at the weekend.

The result was not lost on the players at the final whistle as they celebrated with more gusto than usual when they defeat Parma at home – maybe they were still smarting from last year’s crucial setback at the Tardini – but more likely they were sending out a message to their own fans and their rivals that there is plenty of fight in the Nerazzurri yet.

Milan, for their part, answered in kind by inflicting a first home loss of the season on Atalanta, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again head and shoulders above everyone else. The Swede scored the opener from the penalty spot and set up Kevin Prince Boateng for the second in a comfortable 2-0 win.

Home defender considers single-fingered "itchy-face" gesture

It was a good weekend overall for forwards, with Alessandro Matri scoring the only goal of the game at Lecce to ensure Juventus kept pace at the top of the table while Antonio Di Natale, who has never grasped the concept of a goal drought, grabbed a brace for Udinese in their 4-1 win over Cesena.

So the weekend may have belonged to the Prince (Milito, not Boateng), but the King of Rome caught the eye too: Francesco Totti hadn't scored all season and had even been barracked by some of his own fans at the tail-end of last year when Gigi Buffon saved the Roma captain’s penalty effort.

Presented with the opportunity to make a amends early on against Chievo, the veteran of many a one-on-one strode up to the spot and buried the ball with such power that goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino had no time to move.

He then doubled his tally for the season with a second goal by repeating the feat from 10 metres, although at least the keeper got a hand to the ball.

As with Milito, Totti knew he'd come good in front of goal again and had already prepared one of his famous T-shirts, this time reading “Sorry I was late” – a statement the Inter man would no doubt agree with.

Milan and Juve stay in touch over refreshing break

2012-01-05T14:56:00Z

AC Milan and Juventus return from the winter break joint top of the table and sporting matching winter tans after a week of warm-weather training in Dubai.

The ever-fashionable clubs have mirrored each other throughout the first half of the season, and will be keen to match strides rather than fall behind the times. There are four matches remaining before the crowning of the winter champions, which is always a good indicator of the eventual champions: in the 17 years since the introduction of three points for a win, only four winter winners have failed to triumph come May.

It could be that a January slip-up gives one team or other that vital advantage before the mid-February return of the Champions League – in which Juventus, free this season of any European competition, will hope the Rossoneri triumph against Arsenal having run themselves into the ground.

However, continental commitments could prove marginal and overall there is little to choose between the clubs. Massimiliano Allegri and Antonio Conte are young and determined coaches with fresh ideas, players in form and (currently) fit – and the feeling that every match is there for the taking.

Juve have already got one over Milan rivals with a late double in the 2-0 home win back in early October, traditionally a time when the Rossoneri are below par – but more than any other team, Milan have always enjoyed the return to action in January.

If there is to be any trouble at the champions, it could well come from within their own ranks. The club's desire to show the world that they can always incite a star player to Milanello has seen them make an all too public pursuit of Carlos Tevez; as the saga rumbles on, no doubt to the final hour of the final day of the transfer window, the seemingly growing rift between Allegri and Alexandre Pato could well unsettle the club.

There's no doubt that the pair don't see eye to eye on how the game should be played: the player is too ad hoc for the methodical coach and in a recent interview Pato made it clear that where Carlo Ancelotti offered guidance, Allegri offers only hollow words.

“The coach tells me I need to improve, but not how and in what areas,” claimed the Brazilian in a frank recent interview with heavyweight Milanese daily Corriere della Sera. “With Ancelotti, at least we talked on how to improve my game by telling me what I needed to do.”

The outburst was greeted with some irony within the Milan organisation. “At least it proves he is alive,” commented one source to the self-same newspaper. To some at the club, the 22-year-old is seen as something of a sphinx, someone who barely opens his mouth to chat and when he does it is only with his fellow Brazilians.

Such a lack of empathy cost him the armband in late November when Milan faced Chievo without club captain Massimo Ambrosini and his vice Rino Gattuso, along with a whole host of experienced players.

By tradition the armband would be passed to longest-serving available squad member, which would be Pato – remember he arrived at Milan back in 2007. However, Allegri anointed Thiago Silva, Pato’s closest (and if reports are to be believed, only) friend in the dressing room.

The fact that Pato is dating Silvio Berlusconi’s daughter Barbara has apparently made the situation within said dressing room a little tense, with squad members feeling they can't speak their mind just in case a stray word is taken out of context and somehow gets back to the top.

Allegri knows he needs to stay on the right side of the president and blurted out in a press conference in Dubai that he had no problems with Pato, only to suggest in the same breath that maybe the Duck’s quacking was just a way of getting a few issues off his chest.

The coach also seems to have a few issues simmering below the surface and he had a little dig at the forward’s reccurring fitness problems: “Maybe he felt left out during his recent injury.”

Pato was sidelined for nearly two months – spending most of that period training alone – and it seems that he has become marginalised with Zlatan Ibrahimovic now seen as the focal point of the team.

So when a friendly on Wednesday night pitted Milan against PSG, now overseen by coach Ancelotti and sporting director Leonardo, speculation buzzed that Pato is set to team up with his two mentors. Scoring the only goal of the game sent a message to both parties, but there is little sign of any thawing in the relationship with his current coach.

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Over at Juve, Marco Borriello’s arrival raised a neatly-plucked eyebrow from the man he could replace: Alessandro Matri.

Coach Conte already has Mirko Vucinic, the fit-again Fabio Quagliarella and Alex del Piero in attack while Luca Toni, Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta still lurk in the shadows, but Borriello’s style is similar to Matri’s and the new man also has his sights set on a return to the Italy squad ahead of Euro 2012.

A bemused Matri denied that he was under pressure. “We have the same number of strikers as the other clubs… we have four, five, no, six or seven... I don’t know.”

Borriello and Matri are considered two of the pin-up boys of Italian football and the press have hailed Juve as possessing the two most handsome frontmen in the league, but it looks like it could get ugly in the battle for the No.9 shirt. However, if Milan were to accept an audacious €45m PSG bid for Pato, even the arrival of Tevez couldn't stop Juve feeling they have the edge in the title race.

Tevez to Milan: Another pact with the Devil?

2011-12-16T13:46:00Z

They couldn't could they? After everything Carlos Tevez has done - his every outburst publicised and chronicled in many languages and televised for all to see - Italian giants AC Milan have elbowed their way to the front of the queue to sign the Argentinian forward.  

While the queue of clubs interested in the 27-year-old's services has shortened in recent weeks, the club known as il Diavolo ('The Devil') tabled an offer to take him off Manchester City's hands - and out of Roberto Mancini's increasingly greying hair - when the transfer window opens in January.  

The Premier League club are said to have rejected their initial offer but, despite the player's refusal to play and his extended - and unauthorised - stay in Argentina, Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani has tasked himself with trying to seal a deal to take the former Boca Juniors man on loan for the rest of the season.  

There is no doubting how good a player he is when the mood takes; he was the Premier League's top goal scorer last season, while his huge desire and work-rate have made him a stand-out player at every club he has played for, not to mention more popular in his homeland than even Lionel Messi.

  Other clubs have been put off by a combination of his sheer unprofessionalism and a 'representative' who with each passing day grows more and more akin to the Al Pacino character in the film Devil's Advocate ("Freedom, Carlitos.... is never having to say you're sorry"), all but leaving the San Siro giants in a position to dictate terms to Manchester City.  

This offer has quickly been dismissed by many observers, but to do so is to overlooked the influence and negotiating skills of Milan vice president Adriano Galliani.  Time and again Berlusconi has dispatched his man to bring home a player and, on almost every occasion, Galliani has delivered.

Here is a man who, in July 2008, watched Barcelona turn down a £25.5 million offer from Manchester City for Ronaldinho only to somehow convince them to accept his own bid of £14.5 million that same month. He returned to the Catalan club last summer for Zlatan Ibrahimović - a player with a €250 million release clause in his contract – completing a €24m deal just thirteen months after Barca had paid Inter over €69m for the Swede.  

Galliani's list of great deals doesn't end there either. He has already taken advantage of Manchester City, signing their €42.5 million man Robinho for €18 million. He has Liverpool's Alberto Aquilani on a loan deal that will cost just €6 million to make permanent should the English club’s €25 million signing from Roma play 25 games this season. The 67 year old also convinced Genoa to loan Milan Kevin-Prince Boateng just hours after they had signed him from Portsmouth.  

It is hardly a recent trend either, back at the start of the new millenium he engineered a swap deal with Inter, sending their city cousins Francesco Coco and Guly in exchange for two other players you may not have heard much about, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo.

  As well as being a move typical of Galliani, the capture of Tevez would also fit well alongside some of Milan's other recent captures. While many questioned how Massimiliano Allegri, the coach who led the club to the title in his debut season, would cope with so many big egos, he moulded them into a title-winning team with very little fuss.

  Of course, Zlatan has fought with the occasional team-mate, the big Swede can only play nicely with others for so long, but on the whole every one of those potential trouble-makers has bought into Allegri's ideals and they have all benefited.

Two major factors are firstly the remoteness of the club's training ground, the famed Milanello complex is very isolated and there is little admittance to the media. Secondly that the majority of news outlets in Italy are owned by a certain Silvio Berlusconi only helps to reduce any negative press that might otherwise blight such an opinionated group of players.

Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked to Tevez, but the former Italian Prime Minister made clear his position on the possible move when he spoke to Sky Italia earlier this week.  

"The situation that regards Tevez is very clear, he has to choose between two solutions: prestige and money. Milan represent prestige, the possibility of being seen all over the world and to win the Ballon d'Or. On the other hand, PSG, who represent Qatar, is the chance of a big wage. Now it's up to him to choose."

Totti demands respect as Roma fans grumble at penalty failure

2011-12-16T12:40:00Z

In an age where loyalty can be bought at the opening of a transfer window, Francesco Totti has always resisted the call of the sirens.

As with Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Del Piero and Javier Zanetti the Roma captain has become synonyms with club he plays for.

Known as “bandiere”, no one can picture these loyal servants in any shirt other than the one they have worn for most, if not all of their careers. So there was some shock not just in Rome but throughout Italian football and beyond when Totti revealed he had been insulted by his own fans.

Apparently a group gathered outside the player’s home to voice their disappointment that the star had missed a penalty against Juventus on Monday evening. Totti has had his run-ins with Roma fans in the past, but obviously this time he was feeling particularly vulnerable and revealed that was contemplating leaving.

Talk about spoiling Christmas, picking as he did the moment during an interview with Sky Sports Italia at the club’s festive bash to drop the bombshell.

However, after a short period of thumb-sucking he cleared up any misunderstanding by reiterating his desire to see out the rest of his days at Roma, although that reassurance came with a veiled threat that he expected to be treated with more respect. But from who?

After all, he could have left on numerous occasions: Silvio Berlusconi made an offer he knew would be refused because as the AC Milan owner put it: “his heart is with Rome and you can never tear the heart away.”

Real Madrid would have not only provided him with riches beyond his wildest dreams but also a cabinet case full of trophies. He even admitted he had been tempted by the thought of a switch the Bernabeu, and you have to wonder how differently he would be perceived around Europe if he was now ending his days in the Spanish capital.

Instead, his remained committed to the city of his birth and a club that has had more downs than ups during his 19 years there. Now 35, he has won the league but once and the Italian Cup twice but throughout it all his name has always been cheered the loudest when the team is announced, which was the case on Monday evening as the fans then chanted their refrain: ‘Un capitano, c’è solo un capitano.’

This latest outburst comes after a year to forget for the veteran: Roma missed out on a Champions League place and then new American consortium led by Thomas Di Benedetto arrived to sweep away the old regime to which Totti was seen as closely associated with.

Former owners the Sensi family had promised him a say on club matters when he eventually retired, but Di Benedetto kept his distance for most of the summer. They only met briefly as the management staff began to take on a completely different shape.

Franco Baldini was brought back as sporting director and suggested that the No.10 concentrate on playing rather than concern himself with matters outside his remit, such as his attempt to woo Gigi Buffon to the club, which considering the fact the Italy keeper saved Totti’s penalty would have been a good idea.

Baldini’s supposed criticism was seen by many as originating from much higher up the hierarchy, and with Totti already grappling with new coach Luis Enrique he could not afford to alienate his new employers as well.

This little show of pique comes on the back of a difficult start to the campaign, where Enrique has attempted to impose his own style on the team, substituting the star man at some inappropriate times such as the last quarter of the Europa League qualifier against Slovan Bratislava when the outcome was in the balance. There is no doubt that Totti would have taken no joy from the subsequent elimination from the competition...

Niggling injuries and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his role on the pitch – as well as off it when he finally calls it a day - seem to be the underlining factors in this latest moody episode, rather than what may or may not have been shouted in his direction by those with little to do with their time on a winter’s evening.

The demise of Inter

2011-11-30T15:11:00Z

After having eight entries in last year's 100 Best Players, this year Internazionale are down to four – with most in the lower reaches. Our man in Milan Richard Whittle examines the Nerazzurri nosedive...

Few would have envisaged that Inter would go from champions of Europe to languishing just outside the relegation zone in the space of 18 months or so.

After Jose Mourinho left the club with the treble in 2010, new coach Rafa Benitez wanted to rebuild, but Massimo Moratti refused to green-light any new signings – or release a number of those players who had peaked so admirably under Mourinho but who now had nowhere to go but down.

Age and waning desire have played their part in the Nerazzurri becoming a shadow of their former dominant self, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

When Massimo Moratti turned to Mourinho he did so with one aim in mind: to emulate the achievements of his father Angelo, who in the 1960s oversaw the Grande Inter led by Helenio Herrera.

The Portuguese possessed many of the same qualities as the master of catenaccio, central to which were the tactics and strategy to get the best out of a side reaching their prime and well aware that this is their moment to obtain greatness.

Moratti had spent millions and gone through 14 coaches on a succession of failures and even recent domestic dominance hadn't been enough – not with the holy grail of the Champions League continuing to elude him – so it was to be one last opening of the chequebook.

This time, the transfers were shrewd – far from a given with Inter – with new arrivals Lucio, Wesley Sneijder and Diego Milito reinforcing what was already a resilient unit. However, what gave Inter the edge was the trade with Barcelona involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o – with the latter still possessing the desire for further honours.

The result was a treble-winning season and, on a barmy night at the Bernabeu, Europe's top trophy finally back with the Morattis after 45 long years.

"Look what I've won!"

Even when it became clear that Mourinho was not coming back from Madrid there should have been no reason to fear for the future, with a little planning and foresight.

Instead of which, the lingering likes of Marco Materazzi, Diego Milito, Christian Chivu and even Douglas Maicon weren't thanked for their sterling efforts, paid up and packed off, but retained on vast wages and dwindling returns while more-than-promising youngsters Davide Santon and Marco Balotelli were allowed to leave.

Benitez was the unfortunate coach to arrive when Moratti too busy polishing the trophy to overhaul the squad, so the Spaniard was left with an ageing side who had given their all for the previous regime and weren't willing to do it all again. A few fresh faces would have kept the likes of Maicon, Dejan Stankovic, Lucio and the rest on their toes, motivating them to believe that this wasn't the end, but a positive turning point for the club.

However, with senior players Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso setting the mood in the dressing room, Benitez was helpless in his attempts to gain a sixth consecutive league title and a genuine defence of their European title.

"Wally says what?"

A player like Sneijder, coming off a marathon season that ended in the World Cup final, returned to a club that was treading water and failing to attract big names – and this failure had a detrimental effect on the players. Forced to soldier on gamely they succumbed to all sorts of injuries, mostly brought on by simply being worn out physically as was certainly the case with Sneijder and Cambiasso.

Benitez didn't have the luxury of resting weary stars, as Mourinho had been able to thanks to Inter’s domestic supremacy – but the Spaniard's replacement Leonardo was fortunate to find those self-same players finally rediscover their form, after having at least lifted the Club World Cup.

Benitez must have bristled when he saw how Lucio, Sneijder and, above all, Eto’o were so inspirational during a run that made AC Milan sweat before their city rivals wrested the title away – and ended with the Italian Cup as minor recompense after the European crown was tamely surrendered in defeat to Schalke 04.

Individually, just about any one of the Inter players could have walked into any starting line-up in Europe but as a unit they were a spent force. The reality of the situation hit home when Gian Piero Gasperini arrived in the summer and attempted to fix something that at its core wasn't completely broken.

Eto’o could easily still be tormenting defences in Italy and Europe, but instead Moratti’s cost-cutting measures – not to mention the chance to become the world’s highest-paid player – saw Mourinho’s chief operator disappear to Russia.

Injury has curtailed Diego Forlan’s appearances and Claudio Ranieri is now in charge of a squad still relying on the majority of the heroes of Madrid, although there are signs that the future is finally being handed over to youth. Andrea Ranocchia has become a regular in the heart of the defence, while in recent weeks 19-year-old Luca Castiaignos and new arrival Ricky Alvarez have impressed.

The old guard are coming to the realisation that their sell-by date is fast approaching but a slow climb away from the relegation zone and qualification to the last 16 of the Champions League may be enough for one last tilt at a major trophy.

FFT Editor David Hall: How we picked the 100 Best Players
The Top 10s: Alphabetical by position

Conte's troops march on Naples as Juve look to widen the gap

2011-11-28T12:05:00Z

With Juventus finding themselves top of the table, the inevitable title talk is in the air - but their superstitious coach Antonio Conte is having none of it.

Having defeated both Inter and AC Milan, the Old Lady left the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Lazio tucked in her overnight bag, with a one point advantage and a game in hand over Milan and Udinese. That fixture will take place at Napoli on Tuesday evening.

Victory at the San Paolo – and the four point gap that would open - would be considered a genuine breakaway at the top, but for now all talk of the Scudetto has been banned, with Conte well aware nothing can ever be taken for granted where Juve are concerned.

The club’s former midfielder is more than happy to lead from the front, and although his short managerial career may have been littered with setbacks, he has never lost his belief that his way is the right way – and in fact his methods have long been hotwired into the Juve psyche.

There has always been the class of the old guard – and now that takes the form of Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon. The former took the pitch in Rome on Saturday with his knee heavily strapped, but was still standing at the end of 90 minutes of raw combat, while the latter made a miraculous save to deny Tommaso Rocchi and looks back to the Gigi of old.

The desire to battle for every ball and work as a team manifested itself in the unlikeliest figure to chase back - Mirko Vucinic - popping up at left-back to make a couple of clearances and on one occasion a challenge that had Giorgio Chiellini grinning from ear to ear.

Then, the clinical finishing to kill off the opposition just when they seem to be holding the upper hand – that came from a three-pass move which saw Vucinic release Alessandro Matri along the left flank who whipped in a low cross for Simone Pepe to sweep the ball home for the only goal of the game.

And then there is the drill sergeant on the sideline, who never finishes a match with his voice intact. But what most makes his side genuine title candidates is his lack of reliance on one or two big names - as Milan do with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The whole team has taken on the plan one hundred per cent.

“It’s a war and you need to be battle ready,” is how Conte has described his approach to football in the past and that is why the Bianconeri are top and can now deploy their troops to Napoli in good heart.

Some will point to the fact that Juve have had no European duties to distract them, and they will certainly hope to impose their physical approach on Napoli, who after their exertions against Manchester City were fortunate to come away from Atalanta with a point thanks to Edinson Cavani’s last-gasp equaliser.

Milan knew they needed to respond on Sunday evening and a 4-0 thumping of Chievo - with Ibra passing the century of goals in Italian football and Pato on the score sheet for the first time this season - sent out loud and clear the message that the reigning champions remain in rude health.

Despite their impressive performance, the arrival of Carlos Tevez is looking more and more likely, and this will ramp up the pressure on Alexandre Pato and Robinho, whose starting places will come under threat.

It would be unlike the Brazilian pair to throw a hissy fit (cough, splutter) but word around Milanello is that some of the senior players are none too keen on the Argentine’s potential arrival, even if the team is in dire need of additional offensive cover in Antonio Cassano’s absence.

However, with Juve distancing themselves from the troublesome South American, the way is open for Milan chief Adriano Galliani to persuade City to accept a loan deal. The reaction of the rest of the Rossoneri squad will be key to how their season unfolds – lose their discipline and they could well lose their title, especially as there seems little danger of anybody in Turin breaking rank.

Roma striker Osvaldo's work of art stolen

2011-11-23T10:06:00Z

One blustery spring morning a few years ago I was strolling through Milan's art district Brera. It happened to be the third Sunday of the month, and the market stalls were out on the streets selling their wares. I wasn't looking for anything in particular but that's usually when you stumble upon something special.

In a damp cardboard box on an antiques stand were a number of dog-eared Panini albums, about 30 in total. Each of them had been painstakingly completed by the man on the stall. He wanted €50 for the set, a price I considered to be a bargain considering the sentimental value they might have held. So we shook hands and I spent a train ride back to Rome that evening leafing through their contents.

The faces on the stickers change from season to season, and with them the styles of their shirts and hair, but one player has been on the front cover since 1965. His name is Carlo Parola. He won the Scudetto twice with Juventus, but that's not what he is famous for. He is famous for executing the perfect scissor kick in a game against Fiorentina on January 15, 1950.

Parola didn't score - he was clearing the ball from his own penalty area in the 80th minute of a goalless draw - but aesthetically, it was a thing of beauty, and as the crowd rose to their feet to give a standing ovation, the photographer Corrado Bianchi captured it from the byline. It would be used by the artist Wainer Vaccari as the basis of a commission from Panini to come up with a symbol for their albums.

Vaccari didn't need to do much, just paint his subject in a neutral football kit. It would feature on the front cover of more than 200 million copies printed worldwide, making Parola's iconic scissor kick immortal.

That image crossed my mind again while watching Roma play Lecce at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday night. The hosts were showing glimpses of what a fine team they could become under Luis Enrique, opening the scoring in the 25th minute when Miralem Pjanic finished off a 16-pass move.

Things got even better early in the second half after Fernando Gago doubled their advantage with an angled shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. But when Lecce pulled one back through the midfielder Andrea Bertolacci – a superb young player currently on-loan from Roma - there was a suspicion that for all their dominance, a win might once again slip through their grasp.

Then in the 74th minute, it happened. Erik Lamela received a reverse pass from Francesco Totti. He swiveled and played in Gago on the right-hand side of the box. Gago crossed to the far post and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo was there waiting. As the ball curled away from him, he leaped. At that moment it was like Parola appeared again.

Osvaldo produced a scissor kick that was identical in its shape and in its form. But there was a key difference. The Roma striker scored. His shot fizzed into the top corner. It was the goal of the season. The Italy international striker wheeled away and as he knelt down to do his Batistuta inspired machine gun celebration, he saw the linesman holding up his flag for a non-existent offside.

Crestfallen, he pulled his shirt over his head in disgust. So many emotions ran through his head and those of the Roma fans. After all, they have been here before. Disallowed goals have cost them the Scudetto in the past. Think of Ramon Turone on May 10, 1981.

Fortunately, Roma held on to win this time around and besides, this wasn’t about the scoreline. Before the game, the Curva Sud had unveiled a banner on which they showed their support for Enrique’s philosophy by writing on it: “Never slave to the result.”

No more so was that true than in this case. The result paled into insignificance. Everyone was talking about the injustice suffered by Osvaldo. “They have committed more than a mistake,” wrote Carmine Fotia in Il Romanista. “They have committed a murder. They have killed poetry. Or better, they have tried, because as happens with poets killed by dictatorships, the aura of their verses remains beyond mortal life.”

For me, the parallel lay elsewhere. When the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911, people queued to stare at the empty space on the wall where it had once hung. And so it is with goals that are taken from us, from Karl-Heinze Rummenigge’s for Inter in the UEFA Cup against Rangers in 1984 to Michel Platini’s for Juventus in the Intercontinental Cup against Argentinos Juniors in 1985. They are each lost masterpieces that continue to hang in our minds.

Osvaldo’s is the latest exhibit to be added to the gallery, the goal that never was, but always will be.

Naming rights: A black and white issue for Newcastle United and Juventus

2011-11-22T11:58:00Z

It must be the stripes. You look at one and more often than not think of the other. Yet besides a vaguely similar home shirt, Newcastle United and Juventus are different in almost every other way.

One is synonymous with victory, racking up more league wins than any of their domestic rivals and becoming one of the most dominant and feared sides in European football. The other is, some lower league titles and an Anglo-Italian cup victory aside, trophy-less since 1969.

While Turin's grand Old Lady is viewed as one of the most prestigious and glamorous sides in the world, Newcastle United have become renowned for spectacular collapses, kamikaze defending and some bizarre off-field incidents.

While it may be easy to draw parallels between Kevin Keegan's famous "I'd love it..." rant and Juventus legend Giovanni Trapattoni's incredible tirade against Thomas Strunz during his time at

Bayern Munich, there are in truth very few similarities between the two sides.
Indeed this season, as both enjoy superb starts to their respective league campaigns, even the reaction towards each could not be in more stark contrast.

Newcastle's incredible rise to the Premier League’s top four has generally been met with incredulity and a widespread belief it simply cannot last. Meanwhile Juve's own unbeaten march through the first ten Serie A fixtures has seen them touted as genuine title contenders, and the belief the club is 'back' after five difficult post-Calciopoli years is ever-growing.

Even the grounds the two clubs call home are almost as different as it is possible for two football stadia to be. Newcastle's reluctance to ever leave the nostalgic familiarity of St James' Park has seen the old stadium take on an increasingly lop-sided look as regular increases in capacity have been made to keep pace with the raise in demand.

In Turin, the Bianconeri moved in a brand new home ahead of the current campaign, opening the Juventus Stadium back on September 8 in a friendly against the team who gave the club it's famous colours, League One side Notts County.

It is, to provide even starker contrast to the settled-in-one-place Newcastle, Juve's eighth permanent home in their nomadic 114 year history, and is packed with every facility and convenience modern day football demands.

Yet events last week served to draw an interesting parallel between, not just these two clubs, but also those very stadia, as the increasingly frequent issue of the sale of naming rights has begun to affect both.

For Newcastle the story begins back in 2009 when they first announced plans to sell those rights. Protests over the loss of the old name - which even led to the tabling of a motion in Parliament - forced the club to clarify the move would not involve dropping the 'St James' Park' moniker. They then cited the example of 'SportsDirect.com @ St James Park' as an idea, before announcing that would indeed be the official name until a new sponsor was found.

All of which brings us to the latest development when, on November 10, the club announced the stadium was to be officially renamed "Sports Direct Arena" as a temporary measure to "showcase the sponsorship opportunity to interested parties" while the search for a buyer continued.

Sports Direct is of course, like the club itself, owned by retail entrepreneur Mike Ashley. According to him and the club, the traditional St James' Park title was not being "commercially attractive".
Juventus too are beset by similar difficulties but, as history has already shown, they are handling it in a very different manner to the Premier League side.

When unveiling the final plans for their new home, the Turin club announced it had reached a twelve year agreement with international sports rights marketing agency Sportfive, worth €75 million.

That deal saw the club sell naming rights for the stadium to Sportfive, who in turn would sell them on at a profit, with the instant payment to Juventus covering approximately 75-80% of the total cost of construction, vital in the current financial climate.

Shrouded in secrecy as the opening of the new 41,000 seater stadium approached, it wasn't until that incredible inauguration evening that it became clear a sponsor willing to meet both the asking price and strict criteria set out by the club had not been found.

The state of the Italian economy - and indeed that of the Euro Zone in general - has been blamed, but the use of Sportfive as a broker meant that this apparent failure does not affect the club in any way, their fee already paid - and indeed spent - well in advance.

Changing one's stripes may well be as impossible as the ancient proverb would lead us to believe but - especially in the case of Newcastle United and Juventus - the beast underneath can be, despite initial appearances, vastly different.

Napoli in the eye of their own storm against Manchester City

2011-11-22T11:18:00Z

Anyone who thinks watching Napoli is a massive bucket of fun obviously hasn’t been following the Azzurri recently.

Going into the international break they lost at Catania, having frozen in the headlights at Bayern Munich where they were 3-0 down inside 42 minutes before offering something of a comeback to finish 3-2.

Then on their return to competitive action at the weekend they failed to break down a well organised – read “defensive” – Lazio, though they had a good goal incorrectly ruled out for a non-existent offside.

The result left coach Walter Mazzarri and his not-so-merry men off the pace in the league, seven points behind Juventus and facing Manchester City on Tuesday in what is a make or break moment, even at this early stage of the campaign.

Failure to progress in the Champions League coupled with a sluggish domestic run could derail their whole season, so the current hype in the Bay area is for once justified, with the match billed as il finalissmo (the very big final).

Such an event needs a full house and that’s what they’ll get at the San Paolo, where the fans will be flooding through the turnstiles a good three to four hours before kick-off. The locals will no doubt be looking to welcome one of the city’s favourite players, Mario Balotelli, who they hold in high regard for being, well, Mario Balotelli, and who in return feels like an adopted Neapolitan.

City manager Roberto Mancini, however, will neither feel any affection or receive any good will on his return, having put Diego Maradona’s side to the sword with two goals for Sampdoria’s title-winning side back in 1991. But if anything, it will be the home players who will have to overcome the weight of expectation.

For the record, Napoli have never conceded a goal at home to Englis, with their results thus far a 0-0 draw with Burnley in 1967; a 2-0 win against Leeds in 1968 and another goalless draw with Liverpool in 2010.

There have been far more amazing evenings in the San Paolo over the last year, including the thriller which was the first encounter with Bayern, in which Morgan De Sanctis saved a penalty to earn what could yet prove to be an invaluable draw.

There is no doubt the fans will be up for it, but the question remains whether the players can pull themselves out of the funk in which they currently find themselves.

Edinson Cavani has been particularly out of sorts and since scoring a hat-trick against AC Milan back in September, finding the net just once more to take his season tally in the league to four. This time last year he had scored 11.

The Uruguayan endured a similar slump last term and came good again, and he did also score at City in the first meeting in Manchester, and although there were banners calling for “Sainthood Now” following his exploits last year, what the South American really needs right now is a bit of devilment.

The Holy Trinity is completed by Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi, who have chipped in with two goals apiece on the home front, with the former also grabbing one in Europe: So nothing much to write home about there.

However, on such evenings so far it has been Lavezzi who has thrived against foreign opposition, with his pace and darting runs causing rivals no end of grief, though as ever the Argentine’s finishing remains wayward, with the 26-year-old generally preferring to attempt and walk the ball into the net.

Lavezzi may be hyper on the pitch but on the sidelines it is the over excitable Walter Mazzarri who must ensure his players keep their heads and not allow all manner of distractions to get to them - such as owner Aulerio De Laurentiis

The ever-combustible movie mogul has been obsessing about this game ever since the draw was made and nothing will pacify his desire to take the Sky Blues into the big time. It is that craving which could work against his team unless the players can find the calm in what promises to be a tempestuous night in Naples.

Zlatan torments Catania as Milan move one step closer to the summit

2011-11-07T12:14:00Z

The great north-south divide in Italy is beginning to disappear, and as the devastating images of the flash flooding in Genoa testify, the country is currently battling against more than the crippling debt.

"We are all Italians and we are all suffering," lamented Rome-based daily La Repubblica in an editorial reflecting on both the disaster in Liguria and the financial struggles hitting the Eurozone.

In such trying circumstances Italians can be counted on to provide a united front, so in footballing terms AC Milan and Catania, who reflect a perfect microcosm of the aforementioned national split, provided a little weekend panacea for the all the doom and gloom in the real world - as much as a 90 minutes of football possibly can, at least - with one man doing more than most to entertain.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who had spent all week plugging his autobiography 'A Nose for Trouble' [working title] in which he gives Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi a verbal kicking – was at his defender-torturing best, and inspired the champions to a somewhat surprisingly emphatic victory.

Of course, we all know that Massimiliano Allegri’s side are more than a one-man team, but it’s hard to imagine they’d be quite the same side without the dominant Swede. Zlatan set up three goals and scored another in a 4-0 rout of the Sicilians, who had arrived at the San Siro on the back of a six-game unbeaten run.

It may have ended-up being a routine victory, and one that took Milan to within a point of leaders Udinese and Lazio, but it was a brilliantly extravagant performance from Ibra, who toyed with the Catania defence until he almost seemed to become detached from his surroundings. Perhaps he was contemplating other ways to flog a few more hardbacks...

When switched on to the task at hand he produced two sublime passes – the first a sharp side-footer slicing through the opposition defence, and the second a delightful volleyed diagonal ball with the outside of his left foot.

On both occasions Robinho was the grateful recipient: fouled for the penalty that opened the scoring – dispatched by the provider of course – then creating his own piece of magic for the second, skipping past his marker and steering a low curling shot into the far corner of the net.

Thirty minutes had not even gone and it looked like curtains for the visitors, but it’s when things become all too easy that Ibra starts to dilly and dally on the ball, causing potentially sweeping attacks to come to a grinding halt - and for most of the second half that was the case.

It was not until almost the final quarter that the big fella decided enough was enough and threaded a delightful through-ball for Robinho to score his second goal via a massive deflection off Francesco Lodi for his team’s third.

Just to underline the champion’s dominance, Gianluca Zambrotta was the unlikely scorer of the fourth and even Filippo Inzaghi was given ten minutes in which he contrived to miss a presentable goalscoring chance, though the veteran would probably claim to have still garnered the biggest cheer of the afternoon from the home fans when he took to the pitch.

No wonder Catania striker Maxi Lopez made it public that he was ready to join the Rossoneri if they desired his services in January. The Argentine has been heavily linked with a move to the San Siro to fill in for the gap left by Antonio Cassano’s enforced absence, though in truth there is probably nobody who could fill the role of maverick genius in quite the same way Cassano – other than Mario Balotelli, perhaps.

It seems a cruel twist of fate that the Bari Bawler be struck down just when it seemed he had settled down, but as he recuperates over the next six months he can do so in the knowledge that if his strike partner continues to turn it on then he could well be celebrating another title on his comeback.

'Mute fish' Mihajlovic still swimming against the tide of fan opinion at Fiorentina

2011-11-04T11:23:00Z

As dawn broke on a wintry Tuesday morning in Florence, the streetlights outside the Stadio Artemio Franchi cast a murky orange light on a banner hanging loosely from its green gates.

“As a coach we discuss you, but as a man we respect you. Sorry!!!” it read in crude red spray-paint.

This, believe or not, was an apology of sorts from the Fiorentina supporters to coach Sinisa Mihajlovic for the deplorable racial slurs he has been subjected to in each of the club’s last two home games when - amid the by now frequent calls for his dismissal - a section of the Curva sang: “You are a Gypsy.”

Their actions justifiably brought widespread condemnation from the club and the wider football community. “Fiorentina expresses the firmest and toughest condemnation of racist chants and insults towards Mihajlovic,” a statement read. “Every form of dissent and protest is considered legitimate as long as it does not go beyond the limits of correctness and civility. Fiorentina cannot accept a decline into gratuitous vulgarity, into verbal aggression or racism and therefore expresses full solidarity and support to Sinisa Mihajlovic, the victim of shameful and intolerable attacks.”

Mihajlovic’s own response was typical of the spirit he once showed as an uncompromising defender. “They can whistle me and chant ‘sack him’ for as long as they want, that’s fine. But when they start to get personal it becomes bothersome and I can’t accept it. I hope that if these people were ever to meet me in the street they would have the bottle to say it to my face.” Mihajlovic has never been one to shy away from a fight, but there is a growing sense that, for once, this is a battle even he can’t win.

Ever since his appointment in June 2010, Mihajlovic has never enjoyed the favour of the Fiorentina supporters. Replacing Cesare Prandelli, the club’s longest-serving manager, was never going to be easy. On the pitch, he had done more than anyone else to re-establish Fiorentina as a leading player in Serie A, achieving fourth place finishes in 2008 and 2009 and qualifying for the Champions League. Off it, Prandelli went further. He helped shape the club’s identity, presenting a Fiorentina with a social conscience to the world. There was the Terzo Tempo fair-play initiative and the decision to forego a commercial shirt sponsor to promote the charity ‘Save the Children’, which came into effect just after his exit.

When Prandelli accepted the Italy job in the aftermath of the World Cup in South Africa, it was thought that Fiorentina would bring in another Mr Nice. Instead, they made the decision to hire someone with a reputation for being Mr Nasty. It was not well received. Football fans are elephants, not gold fish. They never forget. But they are selective in what they remember. To many of them Mihajlovic remains one of the most divisive figures in the game because of the controversies that marked his playing career, controversies that many take at face value without exploring the complexities behind them, even if that doesn’t at all mitigate or excuse what he did, from racially abusing Patrick Vieira during Lazio’s encounter with Arsenal in October 2000 and spitting at Adrian Mutu during a match against Chelsea, to honouring his friendship with the late war criminal Zeljko Raznatovic – better known as Arkan.

Sinisa's range of bespoke knitwear wasn't particularly popular in Florence

But to refer back to Tuesday’s banner, what’s up for discussion here is Mihajlovic the coach, not Mihajlovic the man. The debate has to be professional, not personal. So let’s look at the facts and in particular the background of Mihajlovic’s arrival.

Fiorentina had finished a disappointing 11th in Prandelli’s final season at the club. They were eliminated from the Champions League in March by Bayern Munich unable to recover from the injustice of the first leg when referee Tom Henning Ovrebo harshly sent off Massimo Gobbi and failed to disallow Miroslav Klose’s winner, which was scored from a clearly offside position. The defeat cast a shadow on the rest of campaign, as did the open secret that Prandelli would be leaving.

That Easter, amid the suspicion Prandelli was in talks with Juventus about replacing caretaker boss Alberto Zaccheroni, one of the brothers who owns Fiorentina, Diego Della Valle, asked that the coach sign a letter to the fans saying he would not be moving to the club’s biggest rivals. Prandelli refused and in a fit of pique Diego announced that he would no longer be patron of Fiorentina. He’d had enough. Around the same time, plans to build a new stadium with hotels and retail space were shelved by the city’s mayor Matteo Renzi, a huge blow to the Della Valle family, while the economic downturn understandably meant their business interests also warranted greater attention.

The Della Valle family grew distant. They felt a distinct lack of gratitude for resurrecting the club they had bought in 2002, which was then playing under a different name in Serie C2 and still reeling from the effects of bankruptcy. The same fans who had welcomed them as saviours were now staging protests, and the moment had come to ask if their time and money could not be spent better elsewhere. Last January, for instance, they committed £21.5m to the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome while transfer expenditure at Fiorentina throughout the season was £13.3m, the lowest outlay since the club returned to Serie A in 2004.

What’s clear is that there was a climate of discontent before Mihajlovic’s arrival in Florence. Lauded for saving Catania from relegation, his stock had risen substantially since he received the sack from his first coaching position at Bologna. Even so, his experience came under the microscope. He had never started and finished a season with a club, always stepping into the breach and there were suggestions that Mihajlovic had done so well in six months at Catania because they were up against it and needed someone to take no prisoners and give them a good kick up the backside. The job played to his strengths and the team responded.

Fiorentina represented a different proposition entirely. Used to challenging for Europe and being comfortable in Serie A, whenever times were hard, the players could expect Prandelli to put an arm around their shoulders and talk to them calmly. Voices weren’t raised. There was no hair-dryer treatment. In Mihajlovic, a bigger contrast to Prandelli’s style of management could not be found. Alberto Gilardino said it was a bit of a culture shock. That was an understatement but, to be fair, Mihajlovic soon recognised that if he were to get the best out of his players, he would have to adapt.

Matters weren’t helped, however, by an injury crisis that decimated Fiorentina’s squad. Top playmaker Stevan Jovetic was ruled out for the entire season with torn ligaments in his knee. Goalkeeper Sebastien Frey suffered a similar fate and had been disgruntled anyway by the purchase of Artur Boruc. New signing Gaetano D’Agostino struggled for fitness and form, reportedly prioritising church over his football. Captain Riccardo Montolivo played through an injury sustained at the World Cup but inevitably succumbed and had to go under the knife before Christmas. Adem Ljajic ate too much chocolate and needed to get his haircut. The list went on. Mihajlovic could never field his best team, the football was unconvincing and an already thin margin for error became thinner and thinner.

Mihajlovic shares a laugh and a joke with Patrick Vieira back in 2000...

Interviewed by Il Corriere Fiorentino, Mihajlovic’s wife Arianna said: “I suffer if he loses because I know that the mute phase begins… He already speaks little, if he then loses a freeze descends on the house. He becomes a fish...” Was Mihajlovic out of his depth? Considering the circumstances, the ninth place finish he achieved was not a disaster. Fiorentina were four points and three places better off than the previous year. They had taken the lead in 20 games, but in those cases Fiorentina only went on to win 11 of them. There were missed opportunities that’s for sure. But it could still be said an improvement had been made. Nevertheless the expectations of the supporters hadn’t been met.

When Mihajlovic was again linked with the vacant post at Inter after Leonardo’s departure for a desk job at Paris Saint-Germain in June, another banner was draped over the gates at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. “Moratti, please take him away from us. Thanks!!!” it read. Much to their disappointment, he didn’t take them up on their offer, deciding on Gian Piero Gasperini instead. A measure of fun was to be had though when someone stole Mihajlovic’s favourite Oliver People’s sunglasses at a pre-season press conference only to respond to a club appeal and return them in an unmarked envelope.

Even so, the malaise at Fiorentina couldn’t be lifted.

Diego Della Valle’s brother, Andrea, wrote an open letter outlining the situation. “I need to know with extreme clarity what the city and real fans want and expect for the future of Fiorentina, to understand if there is still the motivation for the owners to continue down a common path of sporting passion, to build the best possible future and to restore all the pleasure of going to the stadium to spend an entertaining afternoon. If there aren’t these conditions then, as we have said before, the owners are ready to step aside.”

Montolivo was one of the first to give an answer, one that he had been mulling over for some time. Entering the final year of his contract, he revealed that he wouldn’t be signing a renewal. Fiorentina stripped him of the captaincy and though there were rumours of a move to Milan, a deal to suit both parties couldn’t be struck and he remains at the club, still eligible for selection as long as he keeps working hard in training, which he has done to his credit.

Despite everything, once Mihajlovic’s second season started there were reasons to be hopeful. Fiorentina opened their account with a 2-0 victory at home to Bologna, while a defeat to Udinese the following week was immediately put right by the 3-0 thrashing of Parma in front of their own fans. Jovetic announced his return with a brace and put pen to paper on a new long-term contract until 2016. Then came a run of five games without a win, coinciding with an injury to Alberto Gilardino and a 2-1 defeat to the old enemy Juventus, which brought the pressure right back on to Mihajlovic.

Last Sunday’s visit of Genoa was labeled a must-win, even by the club. Fiorentina president Mario Cognigni insisted that while a “Mihajlovic problem” does not exist, results have to change. Before kick-off the supporters unveiled banners in favour of certain names put forward in the press to replace him. “I want Delio Rossi,” claimed one. “Me too,” said another. Some even got behind Genoa because their coach Alberto Malesani, once in the employ of Fiorentina in the mid-90s, remains popular. Much to their chagrin, Mihajlovic prevailed, as Andrea Lazzari’s 41st minute strike separated the two sides and saved his coach from being fired though it wasn’t enough to silence the whistles and vile chants.

Tuesday’s ‘apology’ was a positive sign. Tentative efforts to open further channels of rapprochement between Mihajlovic and the fans were made on Thursday when an open training session was organised with a friendly against the Under-17s on the cards. Whether the peace is genuine or phoney remains to be seen. Street signs in the city have been defaced to read via Sinisa da Firenze [jokingly pointing Mihajlovic in the direction of the exit] and if Fiorentina were to lose to Chievo on Sunday ahead of their next fixture against Milan then he might well be forced to take it.

Italy unites behind stricken Gattuso and Cassano

2011-11-01T16:51:00Z

These are difficult times in Italy. The government’s debt is front-page news across the world. It is now the second highest in the Eurozone, and borrowing is naturally becoming more expensive.

By one study’s reckoning unemployment has risen to 8.3 per cent and domestic inflation has hit its highest level in three years. There is a palpable sense of vulnerability about the country and few places remain for the people to seek refuge from the depressing headlines.

Sport is where most of them look to for an escape. But even that is providing little succour at the moment. Thousands were shocked and profoundly moved by the tragic death of the rising star of Moto GP, Marco Simoncelli, after an accident at the Malaysia Grand Prix on October 23. Later that day, his face featured on the big screens of Italy’s football grounds. A minute’s silence was held and black armbands were worn in commemoration of his life. Everybody hurt.

It was in this sobering context with a red and black shirt bearing Simoncelli’s name draped out in front of him that the Milan midfielder Rino Gattuso held a press conference on a rainy afternoon to reveal that the sixth cranial nerve of his left eye was paralysed and the muscle linked to it was no longer working. A clash with teammate Alessandro Nesta during the opening match of the season against Lazio had worsened an existing problem with his sight.

Present at San Siro on match days with the left lens of his designer glasses covered with a bandage, Gattuso has not played since and at first feared that the affliction not only threatened his career but his life too. “I really thought the worst,” he said. “When they put you in the CAT scan cylinder and you’re afraid you have a tumour, your thoughts go to your little kids. Now I know that that kind of ‘worst’ has been excluded so, despite everything, I can let out a big sigh of relief.”

Gattuso will be out for at least four months. He remains hopeful the nerve will start to function normally again of its own accord but for now the World Cup winner can only wait before considering an operation. “I fight against an invisible man,” he added. “Every morning when I wake up I open the healthy eye first then the sick one and I say to myself: ‘We’re still where we were.

“Before I saw triple and now double, so I am improving a little. Football is no longer the central part of my thoughts. Now every day life is more important: it’s awful not being able to take the kids to school, not being able to drive. I find it hard to watch the TV and also to write an email on the PC: I see objects in one place while in reality they are in another. If you are not strong mentally, it’s very tough.”

Keeping his spirits up at Milanello with his jokes and high jinks was Antonio Cassano. Now it’s the condition of the latter that is of deep concern to a nation. Late on Saturday night as the Milan players were disembarking a charter flight home from the capital where they had inflicted a 3-2 defeat on Roma, Cassano reportedly felt feint and was lent up against the bus that was due to take them to the terminal at Malpensa.

There were claims that his vision became blurry, and that he developed problems with his speech and movement. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Cassano was taken to the Pronto Soccorso hospital by Milan’s medical staff where it’s said he underwent tests on his blood and heart. He was then transferred to the neurology department at the Policlinico di Milano for further examination.

The Italian news agency ANSA reported last night that the initial diagnosis was a transient ischemic attack or mini-stroke. Milan reacted by releasing a statement to the effect that it was “hypothetical” and “cannot possibly be verified as they are from neither the club’s medical staff, nor the doctors at the Policlinico di Milano who are caring for him.”

As of yet there is no official diagnosis, and nor should one necessarily be issued. Cassano may be a public figure, but he is also a patient and has a right to privacy and confidentiality. What was apparent from the tears in the eyes of his mother Giovanna and the distress on the face of his wife Carolina yesterday is that even if Cassano’s condition is said to be improving, he has had a real fright.

Unsurprisingly, messages of support for the jovial playmaker haven’t been lacking. Roma captain Francesco Totti even wrote on his blog: “Antonio, hurry up and get out of that hospital because I’m sure the doctors and nurses can’t take any more of you and your jokes.” Ronaldo tweeted: “Forza Cassano.”

It’s too early to speculate exactly what the future holds. Some already have done, of course, suggesting that if Cassano has in fact suffered a transient ischemic attack then as long as the source of it is discovered and removed he will in theory be able to play again. For now, however, the most important thing is that he puts his health first and football second. That goes for Gattuso too.

For what their examples show is that for all our efforts to put them on a pedestal and regard them as untouchable, they are really just human and mortal like us.

Milan win from 3-0 down as Lecce phone in second-half 'performance'

2011-10-26T11:51:00Z

Don't expect to see Adriano Galliani on the phone too often this evening when AC Milan host Parma. Certainly not compared to on Sunday down in Lecce, when he took full advantage of his free weekend minutes.

With the champions somehow – and no one really knows how – 3-0 down after 37 minutes to a team that look nailed-on relegation candidates, Silvio Berlusconi’s chief problem-solver was seen fervently whispering into his mobile.

In truth, he had been on the blower after every home goal, some of which were suspect: the second was a questionable penalty, and the build-up to the third involved what looked like a foul on Luca Antonini.

After Milan scored four unanswered second-half goals, the conspiracy theorists (i.e. Inter and Juventus fans) quickly asked asking who Galliani had been chatting to so animatedly, with his hand hidden over the mouthpiece for added affect.

Some wags suggested that it was to the Massimo Oddo’s agent with the promise that a new contract was waiting for his client if the full-back, who is on loan down in Salento and had taken great glee in scoring from the spot, had a few words in the dressing room during the interval.

It was all good Milanese bar banter on a Monday morning and in fact those of a Rossoneri persuasion had the good grace not to rub it in – remembering of course that they had been on the receiving end of a similar comeback against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Their saviour came from the bench. Kevin-Prince Boateng had time to stretch his legs and relax during the first 45 while his team-mates gave a good impression of the Walking Dead; given the nod at half-time, the Prince of body-inking was well pumped up.

And how he relished all that open space (or perhaps Lecce failing to notice he was on the pitch), sweeping home two thunderous shots totally unhindered as the home players settled down to an languid lunch break inside their own penalty area.

The Ghana international completed his hat-trick before Antonio Cassano was left with all the time in the world to pick out Mario Yepes for the winner.

Some comeback, but given how Lecce strolled in the second-half sunshine the result hardly compares with Genoa’s stirring four-goal comeback against AS Roma last season which cost Claudio Ranieri his job.

You wouldn't expect to see Lecce in a position to throw away a three-goal lead against anyone, let alone the champions. Whatever the manner of the outcome, the result propelled Milan back to the top of the betting to retain the title.

That's where Massimiliano Allegri feels his side are most comfortable, with the rest of the league showing them due respect – and no doubt Parma will be as obliging as Lecce.

A good dose of reverence is what Juventus used to receive from opponents and although the Old Lady may have acquired a beautiful new stadium – and it is indeed a wonderful piece of architecture – on-field performances had still looked as confused as she did last season.

TRAVEL Our guide to Juventus (and Turin, Italy, etc)

Draws at home to Bologna and Genoa had, however, not dampened enthusiasm amongst the fans to enjoy the spectacle of a first-rate, modern stadium and Antonio Conte’s side finally turned it on against Fiorentina last night much in the way they had done against Milan last month.

“It’s the true Juve,” trumpeted Tuttosport and in fact, the 2-1 scoreline belied how dominant Juve were and they could easily have scored another three or four goals, but if they can turn squandered chances into goals then the Bianconeri will start to earn the sort of respect Milan now take for granted.

Juventus nearing end of an era as Del Piero gets his curtain call

2011-10-20T16:01:00Z

It was one announcement nobody had expected to hear at a Juventus shareholders meeting: Alex del Piero is being shown the door at the end of the season.

Those weren’t the exact words uttered by club president Andrea Agnelli, who had been boring everyone to tears with a list of figures and obviously recognising the need to ensure those present didn’t drift off to the land of nod.

The facts were, of course, presented in a sugar-coated fashion that demanded some clarification.

"Our captain Alessandro Del Piero really wanted to stay with us for what will be his final year." mumbled Agnelli. "Let’s dedicate a massive round of applause to him."

Obviously everyone only heard the applause bit and they kept clapping until their brains kicked into gear and they understood that they were in fact applauding an ill-judged spot of public relations.

In fairness, Del Piero announced when he extended his contract last February that it would be his last, but it is doubtful that he ever thought the club would dismiss him in such a manner in a meeting room on a grey October morning.

There could perhaps have a more dignified announcement in keeping with the Old Lady’s tradition of grand gestures to its most loyal servants, but this is a new Juve run like any other major company - once you’re out; you may as well clear desk straightaway.

Del Piero followers will see it as two decades of loyal service cut down with a curt goodbye from a younger man whose family have always kept the 36-year-old close to their hearts.

There is little time for sentiment in sport when your powers are on the wane, and already this season Filippo Inzaghi and Francesco Totti have both felt the icy blast of being left out in the cold.

There is certainly a chilly new breeze sweeping down from the Alps into Turin, and the club captain is no longer a regular, even under former teammate Antonio Conte. That said, last weekend against Chievo he saved a certain goal at one end and then hit the post at the other having only come on as a second-half substitute, so he is certainly still a useful member of the squad.

How well the announcement goes down within the squad and affects Conte’s relationship with Del Piero remains to be seen. As of yet the veteran has kept his own counsel, but the feeling is that he was not privy to the decision to make the announcement on Tuesday.

The bombshell would seem to be the closing of an long chapter in the club’s history so that Juventus can finally get their house in order. Agnelli has been staring at a Ä95million black hole that does not look like it is going to get smaller any time soon.

For the Oxford graduate, the figures are totally unacceptable and like the rest of us there will be an extended period of tightening of belts, financially speaking, with there likely to be fewer big contracts and the focus likely to turn to younger players, which may see Sebastian Giovinco return to claim the No.10 shirt next season.

There may be some rather testing times ahead for those running the club, but what of Alex and his final months as he plans a farewell tour of the peninsula?

Well, he may never add to his 44 Champions League goals with the club, but the way Juve are struggling to convert chances he could yet be afforded the opportunity to get closer to the 200-mark of Serie A goals – he is currently on 185.

Looking further ahead to when the curtain comes down next May, the USA could well provide an option, with New York considered a likely destination for one last hurrah, with the general consensus being that he would then return to Turin to join legions of men in suits.

We can only hope that any future statements from the club are made with the sort of class Del Piero has demonstrated on the pitch.

The perfect result: The history of the goalless draw in Italian football

2011-10-19T10:02:00Z

Annibale Frossi was short sighted. As a member of Italy’s gold medal-winning team at the 1936 Olympics, the whippet-like winger - once clocked running the 100m with the ball at his feet in 11.4 seconds - had to wear a pair of round-rimmed spectacles.

When they weren’t falling off and being deliberately trampled on, as they were by Juventus defender Mario Varglien during a match against Frossi’s Inter, a scoreline could be read on his face: it was 0-0.

Frossi is often forgotten as the originator of a phrase more commonly attributed to Gianni Brera, the influential pipe-smoking chronicler of the game in Italy who shaped the language and style of football on the peninsula from the pages of his books and newspaper columns. “0-0 is the perfect result,” Frossi said, “because it is the expression of total balance between the attack and the defence of the two teams.”

From his point of view last weekend in Serie A must have been easy on the eyes, as for only the fourth occasion in history and the first time since the era of three points for a win, there were a record equaling five 0-0s in a single round of the championship. “HELP! The goals have disappeared,” cried Monday morning’s Gazzetta dello Sport.

Frossi certainly wasn’t your average footballer. A studious-looking man, he graduated with a law degree and became a director with Alfa Romeo once his playing days were over. Yet the game continued to have a strong hold over him and he became a coach after the Second World War. Though he advocated for difensivismo, Frossi was among the first in Italy to invert the W of the W-M and use an M-M in which wingers, like himself, would push on and establish a fluid front four.

Hardly a complete conservative then, but nonetheless, Frossi’s words have been taken to represent the essence of Italian football. Popularised by Brera in his definition of the gioco all’italiana, the number of goals scored in Italy declined by almost 300 per cent between 1950 and 1970, and it wasn’t until the emergence of a certain Arrigo Sacchi that things changed for the better.

When Sacchi arrived at Milan in 1987, an average of just 1.92 goals were scored in each game. When he left four years later, that average had risen to 2.29, a figure that translates to an extra 113 goals per season.

That ratio is still the same today. Admittedly, it’s behind the Bundesliga’s and the Premier League’s at 2.8, but then that’s nothing particularly new.

What’s different is the steady rise of 0-0s in Serie A. There have been 11 in just six rounds of the championship so far– that’s up from eight, seven and four respectively at this stage in each of the last three seasons. At this rate there are nearly two 0-0s a week in Italy and as one columnist noted that’s enough to make people turn off Serie A, which is a real cause of embarrassment for a league as inflated by TV as this one where clubs are more dependent on broadcast revenue as a source of income than anywhere else in Europe except perhaps Spain.

So how can this trend be explained? The consensus among the Italian media is that Serie A is mediocre, that there is no longer a huge gulf in class between the big clubs and the small ones.

Sure, the league gives off the impression that it is competitive. Thirteen teams are separated by just four points, with Juventus and Udinese sitting top on 12 a piece. That’s great for the neutral. But it’s also the lowest total for a league leader at this stage of the season since that watershed moment in 1994 when three points was introduced for a win and the draw was devalued.

“Are we so different from normality?” asked Gazzetta. The answer is yes and no. There were 12 coaching changes in the summer, a further three have been made since the season started, and the knock-on effect of that is more teams are in transition than usual.

It must be said there wasn’t much luck around Serie A last weekend either. Alessandro Del Piero headed against the post for Juventus in Verona, Cristobal Jorquera saw his shot rebound off the woodwork as Genoa drew at home to Lecce, Roberto Guana and Antonio Candreva both rattled Fiorentina’s crossbar for Cesena and were it not for a Man of the Match display from goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, 10-man Udinese wouldn’t have kept Atalanta at bay either.
Of the attempts at goal on Sunday only 28% were on target, evidence perhaps of a dip in the quality of finishing in Serie A.

The presence of Sebastian Giovinco, Rodrigo Palacio and German Denis at the top of the scoring charts is revealing in that sense. Not one of them has a history of being prolific, while it should also be noted that Italy no longer prefer to play with a classic No 9 at international level, reflecting a change in the times and tactics, but also the absence of one available to Cesare Prandelli, perhaps with the exception of Giampaolo Pazzini.

There’s no denying the sun is beginning to set on a generation of great goalscorers in Serie A too. Del Piero plays fewer and fewer minutes and, according to Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, is in his last season at the club. Pippo Inzaghi doesn’t come off the bench anymore and was left out of Milan’s Champions League squad. Christian Vieri has retired, Luca Toni’s career is approaching its end and Francesco Totti plays further away from goal. Alberto Gilardino and Marco Borriello, meanwhile, have yet to convincingly take over from any of the above, while Mario Balotelli now plays in England.

With David Trezeguet gone last year and Samuel Eto’o this summer, Serie A has to some extent compensated for their losses with the additions of Miroslav Klose and Diego Forlan, though at 33 and 32 the curiosity lies in seeing how much longer they can keep producing the goods, an argument that’s just as valid for Diego Milito, Fabrizio Miccoli, Marco Di Vaio and reigning Capocannoniere, Toto Di Natale.

Undoubted class remains in the form of Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who along with Alessandro Matri and Gilardino are the only players aged 30 or under to score more than 20 goals in a single season in Serie A. When one thinks about it, the number of members in that group is actually pretty healthy and were it not for the 13 injuries he has suffered in the last two years, Alexandre Pato might have achieved that feat by now too.

So it would be reductive to lay the blame for the 0-0s solely at the door of the strikers. After all, Serie A clubs are, by and large, conceding fewer shots on target this season and retaining possession better. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. If it’s the opposition doing both then it’s certainly harder to score goals, while the inherent narrowness of teams in the division mean that the need for central playmakers like Wesley Sneijder and Hernanes to pick up the slack and create chances is greater still, which can of course be limiting.

A few have blamed the international week for Sunday’s series of stalemates. That line of thinking excuses some of the players, notably those who faced long journeys to and from South America, but not the Italians who had already qualified for Euro 2012 with two games to spare.

Make no mistake about it, the increase in 0-0s in Serie A is not an anomaly, it’s a tendency. One man’s mediocrity, however, is another man’s perfection. And his name, lest we forget it, is Annibale Frossi.

Lazio's OAP trumps Roma's brave young charges in capital clash

2011-10-17T11:07:00Z

When you're part of the two-man team commentating on Serie A's international TV feed, it's important to give viewers from Adelaide to Anchorage a feel of the build-up to the big game of the week. Stepping out into the piazza in front of Rome’s Termini station on Sunday morning, it looked as if the derby had kicked off – excuse the pun – without us.

The smell of tear gas lingered in the air and council workers were busily patching up damaged shop fronts while battle-weary police glared at groups of tourists eager to take home a photographic memory of a burnt-out car. However, this was not the aftermath of another AS Roma-Lazio dust-up but the remnants of Saturday’s public protests, ostensibly anti-banking but possibly also opportunist.

Being in the capital solely for the love of the beautiful game but as a veteran of many a fraught derby experience, there was a certain amount of trepidation heading along the concourse to the Olympic stadium a few hours before kick-off – after all, Italian police and football fans mix as easily as oil and water.

But in the end the events of the previous day had obviously taken the edge off some of the more unsavoury elements who populate this event. And with city mayor Gianni Alemanno declaring that Rome couldn't afford not to stage the derby despite the forces of law and order being stretched to the limit, it was game on.

The players of both sides certainly reacted in a manner fitting of such a major occasion to produce a stirring and drama-filled encounter. The climax came when Lazio's Miroslav Klose grabbed the winner with 20 seconds of added time remaining to finally halt a five-game losing streak which had haunted the Biancoceleste.

Dear old Edy Reja – who must have long given hope of ever breaking his losing jinx – belied his 66 years and went hurtling down the touchline, closely followed by the man who carries Olimpia the eagle around plus said bird and the rest of the Lazio bench. They led the celebrations in front of the Curva Nord, home to the Lazio hardcore who had directed their much-loved anti-Semitic chants and banners at the Giallorossi followers in the Curva Sud.

The scene of utter desolation at the other end of the ground was mirrored by those in red and yellow on the pitch, who had almost pulled off a courageous draw having played most of the second half a man down after centre-back Simon Kjaer had been shown a straight red for a tug on Christian Brocchi inside the area.

Roma coach Luis Enrique had never witnessed such a spectacle even during his time at Real Madrid and Barcelona and his opening response in the post-game press conference was along the lines of “mamma mia, what a game.”

Every foreigner from Abba to yours truly likes to throw out a mamma mia now and then, but never has it served so well. It summed up an evening on which Hernanes had drawn Lazio level from the spot and Klose and Djibril Cisse had hit the woodwork before the German’s last-gasp finish.

Credit must be given to Enrique for his reaction when Roma went down to 10 men. Rather than remove one of his two front men, he removed midfielder Simone Perrotta – one of only two Roma players to have experienced the derby before, along with Daniele De Rossi (captain for the evening in the absence of Francesco Totti).

He had his reasons: the two derby debutants in attack, Bojan Krkic and Pablo Osvaldo, had been dovetailing so well that the Spanish coach felt the game was still there to be won. Osvaldo had opened the scoring after just four minutes, revealing the Totti-inspired T-shirt slogan “vi ho purgato anche io” ['I’ve purged you too'], and could easily have had two goals to his name before the break.

However, for all the kudos due to the defeated Enrique and his exciting youngsters, the evening belonged to an OAP – and Reja, whom Totti had taunted mercilessly in the week before the game, could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“It was a feeling of liberation,” wheezed the old fella at the final whistle. And the same could be said for the capital, after a weekend in which it had been held hostage to civil disorder ended in a riotous outpouring of joy – for one half of the city, anyway.

Meet this season's sensational Serie A newcomers

2011-10-13T09:55:00Z

After the international break it's back to the domestic Serie A action this weekend, and James Horncastle highlights five special new talents to watch

Maxi Moralez, Atalanta
Standing at 5’2” Maxi Moralez is the shortest player in Serie A by two important inches. One of the nicknames by which he is known back home in Argentina is El Enano, the midget. He even makes Sebastian Giovinco, the so-called Atomic Ant, look like a giant at 5'4.5". But as Xavi and Andrés Iniesta have shown, technique beats physique in creative positions, and it’s from down low that Moralez is sending Atalanta on high.

With a six-point penalty to overcome and a ban abruptly ending the career of talismanic captain Cristiano Doni following the Last Bet match-fixing scandal, Atalanta were in need of a new saviour. Their director of sport Pier Paolo Marino, the man who brought Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi to Napoli, personally went to watch Moralez at Velez Sarsfield and liked what he saw.

The 24-year-old was a key member of the Clausura championship-winning side, much more so than his teammate Ricardo Alvarez who joined Inter earlier in the summer for £10.5m. Moralez cost half that figure and has thrived playing off German Denis either as a trequartista or a second striker in Atalanta’s 4-4-1-1 formation. “I have always played both roles,” he said. “I feel myself in them.”

Moralez made his mark by scoring twice on his Serie A debut in a 2-2 draw away to Genoa. “For an hour, he was a nightmare for the defence,” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport. His coach Stefano Colantuono agreed. “Maxi is intelligent. He knows how to move himself between the lines and is used to these games as he won two domestic titles in Argentina.”

Such is his reputation, opponents are already doubling up in their marking of Moralez, though that won’t stop him from attempting to score from 55 yards like he tried on Palermo’s visit to the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia. Unfortunately, it didn’t come off, but the intention was applauded and it goes without saying that getting the maximum out of Maxi is Atalanta’s best chance of survival this season.

Gabriel Torje, Udinese
Hyped as the Lionel Messi of Romania on his arrival in Italy and treated by some as a welcome excuse to reminisce over compatriot Gheorghe Hagi's 1990s spell with Brescia, Torje has somehow managed to live up to expectation following his €3.6m move from Dinamo Bucharest.

Udinese's esteemed scouting department appears to have come good again in finding a typically low-cost replacement for the Barcelona-bound Alexis Sanchez. Coach Francesco Guidolin looked on in silent amazement as Torje scored six goals in the opening 20 minutes of his first full training session in Friuli.

His adaptation has been uncommonly quick. Torje spoke confidently in Italian at his presentation to the media in September and said: "I must only respond with facts on the pitch, not with words, but it's clear that I already feel under pressure." If he was nervous it certainly didn't show during his Serie A debut.

On a baking hot day in Lecce, the 21-year-old was magnificent scheming left, right and centre between the lines in and around Antonio Di Natale. Unable to pick him up, Torje's opponents were fooled by his low centre of gravity, as well as the pace he demonstrated on and off the ball, allied to his innate technical ability.

"I am not Sanchez," he humbly claimed. Not for the moment anyway. But given time, Torje could be better still.

Cristóbal Jorquera, Genoa
Advised to watch the tape of a March 2008 Copa Libertadores match from between Boca Juniors and Colo-Colo before pressing ahead with negotiations for Rodrigo Palacio, Genoa owner Enrico Preziosi nodded in approval as the club's principal transfer target scored in a 4-3 win.

Another player, however, contrived to steal the show. Colo-Colo midfielder Cristóbal Jorquera took the game by the scruff of the neck and laid on three assists for his team-mates. Palacio signed for Genoa in July 2009, but Preziosi was understandably intrigued to discover more about Jorquera and gathered no fewer than 30 DVDs of his performances in his office.

Two years later, Jorquera joined his former adversary at Genoa. Signed for £1.5m this summer, he made his first Serie A appearance as a second-half substitute away to Lazio. His team were 1-0 down at the time and he changed the game, setting up Palacio as Genoa came back to record a 2-1 victory.

"No one wins games by themselves, but he deserves all the compliments that he received," Genoa coach Alberto Malesani told reporters. "I threw him in because he disrupts tactical systems and creates lots of problems for them.”

Jorquera has since become an established member of the starting XI and plays at the tip of his team's midfield diamond in a 4-3-1-2 formation. He put Palacio through to score again a week later in Verona, only to see Genoa relinquish their lead and lose to Chievo.

Nicknamed El Niño Vertical for his directness, he is recognised as the successor to Jorge Valdivia in Chile. "I am from the 1988 generation, the same as Alexis Sanchez," he said. There's a theme here, isn't there? Even so, that's certainly not bad company to be in.

Thiago Ribeiro, Cagliari
With Robert Acquafresca gone, it was thought that Cagliari would struggle for goals this season. Not so now that Thiago Ribeiro, the top scorer in the 2010 Copa Libertadores, has struck up a fine understanding with Joaquin Larrivey and fellow Brazilian Nenê since his arrival from South America in a complex third-party loan deal.

Mobile and fast, the 25-year-old second striker has taken Serie A by surprise. “The less people know you, the less they expect of you,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. A teenage flop at Bordeaux, and blighted by injury throughout much of a career which has already included a stint in Qatar, Ribeiro represents a gamble, but one that already looks like paying off for Cagliari.

“I like to vary my play in attack, starting out on the flank, running and moving a lot,” he said. Tactically Ribeiro may step on the toes of playmaker Andrea Cossu, but his dribbling and desire to take players on adds another element to his team’s play.

He opened his account in Serie A with a nice header against Novara and was man of the match a week later at home to Udinese, creating chance after chance which his teammates failed to take in a 0-0 draw. Continuing his rich vein of form, he also got the opener in Cagliari’s 2-0 win away to Lecce.

Ribeiro isn’t quite Gigi Riva, but he has at least put the Samba in Sardinia.

Eran Zahavi, Palermo
No stranger to spectacular goals, as his perfectly executed bicycle kick for Hapoel Tel Aviv showed in last season's Champions League match at Lyon, Eran Zahavi made an instant impression at his new club Palermo when he hit a shot from the edge of the box that curled beyond Cagliari goalkeeper Michael Agazzi barely 18 seconds into his first Serie A start.

That strike ensured Zahavi became only the second-ever Israeli to find the net in Serie A, 14 years after Tal Banin put his country on the Italian football map with a goal for Brescia against Empoli. "I felt indescribable emotions, thousands of emotions all together," Zahavi said after dedicating it to his girlfriend Shai.

Snapped up for a bargain €1.6m, he steps into the boots of PSG-bound Argentinian playmaker Javier Pastore. Yet his position is notably different. "Zahavi does the job that I ask of a wide player," Palermo coach Devis Mangia revealed, and so far he has started on the left of midfield in a 4-4-2 where he has been asked to cut inside on his right foot.

Zahavi's technical ability is there for all to see, though his rake-like frame needs bulking up if he is to cope with the rigours of Serie A, not that he'll be stuffing his face with local delicacies. "Unfortunately typical Sicilian dishes aren't recommended under the rules of the Jewish religion," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Here there are no temples for my religion, so I pray at home.” Palermo fans, on the other hand, are in need of a new idol to worship every Sunday and he could just be the one.

New kid Osvaldo proves political problem for future of Italy

2011-10-07T13:21:00Z

Eight points clear at the top of Group C having only conceded one goal in eight games, Italy's place at Euro 2012 is already booked. Coach Cesare Prandelli could have been forgiven for thinking that his decisions ahead of their final two qualifiers, in Serbia and at home to Northern Ireland, wouldn't come scrutiny.

However, he put paid to that notion when, in light of injuries to Giampaolo Pazzini and Mario Balotelli, he called Pablo Daniel Osvaldo up to the squad.

Roma striker Osvaldo forms part of a group Prandelli calls the New Italians. In truth, that’s nothing more than a clever rebranding exercise relating to a longstanding selection policy: the Oriundi.

An Oriundo is a player born or raised in another country who can trace his roots back to Italy, often through a grandparent. The first was Ermanno Aebi, who played and scored for Italy in a historic 9-4 victory over France on January 18, 1920. Osvaldo is the 38th to represent the Azzurri.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1986 and brought through the youth systems at Lanús, Banfield and Huracán, he is also the 18th from Argentina and follows in the footsteps of Renato Cesarini, Omar Sívori and the most capped Oriundo of all, Mauro Camoranesi.

There’s nothing particularly novel about it. Unsurprisingly, however, the right-wing and unpalatably anti-immigrant political party Lega Nord – a key partner in Silvio Berlusconi’s ailing coalition government – are ‘upset’. “Osvaldo’s call-up certifies the definitive failure of the FIGC’s policies,” a statement read. "Prandelli’s project based around talented young players is transforming itself into a guesthouse for Oriundi."

By spinning and generalising to suit their scaremongering agenda, the Lega were once again missing the point. There’s more to nationality than place of birth, and anyway Osvaldo has played for the Italy Under-21s on a dozen occasions, including appearing at the Olympics under Pierluigi Casiraghi. During his time at Fiorentina, he even married a local girl and in 2008 endeared himself to the city by scoring a stunning bicycle kick against Torino, a goal worth £15m as it earned the club a place in the Champions League.

Osvaldo’s commitment isn’t what’s up for debate here, nor has it ever been an issue. “It’s the realisation of a dream,” he smiled on Wednesday night. So why then has his call up caused such a stir?

Well, there are other candidates perhaps more deserving of a place in the squad, such as Alessio Cerci or Alessandro Matri, who has averaged more or less a goal every other game since joining Juventus in January. Did Matri’s place on the bench in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Milan influence Prandelli’s choice? Or was it, as the conspiracy theorists would have it, a political-football concession in light of there already being six Juventus players in his squad?

Whatever it may be, scepticism surrounds Osvaldo and has done ever since Roma raised eyebrows by paying Espanyol €17m for his services in the summer. Few were prepared to acknowledge his extraordinary spell in La Liga where he scored 20 goals in 44 games.

Instead, it was remembered that he’d flattered to deceive in three previous seasons in Serie A with Fiorentina and Bologna, finding the net on only eight occasions.

Lest it be forgotten, Prandelli was Osvaldo’s coach at Fiorentina. He wasn’t entirely convinced and allowed him to leave for Bologna, where the striker was more often than not on the bench. But that was then and this is now, and Prandelli, unlike many in the media, appears to have changed his opinion.

“Osvaldo is a modern and complete striker. He is of interest to us in prospect,” the Italy coach said. There’s a degree of truth to that of course, as Osvaldo does offer something different. He has experienced another football culture, thrived in it, and can play both in the air and on the ground, although his habit of giving the ball away is frustrating.

Still, despite being arguably the most handsome man in Italian football, his early performances for Roma were ugly – La Gazzetta dello Sport gave Osvaldo a 4.5 for his display against Cagliari and a 5 against Inter. However, he is showing signs of progress and has scored three goals in each of his last three games in a new system with a new manager during a period of adaptation.

For some, though, it’s still not nearly enough to justify a place in La Nazionale. Prandelli, they say, has missed a golden opportunity to give young players who have broken through at club level in Serie A a chance to discover what it’s like to play for Italy, citing the likes of Fabio Borini at Roma, Alberto Paloschi at Chievo, Diego Fabbrini at Udinese and Manolo Gabbiadini at Atalanta.

“What Osvaldo’s call up shows is that even when Italy’s ‘big players’ are knocked out by injury, there is still little chance of youngsters representing their country at the highest level,” wrote Fabrizio Bocca in La Repubblica.

Only last month the newspaper published an investigation showing that just 4.2% of appearances in Serie A were made by players under the age of 21 throughout the entire 2010-11 campaign.

That figure doesn’t look like improving either, as in a separate study carried out by La Gazzetta dello Sport last week it was revealed that 51% of the players used so far in the top flight are foreign – and moreover 57% of the goals scored have come from non-Italian players.

Amid so much that is positive about Prandelli’s Italy, it’s a worrying sign that for all the talk of developing homegrown talent, the culture has perhaps still yet to change.

He's not an old head or new blood, but Marchisio is a key part of Juve's future

2011-10-05T15:50:00Z

Having suffered two abject years, Juventus have fast become one of the major talking points of the early part of this Serie A season - and most of the talk centres around everything new.

The new signings - including Eljero Elia, Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic - have been touted to provide the creative spark to light up the new Juventus Stadium, with it's supposed 'English' feel which when experienced first hand actually seems more German than anything else.

The new coach Antonio Conte, meanwhile, appears to be the ideal man to change the philosophy of the side and restore much of what was missing in those bleak times. He arrival is widely viewed as the dawn of a return to old values; the grit, determination and 'Spirito Juve' of the teams Conte himself was a part under Marcello Lippi.

Not everything is new, of course, and helping instill these virtues in the newest incarnation of the Bianconeri is the talismanic Alessandro Del Piero. The captain and holder of a plethora of club records is ably assisted by World Cup winning goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, a Juve player for over ten years and still regarded by many as the best in the world in his position.

Somewhere between these two stools of old and new falls Claudio Marchisio. The 25 year old seems to fit neither category; too young to be one of the custodian old guard, but at the club too long to be considered part of the new generation.

Closer inspection of both his career to date and his playing attributes reveals he is actually both, and his two-goal performance in the recent win over AC Milan merely reinforces the feeling of those paying attention that the midfielder is in fact a key protagonist in Antonio Conte's revival of Turin's grand Old Lady.

Rewind five year to late summer 2006 and Juventus were relegated to Serie B following the Calciopoli trials, losing a number of first team regulars. Unsure of when they would see their beloved Bianconeri back among the elite of European football, the clubs fans consoled themselves with the fact their team would now be filled with promising young Italian players, turned out year after year by one of the country's most successful youth systems.

Under the previous regime these players were all too often destined to spend their years being loaned around the league, or be used as leverage in deals for players who could help win trophies in now rather than later. This was the Juventus of Luciano Moggi, who only aimed to win in the here and now - to them the future may as well have been on another planet.

Even with that management team gone, Marchisio had to fight for his place with a number of more famous, not to mention expensive, imports as Juve sought to return to glory. He rose to the challenge, becoming a first team regular despite the presence of Cristiano Zanetti and later Tiago, Momo Sissoko and Christian Poulsen. He was even being named Serie A Player of the Month for December 2008 after a string of impressive displays including a winning goal against Inter in the Derby d'Italia.

However, Marchisio is not without his critics. He is often accused of inconsistent and indifferent performances, and has been described as 'invisible' on a number of occasions. Yet to people who see past the match highlights and score-sheet, the midfielder has actually become a key player in many different ways.

He can of course win matches - that much was clear long before the win over i Rossoneri - but he can also be deployed in various roles, his intelligence and positional awareness nullifying the opposition's better players in a manner that is all but impossible to measure using statistics, or gauge by watching television.

Last season's encounter against Inter at the San Siro was one such occasion. Lambasted by many for another 'no-show', this criticism was massively unjust as a deeper look in the intricacies of the game highlight. Marchisio was pressed into action on the left flank as Gigi Delneri looked to shackle Maicon, who went into the match in brilliant form

Far from it being Marchisio who 'went missing', it was in fact the usually impressive Brazilian who was rarely spotted, struggling to join up with Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto'o as he did the year before when he single-handedly won the match.

Delneri, of course, must take credit for the tactical switch, but the discipline shown by Marchisio must also be praised. His presence on the touchline forced Maicon to stay honest, to play as an orthodox defender and prevent Juventus from exploiting the space behind him.

The Brazilian was restricted to just one tame effort on goal and only a single cross which came after a short corner. Normally the source of much of their attacking prowess, the right flank accounted for a mere 14% of Inter's play.

This constant shuffling around to nullify threats in the opposition line rarely appears to subdue the Juve man's own attacking threat, as his two goal performance against Milan showed. The midfielder completed 95% of his passes (up from 86% so far this term) and never neglected his defensive duties, contributing to a superb performance both in and out of possession by Juventus.

His is a key part of Conte's relentless pressing approach, winning the ball back an average eight times per game between tackles and interceptions.

There have been a number of impressive performers among the Juve squad under the new coach, but the man Conte referred to during the summer as "like me, only better" has done his 'Capitan Futuro' image no harm.

Inter sacking the only predictable part of a mad Serie A week

2011-09-23T09:36:00Z

There is never a dull moment in Italian football, and after just three rounds of the season, Serie A is turning into one of the most unpredictable for years.

Early pacesetters Juventus and Napoli both came up short in midweek, with the Old Lady getting into a frustrating 90 minutes of futile body-bumping with Bologna to drop two points at home. A Juve fan took advantage of the stands being so close to the pitch by attempting to grab Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio by the hair – fortunately for the visiting striker, he is shaven up top.

Napoli lost to Chievo at their bogey ground, the Benegodi Stadium in Verona. The disappointing result was thanks in part to coach Walter Mazzarri’s desire to show off just how big his squad is this year, making seven changes to the starting line-up that had defeated AC Milan at the weekend.

Champions Milan, for their part, were held at home by Udinese. Their worrying injury problems deepened, too, when Alexandre Pato limped off 20 minutes into the game with another muscular problem – his eighth in two years – although he looked happy enough in the VIP area at half-time. He should be fit enough to jump on a flight to Brazil, anyway, for a bit of R&R with Barbara Berlusconi during his month-long recovery period.

AS Roma are still without a win, and where there had been applause after the home defeat to Cagliari there were only whistles inside the Olympic Stadium at the end of a deflating 1-1 draw with Siena on Thursday evening.

Luis Enrique has set out a game plan more complex than the Matrix, which left the home players a lot more confused than the opposition, whose counter-attacking will be the blueprint to frustrate Roma’s tippy-tappy approach. The only way Enrique’s side are ever going to score, it seems, is by walking the ball into the back of the net.

Patience may be wearing thin in the stands but the club’s American owners will not be rushed into changing the man on the bench – which, predictably enough, was what Massimo Moratti did on Tuesday night after Inter’s humiliating defeat at newly-promoted Novara. Indeed, the sacking of Gian Piero Gasperini was the only development which was widely expected in an otherwise irregular week.

Gasperini may as well have headed back towards former club Genoa rather than stopping off at Novara’s Silvio Piola Stadium, such was his influence over team affairs, but at least now Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso have a new vice-coach: Claudio Ranieri.

Yes, the man to rescue lost causes is back on a two-year deal that few expect the approachable Roman to see through – not if Moratti can finally persuade Fabio Capello to take one more tilt at club glory next summer.

In the meantime, Ranieri will be expected to do what he does best and bring some stability to the team, and maybe even get them close to a honour, but in the end if his past record is anything to go by – no cigar.

It won’t be so much tinkering but rather tailoring the team to their strengths, which will mean kicking the three-man defence into touch. No doubt there were whoops of delight during the first session when that news was delivered.

There might even be a smile on Wesley Sneijder’s face: the Dutch midfielder has still been the team’s best player despite being forced to play closer to his own area than the opposition goal, but you can bet that he will no longer have that thousand-yard stare, or have to run that far, from now on.

Ranieri took his first session on Thursday afternoon, and only has today to listen to what Zanetti and Cambiasso want to do before the team faces Bologna on Saturday. In all seriousness, though, he will have to get his dressing room strategy as spot on as his on-field tactics.

He got on the wrong side of Alessandro Del Piero at Juventus, which cost him his job despite a third-place finish on the club’s return to the top flight after Calciopoli and the same position going into the final three games the following year.

Demoting Francesco Totti to the bench on a few occasions led to a toxic atmosphere within the Roma squad, where there could only be one winner. Now, at the ripe old age of 59, Ranieri is back on the bus attempting to turn a club on the road to nowhere at least back onto the right track.

House of Inter crumbling as Gasperini fails to make the most of his tools

2011-09-20T12:10:00Z

Massimo Moratti had the builders in again over the summer, after Leonardo, the man he thought would be the prime architect in rebuilding the crumbling house of Inter, decamped to Paris.

By the time the Inter president had failed to persuade Fabio Capello, André Villas-Boas and Marcelo Bielsa that it was a job worth taking, Moratti was willing to hire anybody prepared to provide a low estimate for a bit of a rushed job. Enter former Genoa boss Gian Piero Gasperini.

Gasperini even looks a bit like the local cowboy builder, and although he certainly has the materials at his disposal, he sadly hasn’t a clue how to fit them together.

So, not for the first time, we're left looking at a rather disjoined Inter side. They followed their opening day defeat to Palermo and embarrassing Champions League performance against Trabzonspor with a pretty shapeless draw against AS Roma - themselves a work in progress, though Luis Enrique at least seems to have laid some foundations.

The sight of Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Lucio pointing in all directions like over-excited traffic police was clear indication that no one was taking their orders from the man on the bench.

Gasperini’s giant head, topped by a massive hatch of graying hair, popped out of the dug-out intermittently just to make sure he had eleven souls on the pitch or to berate Wesley Sneijder for daring to play inside the opposition half.

By the time he finally released the little Dutch wiz from his cleaning-up duties, there was nobody for him to link up with upfront as Diego Forlan had been replaced by Sulley Muntari - and not a proven scorer or at least someone to get on the end of chances, such as Giampaolo Pazzini.

It was all very confusing. It was hard to tell whether Gasperini was trying to construct a house, a garden shed or a garage

His back three are struggling in the absense of a midfield that plays with pace and guile; the latter sorely missing along the flanks where Joel Obi and Yuto Nagatomo can run and run, but never produce a decent cross – and then the less said about Jonathan the better. The Brazilian is 25 but possesses the gait of a man closer to 55 and makes even the 38-year-old Zanetti look spritely.

Yet, much like the days of Rafa Benitez, it is not so much the individuals that are the problem, rather the negativity towards, and lack of faith in the new system.

No one wants to play for Gasperini and no one wants to play in his 3-4-3 formation. We know this because Zanetti and Cambiasso have said that the players are behind the coach and happy to follow his tactics…

It is the kiss of death when the two Argentines start talking about you (unless you happen to be Jose Mourinho) and it may be a last Gasp this evening when Inter make the trip up the road from Milan to newly-promoted Novara and their artificial pitch.

The first midweek round couldn’t come soon enough for Napoli and Juventus, who along with Udinese and Cagliari hold 100 per cent records so far.

While Juve have a very winnable home game against Bologna, Napoli must be careful they do not suffer a San Gennaro hangover after sweeping an under-strength AC Milan away on Sunday.

It was a day to celebrate the patron saint of Naples, Saint Januarius, on Monday, but Walter Mazzarri’s men had little time to sit back and enjoy the party – not with a match at Chievo tomorrow evening.

The Bentegodi Stadium in Verona was the venue for a humbling 2-0 defeat for Napoli last season, but if the coach’s analysis of the win over Milan is anything to go by then the Azzurri are taking nothing for granted.

“I didn’t like our approach against Milan,” claimed Mazzarri. “We were too timid and afraid and I don’t want to see that anymore.”

Now, there is a man you would put your house on having a successful season.

AC Milan act their age to prove a point, Inter show their age to lose it

2011-09-15T09:48:00Z

With an average age of 29.2, AC Milan have the oldest squad in the Champions League – and on Tuesday evening at the Camp Nou it showed in the way the team played as a mature unit.

Barcelona were limited to two goals but furthermore Massimiliano Allegri’s side very rarely looked in real trouble– and when the Catalans did manage to shoot Christian Abbiati was there in the Rossoneri goal doing his job.

NEWS REPORT: Milan snatch draw at holders Barcelona

One player, however, stood out head and shoulders above all the other old-stagers and even that young sprit Leo Messi: Alessandro Nesta. A commanding performance in the heart of a blanket defence brought back memories of his displays at Euro 2000 for Italy.

He's 35 now and can hardly get out of bed in the morning, so bad is his back pain, but the Roman picked the perfect moment to remind football fans all over Europe that there is still life in those old, long legs.

One challenge on Messi, just as the striker was about to pull the trigger inside the area, left the little Argentinian banging his fists into the turf in frustration – and no doubt incredulous that anyone could have timed a tackle to such perfection.

Nesta’s career looked to be winding down last season and there were some hints that he may call it a day, but decided to carry on with a specially-tailored training programme while carefully listening to what his body tells him. Milan can be thankful he has, especially with new signing Philippe Mexes still a month or so away from full fitness.

In fact, so important is Nesta’s presence alongside Thiago Silva that Allegri asked him to play through the pain barrier last Friday in Milan's season-opening fixture against Lazio, and although he was wincing from the first minute he still managed to deny Djibril Cissè a late winner.

In fact, the thirtysomethings throughout the side could have been equally proud of their displays at Barcelona. Gianluca Zambrotta marshalled the lightning-quick Dani Alves, forcing the full-back (or is he really a winger?) inside on just about every occasion. Mark van Bommel shored up the centre of midfield on his return to his old club. And then there was Clarence Seedorf, exhibiting such a velvet touch that you expected the ball to swoon.

From Pato’s opener on 24 seconds to Thiago Silva’s last-minute equaliser, it was one of those resounding team performances on which Italian clubs thrive: one in which they are played off the pitch but still manage to grind out a result – and in Italy football is all about the final score.

A draw at the Camp Nou will renew confidence that maybe the oldies can top the group and Milan will also take heart from the fact that when they defeated Liverpool in the final in 2007 the average age of the team was 30.2 – the oldest ever to win a Champions League.

Inter Milan, for their part, are just old and worn out – certainly in defence and in midfield, where they failed to get to grips with a lively Trabzonspor side, just has they had failed to tighten up at the back against Palermo on the opening day of the season.

NEWS REPORT: Trabzonspor humble Inter at San Siro

At least it was just the one goal conceded – unlike last Sunday, when the Nerazzurri leaked four goals, and their last Champions League home game, when they conceded five to Schalke – but the repercussions are set to be felt more deeply. Qualification has not yet been thrown away, but Inter are by no means sure to finish top of a group they expected to stroll through.

Gian Piero Gasperini may not be around to plot the side’s way back into the campaign. Even before the season started the pressure was on the new coach, who now probably needs to avoid defeat to AS Roma at the weekend to save his job.

No such worries for Walter Mazzarri, whose Napoli side followed Milan in demonstrating, with their precious draw at Manchester City, that the art of intelligent defending and counter-attacking football is still very much alive.

NEWS REPORT: Kolarov saves point for debutants City

Mazzarri would have probably taken such a result before kick-off but in truth Napoli could have returned home with all three points: Ezequiel Lavezzi hit the bar and Marek Hamsik had a volley cleared off the line before Edinson Cavani’s fine finish on the counter-attack.

City also smashed the woodwork and if there was one criticism of the Azzurri it was that they defended too deeply but that may have been to alleviate their lack of pace at the back.

However, their European adventure is up and running, providing the perfect fillip ahead of Sunday's arrival at the San Paolo of Serie A’s other defender of Italian honour: champions Milan.

Meet Novara: Fake grass, Gorgonzola & missing Panini stickers

2011-09-09T15:07:00Z

Marco Savioni was a member of the last Novara side to play in Serie A. Now in his eighties, he still remembers the 1955/56 season like it was yesterday.

“That was the strongest team we had in those years," he recalls, "and we didn’t deserve to get relegated, even if we lost a few too many home games.”

The short, nippy winger had played alongside the great Silvio Piola, Serie A’s all-time top scorer who was then in the twilight of his career. There was Giovanni Udovicich too, the rugged defender with a bald head and handlebar moustache, whose Panini sticker no one could find to complete their album.

‘Nini’, as he was known among the supporters, would stay at Novara much longer than Savioni. Between 1958 and 1976 he made 517 appearances without ever scoring a goal. But of greater regret to Udovicich was the fact he never managed to lead Novara back to the promised land.

The region that produced a Juventus legend in Giampiero Boniperti was also called home by the grandparents of Michel Platini. Yet for more than half a century it remained a footballing backwater. “Novara haven’t been in Serie A practically since the day I was born,” the UEFA president lamented. “Actually, no sooner had I arrived on this earth than they were in Serie B.”

But now, after 55 years, the wait is finally over. On June 12, Novara overcame Padova in the Serie B play-off final to book their place in the top flight. A free-kick from Pablo Andrès González and a superb individual effort from Marco Rigoni put the tie beyond any doubt.

Rigoni, now 31, had come through the youth ranks at Juventus. He had trained with Alessandro del Piero and Zinedine Zidane. A decade later, Rigoni could tell everyone that he’d be mixing it with the big boys again. But his story, fascinating though it is, still pales in significance when compared with that of Novara as a whole.

Only the 17th team in the history of Italian football to earn back-to-back promotions, the club whose blue shirt is inspired by Dolcelatte Gorgonzola are a model to be followed. “Alarm bells are ringing in calcio,” wrote Nicola Binda in La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Clubs are in crisis. Sponsors are found wanting. The riffraff are fixing and betting on games. Everyone one is wondering how to get out of this situation and then – puff! – out of nowhere Novara get into Serie A.”

Staggering though their sudden rise may be – and it is a minor miracle – everything can be put down to hard work and above all good practice.

The story starts in 2006 with Massimo De Salvo, the young, bespectacled and slightly chubby owner of nine private clinics with a turnover of €225m. You might think Novara’s rise is simply the case of a rich owner in a very wealthy region of Italy buying success. But that would be to labour under a misapprehension. Far from throwing his money around with great ostentation, De Salvo has invested wisely.

A year into his chairmanship, work began on Novarello, a state of the art training ground set in the shadow of a 17th century windmill with four regular pitches, two artificial ones, a swimming pool, restaurant, auditorium and office block. It cost approximately €7m, about a million less than the club’s entire wage bill before tax, which to put that into some kind of perspective is how much Gigi Buffon alone earns in a single season.

Recognising that Novara is the wettest city in Piedmont, De Salvo also had the foresight to contact Maurizio Gilardi, the owner of Italgreen, the leading name in the production of a new generation of artificial pitches that use ‘reinforced’ natural grass. “In the last two years extraordinary progress has been made in terms of the performance, sustainability and security of the materials used,” Gilardi explained in La Repubblica.

“Now all the parameters such as the bounce and fluency of the ball, the resistance of the surface to players stopping and accelerating, and the risk of injuries all tallies with that of real pitches.” Unlike the Bentegodi in Verona, the Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna and the Luigi Ferraris in Genova, which all saw games either ruined or abandoned last winter, the Stadio Pioli is always open for business.

So De Salvo’s philosophy was simple: create the conditions that would allow Novara to thrive. He didn’t meddle with the team, leaving such matters to his excellent sporting director Pasquale Sensibile. The former Juventus chief of scouting and protégé of Walter Sabatini built a squad on the cheap either finding bargains in Italy’s lower leagues like leading scorer Cristian Bertani or looking further afield and discovering a player like Pablo Andres González from Grupo Universitario di Tandil, an Argentine Second Division club.

It was Sensibile who appointed Attilio Tesser as Novara’s head coach in June 2009. The former Udinese player, who wore the captain’s armband when Zico was still curling in free-kicks at Friuli, had been sacked from his last four jobs.

Cagliari president Massimo Cellino was one of Tesser’s former employers, but forget about a reference: Tesser was given his marching orders just 24 hours after putting pen to paper on a contract in 2005. That’s not how things are done at Novara. Tesser was given De Salvo’s and Sensibile’s full backing, and they were repaid handsomely.

The season tickets bought by the good-natured resident ‘ultras’ at the Pioli, known rather tamely as The Walnuts, would prove ridiculously good value too. Back in Serie B after 33 years, then back in Serie A after 55, Novara have lost just twice in 40 home games these past two seasons and have never been lower than third place in the table with more or less the same team as the one that thrilled the Lega Pro.

“It’s a group that has been together for two years, one that has done important things and has finally been rewarded,” Tesser gushed. “We started this season with the objective of survival, but we overwhelmingly deserve promotion.”

So the question on everyone’s lips is what next for Novara? At the moment it seems like a case of keep calm and carry on. De Salvo has confirmed that Tesser will remain in place as the team’s coach next season. And while that might not come as a surprise considering the owner’s level-headedness and everything Novara have achieved under their softly-spoken tactician, it does bear remembering that Tesser, by now entering his third season at the helm, instantly becomes the top flight’s longest-serving manager.

This will undoubtedly be his greatest challenge yet, not least because he plans to follow the model laid out by Cesena last season and put faith in the players who got Novara to Serie A in the first place. Tesser will have to do without the departed González, now at Palermo, and can no longer rely on Sensibile to find a replacement after he left the club to join the rebuilding operation at relegated Sampdoria.

A lot rides on Takayuki Morimoto realising his potential. Once dubbed the Japanese Ronaldo – but for his buck-toothed grin and glass knees rather than his goals – the 23-year-old lover of horsemeat and fish biscuits has been made to feel at home since his arrival from Catania.

“In training camp, Jimmy Fontana, our back-up keeper and dressing room leader, decided that all the foreigners had to sing their national anthem before eating," explains Morimoto. "At every lunch and dinner, I’d get up and start Japan’s. After a while everyone was singing it.”

Whatever happens, it promises to be a memorable season with Platini even revealing his intention to attend one of their matches. “I read his words in Gazzetta,” Di Salvo said. “An invitation has been sent. We’re expecting him.” After a wait of over half a century, who could possibly say ‘no’ to Novara?

Serie A set to be predictably unpredictable as ever

2011-09-09T12:32:00Z

As Serie A finally kicks off, our man in Italy picks the runners and riders for the Scudetto, Europe and relegation.

Juventus gave the rest of Italian football a glimpse of what the future could hold when they inaugurated their new stadium in a lavish evening of fireworks, special guests and ribbon-cutting.

And a most elegant stadium it is, too, with a capacity of 41,000 and more than enough room not to seem too empty when anyone but Inter or AC Milan visit. It will be the envy of Serie A, and a major disappointment to binoculars salesmen, as there is no running track. Hopefully, it’s also fireproof, for when the locals turn feral.

In keeping with the low-key build-up to the season, it was not Barcelona, Real Madrid or a Premier League club that were the guests of honour. It wasn’t even an English Championship side. Juventus’ opponents were Notts County, who provided the Turin club with their first set of black and white striped shirts around the turn of the 20th century, to replace their rosé tops of the time (which were, by all accounts from those now long dead, rather fetching).

But in the modern day, Antonio Conte’s side remained in keeping with Italy’s new-found standing in the game by managing only to draw 1-1 with the League One team. The suggestion, though, was that it was a diplomatic result and everyone went home happy and content.

Now, down to the real business. At long last, Serie A is set to take flight – but not in the manner of a private jet or business-class trip somewhere exotic. No, it’s more in the low-cost, no-frills variety where you have a 50-50 chance of the journey being either a pleasant surprise or an incalculable nightmare.

The new campaign kicks off this evening with champions Milan at home to Lazio in what is round two of the season, with the opening games now rescheduled for the dead of winter and the shortest day of the year on December 21st.

The players’ union and their revolt against the clubs, which scuppered the opening weekend, came to a typical Italian conclusion: we’ll leave things the way they are and discuss it all again at a later date – in this case, next summer – but basically, let’s just forget all about it.

So we are ready to go, and from Milan’s squad of 160million Euro earners to newly-promoted Novara’s 9.8m Euro take-home hopefuls, each and every team has its dreams and hopes for the season ahead.

Massimiliano Allegri’s champions will start as favourites, having kept the core of the squad together and eased out a couple of hangers-on, such as Marek Jankulovski and Massimo Oddo. Filippo Inzaghi, meanwhile, was essentially shown the door in January, the veteran striker being excluded from the Champions League list.

No Mr X on the transfer front – only Alberto Aquilani – so Allegri has laid down the law with Antonio Cassano, who has responded in kind by knuckling down in training. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been told he can do basically what he wants as long as he does not burn himself out by the turn of the year. He may need to start eating breakfast – something he hadn’t been doing last year (or maybe ever).

There will be little change in the team’s approach, and the big Swede – who is promising a 20-goal season – will be the focal point of the attack. Allegri must ensure, though, that Alexandre Pato is not overshadowed, or there could be the first fissures in the cosy relationship the Brazilian has with the club – never mind that with the president’s daughter.

It may be Milan’s title to lose but the chasing pack will feel they all have a tilt at the big prize. Inter will be looking over their shoulders after Massimo Moratti put the blank cheques back in the drawer and cut the wage bill to a still quite staggeringly high 145m Euros, following the sale of Samuel Eto’o, which saved 9m euros in salary a year.

New coach Gian Piero Gasperini has been struggling to impose his three-man defence on an aging backline. He also needs to find the right position for Wesley Sneijder, who is at his most dangerous in a free role further up the pitch rather than as a deep-lying playmaker.

Juve, for their part, could explode or just as equally implode, such is the pressure on the team to live up to their new surroundings and qualify for the Champions League. It must be remembered, of course, that there are now only three places available.

Conte seems to have the same problem as his predecessor, Luigi Delneri. He has talented players at his disposal, but can he get them to gel in a formation that calls for non-stop movement and toil?

Napoli have been the most active club in the transfer market, bringing in eleven new players, while president Aurelio De Laurentiis sent out a strong message by retaining the services of Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi, who will provide the final passes for top goalscorer Edinson Cavani.

It could be the year that Napoli make the great leap forward, but much will depend on how well they survive a nightmarish Champions League group stage featuring Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Villarreal.

As with Juve, AS Roma have no European football to distract them, having handily crashed out of the Europa League at the preliminary stage to Slovan Bratislava. Instead, the ongoing power struggle between Francesco Totti and the new American owners needs to be resolved to leave Luis Enrique free of the infighting that could easily break the morale of his fledging squad.

With their city cousins building for the future, Lazio could be ready to grab the bragging rights in the capital and push for the top three. Edy Reja’s side look solid more than spectacular, however, and doubts surround the fitness and staying power of Djibril Cisse and Miroslov Klose.

Dark horses are few and far between. Genoa could spring a surprise or two, but not in the manner of Udinese last year, who look set to drop out of the top six. Fiorentina have the impressive Stevan Jovetic back from injury but Riccardo Montolvio’s lack of enthusiasm to remain mirrors that of their owners, the Della Valle family.

The three sides that came up, Atalanta, Siena and Novara, will be favourites to go straight down again – especially Atalanta, who start with a six-point penalty for their part in the betting scandal which came to light in early summer. If one of the new boys were to remain, prime candidates for the drop would be Siena, with Lecce and Chievo not far behind (or more accurately, in front).

The rest of Europe may have already departed, but the important thing is that Serie A finally has its slot on the runway. As always, we never know exactly what sort of journey is ahead, but it’s safe to bet on it being a bumpy ride.

What's the Rush? Reto Ziegler makes speedy exit from Juventus

2011-09-05T09:00:00Z

In the summer of 1987, Ian Rush left Liverpool for Juventus after a seven year spell on Merseyside littered with trophies, accolades and, most importantly, goals.

With an astonishing 207 in 331 games, he arrived in Turin with not only a brilliant strike rate, but also a ringing endorsement from Juve legend and fellow Welshman John Charles, who said of his compatriot; "Ian is better than me and will score more goals. There is not a striker in the world who knows the art of scoring as he does."

Yet despite Juve being so confident Rush could replace for the recently retired Michel Platini they were willing to cough up £3.2 million for his services, the striker struggled to fit into a team desperately in need of a huge overhaul.

Unlike Charles, who's move was an unmitigated success, the timing was completely wrong for Rush, who suffered thanks to injury, poor form and a complete lack of effort to embrace the culture of Italy and Juventus. While the oft-quoted 'It's like living in a foreign country' was nothing more than a sly joke from Kenny Dalglish, Rush returned to Liverpool just over a year after departing, with the Bianconeri recouping £2.8 million.

Sadly for Juventus this quick resale is a far from isolated case. Earlier this summer they shipped out Argentinian midfielder Sergio Almirón to Catania for €400,000, just four years after splashing out a staggering €9 million in taking him to Turin from Empoli. While it's hardly uncommon for big money signings to fail, few turn out for their new club as rarely as Almirón did in the famous black and white stripes. He played just nine times before being packed off on loan less than four months after arriving, never to play for the club again, loaned to a seemingly endless string of clubs until this final resolution was found.

Thierry Henry's time with Juve was a similar tale, arriving amid much fanfare in January 1999 but leaving that same summer after just sixteen appearances and three goals. While there are mitigating circumstances for his perceived failure and subsequent success at Arsenal - not to mention the fact Juventus made a profit on his sale - it is one more example of a strange quirk of the transfer policy at one of European football's biggest clubs.

Yet this past week Juve may have outdone themselves in loaning defender Reto Ziegler to Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahçe. A host factors make the deal quite possibly the oddest in the club's history, foremost among them the fact the Swiss International never featured for Juventus in an official game.

Having only joined the club on July 1 following the expiration of his contract with Sampdoria, Ziegler played very little of Juve's pre-season. New coach Antonio Conte preferred instead to focus on Italian fullback Paolo De Ceglie, who missed much of last term through injury and used a number of other players instead of the former Tottenham man.

However, as much as the speed with which Director General Beppe Marotta has moved the player on is odd, it is the hole he leaves at the club which causes most concern. With Armand Traoré returning to Arsenal following the expirary of his loan deal, and Fabio Grosso completely frozen out all summer, there is no other specialist left-back in the Bianconeri squad.

As Argentina's lacklustre performances at the Copa America proved, never before have full-backs been so vital to a team's play - and this summer Marotta seemed to have clearly learnt from his previous mistakes with these positions.

Last year saw him gamble on Marco Motta but, in addition to Ziegler's free transfer, he spent €10 million to bring fellow Swiss international Stephan Lichtsteiner from Lazio. This appeared to give the club a competent duo that would stand up against any in Serie A and with De Ceglie fit again Conte had cover should injuries or suspension affect the side.

The most likely explanation for the rather baffling affair lies with the fullback's former club. Ziegler reinvented himself with 'Doria, slotting perfectly into Gigi Delneri's counter-attacking side having largely been used in midfield before arriving in Genoa. With Marotta having also left Sampdoria for Turin last year it is no real leap of faith to suggest this move to reunite Ziegler with his former coach was a long-standing arrangement, as the player himself confirmed when speaking to RSI;

“Gigi Delneri was still the coach when I signed for Juventus," Ziegler explained. "He and Director [Giuseppe] Marotta knew me from their time at Samp and they wanted me at Juve, I went there for them. I spoke to Conte when I first arrived and he told me that he wouldn’t be counting on me at all as he had other ideas.”

Free agents are allowed to discuss moves and sign agreements with other clubs in the last six months of their contract, so it is not unreasonale to assume a deal was struck as far back as early January, when Delneri was in a very strong position at Juventus who then looked like title contenders.

If Conte is unconvinced by Ziegler - as the player's lack of playing time this summer suggests - then quickly putting an unwanted signing back in the shop window is a smart, if somewhat strange way to do business.

While there is still some lingering hope he may actually play for the club, Reto Ziegler is certainly in good company in passing through Turin's express departure lounge.

Italy's loaded stars justified in pay strike. No, really

2011-08-26T09:52:00Z

At first glance it looks as if Italian footballers are living up to their image of pampered, overpaid egomaniacs. But in fact that would seem an apt representation of quite a few of the club’s presidents.

Italy is bracing itself for a winter of austerity budgets, set to sweep a frigid economic climate through the sun-loving Mediterranean country. The last thing the citizens want to hear, then, as they soak up the last of the summer sunshine is that Serie A will not be kicking off this weekend as scheduled because its stars are going on strike.

The league and club presidents have been fostering a view that the country’s high-earning footballers are unwilling to pay the new ‘solidarity tax’, which is set to run for the next three years on anyone – footballer or not – earning more than 150,000 euros a year. It may not surprise you that many of those who kick a ball for a living do indeed earn more than that.

In reality, however, not one player has said they are unwilling to stump up the 5% to 10% the government is attempting to claw back as an extra tax from Italy’s well-off. It took the level-headed, urbane president of the players’ association (AIC), Damiano Tommasi – also winner of 25 Azzurri caps – to point this out.

Footballers in Italy have always had a bad press when it comes to paying taxes. But there are a few other sectors who have managed to maintain their earnings without contributing to the government’s coffers – and the situation has been magnified by the fact that clubs pay the salaries net, thus taking on the burden of all taxes.

A player knows how much he is taking home, and the thinking goes that he doesn’t have to worry about ways of keeping much of his salary out of the hands of the taxman.

The players – or should that be their advisers, agents and accountants – have known for some time that the current government has been exploring creative ways to wring a few more euros out of the populace, and Serie A’s finest are easy targets.

So we have seen negotiations between players and clubs become more fraught than ever, with stern centre-back Giorgio Chiellini holding out on a clause in his contract where Juventus would pay all taxes regardless of type.

The Juve defender can, in theory, look at his bank account and feel the warm glow of contentment that it is going nowhere – unless, of course, he wants to buy a flash car, apartment or Pacific island, in which case he can deal with the subsequent tax situation then.

No doubt Chiellini’s fellow Italian internationals coming to the end of their current deals, such as Daniele De Rossi, have their agents locked in talks over such a clause.

However, when the country begins to fissure economically the players will probably do the right thing by their fellow citizens and make a contribution for ‘the common good’ (as opposed to the elite good).

And the real issue on why the players are holding firm on strike action concerns a much more contentious clause. A part of the collective agreement sees that clubs can demand that a coach exclude a member of the squad from the first team, forcing them to train with the youth team or even in the local park with the yobbos and dog turd.

Club presidents tried to water down this touchy point by offering to leave the final decision to the coach, but considering that players generally feel their “mister” is a mere puppet for their paymasters, this has been laughed out of court by the AIC.

Federico Marchetti, who replaced the injured Gigi Buffon during Italy’s doomed World Cup campaign in South Africa, sat out all of last season when Cagliari president Massimo Cellino denied the goalkeeper a transfer request.

That wound of losing a whole year of what is already a short career really hits home.

Cellino, of course, is no stranger to the hiring and firing business. Only a few weeks ago he sacked coach Roberto Donadoni even before a ball had been kicked in anger.

Interestingly, the Miami-based entrepreneur was one of only two presidents – the other being Massimo Mezzaroma of newly-promoted Siena – to vote to accept the players’ demands.

Could that have been an attack of conscience? Yes or no, this is an issue that could cripple the Italian game for some time to come.

Can new boy Vidal help bring that feisty streak back to the Old Lady?

2011-08-19T11:44:00Z

With the start of the Serie A season still just over a week away, there was an opportunity to gauge the fitness and form of AC Milan, Inter and Juventus when Italy’s three major clubs met in Thursday’s TIM Trophy in Bari.

The traditional summer triangular tournament consists of three 45-minute matches squeezed into one evening, and has been a treat for holiday-makers over the last decade. All three of the participating sides could count on massive support in the south of the country, supplemented by vacationers from other parts of Italy.

The San Nicola stadium was packed - just as it had been the previous week when the national team defeated Spain - but this time the spectators were not united behind one cause, and on the whole Juve shirts outnumbered those of the Milanese pair.

Inter, without the potentially Russia-bound Samuel Eto’o, lifted the trophy after a penalty shoot-out win over Juve and a victory against their city rivals.

If Eto’o does move east, then Diego Milito could be given a new lease of life. The Argentine certainly looked sharp in the game against Milan, in which he scored the only goal in trademark fashion: ghosting in behind the defence before finishing with a deft flick.

However, it is of upmost importance that Massimo Moratti keeps his word that Wesley Sneijder will not be heading to Manchester United, Malaga or anywhere else. The Dutchman was without doubt the star of the evening - full of energy, demanding the ball at every turn and basically being the type of playmaker any coach in the world would want in their team.

There was little to be gleaned from Milan’s overall performance, with the Rossoneri losing both their matches, but the champions gave run-outs to eight youth team players and on the whole eased through what was a broiling evening.

Juventus, for their part, were in no mood to take it easy - not with their drill sergeant of a coach Antonio Conte barking orders from the sidelines.

Conte is back at a club where he once played alongside the likes of ZinËdine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, Edgar Davids and of course Alex Del Piero. It was also where he honed a winning mentality that kept the Bianconeri at the forefront of the game both in Italy and in Europe.

Conte’s tactics of playing the ball out from the back demanded concentration and plenty of energy from the whole team.

Andrea Pirlo will be pivotal to exactly how well this system works, and needless to say the playmaker kept the ball moving rapidly, while newly-recruited fullbacks Stephan Lichtsteiner and Reto Ziegler were comfortable receiving passes and willing outlets to burst forward.

Mirko Vucinic linked well with Del Piero and took his goal against Inter with a coolness and assurance that had been missing in his final days at AS Roma. But if we were looking for one player who personified the new Juve then it had to be Arturo Vidal.

Having only recently joined-up with his new team-mates following the Copa America, the Chilean was employed in a more advanced role ahead of the holding pair of Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio in the match against Milan, popping up on the left then on the right before racing through the middle whenever an opportunity presented. And not only that, his touch was sure, his passing crisp – he was the antithesis of Felipe Melo.

A compact bundle of energy who can switch into rapid sprints in an instant, the former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder really stamped his authority after initially being out-muscled by Rino Gattuso.

It was that old warrior of many a campaign who had the better of the early exchanges, brushing the new man off the ball in a move which led to Milan taking the lead. But Vidal soon had the measure of the veteran – and one crunching challenge left Rino visibly stunned, demanding a hand of apology which never arrived.

At just 24, Vidal is on the fast track to make an impression – his goal against Milan may have been more down to the poor goalkeeping of Flavio Roma but he also crashed a shot against the bar and set up Alessandro Matri for the winner with a well-measured cross.

Juventus have been in the doldrums for too long but on last night’s evidence the arrival of Vidal could be the catalyst for a return of that feisty Old Lady of yesteryear.

Italy defeat Spain with new personnel and purpose

2011-08-11T10:08:00Z

Italy’s 2-1 win over Spain in wind-swept Bari was something of a welcome relief for those itching for the return of competitive football and the opportunity to take pride in the Italian game.

NEWS Wed 10 Aug Aquilani fires Italy past Spain

The Italian Super Cup between AC Milan and Inter had been played in Beijing in front of 70,000 Chinese tifosi who had come to witness the exploits of a Swede, a Cameroonian, assorted Argentines and Brazilians and a Dutchman.

That match may have swelled the bank balances of the respective clubs, pushed a few more shirts in the East and given the Lega Calcio a little ego boost, but back home there was an overwhelming sense of why wasn’t the Milan derby played in the San Siro?

FEATURE Thu 4 Aug Milan duo take part in cultural exchange

It may be the height of the holiday season but the Stadio San Nicola in the deep south of Bari was almost full, the provinces once again taking the Azzurri to their hearts – especially with local boy Antonio Cassano captaining the team, thanks to Gigi Buffon’s grand gesture to hand over the armband for one game at least. And of course there was the small matter of witnessing the World and European Champions in action.

Billed as a friendly in preparation for the return of the Euro 2012 qualifiers in September, it was anything but as Cesare Prandelli sent out his men with the remit of demonstrating that Italy had not fallen off the world football map; urged on by a very vocal crowd, they certainly answered the call.

Spain may have been without Xavi and Sergio Ramos and then lost Fernando Torres and Gerard Pique in the first half to injury but Prandelli’s game plan was always to push play high up the pitch and pressurise the visitors as deep as possible, with Daniele De Rossi given the task of marking Andrès Iniesta.

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo would have impressed Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri with his adeptness in supporting the diminutive front two of Cassano, who provided some sublime touches but gave the impression that he had yet to start pre-season training, and Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, who knew the opposition better than anyone.

All three were a constant nuisance in closing down the Spanish backline but it was Montolivo who really stood out in the first half with a beautifully chipped finish to open the scoring – and it can only be a matter of days before he exchanges the Viola for the Rossoneri.

Playing in front of De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo and Thiago Motta, Montolivo had space to dictate the pace of the game and the elegant playmaker’s quick thinking and instant movement of the ball opened up the defence on numerous occasions.

With four central midfielders on the pitch it was important that both full-backs offered support along the flanks. Napoli's Christian Maggio was converted from club winger to international right-back, and on the left Domenico Criscito really stood out.

A summer move to Luciano Spalletti’s Zenit St Petersburg from Genoa is a mark of the confidence the player has that leaving Serie A will have no ill effect on his international chances. Too right, as long as he continues to put in stirring displays like last night, where he rattled not only the post but also the Spanish right flank with non-stop running and a deft touch.

The bench also played their part, with Alberto Aquilani scoring the winner (albeit with a massive deflection) and Mario Balotelli almost adding a third, although the Manchester City striker still looked somewhat off the pace as a true international – and on this showing will have his work cut out to displace Rossi and Cassano for the upcoming qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Slovenia.

With qualification for the Poland and Ukraine looking almost a formality – top of the group by four points and the Faroe Islands next up – a year on from Prandelli’s first game he is well aware that Italy is still a work in progress.

But a first win in 17 years (since USA ’94) over a traditional European rival, and one who have conquered the continent and the world in the last four years, demonstrates that there is a wind of change in the air and La Nazionale is set fair once again.

Milan and Inter take part in 'cultural exchange' as Italian Super Cup heads for Beijing

2011-08-04T12:36:00Z

As Inter trained in the sweaty environs of the Workers’ Stadium on a balmy Tuesday afternoon in Beijing, a thousand or so of their supporters congregated in the stands and began to sing: “Mi-lan, Mi-lan vaf-fan-culo.” Then came the next chant. “Who doesn’t jump is a lossonelo…”

The pronunciation, which up until then had been immaculate, finally gave away their identity. These were not Italian ultrà but rather the Chinese kind, imitating what they’d seen during one of the Serie A games broadcast by CCTV every week during the season.

When a compatriot wearing a Milan shirt went to take his seat among them, they set upon him as if this were the Curva Nord at San Siro, stripping him of it before throwing him out. It’s the stuff that social and psychological studies are made of – the yin and yang of football - not least because the actual sets of Inter and Milan ultrà agreed not to travel to China for this year’s Italian Super Cup in a protest against the distance and cost.

Not that the clubs mind, though, even if it’s said that they would have preferred to play their first competitive match of the new season at home in front of their own fans. It’s a slight inconvenience with the jet lag, the heat and humidity hampering preparation but this, we’re told, is part of the modern game where the tapping of new markets, the sale of TV rights and merchandising is apparently just as important as opening the upcoming campaign with a morale-boosting if not greatly significant piece of silverware.

Since its creation in 1988, the Super Cup has made a relatively frequent habit of going on a walkabout. In 1993, Milan traipsed to Washington where Marco Simone put Torino to the sword, plunging a shot into the net at RFK with real venom to give his side a 1-0 win.

Then a decade later they returned to the United States, this time visiting New York to suffer the ignominy of losing 5-3 on penalties to Juventus, who retained the trophy they had won in Tripoli the year before.

Questions as to where the magical mystery tour would stop next were answered when the Lega Calcio reached a money-spinning agreement with the Chinese promotion company United Vansen International. The terms dictate that at least three Italian Super Cups will be staged in Beijing until 2014.

Inter, the reigning holders of the trophy, have already been here before. Two years ago, José Mourinho watched his side lose 2-1 to Lazio at the Bird’s Nest stadium. It was hardly inauspicious as they went on to win the treble.

So what can we expect? As mentioned above, this promises to be a derby in commerce as well as calico, with sponsors Adidas facing off against Nike, Emirates sparring with Pirelli and Dolce & Gabbana taking on Versace. Incidentally, Inter and Milan will receive €1.65 million each for their participation.

Curiously, the rivals have never met before in the Italian Super Cup, but share the competition record for wins with five apiece. It’s a shame, then, that the game is not being played at San Siro where the occasion would perhaps have been more spirited and meant a great deal more.

While there is a great enthusiasm in China for football, with upwards of 70,000 fans expected to pack into the Bird’s Nest on Saturday, it still faces a struggle to become the nation’s No.1 sport. The absence of a genuine homegrown star such as the recently retired Yao Ming in basketball or Li Na in tennis has perhaps stymied its growth.

Lest we forget, China has only ever been to one World Cup, and that was in 2002 when they lost all their matches and failed to score a single goal. Gao Hongbo’s side currently lie 73rd in the FIFA world rankings, sandwiched between Malawi and Zambia.

The Bird's Nest Stadium - bickering Chinese ultràs not pictured

Domestically things aren’t much better. A match-fixing scandal hit the game hard in 2009, although Guangzhou Evergrande’s decision to sign Darío Conca from Fluminense in July and make the diminutive Argentinian playmaker one of the highest paid players in the world with a contract reportedly worth £6.4 million a year suggests real ambition.

“In China professional football was born in 1994, a century later than in Europe and South America,” the former Tianjin Teda and Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi told La Repubblica. “You can’t invent a sport’s tradition overnight. For the Chinese, the real football is that of the Champions League and South America, not theirs. For this reason, the Super Cup will be a great opportunity for a cultural exchange and it’s not to be wasted.”

Inter coach Gian Piero Gasperini agrees. “The Super Cup has to become a beautiful advert for our football on the Asian market,” he said. Whether an entertaining game is possible with temperatures of 38 degrees and 95 per cent humidity is the subject of debate. Conditions have been likened by the Italian press corps to those experienced at the 1994 World Cup.

“Let’s say that, from a planning point of view, a week like this is not ideal,” complained Milan’s fitness guru Daniele Tognaccini. “It’s a difficult situation because [in this heat] it’s easier to commit mistakes.”

Still, the first competitive run out of the new season brings with it plenty of intrigue. Inter start the long march of the 2011-12 campaign with their third new manager in the space of a year following Leonardo’s decision to leave the bench and go back behind a desk as director of sport at Paris Saint-Germain.

With €35 million spent on defenders Andrea Ranocchia, Yuto Nagatomo and striker Giampaolo Pazzini in January, President Massimo Moratti has been discreet though not entirely prudent this summer.

Inter have rejuvenated their squad with the signing of promising youngster Luc Castaignos from Feyenoord and added strength in depth with the purchase of Jonathan, a right-back from Cruzeiro, who is capable of covering Douglas Maicon. A bureaucratic c**k-up on Bologna’s behalf also led to Italy international goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano arriving quite unexpectedly at Appiano Gentile, although a torn cruciate ligament in his knee means he faces a lengthy spell in the treatment room.

Gasperini and new-signing Álvarez get up close and personal

Each of the reinforcements apart from Ricardo Álvarez, the left-sided attacking midfield player brought in from Vélez Sársfield after inspiring them to the Clausura championship in Argentina, are seen as either squad players or ones for the future. Those involved in the Copa America have voluntarily cut their holidays short - against the advice of Gasperini - after injuries to Viviano, Luca Castellazzi and Nagatomo, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in a friendly against Celtic.

So the only major change to the starting XI from last year is Gasperini’s 3-4-3 formation. Speculation continues to mount about the future of Wesley Sneijder amid reports of a contract offer from Manchester United. The Holland international travelled with Inter to Beijing and even got into a playful argument with Samuel Eto’o on the plane after the latter was allocated a seat in first class while the rest of the squad sat in business class.

“Sneijder is here with us, he has trained with us and he will play with us on Saturday,” Gasperini said.

The 27-year-old has been given a new deeper role in the team, which has yielded mixed results thus far in pre-season with suggestions that he is both positioned too far away from goal to make a decisive impact and offers little in the defensive phase when Inter are without the ball in a key area of the field. It’s early days, and a footballer of Sneijder’s intelligence with an Ajax schooling behind him should be able to adapt and make it work.

As for Milan, the Italian champions have once again been patient in their build-up for the coming season. Antonio Cassano aside, their squad is settled with coach Max Allegri and chief executive Adriano Galliani taking the view that if the team ain’t broke then why try to fix it.

The midfield trio of Rino Gattuso, Mark van Bommel and Clarence Seedorf are another year older, but fresh legs will be on the way once the search for the so-called Mister X, Milan’s No 1 transfer target, concludes.

A left-sided central midfielder is on the agenda with Fiorentina’s Riccardo Montolivo very much the favourite for the position. Yet Milan are in no rush and much like last year they will play the waiting game, although sensational purchases like those of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho are excluded.

Philippe Mexès has joined on a free transfer from Roma as the long-term successor to the veteran centre-back Alessandro Nesta. However, he will miss the start of the campaign after snapping the anterior ligament in his left knee last April in a match against Juventus.

Taye Taiwo, the physical Nigeria international left-back with a cannonball shot, represents a slight upgrade on Luca Antonini, even if his aptitude as a defender is questionable, while Stephen El Shaarawy, one of the brightest creative talents in Serie B last year at Padova, will be worked in gradually and with care following his €8.8m move from Genoa.

“We are at the beginning of the season,” Allegri explained. “It will be the third game that we play and the condition of our team can’t be the optimum. But the game is of great importance both because it’s for a trophy and above all because it’s a derby, so we’ll need to try and be ready, above all in the mind.”

Of course the last time these two sides met in April, Milan eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory at San Siro and ended Inter’s title challenge. A great wall appeared to separate them with Alexandre Pato, the Peking Duck, getting himself a brace. Gasperini should heed that warning. Indeed, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find Sun Tzu’s The Art of War on his bedside table back at the hotel.

Atalanta fans in denial as hero Doni accused of match-fixing

2011-07-29T15:02:00Z

A primitive-looking sign made out of cardboard hangs in the window of the Barettino, a bar just a few streets down from Atalanta’s ground, the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia.

It bears a message scribbled in the local dialect, probably by the man who runs the joint, Claudio Galimberti, better known as ‘Bocia’, the shaggy-haired head of the club’s group of ultrà. It reads: “Paura de nisù,” Fear of no one.

Ever since newly promoted Atalanta were seriously implicated in Italian football’s latest betting scandal, a mood of defiance has swept through the Lombard town of Bergamo. Its proud and hard-working residents, distinguished by the findings of a recent study showing that only the people of Milan declare more income for tax purposes, continue to walk through the streets with crapa olta - their heads held high.

Around 4,000 marched in defence of their club on June 9 with the front line of protesters holding up a banner on which the slogan “get your hands off Atalanta” was written. No one has been left indifferent by the situation. Bergamo after all is a one-club town. Just ask the mayor Franco Tentorio. His father Luigi was a player, a coach and later a director with the club.

It’s enough to remember that only last November, Atalanta’s president and former player Antonio Percassi announced an initiative to send every newborn baby in the town a mini replica kit. With that in mind, is it any wonder so few Bergamaschi support any other team in Italy even considering the relative proximity of Milan and Inter? This is a family affair and thereby a matter of honour for Atalanta as their adopted son and captain Cristiano Doni is at the centre of match-fixing allegations, and not for the first time.

A decade ago, he along with 10 other players was accused of manipulating the result of a Coppa Italia tie between Atalanta and Pistoiese. Doni was eventually cleared and reminds spectators of the ruling every time he finds the back of the net with a provocative goal celebration, placing a hand under the chin to gesture that he too can walk with crapa olta.

After 10 seasons at the club with a brief parenthesis at Sampdoria and Mallorca in the middle, Atalanta supporters revere Doni. His rhetoric is typical of a talismanic figure. He needles local rivals and former club Brescia by saying: “We’re back in our home, Serie A, while they’re back in their home, Serie B,” and often talks of blue and black blood running through his veins.

“This is a really special shirt, almost magical,” he gushes. “Perhaps I could jokingly liken it to the costume that transformed Clark Kent into Superman.” Doni’s acts of heroism include becoming Atalanta’s all-time top scorer with 103 goals between Serie A and B, a remarkable achievement for a midfielder, and though Roman by birth, he was made an honorary citizen of Bergamo in 2008.

Percassi has repeatedly said, with a finger on the populist pulse, that Doni has a future at the club once his playing days are over, even going so far as to suggest: “He would be the ideal president.”

All of which makes the very idea Doni has in any way wronged Atalanta inconceivable to the fans.

One told La Repubblica: “I don’t believe it… It’s not our thing. Because Doni is Bergamasco, I swear… He can’t have stolen. He couldn’t have, could he?”

His coach Stefano Colantuono won’t accept the accusations either. “Cristiano would never do anything to hurt Atalanta,” he insisted.

However, on Tuesday, Doni along with 25 others including his teammate, the defender, Thomas Manfredini were ordered by the FIGC’s chief prosecutor Stefano Palazzi to appear before a disciplinary commission to be held next week. He faces a three-year ban, which if imposed would almost certainly bring about the 38-year-old’s retirement.

Fears that Atalanta’s promotion would be revoked have been played down with the latest reports speculating that they will start the season with a seven-point penalty.

Under scrutiny are two matches from last March. The first a 1-1 draw at Ascoli with their defender Vittorio Micolucci asserting that “before the game Manfredini said to me: ‘Oh come on Vitto, what do you say, today let’s draw, it’s better for both of us?’” The second came a week later at home to Piacenza (video above), with abnormal betting patterns raising alarm bells after a suspicious amount of money was staked on at least three goals being scored in the first half. Sure enough, that’s how it happened.

Doni scored two soft penalties, the first called for hand-ball on Damiano Zenoni, the second for an avoidable challenge made by another player under investigation, Carlo Gervasoni, on the Atalanta striker Francesco Ruopolo who would get his side’s third just before the interval with a close range finish at the far post.

The prosecution alleges that a fix had been arranged with wiretaps appearing to indicate that Doni and Gervasoni were contacted by mediators acting on the behalf of one group in the betting ring.

In Doni’s case, this was apparently Nicola Santoni, a former goalkeeping coach at Ravenna and someone he admitted to knowing in an interview with La Repubblica. It is claimed Santoni bet €30,000 on Atalanta beating Piacenza in the first half and by full time. He was also overheard on the wire the day before the game telling Gianfranco Parlato, a former player caught up in the scandal, “I have seen my man…” Santoni’s explanations when presented with the evidence were found to be unconvincing.

The town of Bergamo, meanwhile, continues to rally behind Doni who claims to have been made a scapegoat. “It’s an ugly story even if the things that I have read in the papers seem very vague,” the mayor sighed. “Up until now the wiretaps that have emerged on Doni and the club are third hand, between a friend and the friend of a friend,” added Daniele Belotti, a town planner and ultrà. “We demand certain proof. If they come up with it we’ll make our own judgements. What has come out up to now is not enough to renounce Doni.”

That of course is for the disciplinary commission to decide and as the so-called queen of the provinces embarks on a 51st season in Serie A, the question is will she do so without her king?

Ibra bristles with ambition as Milan seek Mr X

2011-07-27T12:46:00Z

It has come to that point of pre-season when the main players in the upcoming title race look to send out a strong signal that they are to be taken seriously.
Inter, Juventus and AS Roma are all getting to grips with working under a new coach and new systems, while Napoli are easing their way into the friendly circuit, but AC Milan look to be that bit ahead of the pack in terms of preparation and self-belief.

It's not surprising really, considering that the champions are a settled unit; their only immediate reinforcements so far are in the back-line with the arrival of Philippe Mexes and Taye Taiwo – although they have also astutely signed one for the future in talented teenage striker Stephan El Shaarawy.

There is also the Mr. X to consider – that missing piece whom the Rossoneri hierarchy believe will turn the team into the masters of the football universe once again. There is much speculation on who that name will turn out to be. Marek Hamsik, Javier Pastore, Cesc Fabregas, Bastian Schweinsteiger and even Ricky Kaka have been mentioned. Riccardo Montolivo – a target to replace Andrea Pirlo – doesn't have the X factor.

While the majority of Serie A teams have been encamped in mountain retreats in the Alps, Milan have done as they do every year: prepare in the familiar surroundings of their Milanello training complex. However, on Monday the team ventured out of Italy for their first full friendly of the summer. (Their previous run-out, a 12-goal blitz of amateur side Solbiatese, barely counts.)

There was plenty of symbolism in the opposition and the stadium. Munich's Allianz Arena will host next May's Champions League Final, and hosts Bayern Munich could make it much harder for Milan to get there: if the Germans qualify for the group stages of the competition along with Arsenal, that will relegate the Rossoneri to pot two when the draw is held at the end of August.

There's still plenty of time for Massimiliano Allegri to fine-tune his players. Against a lively Bayern, the team was unsurprisingly a yard off the pace and lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

However, one player who looked sharp was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who scored with his first touch after four minutes in Milan’s first foray across the halfway line.

Looking relaxed (honestly), tanned and almost Jack Sparrow-like in ponytail and goatee, the Swede was at his swashbuckling best during his 45 minutes on the pitch: the darting runs into space, the familiar stop and drawback, a bit of defender-bumping.

It was no surprise that he didn't appear for the second half. Allegri’s aim this season will be to keep his star turn happy and he's already gaining dividends from giving his main man another week off before returning to training.

Last August, Ibra arrived at Milan from a turbulent time at Barcelona and settled with gusto to the task of proving Pep Guardiola wrong. However, it became clear that the Rossoneri were frequently too reliant on his ability to get them out of a sticky situation, and by the second half of the season the physical and mental strain began to tell.

This season, Allegri and his backroom staff will want the big man in prime condition heading into spring months, especially if everything goes according to plan for the knockout stages of the Champions League: reclaiming the trophy is the club’s main objective.

Antonio Cassano was also excused for a further seven days but that has made little difference to his general languid approach. Tellingly soon after Ibra’s opener, the barrel-chested Bari boy missed a good opportunity to double the score when set up by his strike partner.

Cassano may have to play the bit-part once again this year behind Alexandre Pato and Robinho, but there is no doubt who is still set for star billing – even when the elusive Mr X is finally revealed.

Inter switch to 3-3-1-3 to suit Sneijder

2011-07-18T13:42:00Z

If Inter are indeed ready to let Wesley Sneijder leave for Manchester United then Gian Piero Gasperini is either unaware of the transfer or he is wasting valuable time trying to fit the Dutchman into a new system.

The new coach’s preferred formation is 3-4-3 and for all his protestations that he will be flexible in his approach when the need arises the former Genoa boss has rarely if ever diverted from his tried and trusted system.

While it may be easier for the attack-minded right-back Douglas Maicon to play in a more advanced position, enabling Lucio, Cristian Chivu and Andrea Ranocchia to form the back three, finding position for Sneijder is more of a puzzle.

Inter are currently in their traditional pre-season retreat in Pinzolo in the mountainous Trento region and on Sunday they had their second outing against a local side – who on these occasions provide cannon fodder for the Serie A sides to rack up a cricket score.

In the first game earlier last week, Gasperini had inserted Sneijder in a front three to no great effect – after all, the Dutchman isn't a striker. On that occasion the coach changed to a 3-4-1-2, but this time he was back in a more familiar central position alongside Dejan Stankovic, with the youthful and hard-running Davide Santon and Joel Obi working along the flanks.

The final result – a 6-1 victory, with Sneijder getting on the scoresheet – was far from the goal-fest one would have expected, especially with Samuel Eto’o returning to the central striker position flanked by Goran Pandev and impressive new signing Ricky Alvarez.

Part of the problem stemmed from Sneijder’s inability to spray passes to either flank from a deeper role – not entirely in front of the defence, but from just inside his own half. There was plenty of headshaking and raised arms in apology as a number of passes driven out wide failed to find their target, either through lack of accuracy or the wingback not having made a run in time to get into a more advanced position.

The situation improved when Stankovic dropped a little deeper and Sneijder was given more freedom in his more familiar trequartista role, turning Inter for all purposes into a 3-3-1-3 – and therefore a much more potent threat going forward.

The Dutchman was back to his buzzing best, playing quick one-twos around the edge of the area and taking his opportunities to racing into the central spaces created by Eto’o, who drifted wide to play in a low cross tapped home by Sneijder.

"They've spelt your name wrong, Sammy"

The little man trotted back to the halfway looking a lot happier with himself but the overall impression is that he will find it difficult to adapt to a more withdrawn role – and that Inter won't get the best out of him in that position.

If he does start in the centre of the pitch then his natural tendency will be to burst forward and attack the edge of the opposition penalty area – but in Italy that is where teams like to lay out their traps to break play up. With the full-backs/midfielders converted to wing-backs and pushing forward, Inter could well become outnumbered in midfield, with only one player to protect a back three who all lack pace.

Gasperini claimed he was satisfied with the way Sneijder went about his task, and there is no denying that he brings his team-mates into play whenever he has the ball – but to much greater effect when he is positioned further forward or not required to defend the edge of his own area.

There were two pivotal moments on Sunday that summed up the player and in turn his coach’s predicament. First, receiving the ball just outside the area, he dallied but still had enough skill to get away from his opponent... only to knock the ball straight into touch. Then, an opposition attack broke down and when the ball ran loose inside near the centre-circle he didn’t even look up before a pinging a perfect pass into space for Eto’o race through on goal.

In a high-octane league game or Champions League tie it is clear that Sneijder positioned in the more advanced position is what you want to see – be it at Inter or United.

Patience on the cards at Roma

2011-07-15T12:57:00Z

Thomas DiBenedetto introduced a new word to Rome in his first official press conference as AS Roma owner on Thursday: patience.

Anyone who has spent any time in the Eternal City will know that a capacity to endure and tolerate delay is a virtue – but that same tolerance is not applied to football, especially when it comes to the Giallorossi.

Looking very much the American in Rome in a pale suit and perspiring gently, DiBenedetto left the introductions to his local management team – former Lecce chief executive Claudio Fenucci and Roberto Cappelli from Unicredit Bank, who is acting president until the end of the month – before outlining his vision for the future.

Around 200 reporters packed into a press room at the club’s Trigoria training centre were treated to the well-worn English expression "Roma wasn’t built in a day" – just what the expectant local hacks didn’t want to hear.

The American investors have acquired a 60 per cent share in the club, becoming the first foreign majority owners of a Serie A club (Unicredit Bank retain the remaining 40 per cent). But instead of a full-out (and, in truth, unrealistic) assault on the Scudetto, the new owners are pinning their hopes on developing a youthful side around the ageing Pied Piper, Francesco Totti, who DiBenedetto dutifully hailed as Roma’s best-ever player. Not Italy’s, though, which raised a few eyebrows.

The fact that Stefano Okaka, at 21 an Italy Under-21 squad member with first-team experience at Roma, has been put on the transfer list suggests there is a belief that within this year’s title-winning youth side there is enough emerging talent to make the step up. It did not go unnoticed that it was members of the youth team who modeled for the new kit.

It was all a matter of buying into the American Dream, where a new culture of management, both on and off the pitch, will eventually pay dividends.

One of those who must decide if he is part of this ‘new era’ is Daniele De Rossi. The midfielder is yet to sign a new contract, but if Roman sensibilities are not to be swept away in a tide of American pragmatism then the club cannot another afford to allow the local-born star, who has long been considered heir-apparent to Totti, to move on. There is still much to do.

Luis Enrique demands Perrotta, Totti and De Rossi stop ageing

New coach Luis Enrique was also paraded in front of the press for the first time, and seemed to be in a state of heightened agitation, having arrived almost directly from only his second training session. The Spaniard was sweating more profusely than DiBenedetto, and fidgeting in a manner that suggests that his press conferences could become as confrontational as Jose Mourinho’s run-ins.

The former Barcelona B coach was in no mood to fawn to the press. He immediately made it clear that the blueprint of Catalan success would not be simply lifted and dropped into the Italian game, although a philosophy of attacking football and retaining possession doesn’t seem that far from Pep Guardiola’s approach.

In fact, it was difficult to decipher who was the most uncomfortable: the coiled, sinewy Enrique or the more sedate DiBenedetto, complete with ill-fitting headphones so that he could understand what was going on and keep everyone on the party line.

With the more vocal radio reporters firing their first salvos over a proposed new stadium and whether Mirko Vucinic would be sold – "you’ll have to ask sporting director Walter Sabatini," opined Enrique, finally deciding on a bit of mischief-making with the press – it was left to Di Benedetto to return to the point where he had come in. Indicating to President Cappelli that he should throw the dogs a bone, he announced that Franco Baldini would be leaving the England set-up after the Euro 2012 qualifiers to join Sabatini.

DiBenedetto reinforced the concept that success will arrive but that everyone needs to keep expectations more grounded, which is bit like asking a Roman taxi driver to slow down for a pedestrian crossing.

The big hitters in the north – Juventus, Inter and AC Milan – as well as Napoli to the south and Lazio closer to home would have been watching with interest and no doubt some scepticism, believing this new-look Roma are working on a hidden agenda to draw them into a false sense of security before catching everyone out with a revolutionary approach.

Italians don’t like surprises; they prefer to know what they are dealing with. But the evidence so far suggests that Roma, under their Boston-based owners, will be run on good old American common sense and a bit of bullish Spanish spirit, but above all a tempering of Roman impulsiveness.

Moratti's call for Inter boycott of Gazzetta is doomed to fail

2011-07-11T11:10:00Z

Massimo Moratti’s morning reading will be a spot shorter from now on after the Inter owner decided to boycott La Gazzetta dello Sport for joining in the chorus of calls for the Nerazzurri to be stripped of their 2006 Serie A title.

He urged all Nerazzurri fans to follow suit and give the pink one a miss. That seems highly unlikely considering that it is not only Milan-based, but generally quite pro-Inter. It's also the most popular paper in the country, including the non-sporting dailies.

Just about everyone reads it. You see smartly-dressed businessmen walking to their city-centre offices with the Gazzetta tucked under their arm along with that other Milanese publishing institution Corriere dello Sera – and you can guess which one they delve into first.

So for Moratti to turn against a traditional supporter, whose offices had become a second home when he needed a mouthpiece, can only be counter-productive – especially when Inter need to keep old and trusted friends as close as possible.

His call for a mass embargo did encourage some rabble-rousing and a number of fans hurled the odd bit of verbal advice at Gazzetta staff outside the paper’s headquarters, although hacks have become used to being the brunt of supporter anger.

No one could turn a blind eye to the overwhelming evidence that has emerged after a year-long enquiry into the Calciopoli by the Football Federation (FIGC) chief investigator Stefano Palazzi that Inter and their then president Giacinto Facchetti was as much part of the system of influencing referees as anyone else – and to some extent even more so.

Facchetti died in September 2006 and Moratti, having seen the moral high ground swept from beneath his feet, lashed out with disdain at the Gazzetta, the FIGC and anyone else who questioned that his old friend was nothing less than a saint.

However, despite all the legal claims about breaching articles of sporting law, there will be little punishment for Inter. Due to the sporting statute of limitations – and Palazzi’s snail-like investigation, which took the case beyond the four-year limit in which to take any further action – the worst that could happen is that the FIGC decide to wipe Inter's 2006 Scudetto (awarded by default post-Calciopoli) and leave that title unrewarded, as they did with the 2005 edition.

The initial investigation had its roots in the desire to proportion blame quickly, and Juventus director Luciano Moggi set himself up as the fall guy. However, the selective evidence presented means that others got off very lightly – and in Inter’s case they were able to profit from being kept out of the firing line to become the people’s champions.

Considering Facchetti’s close relationship with Moratti it would seem unlikely he was acting independently of the club – possible, but highly unlikely considering the paranoia within Italian football that someone else, in this case Juventus, always has too much influence.

You can see where Moratti’s outburst came from: the evidence from wire-taps now suggests that Facchetti's conversations with referee designator Paolo Bergamo were little different from what was going on anywhere else, even if they seem to be a plea for a share of the spoils within the bigger picture.

Bergamo has even claimed the FIGC actively encouraged him to speak to as many clubs as possible about which referee should be in charge of which game – specifically to deflect any accusations of favouritism like the ones which subsequently came to light.

These revelations are playing out in typical Italian fashion with no concrete evidence – in this case that matches were fixed, or that anyone was doing anything more than attempting to gain an edge before someone else did: to "level the playing field" without everyone being on the level.

Five years on from Italy’s post-Calciopoli World Cup victory, everyone is still trying to get one over their rivals – be it in subtle claims of injustice hinted at to the press or full-on public outbursts usually directly into a TV camera on prime-time.

The FIGC will decide on July 18 if the the title will disappear into the ether or remain Inter’s property. Until then, there's as much chance of Interisti wearing red and black as there is of them leaving the pink one on the news stands.

New Roma boss Luis Enrique aims to build his own Barcelona

2011-06-14T16:06:00Z

Luis Enrique turned up at AS Roma’s training ground on Friday looking more like a new signing than the club's new coach.
Looking trim and dressed casually in jeans and polo shirt, the 41-year-old arrived with his new staff – including Ivan de la Pena, a former Lazio player no less, who also looked as if he wouldn’t need much persuasion to get involved in a five-a-side match.

Given a tour of the Trigoria training facility, they looked suitably impressed with the training pitches, players’ quarters and country-club air, swimming pool and all. Then they sat down for a 15-minute chat with the man they most need to win over: Francesco Totti.

One can clearly picture the steely stare and iron-gripped handshake when the pair were introduced, and new sporting director Walter Sabatini must ensure that there is mutual understanding between two hard-headed individuals whose co-existence will be crucial to Roma becoming a power once more in Serie A.

While Totti is still the undisputed king of all he surveys, Enrique certainly has all the credentials to become the team’s true leader and uniting force; as Sabatini pointed out, the Spaniard has that built-in arrogance that ensures you always come out on top in the battle for a parking place in the Eternal City.

His playing career at Real Madrid and then Barcelona is well documented and, having had his nose splayed across his face by Mauro Tassotti at USA 94, his very presence gives Romanisti another reason to hate title holders AC Milan.

However, the experience gleaned at the Barcelona academy of excellence in charge of the Blaugrana B side will be invaluable and could even revolutionise the Italian game. What conversations Guardiola must have had with Pep Guardiola on the philosophy that has taken Barça to the heights of footballing perfection they have currently attained. Even if he didn’t get on that well with his old team-mate, he's privy to the secrets of the Camp Nou and the La Masia player-development complex.

Tellingly, Enrique will have complete control over every area within the Roma set-up from the under-8s onwards, with each side playing in the same way as the first-team – just as they have been doing at the Catalan club. The talent is there – Roma have always had the pick of the best local talent and the youth side won the Italian Cup Final against Varese on Sunday – but the new structure will be the first step on what everyone hopes will be a Roman answer to cultivating their own Xavi or Iniesta... and dare they dream of a new Messi somewhere down the line?

This is not like Jose Mourinho, who arrived in Italian football like a force of nature to drag Inter to the Treble of the Serie A title, Champions League and domestic Cup by exerting his own will on his players and opposition alike. Roma aren't demanding instant success but rather a cultural evolution in the way the game is played.

Enrique arrives with no baggage: he doesn’t know or owe anyone in Italy. But those he will work will closely – initially Sabatini and eventually Franco Baldini, when he unties himself from his England commitments – are masters of the intrigue and Machiavellian power plays within the Italian game and will guide him through the corridors of mistrust and envy that will no doubt rise against the Romans from such an insular world.

Enrique has been handed a two-year contract and as it stands there will be no panic reaction if the team fail to finish in the top three next season. However, everyone including the new man are well aware that the resources will be made available to reach that objective.

The club’s new owner Thomas Di Benedetto has thus far maintained a low profile but has given Sabatini carte blanche to provide him with five or six names that can be persuaded to move to Rome.

Already there have been suggestions that Enrique will return to Barcelona for Bojan Krkic and suddenly with Americans at the helm and one of Europe's most sought-after young coaches in charge, agents are talking up their clients as the perfect additions to the new Roma adventure.

Javier Pastore had already been linked some time ago, but the Palermo playmaker has looked more likely move to Real Madrid or Inter – until the last few days, that is. Now that the Argentine is back home to prepare for the Copa America and having seen the likes of Erik Lamela of River Plate and Ricky Alvarez of Velez Sarsfield suddenly linked with Roma, his agent is making overtures towards the Giallorossi management.

There's no doubt that the manner in which the Spanish Ironman competitor swaggered into town has had a galvanising effect with even the out-of-sorts Daniele De Rossi seemingly coming round to the idea that maybe this new-look Roma is really the place to be.

Here we go again: Italy in another match-fixing fug

2011-06-02T14:33:00Z

Andrea Pirlo has had to suffer through it all before. Ahead of the 2006 World Cup finals, the then AC Milan midfielder had to face the media to answer accusations that Italian football was rotten to the core.

That was the prelude to Calciopoli, the crippling effects of which are still being felt throughout the game, with the country’s snail-paced judicial system continually dragging the case against former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi through the courts.

So on Wednesday, as the now Juventus midfielder prepared for the Azzurri’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Estonia, he was in no mood to deflect questions on another scandal about to explode in Italy.

“How disgusting,” he said of claims that a criminal betting ring – said to be fronted by former Lazio and Italy international Giuseppe Signori – had been fixing matches in Serie B (which happens to be sponsored by a betting company) and the lower division Pro Lega. There are also question marks over a number of top-flight matches, including Inter-Siena and Brescia-Bologna from this season.

The story became more concrete when magistrates in the northern city of Cremona, led by the straight-talking Guido Salvini, co-ordinated the arrest of 16 individuals – nine of whom were immediately put under house arrest, including the aforementioned Signori.

Other high-profile names amongst the journey men involved include former Sampdoria full-back Stefano Bettarini – the one-time pretty boy of Serie A who has spent his time since retiring in the gossip pages photographed on the arm of some young TV wannabe – and Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni, who played for Italy at the 2002 World Cup. Naturally all three are pleading their innocence in what has been christened the Calcioscommese [football betting] scandal.

The probe was triggered by a very strange incident even by Italian standards and surrounded Cremona’s club Cremonese and their third division match against Paganese. A number of Cremonese players complained that they felt ill at half-time; as the story developed, their then goalkeeper Marco Paoloni has been accused of feeding his team-mates sedatives before kick-off and at half-time.

Cremonese still managed to win the game but suspicions had been raised within the club after some questionable performances from the keeper, who was moved on in January to fellow Pro Lega side Benevento. Paolini should have been preparing for a play-off tie this Sunday, but instead finds himself incarcerated facing some very serious charges and potentially the end of his career at the age of 27.

Signori leaves the police station yesterday

Magistrates are under no doubt that Paoloni – an AS Roma youth product who never made the top-flight grade and, along with his wife, had run up tens of thousands of Euros in debts – is a key figure in their case. Among a list of charges against him is attempting to convince Lecce players to concede a high number of goals against Inter. (The match ended 1-0.)

Bets of up to €150,000 had been placed on matches that probably didn't merit a fiver at best, which has led to a belief that the sums were being laundered by criminal organisations. Betting agencies throughout the country have been searched and the homes of betting operators raided, as have been the offices of an accountancy firm.

The accused called their legal advisers, the clubs dismissed the investigation as comical and the Pro Lega president Marco Macalli instructed lawyers to bring a civil case against those who had damaged his federation’s reputation – but judge Savini remained resolute and warned that the evidence was just too compelling.

No wonder La Gazzetta Dello Sport ran the headline “Football infected.” Corriere dello Sport went for “Betting earthquake” and claimed that the 18 games under investigations were only the tip of the iceberg. It was left to Tuttosport to sum up what Pirlo had lamented, but it is not the first time that betting irregularities have dogged Italian football.

Paolo Rossi, no less, was found guilty of playing a role in the Totonero [black pools] match-fixing scandal in 1980; having been banned for three years he had his sentence reduced in time to win the Golden Boot – and the World Cup – at Spain 82.

Now with so many matches every week and 132 registered companies taking bets online and off, it's a boom market – and unsurprisingly corruption accusations are surfacing as Italy once again reveals its dark underbelly.

Inter adopt Mourinho approach in order to end season on a high

2011-05-31T14:51:00Z

When Inter needed to win a trophy to add a little gloss to a disappointing season, they resorted to a tried and tested approach: playing the Mourinho way.

The Special One’s long shadow was cast over Leonardo’s methods in nullifying Palermo in the Italian Cup Final to give Samuel Eto’o a glimpse of goal to inflict the necessary damage.

The spoiling tactics were helped by Palermo’s inability to hit the target when it counted, with Abel Hernandez and Javier Pastore both guilty of missing presentable chances early on – the former after a mere fifty seconds.

Inter’s struck the first blow with their first real sight of goal, as Eto’o latched on to a sublime through ball from the equally impressive Wesley Sneijder just before the half-hour mark to open the scoring.

That breakthrough came just after Palermo had seen central defender Dorin Goian limp off to be replaced by Moris Carrozzieri – suitably immobile on only his second appearance following a two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine use.

Inter took the chances presented to them but for long periods the game was played out in the middle third of the pitch, where the Nerazzurri were quite content to kill the pace of the contest by any and every means possible, including rolling around on the ground whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini was his usual magnanimous self in defeat, accusing Inter of being nothing more than thieves – christening them The Beagle Boys after the cartoon criminal characters from a fifties comic strip.

At least an apology was forthcoming, and rather than lament the opposition’s tactics he should be full of praise for his team, none of whom had ever played in a major final - unless you count the Slovenian Cup Final - and end speculation surrounding the future of put-upon coach Delio Rossi by offering him something longer than a one-year contract.

Backed by 40,000 fans inside the Olympic Stadium in Rome, the likes of Javier Pastore, Josip Illic, Hernandez and the 18-year-old Afriyie Acquah played with verve, pace and determination and were only undone by their wayward finishing.

They deserved more and for a moment there was a glimmer of hope that they may get it when Ezequiel Munoz pulled a goal back with two minutes remaining, only for the centre back to be sent-off soon after for a second yellow card. Replays suggested the young Argentine had touched the ball before clattering into MacDonald Mariga, but that was no help to Palermo.

It was on such slight margins that the match slipped away from the Rosanero, leaving Eto’o to carry off the bounty in his shopping bag – a goal celebration the Cameroonian first unveiled in the final of the World Club Cup – to close the season with 37 goals in all competitions with only the woodwork denying him drawing level with such legends Antonio Angelillo, Giuseppe Meazza and Gunnar Nordhal in all-time goalscoring charts.

So, three trophies for Inter but the Italian Cup, Super Cup and World Club Cup hardly compare with the exploits of last season, although Leonardo has at least tucked away his first trophy.

The Brazilian will now be given more time to plot his revenge against AC Milan and it was fitting that he ended up celebrating in front of the same section of the ground where only a few weeks ago Rino Gattuso had joined in with the Rossoneri Ultras in a merry ditty blasting their former coach.

As Massimiliano Allegri pointed out recently, Leonardo is too much of a gentleman at times but there was no doubt that he was deeply hurt that Milan failed to force Gattuso into a public apology.

However, he can expect Moratti to loosen the purse strings for one or possibly two major signings, one of which could well be Alexis Sanchez, although not if Udinese fail to lower their €30 million valuation for the Chile winger.

The general feeling is that Inter’s ‘special’ relationship with Udinese could hold sway in bringing the 22-year-old to the San Siro, pepping up an attack that has become over-reliant on Eto’o and at the same time halting growing complaints that the club is unwilling to invest in fresh faces as Milan failed to do for too many seasons.

With their city rivals reclaiming the summit on the domestic front, and considering the upheaval of the first three quarters of the season, winning the Italian Cup turned out to be a rather special way for Inter to end a difficult season.

Mazzarri out then back in as Napoli summit meeting brings peace

2011-05-25T10:52:00Z

Serie A’s managerial 'merry-go-round' is in fact more like a dilapidated rollercoaster at a disreputable theme park - nobody knows when or how the ride will end...

Take Walter Mazzarri – and it seemed for a while that Juventus would; The Napoli coach was happily taking the plaudits on Monday morning for a season which had ended with a third place finish and a return to the Champions League, when he was informed that his services were no longer required.

Club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is not a man to be messed with and despite Mazzarri’s success on the pitch the movie mogul was less than impressed with his coach’s refusal to buy into the long-term plans for the club.

Mazzarri must have felt he was on pretty solid ground when he informed the press that he would be considering his options come the end of the season, only for the rug to be yanked from under his feet when that decision was taken for him.

“You’re sacked,” was probably the wording of the notice from the De Laurentiis office – a notice coming in the form of a telegram, no less, as the pair had not spoken in the previous two months, with the president even blanking Mazzarri during the celebrations for the club’s return to Europe’s elite cup competition for the first time in 21 years.

There were murmurs on Sunday evening that something was amiss when, after the draw at Juventus, Mazzarri gave a touching speech to the players during which he praised their professionalism and hinted he may not be around to enjoy such good days in the future.

For a short time Mazzarri was left pondering his future

Some took it has another round of ‘call my bluff’ with the big boss, but when De Laurentiis cancelled an appearance at a Lega Calcio meeting on Monday morning the alarm bells started ringing around the Bay of Naples.

Word soon spread that recent Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini was to take over from next season and all that remained was to thrash out the termination of the remaining two years on Mazzarri’s contract worth €6 million.

An afternoon meeting was hastily arranged in Rome between two hard-headed individuals, with Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon acting as referee, peace-maker and soother of dented egos.

They certainly made up for lost time on the verbal side of things, emerging sometime around 9pm to inform an incredulous press and public that peace had actually broken out and rather than finding himself without a club Mazzarri had in fact signed a new five-year contract.

The pair then jumped on the train back to Naples as if the extraordinary events of the day had never happened - and no doubt the agreement was all sealed in true Neapolitan fashion with a big hug and a bit of back slapping - maybe a little too vigorously on the relieved Mazzarri’s part.

Having committed himself to remaining within the UEFA financial fair-play regulations, De Laurentiis also seems to have bent to his coach’s demand for reinforcements for next season’s Champions League campaign, an adventure Napoli will have to juggle with staying in Italy’s- no small task given the likes of AS Roma and Juventus can only improve.

First to arrive will be Gokhan Inler, who it had seemed was close joining Bayer Leverkusen with Napoli seeming to cool their interest in Udinese midfielder for a spell. Also on the radar are River Plate striker Erik Lamela and Fiorentina winger Mario Santana, who will shortly be a free agent.

But perhaps most pressing will be the need to prevent AC Milan from whisking Marek Hamsik away, and this could have been another factor in the turnaround of the last 48 hours. The midfielder has always been fulsome in his praise of Mazzarri and will only have been encourage to see his boss sticking with the club.

However, as we are all aware, contracts mean little if anything in football, and all it would take is for Antonio Conte to get off to a bad start at Juventus for the first stirrings of another upheaval to begin rumbling in the shadow of Vesuvius.

Udinese must heed Samp warning after sealing Champions League spot

2011-05-23T10:25:00Z

Next season will be the last in which Serie A's fourth placed side will get a crack at the Champions League, and on Sunday Udinese confirmed themselves as the team who will take the spot.

But if Sampdoria’s cautionary tale of this season is anything to go by, finishing fourth can be like knocking on the door of paradise, only for it to suddenly swing open causing you to stumble through and land firmly on your face.

As they did in 2005, Udinese grabbed that fourth and final Champions League spot. But if the side from Friuli are to join AC Milan, Inter and Napoli in the group stages they could well be handed the daunting task of having to defeat Bayern Munich, Villarreal or Arsenal in the play-off round first.

Udinese faced Barca in their last Champions League campaign

The Bundesliga has snatched the extra Champions League place from Italy for the 2012-13 season, leaving Serie A alongside France and Portugal with two automatic qualifiers and third place in the qualifying round.

So it is of major importance for the UEFA coefficient - not to mention a fillip to the domestic game - that there is a full quota of Italian participants when September’s draw for the Champions League ’proper’ takes place.

However, as the Udinese players and their coach Francesco Guidolin - who made good on his word to embarrass himself like tipsy uncle at a wedding reception - celebrated at the end of their goalless draw against champions Milan, the feeling was that this was as probably as good as it gets.

By all accounts it appears the spine of a team that has lit up the league with the free-flowing football since losing their first four games will be removed. Central defender Christian Zapata is a target for Arsenal, central midfielder Gokhan Inler is set for a switch to Bayer Leverkusen, while Alexis Sanchez will go to whichever club comes closest to €40 million asking price.

Could Sanchez and Gokhan Inler be about to leave Stadio Friuli?

Bianconeri president Giampaolo Pozzo revealed that he had already turned down €35 million and is biding his time to see whether that un-named club – although it doesn’t take too deep a knowledge of football finance to work out it is probably Manchester City – come back with an even larger sack of money.

While the little Chilean dribbles off towards untold riches, the old maestro Antonio Di Natale will of course remain to lead the attack on the back of being crowned Serie A top goalscorer for a second consecutive season – the first player to do so since Giuseppe Signori for Lazio in 1993 and 1994.

The veteran ended up on 28 goals but was denied improving on that total when Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia saved his spot-kick, but that little blip could not dampen the scenes of genuine joy at the full-time whistle. The result meant that Lazio couldn’t catch them, whatever the Rome side did at Lecce.

It helped that Udinese were playing against a pretty compliant Milan side, who had themselves spent the previous week in party mood. Yet the champions' spirits were dampened with the news that Alexandre Pato was once again set for an extended period on sidelines and definitely ruled out of the Copa America after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Pato is carried off the pitch in agony with a shoulder injury

In the event, Lazio ran out 4-2 winners but had to settle for fifth place and direct qualification for the Europa League, missing out on fourth place by virtue of their inferior goal difference.

The Biancocelesti at least ensured their rivals may be forced to curtail their summer break; the win saw Lazio finish ahead of AS Roma, who will now enter the Europa League in the third qualifying round should Palermo win the Italian Cup against Inter on Sunday.

It was the end of the road for the Sensi family at the Olympic Stadium and, after defeating Sampdoria 3-1 with Francesco Totti scoring his 207th Serie A goal, the captain presented outgoing president Rosella with a bunch of flowers while the rest of the team trooped by for a sweaty embrace with the tearful Signora.

There were no flowers and probably not even a farewell card for Gigi Del Neri, who ended his brief and terrifying reign at Juventus with a draw against Napoli, making a hasty exit with the Old Lady failing to qualify for Europe.

You couldn’t really say it was harsh or particularly surprising as the team failed to break free of the coach’s strict and prosaic game-plan to finish in seventh place.

The task of rebuilding Juve’s pride will be handed to one of their most combative midfielders Antonio Conte who took Siena back into the top flight and returns to the club with a reputation of suffering fools lightly which should make for some interesting discussions with the club’s hierarchy.

With the relegation issue already done and dusted last week, there was little to play for in six of the ten last day fixtures - for most it was just time to party and nowhere did they do that with more gusto than in Genoa.

The Rossoblu fans staged a mock funeral through the streets of the city to ‘mourn’ Samp’s drop to Serie B, but they did so in the manner of a Mardi Gras parade resplendent with floats, coffins and a fair smattering of nuns who were by no stretch of the imagination members of any holy order.

With that imagine burned into our brains let’s hope that Udinese can touch heaven rather than descend into hell come August.

Champs Milan choose who to chop from the old guard

2011-05-16T11:39:00Z

When AC Milan won their first post-war title in 1951, the players shook hands on the pitch and their Hungarian coach Lajos Czeizer – known as “Zio” [Uncle] even by his players – took the team for a well-earned bowl of pasta and a glass of wine.

Massimiliano Allegri may not have picked up the tab for Saturday's lavish dinner topped off with a celebratory cake, but the club spared no expense in the San Siro celebrations which rivalled the Eurovision song contest in outlandishness, right down to Kevin Prince Boateng’s Michael Jackson impression.

There was no repeat of the gaudiness of last weekend in Rome: no running around in underwear or aiming fouled-month rants at Leonardo, although the Ultras in the Curva Sud couldn't resist a dig at Inter – unfurling a banner which read “18 titles, all of them on the pitch” in reference to their neighbours' court-awarded 2006 title in the wake of Calciopoli.

And on the pitch, everyone was back on their best behaviour as Allegri’s men steamrolled Cagliari 4-1 and then duly kept their brand-new kits on to parade in front of the packed stands.

As strobe lighting highlighted the names of those who had played their part in lifting the club’s 18th title – and their first in seven long Inter-dominated years – the pressing questions were already being raised. Is this the beginning of a new era of Silvio Berlusconi-funded dominance, or the glorious final curtain for a group of players who have served the club (and themselves) very well?

In the wake of the 2007 Champions League triumph, the club handed lavish contracts to Clarence Seedorf (now 35), Alessandro Nesta (35), Gennaro Gattuso (33), Andrea Pirlo (32 this week), Filippo Inzaghi (37) and current club captain Massimo Ambrosini (33). However, apart from Gattuso and Inzaghi, the other members of the old guard are out of contract in the next few weeks and the club must decide to cut them loose or reward them with further riches for another year or two.

Berlusconi’s right-hand man Adriano Galliani must reduce the €130m annual salary bill without threatening the defence of the title – and more importantly a genuine assault on the Champions League. While Ambrosini (who earns €3m a season – about £50,000 per week) and Nesta (€4.5m) are reportedly ready to accept a much reduced contract, Seedorf and Pirlo are seemingly less inclined to forfeit one last big pay-day for another tilt at European glory.

Milan may now be demonstrably the best team in Italy but in Europe they've fallen a long way from reaching three finals (winning two) in five years under Carlo Ancelotti between 2003 and 2007; since that last win – which marked a record-breaking seventh success in Europe's premier competition – they haven't even reached the quarter-finals.

Galliani has been postponing negotiations until the title was clinched but this week will bring tough decisions all round. Seedorf has claimed that he could accept mega-offers from Dubai or Russia but he won't use that as leverage; if money's not a major issue in his life he may well remain, unless Galliani greatly reduces his current €4m salary.

"Let's stay together": straitened times for Nesta, Seedorf and Pirlo

The matter is more complex for Pirlo, who doesn't fit in with Allegri’s plans – according to the coach’s assistant Mauro Tassotti, who let that open secret slip out last week. The midfielder is the club’s second-highest paid player on €6m – roughly £100,000 per week. He won't see those figures again but his languid (read: sluggish) style clashes with Allegri’s high-paced approach of getting the ball forward as quickly as possible.

Pirlo has also made conciliatory overtures that money isn't important – well, up to a point – but now that he has some silverware in the cabinet and his feet under the table, Allegri may feel that the party is well and truly over for Milan’s old swingers and it’s time to hand the dance floor over to a new generation.

Palermo prepare to pour into Rome for Coppa Italia

2011-05-12T15:06:00Z

As all ancient would-be conquerors would no doubt testify, you can't march on Rome without a large army. Thankfully for Palermo, they're expecting more than 30,000 fans backing them at the Italian Cup Final in the Stadio Olimpico a week on Sunday.

The Sicilians have never won anything of note and last reached the cup final back in 1979, losing in extra-time to Juventus. But the Sicilian city is at fever pitch with expectation, Rosanera flags and banners hanging on every street corner.

In fact, Palermo hasn't witnessed such unbridled fervour since promotion in 2004. The morning after the team eliminated newly-crowned Serie A champions AC Milan in the semi-final, travel agencies and internet sites were inundated with travel requests to the Eternal City, where holders Inter await.

Supporters’ clubs have organised coaches, chartered flights, booked ferries to Naples and trains up to Rome – as well as pooling resources to make the long drive to the mainland (if they take the shorter ferry via Messina it's 600 miles).

It has been, by no stretch of the imagination, a rollercoaster season for the team. And there in the middle, hanging on for dear life, is Delio Rossi – who was sacked back in February following a 7-0 humiliation at home to Udinese, only to be reinstated last month when results failed to improve under Serse Cosmi.

FEATURE Mon 28 Feb: Palermo fans regret backing boss after 7-0 home humiliation

Rossi has been put through hoops by club owner Maurizio Zamparini on a regular basis and the joke doing the rounds is that the coach’s job is safe until after the Cup final.

There is in fact more of a grain of truth in what the local wags are saying around the bars and street cafes, with reports that Zamparini has already lined up former Palermo midfielder Gian Piero Gasperini, who led Genoa into the Europa League.

It wouldn’t be the first that Rossi has won the Coppa Italia and got the boot: he led Lazio to victory over Sampdoria in a 2009 penalty shoot-out but left the Biancocelesti within a month. His relationship with president Claudio Lotito had gone so sour that Lotito hardly acknowledged Rossi’s part in the cup success – and apparently still owes him part of his unpaid contract.

It’s no wonder that the 50-year-old was left in tears and he could be welling again in a few weeks where Zamperini will no doubt be hogging the limelight. He has already stated that lifting the cup would Palermo’s very own scudetto and was more than willing to fund a summer-long party – so no pressure on Rossi and his players then.

The team may revolve around the mercurial skills of Javier Pastore but there is enough experience in the line-up with the likes of Cesare Bovo, Giulio Milgliaccio and Federico Balzaretti to match favourites Inter. The former two scored against Milan on Tuesday. Fabrizio Miccoli who will no doubt come into the equation, although there have been suggestions that Zamperini has demanded that the more bankable Abel Hernandez be given the starting role in attack – thus upping the young striker’s market value.

Rossi has been around long enough to know how the game is played, on and off the pitch – and if Zamperini thinks he can continue to manipulate his craggy but approachable coach in whatever manner he pleases, he could well be in for a surprise. “I would have no problems coaching Roma,” claimed Rossi, who once famously leapt into a Roman fountain after leading Lazio to a derby win. “I am a professional and I don’t see anything scandalous in managing Lazio’s rivals.”

With the scenes at the moment in Palermo and such statements from Rossi, this cup final could spark not only one of the most delirious celebrations ever but also one of the greatest acts of revenge in the history of Italian football.

Milkman Zanetti prepares to deliver for 1,000th time

2011-05-11T11:57:00Z

Independiente unwittingly made a milkman out of a young Javier Zanetti. “That was the year in which I did everything,” he said. “They let me go just when I’d closed my books at school and there was no chance of going to another club. So I started to work with my cousin Carlo who delivered milk for a dairy company. I would get up at four in the morning to go pick it up and then take it to the supermarkets. I had to arrive early. When we got out, we’d have lunch and then I’d go train with Talleres.”

A hard worker by nature who had to be persuaded to down tools and leave work on building a wall at the family home to play football with his friends in the Dock Sud barrio of Buenos Aires, it’s often forgotten that, as a child, Zanetti suffered from the same growth problems as Lionel Messi.

Indeed, many - not least Independiente, the club he still supports - wrote him off simply because of his size. “I was skinny,” he recalled. “We saw a lot of doctors. Some said that I wouldn’t grow. Others said that I would. One of them recommended that I eat lentils and potatoes. It traumatised me. I am incapable of swallowing one or the other to this day.”

What Zanetti did do, however, was drink half a litre of milk every day. The rounds with his cousin proved he certainly had stamina and it wasn’t long before he made it as a professional. “I still remember the face of my father, Ignacio Rodolfo at our house the night before my debut. September 1992, Buenos Aires, the third week of the season in National B at five o’clock in the afternoon: We were playing at home in a small ground – 5000 people more or less – Talleres against Instituto Cordoba. It finished 2-1 to us. I played 90 minutes on the right of a three-man midfield.”

Nineteen or so years later, the player nicknamed The Tractor is still ploughing his furrow in football. When Zanetti steps out on the pitch at San Siro tonight for the second leg of a Coppa Italia semi-final against Roma, he will make the 1,000th appearance of his remarkable career.

Zanetti lifts the Champions League trophy with Inter in 2010

To mark the occasion, Inter have prepared a special commemorative armband for their captain, featuring the names of nine other players to realise the feat from Peter Shilton, Ray Clemence and Pat Jennings to Paolo Maldini, Andoni Zubizarreta and Roberto Carlos. Asked to reveal his secret, Zanetti smiled: “I live peacefully, enjoying every training session, every game: I feel happy every day. I know that the time will come to say enough is enough, but I am not thinking about it right now.”

Zanetti arrived at Inter in August 1995. A videotape of his performances was one of the first things that landed on Massimo Moratti’s desk when he bought the club earlier that year. He watched it with his son, marveling at the youngster he saw playing in the green and white of Banfield against Boca Juniors in a famous match at the Bombonera.

Moratti’s South American scouts Giovanni Branchini and Paolo Taveggia were already in Argentina drafting reports on the River Plate playmaker Ariel Ortega and Independiente striker Sebastián Rambert when they decided to take in a match between Zanetti’s Banfield and Gimnasia De La Plata.

A bid arrived shortly afterwards and the rest, they say, is history. “I was in South Africa for a friendly with Argentina and the coach, Daniele Passarella said: ‘Inter have signed you’,” Zanetti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “In that time, there wasn’t the Internet or anything. A van from the club came to pick me up at the airport and we went directly to the mountains for pre-season. I had my boots in a plastic bag. When they saw me drinking maté, the people thought I was crazy. They thought I was taking drugs…”

Not much was expected of the unassuming full-back, then aged just 22. No one could have known that the first transfer of the second Moratti era at Inter was also the best. Inter’s captain at the time Beppe Bergomi, who recently saw Zanetti beat his club appearances record in Serie A, was one of those taken by surprise.

Zanetti is congratulated for scoring in Inter's UEFA Cup Final win in '98

“I remember that we had bought Rambert at the same time and they talked about him as if he were a great player for the future, then there was Javier. The first day of training at Cavalese we were doing a possession-based exercise. Pupi never lost the ball. You couldn’t get it off him. It was glued to his feet. That day, I swear I said: ‘This one will make history with Inter’.”

Of course, looking back, nothing was guaranteed. Inter were in flux. Zanetti felt a long way from home and the adaptation wasn’t easy. “It was like there were no traffic lights in Italy,” he said. “I didn’t know when to cross and when not to. I used to walk out into the middle of the road and stop the traffic.” Hours were spent in one of Como’s phone boxes calling his childhood sweetheart Paula. “The worst time was in winter,” Zanetti sighed. “The doors didn’t close properly. Fortunately the fax machine arrived. I bought one right away. I wrote letters, messages, everything.”

Things on the pitch were tough too. Players and managers came and went [Zanetti has had no fewer than 12 at Inter], as a success-hungry Moratti driven by the desire to emulate his father tried to end the dominance of Milan and Juventus.

It became an all-consuming obsession, one fuelled by the conspiracy of la grande ruberia in 1998 with Mark Iuliano’s assault on Ronaldo and of course May 5, 2002 when Inter blew a six-point lead at the top of Serie A with five games remaining and threw away what would have been their first Scudetto for 13 years on the final day of the season.

The only constant was Zanetti and his hairstyle, the eternal side-parting. “Once we tried to change the cut,” he laughed. “Honestly, I can’t tell you what it looked like.” Joking aside, he had been through it all, suffering just as much as Moratti. He only ever lost it once, his cool exterior betrayed by an uncharacteristic strop after Roy Hodgson substituted him during the 1997 UEFA Cup final against Schalke.

Parting shot: THAT haircut back in 1998

And yet, amid the frustration and disappointment of his first 10 years at Inter for which he had just two major trophies to show [the 1998 UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia in 2005], Zanetti’s outlook remained unyielding. The grass never looked greener on the other side. He didn’t take the easy way out, not even amid interest from Real Madrid in 2000.

“One day Giacinto Facchetti said to me: ‘Javier, you’ll never get anything without sacrifice’. Thanks to my father I always knew this. But hearing it from Giacinto had a special weight because he didn’t speak often, but his words were like stones.”

Naturally, the wisdom of Facchetti held true. It would all pay off in the end, for after the drought came the rain, bringing with it five straight Scudetti, an unprecedented treble last season and a Club World Cup. Few can boast a similar medals haul. A place in the pantheon of all-time greats surely lies in wait for Zanetti who counts Ryan Giggs and Kaká as the two best players he has come up against.

With a contract until 2013, the boots he brought to Inter in a plastic bag aren’t yet ready to be hung up at Appiano Gentile. A run of 137 consecutive games in Serie A stretching from October 26, 2006 to March 24, 2010 led José Mourinho to say: “His passport must be wrong. He can’t be 36. He must be 25 or 26 at the most.” When cast in that light, Diego Maradona’s decision to leave Zanetti out of his World Cup squad last summer – ostensibly because “he no longer has the legs” – looks foolhardy to say the least.

“In Italy, they say that I am Inter’s Maldini. So it must mean that I am the Argentine Maldini,” Zanetti said. "If I feel like I do today in 2013 then maybe the time to retire will come later.” And who knows maybe he’ll get a new haircut. “I will never change it,” he grins. Then again, maybe not.

Allegri free to bask in title glory as Milan end seven year wait

2011-05-09T10:48:00Z

There is no doubting the fact AC Milan more than deserved to be crowned Italian champions on an evening of high emotion at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

It has been seven long years since the Scudetto was last pinned to the Rossoneri shirt and this eighth title of the Silvio Berlusconi era has to be one of the most satisfying, having come in what was supposed to be merely a transitional season.

However, despite the potential upheaval of the arrival of a new coach and the signing of a few players with what can only be described as suspect temperament, every element gelled perfectly. The statistics speak for themselves: 23 wins, nine draws and just four defeats with two games still to play.

It was around the turn of the year that Milan really started to look genuine title favourites, following the arrival of Antonio Cassano and Mark Van Bommel, with the Dutchman forcing Andrea Pirlo onto the sidelines even when the playmaker was fully fit.

But it has been a real team effort. Centre back Thiago Silva has performed brilliantly and must be a shoo-in for player of the year - tellingly Milan have only conceded six league goals since mid January. At the other end Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexandre Pato and Robinho all reached double figures on the goalscoring front; the only three-pronged attack in Serie A to achieve that feat so far this season.

“Milan, you are the most beautiful,” was Sunday edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport’s fawning take on the title triumph, although in truth “functional” may have been more apt a description; particularly in the light of Saturday’s professional performance in Rome, when Allegri's side ground out the single point required to ensure they would hoist the tricolour for the first time since 2004.

This Rossoneri side quite simply get the job done, and the unassuming Massimiliano Allegri has not shied away from making the tough decisions, such as jettisoning Ronaldinho and keeping Cassano on the bench. The joker may have gotten his own back by dousing the coach in champagne at the final whistle, but Allegri remained characteristically unruffled.

The boss can rightly bask in the glory and the travelling support of well over 10,000 were treated to a team in the throes of unbridled joy – as united in their moment of glory as they had been all season.

Ibrahimovic, who continued his record of winning a league title in the first year at every club, was rightfully grinning like the cat that got the cream; Pato received a kiss from his beau Barbara Berlusconi, who is being groomed to take over from dad one day soon; even Massimo Oddo got a bit of exercise when he bet everyone he could run a lap of the running track in 55 seconds or less – which he achieved.

The celebrations continued back at the team hotel into the early hours of the morning, before the team refocused in preparation for their Italian Cup semi-final second leg at Palermo, with the scores currently tied at 2-2.

Taking the shirt off the King's back

They say seven is a lucky number, but who would have thought seven little words would lead to fifteen minutes of fame?

Okay, it wasn’t up there with “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” but having yelled “The King of Rome is not Dead: Francesco Totti” after the AS Roma captain scored his second goal in the derby against Lazio back in March, life has been a little different for my good self.

There had been a surge of interest on YouTube and an upping of friend requests on Facebook, but when the man himself unveiled the words on a t-shirt after the Bari game last week, events took a somewhat surreal turn.

Everyone wanted to know who had uttered the phrase now immortalised on in football history, so there was heavy rotation on Italian TV of the moment when I had through no forethought entered the AS Roma lexicon.

There has been an interview on Sky Italia’s sports news channel, numerous appearances on Roman radio stations and promises of free meals if I ever drop into certain eateries in the capital.

The daily newspaper dedicated to all things Giallorossi, Il Romanista, called to say that the great man would like to meet the person behind the voice and so as I happened to be in the area on Saturday evening after commentating the title decider, I descended into the depths of the Olympic stadium for a quick chat.

And swift word it was at that, as royalty has little time to converse with the masses, but after some pleasantries and a symbolic handing over of the t-shirt, the King was gone engulfed by his adoring public – and I was left to claim my free pizza and a return to normality.

Italy celebrates its perfect 10s as Totti overtakes Baggio

2011-05-05T11:35:00Z

All they had was 20 minutes. It was February 10, 1999 and Italy were sparring in a friendly against Norway under the leaning tower of Pisa when Dino Zoff threw on a 22-year-old Francesco Totti to play alongside Roberto Baggio.

Il Divin Codino had already struck the post from a free-kick. He now moved over to the left-hand side to make way for his protégé. “Totti was without doubt Baggio’s heir,” Zoff said. “Even then I knew that he had the qualities to be so and his career and his numbers confirm it.”

The match ended 0-0, but never before had Italy seen so much fantasia on the pitch at the same time, partly because of coach Ferruccio Valcareggi's damned ‘relay’ between Sandro Mazzola and Gianni Rivera in 1970. We would never see these two formidable modern No.10s play together again.

Perhaps we would have discovered they were incompatible, but perhaps not. The only thing that stays with us is the magic. Unfortunately time was against them. Baggio’s career with Italy was coming to an end while that of Totti, a player nine and a half years his junior and a debutant in Azzurro in 1998, was only just beginning.

Memories of their brief encounter were piqued on Sunday when a brace in a topsy-turvy 3-2 victory over Bari saw Totti overtake Baggio and go fifth in Serie A’s all-time goalscoring charts with numbers 205 and 206. Interviewed by Sky Italia after the match, Totti unveiled a T-shirt on which was written “The King of Rome is not dead” – a slogan coined by FourFourTwo’s very own columnist Richard Whittle while commentating on the Rome derby in March.

“The King will never die,” Totti said. “I know what I can give. The slogan is for everyone who thought I was dead. I am happy to have broken another record and to reach a champion like Baggio. He was a great player, someone who made history. But if I have a quality it’s that of not being envious of anyone... I enjoyed designing a T-shirt with the Colosseum on the front and me on the back making the ciuccio gesture of sucking my thumb.”

Totti had prepared his commemorative clothing 10 days earlier, but Simone Perrotta scored the only goal when his former side Chievo visited the Olimpico on April 23. He faced another dilemma on Sunday when, after passing Baggio’s landmark, the referee awarded Roma another penalty. “I had already written 206 so I missed it on purpose because I only had this one T-shirt,” he laughed.

Baggio, meanwhile, wasted no time in lauding the King of Rome. “He is an example. With his passion and love for this sport, Francesco is the symbol of the fact that you can always go further, and I’d like to give him one piece of advice: he has the quality and the ability to concentrate on reaching the players who are still above him in the scoring charts. He is one of the last true No.10s.”

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Inevitably, though, it wasn’t long before comparisons were being made between the two players whom Marcello Lippi described as “monuments of Italian football”, with debate focusing on their contrasting fortunes in the World Cups of 1994 and 2006. To Totti’s credit, he saw through the parlour game right away. “I won it and he didn’t, is that what you’re saying? But he was only playing with one leg.”

A breakdown of the statistics reveals just how little there is between the pair whether it be in terms of goals scored with the right and the left foot (which Totti shades 89 to 84 and 29 to 25) or set-pieces (which Baggio edges 21 to 18 on free-kicks and 69 to 57 on penalties). Either way, both are tied on goals considered decisive, with a staggering 96 each. It’s really tit-for-tat with two Scudetti here, one Scudetto there, a Ballon d’Or here, a Golden Boot there.

“Baggio was the poet, a dream, an absolute love, which in Florence they compared to that between Dante and Beatrice,” wrote La Repubblica. “Totti instead is a party or a religion, absolute and untouchable. He has an entire [Roman] nation to lead.”

Perhaps it’s best to leave the last word to Carlo Mazzone, who famously mentored Totti at Roma and Baggio at Brescia. “I am privileged because I had the luck of seeing Totti’s first goal in Serie A as well as the fantastic culmination of Baggio’s career,” he recalled. “If I had been able to coach both of them together in the same team I would have won a lot and certainly wouldn’t have lost all my hair. I’d like it a lot if we could all have dinner together and remember their goals.”

Indeed, wouldn’t we all.

Sampdoria live dangerously while Milan live in wait

2011-05-03T10:26:00Z

RESULTS Sat 30 Apr Cesena 1-2 Internazionale; Napoli 1-0 Genoa; Sun 1 May Fiorentina 5-2 Udinese; Milan 1-0 Bologna; Catania 2-0 Cagliari; Chievo 1-0 Lecce; Sampdoria 3-3 Brescia; Bari 2-3 Roma; Parma 3-1 Palermo; Mon 2 May Lazio 0-1 Juventus

The bunting was out, the open-top coach revved and ready to go, the ‘Scudetto Number 18’ T-shirts printed... but, of course, the uninvited cousin turned up to spoil the party.

AC Milan were five minutes away from needing only a draw with Bologna on Sunday to be crowned champions. Then Inter equalised in the 91st minute at Cesena and, revelling in being killjoys, scored the winner four minutes later.

Giampaolo Pazzini, who was only on the pitch because Goran Pandev had to limp off injured, netted both goals to ensure the title would be kept tantalisingly out of the Rossoneri’s grasp for another week, despite their win over the Rossoblu.

Leonardo joked that it had all been planned as such, but there was no sign of Pazzini making an entrance until the ineffectual Pandev was felled 15 minutes from time.

Inter’s victory did at least spare us the sight of Kevin-Prince Boateng carrying out his threat to dress up as Michael Jackson and moonwalk around the San Siro stadium.

The Prince will have to wait a couple of weeks to slip on the glove in Milan, as the champions-elect are at AS Roma on Saturday, where potential title celebrations will be more muted.

But it is at the other end of the table that the real drama was to be found over the weekend.

Six sides, as far up the table as Bologna on 40 points, were scrambling to avoid joining already relegated Bari in Serie B.

At this stage of the season, with nerves frayed and battered from the relegation scrap, mental strength is needed to avoid the drop – so it is no surprise that Sampdoria have continued to live on the edge.

Following the January sale of Antonio Cassano and the aforementioned Pazzini, the Blucerchiati have been in free-fall, winning a grand total of three games. The latest of these was at lowly Bari last week, after the team had been hounded out of Genoa by irate Ultras, who had stoned the team coach on its return from defeat at Milan.

The actual coach, Alberto Cavasin, was then confronted by a group of supporters outside the Bogliasco training ground, forcing him to retreat with threats of physical violence ringing in his ears.

It is no wonder the squad upped sticks and headed off to Rome to prepare for the Bari game, but there was nowhere to hide on Sunday back at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

Samp had lost their last five home games ahead of the arrival of second-bottom Brescia for what had been inevitably billed as a ìmust-winî game. Ticket prices had been slashed to between five and 10 Euros – not bad value for an afternoon of high drama in the sun.

The crowd, to their credit, did get behind the team even as they fell behind on three occasions before managing to draw 3-3 in stoppage time through Daniele Mannini.

If the draw left Brescia marooned five points from safety, the point did Cavasin’s men little good either. They are just a point ahead of Lecce, still in the relegation zone after losing at Chievo. Samp do, however, hold the advantage in the head-to-head tie-breaker, having won in Salento.

Pazzini also did his old club a favour with his goals at Cesena: the Bianconeri are now only a point in front of Sampdoria. But as fate would have it, Genoa are waiting to inflict a potential coup de grace in the derby next weekend.

Genoa would take great delight in sending their city rivals down, and the bear pit of the Marassi will not be for the faint-hearted.

Elsewhere, Francesco Totti is deserving of congratulations. The Golden Boy moved ahead of Roberto Baggio into fifth place in the all-time Serie A goalscoring charts with two goals at Bari, taking the AS Roma captain’s tally to 206 goals.

Totti donned a T-shirt bearing the inscription ìThe King of Rome is not deadî, and explained that an English-language commentator uttered the words after he had scored the second goal in the derby against Lazio in March.

Well, I guess that is my 15 minutes of fame, although I hope to meet the great man on Saturday after the Milan game, where at least someone will be celebrating.

Milan almost champions but fight for fourth continues

2011-04-26T11:41:00Z

RESULTS Sat 23 Apr Roma 1-0 Chievo; Bologna 0-2 Cesena; Cagliari 1-2 Fiorentina; Internazionale 2-1 Lazio; Genoa 4-2 Lecce; Palermo 2-1 Napoli; Udinese 0-2 Parma; Bari 0-1 Sampdoria; Brescia 0-1 Milan; Juventus 2-2 Catania

AC Milan had lost the habit of winning the league title, but a barren period stretching back to 2004 is now almost over after a slender weekend win at Brescia took them eight points clear of Inter.

The Rossoneri, who have led the table since early November, could seal their 18th Scudetto next weekend with a home win over Bologna if Inter fail to win at Cesena. Even if Inter equal their neighbours' result, Milan could clinch the title with a draw as Rima the following weekend.

It would cap a remarkable first season in charge for Massimiliano Allegri, who has moulded the team into a solid and consistent outfit – if not a jaw-dropping pedigree compared to vintage Silvio Berlusconi teams.

IN THE NEW FFT Read how Berlusconi invented modern football

However, to be so far ahead with four games remaining is probably something not even dear old Silvio would have envisaged. In fact, until the early-April derby when Milan turned over the defending champions 3-0, it seemed that the momentum was with Leonardo’s men.

SERIE AAAARGH Mon 4 April Allegri's derby lesson sends Leo to the shadows

It has been one of those seasons where Milan have been able to keep their heads while all around them their main rivals have been losing theirs. The match at Brescia this weekend was a case in point: having squandered chance after chance, wayward culprits Antonio Cassano and Robinho finally combined for the Brazilian to score the only goal of the game.

Alexandre Pato’s fragile hamstrings and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s recent disciplinary problems, which have seen the Swede sit out two three-game suspensions, have been circumnavigated by a squad numbering a healthy 31 players. Without the January arrivals of Cassano, Mark van Bommel and to some extent Urby Emanuelson, the team wouldn't now be in such a position where they can afford a dip in form.

Inter’s self-harming in the first half of the season – mishandling the Rafa Benitez appointment and subsequently failing to back their coach when the dressing room turned against the Spaniard – also helped send the Scudetto across the city.

Meanwhile, the failure of AS Roma and Juventus to mount a serious challenge left Napoli, Lazio and Udinese to take on the Milanese giants. The chase for the title is not for the faint-hearted and the aforementioned trio have been found wanting when it really mattered in recent weeks.

Napoli’s defeat at Palermo on the back of their home loss to Udinese last weekend has ended their faint hopes of sparking the sort of celebrations last seen in the Diego Maradona era, while Udinese crumbled at home against lowly Parma to undo all their hard work of winning in Naples.

Lazio demonstrated their own feet of clay: having been gifted the opportunity to record their first win at Inter since 1998, they failed to seize the moment.

Edy Reja's side were a goal up and a man up after Inter keeper Julio Cesar was red-carded for a last-man foul on Mauro Zarate and the Argentinian despatched the subsequent spot-kick. However, it was the home side who grabbed the initiative, showing some of that never-say-die spirit so much in evidence when Jose Mourinho was in charge.

Fighting back and then taking the lead with 10 men has done the power of good to Leonardo’s case to be retained as coach; a runners-up finish plus a place in the Italian Cup final should ensure that the Brazilian will be smoothly patrolling the touchline once again next season.

Leo will hope that Massimo Moratti provides funds for reinforcements rather than allow Wesley Sneijder to leave for Manchester United as the Italian sports press are sure in their belief will happen.

In some way the old order has been re-established with the Milan clubs first and second while Napoli should hold on to third spot – which leaves the fourth and final Champions League place still for grabs.

STATS Serie A table, results & fixtures

With Lazio and Udinese wobbling – and Juve pressing the self-destruct button against Catania where they led 2-0, missed a hatful of chances to be completely out of sight and were pegged back with the last kick of the game – Roma are suddenly back in the frame after their narrow win over Chievo.

Vincenzo Montella’s men have the easiest run-in, especially if Milan are already champions before the sides meet in two weeks. But having come so far, Lazio and Udinese’s fate is still in their own hands although they must now dig deep or face late heartbreak.

There may be no cliffhanger for the title but the chase for the final Champions League spot should keep us on the edge of our seats.

Americans come to Roma's rescue

2011-04-19T11:08:00Z

The Americans are coming, the Americans are coming... 67 years after Allied forces marched unopposed into the Italian capital, on Friday 15 April AS Roma became the first major Italian club to end up in foreign hands.

Thomas DiBenedetto is the American in Rome who has taken the plunge into the murky, mysterious world of calcio – where nothing is ever as it seems but everything is crystal clear to those who have shaped that exclusive members' club.

DeBenedetto (right) announces his takeover

The Sensi family, who are walking away with a tidy sum after 18 years at the helm of the Giallorossi, have known that world inside out – first under patriarch Franco and then more recently with his daughter Rosella. But in truth Roma have never been invited into the inner sanctum occupied by Juventus and the Milanese clubs.

Despite on-field progress – a league title in 2001, two Italian Cups and two Italian Super Cups, three second-place finishes in the last four seasons – the Sensi family, under the Italpetroli umbrella company, ended up saddling the club with debts reckoned to be north of €300m.

So when their major creditor Unicredit Bank decided that the situation was no longer sustainable they looked outside Italy for a white knight, knowing that no viable rescue package would be forthcoming at home.

DiBenedetto and his consortium – which includes Fenway Sports Group, parent company of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool – offered the best option for all parties involved. Even so, there was a maze of financial intrigue to unravel before the American would commit, including 90 claims from former club employees – one of which was a reported outstanding payment of €5m to former striker Gabriel Batistuta.

The devil is in the detail, as they say, so while rumours abounded in the capital that DiBenedetto would walk away from the deal, as his fellow countryman George Soros had done in the past, he and his advisers were in fact completing the most stringent of due diligence.

There was plenty of euphoria in the Stadio Olimpico last weekend ahead of the league game against Palermo when the news came through that a deal had finally been reached, with the stars and stripes in prominence along with the somewhat lost in translation “Welcome Uncle Tom” banners.

Romans welcome the Ital-American

Despite his Italian origins from the Abruzzo region, DiBenedetto seems very much the archetypical American businessman of a certain age and manner so he has needed to surround himself with those who have a feeling for local sensibilities.

One such is James Pallotta, one of four partners in the newly-formed group DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC. He's also an Ital-American but his maternal grandmother was born near Rome.

What the new bosses will find when they arrive at Trigoria training complex will be a mixed bag of those secure in the knowledge that they will have a part to play in the new organisation and those nervously awaiting their marching orders.

Already earmarked as sporting directors are Franco Baldini and Walter Sabatini – the former back at the club where he worked alongside Fabio Capello, the latter having been instrumental in bringing Javier Pastore to Palermo before inevitably falling out with the Sicilian club’s firebrand owner Maurizio Zamparini.

They will be given the task of attracting star names – Gigi Buffon and the aforementioned Pastore are heading the list – but they will not be bankrolled in the manner of mega-rich Arab backers, which should at least ensure that a sense of realism remains intact.

Whether Vincenzo Montella stays on as coach must also be dealt with delicately, but Carlo Ancelotti returning to a club where he played with distinction would help expunge fan doubts over whether the Roman identity will be diluted.

There is no doubt that situation at the club can only improve and although DiBenedetto naturally set out the remit of winning the league, what is needed is a period of stability – and failure to qualify for the Champions League may not be a disaster after all, despite Lazio’s participation.

Serie A as it stands – click for more stats

With Serie A set to have its quota reduced to three clubs in the competition from the season after next, then, the new-look Roma could concentrate on domestic matters from August safe in the knowledge that the new investment will cushion the blow of missing out on Europe’s premier competition.

As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day but at least the foundations have been laid.

Sleepwalking Inter risk going from heroes to zeros after European exit

2011-04-14T09:42:00Z

It was always going to be an exercise in futility for Inter as they desperately attempted to defend their Champions League title in the second leg of a quarterfinal in which they already trailed 5-2, but the holders could not even exit the competition with some semblance of pride.

The task in Germany had been made nigh on impossible after conceding five goals at home to Schalke 04, so the return leg was of mere academic interest, with only the Italian press flying against the wind of common sense.

“Inter, Believe”, ran the headline in La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday which was met with a wave of head shaking and shoulder shrugging over coffee in the Milanese cafes, while this morning’s “Game Over” on the front page of the same paper was greeted with knowing nods.

The 2-1 defeat in Gelsenkirchen ensured that the team could not even return home with their heads held high - with Diego Milito doing his best Fernando Torres impression, Wesley Sneijder a spent force mentally and physically, and everyone else sleepwalking through the evening, only Samuel Eto’o kept the embers of hope flickering.

In the end, however, the lights have gone out on Italy’s presence in Europe this season and for Inter the repercussions are likely to be felt back on the domestic front.

Leonardo now has to pick up his worn-out players for Saturday’s league match at Parma - who are themselves battling for their Serie A lives - before facing a resurgent AS Roma in the first leg of the Italian Cup semi-final next Tuesday.

After all the strutting and posturing under Jose Mourinho throughout last year’s treble success, opposition fans up and down the country cannot wait to don t-shirts emblazoned with ‘zero titles’ this time around.

Inter are currently five points off Milan at the top of the table with six games to play and the momentum is certainly with their city cousins, who welcome free-falling Sampdoria to the San Siro on Saturday evening.

While Massimo Moratti has slinked back into the shadows to plot for next season’s rebuilding programme, Silvio Berlusconi is basking in the limelight and at the same time blinding the populous with extravagant promises.

Using ‘if’ rather than ‘when’ we win the league, the happy cavalier promised a summer filled with beautiful young things parading in front of him – and before you get any ideas the aging Lothario was talking about new signings - in particular Cristiano Ronaldo.

Such statements may be instant vote winners and although the sight of the Portuguese poser and Zlatan Ibrahamovic hogging the ball is a tantalising one there is more chance of the Real Madrid player appearing as a defence witness at the prime minister’s ‘bunga bunga’ sex trial - and that’s not a joke, the former Manchester United man really has been listed as potential witness.

Unsurprisingly, Ibra does not appear on the defence team’s star-studded roll-call of those expected to testify for the PM’s standing as an upright citizen.

The sulky Swede obviously attended the same finishing school as Wayne Rooney, but rather than swear at inanimate objects he took his wrath out on the referee’s assistant last weekend at Fiorentina and was shown a straight red card.

Slapped with a three-game suspension, Zlat was much more sanguine and accepted he had been wrong, no doubt in the hope of only having to sit on the naughty step for two games - although the three fixtures would be Samp, followed by Brescia and then Bologna.

It is no surprise that Massimiliano Allegri is not too concerned and Ibra’s absence solves a selection headache, what with the Alexandre Pato finding the back of the net at the rate of a goal every other game and dovetailing neatly with Robinho, while for all his foibles Antonio Cassano is just the type to have a field day against lesser sides.

Not only does the thought of Milan running away with the title in the final weeks occupy Inter minds but also the threat posed by Napoli for the runners-up spot.

Walter Mazzarri’s side are two points clear of Inter and face a pivotal moment on Sunday against Udinese, who have slipped off the pace of late. But they do so knowing they are at home in front of a sell-out San Paolo stadium where belief of an unlikely title success remains very much alive.

Such conviction is now in short supply at Inter, who after relinquishing their European crown face the very real prospect of going from treble-winning heroes to trophyless zeroes unless they can find an instant pick-me-up.

Leonardo left speechless as Inter face up to the end of an era

2011-04-06T11:32:00Z

Leonardo’s voice had gone long before the end of last night’s humiliation, which was just as well because there was little he could have said in defence of Inter’s performance in the Champions League quarterfinal humbling at the hands of Schalke 04.

The team may have sleepwalked through their 3-0 loss to AC Milan at the weekend but the 5-2 thumping at the San Siro stadium was a footballing nightmare for the Nerazzurri faithful.

It’s hard to believe barely a week ago there was talk of a Treble repeat in the air - but there must now be serious doubts as to whether Leonardo has what it takes to handle the pressure that comes with coaching at the highest level.

The smooth-talking Brazilian has never won a Milan derby or a home tie in the Champions League as a coach, although in his defence he has taken over an Inter team coming to the end of their natural cycle.

It is an aging side which, despite winning everything there is to win over the 12 months, has finally run out of steam both mentally and physically - and club owner Massimo Moratti cannot allow the squad to remain so depleted through the close season.

It seems as though he will keep faith in his rookie coach unless Pep Guardiola can be prised away from Barcelona, but whoever is in charge next season faces a monumental challenge to ensure Inter do not become the forgotten men of Europe.

The biggest difference between the Champions League and the Italian domestic game is the fitness and explosive pace of many of the stronger teams in the continental competition; and Inter’s weakness in this area has been laid bare.

Having already conceded three times at home to the Premier League’s fifth-placed side, Tottenham Hotspur, they have now shipped five to a Bundesliga relegation contender on their own patch.

The spine of the team has snapped completely and although Julio Cesar - who once again walked home from the deserted San Siro - is still capable of brilliant reflex saves, without Lucio and Walter Samuel in the heart of the defence the goalkeeper is all too often left exposed.

Andrea Ranocchia, scorer of an own-goal against the Germans, is a young player of promise but he needs to play alongside a cooler head like Lucio, not the rash Cristian Chivu, who last night received is marching orders for the second time in three days having also been sent off in Saturday’s Milan derby.

Had it not been for Walter Samuel’s season-ending injury, Ranocchia would have continued to serve his apprenticeship on the domestic front with Genoa before being thrown into the brutal world of European club football – but instead his battering at the hands of Edu could well see his slender shoulders slump even further.

Douglas Maicon and Javier Zanetti currently look like spent forces, with Moratti surely regretting not cashing in on the Brazilian in the summer, and the old Tractor having too many miles on the clock to keep chugging away at full-back.

Not that the veteran, for all his heart and determination, can really cut it in midfield either, an area where Thaigo Motta, Esteban Cambiasso and Dejan Stankovic have all had their fitness problems, having regularly been run into the ground and outnumbered by much younger and more nimble opponents.

Wesley Sneijder is another whose body and mind are giving up, with the Dutchman becoming an ever more peripheral figure with each passing game. Diego Milito is returning from injury, but his sensational campaign of last year is an increasingly distant memory, while the general malaise has cut so deep that even Samuel Eto’o no longer looks the invincible force of nature he once was.

If the starting eleven can no longer lift themselves, then what hope for those coming off the bench? There was little or no genuine quality among last night’s replacements; Houssine Khajra looked out of his depth when he came on and Ivan Cordoba is another well past his sell-by date.

Despite these evident shortcomings, no team - not least Schalke - would have ever entertained the thought of scoring five goals against a Serie A side, let alone at the San Siro - and unsurprisingly the local press took a dim view of another embarrassing evening for Italian football.

Terms usually reserved for natural disasters were employed with plenty of gusto, with terms like ‘catastrophe’ and ‘collapse’ used in abundance.

La Gazzetto dello Sport went for the ‘No Defence’ plea and laid the blame at the feet of pretty much everyone connected with the club. However, Corriere dello Sport summed it up succinctly: ‘Inter routed.’

Inter’s reign as European champions is all but over, and it definitely felt like an end of an era for the current incarnation of the club after the most humbling few days of Leonardo’s brief coaching career.

Allegri's derby lesson sends Leonardo to the shadows

2011-04-04T12:43:00Z

As Silvio Berlusconi might note, you can say one thing in public and do exactly the opposite in private. Certainly Berlusconi's employee Massimiliano Allegri did so in the build-up to Saturday’s Milan derby. The AC Milan coach had been telling all and sundry that this Derby della Madonnina was of much more importance to Inter, who trailed his side by two points at the top of the table.

Away from the media spotlight, however, he was no doubt priming his players for something more akin to the game of the season – and certainly the most important match of what is still a fledging coaching career for Allegri, having only taken the Rossoneri reins from Leonardo in the summer. Largely unheard of outside Italy, Allegri first cultivated a brand of pressure football (similar in style to the approach adopted by Arrigo Sacchi during his time at Milan) in the lower leagues with Sassuolo before making the step up to Serie A in charge of Cagliari back in 2008.

The transition to the big time at Milanello has gone smoothly so far, the only black mark coming in Champions League elimination by Tottenham Hotspur. In fact, the jam-packed and feverishly humid San Siro was reminiscent of a big European night – the teams even trained on the newly-laid turf the previous day – but from the kick-off it was clear which side had their minds totally focused on the task ahead.

In no short measure, Milan tore into their city cousins and never let go of their iron grip from the moment Alessandro Pato opened the scoring inside a minute.
If reports are to be believed the Duck is also stepping out with Silvio Berlusconi’s daughter Barbara who was in the stands – and the newly beefed-up and loved-up Pato was full of the joys of spring all evening.

Freed of the shackles of the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Brazilian whizz cut through the fragile Nerazzurri backline – itself shorn of the suspended Lucio – with darting runs from myriad angles.

With Robinho equally fleet-footed, Cristian Chivu, Douglas Maicon, Javier Zanetti and Andrea Rannocchia must have thought they were facing two Gareth Bale clones, such was the hesitant nature of their defending. One of them had to go and in the end it was Chivu, sent off for a last-man foul on Pato – although even before they went down to 10, Inter were only postponing the inevitable.

The outnumbered midfield of Thaigo Motta and Esteban Cambiasso had already been steamrolled by the imperious Mark van Bommel, Rino Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf well before Pato headed home the second just after the hour mark. Leonardo’s game-plan of a three-man attack was left in tatters.

Much had been made of the Brazilian knowing his old club inside-out – but by the same measure, Allegri (and more importantly his assistant Mauro Tassotti, who had shadowed Leo for a whole season) were well prepared for the opposition’s approach.

Milan were left to prepare for the game in relative peace and tranquillity while Leonardo faced the glare as the returning Judas – and so it came to pass. The Curva Sud, where the Rossoneri Ultras gather in the San Siro, unfurled a gigantic banner depicting the Last Supper fresco by that other Leonardo – Da Vinci – although the traditional meal scene had been replaced by glasses of beer.

Below it was writ large in no uncertain terms the feelings towards Leo’s defection to the other side of town – "Giuda Interista" ["Inter Judas"] – along with a poetic reference to selling one's soul for “30 pieces of silver".

They love a banner, those Ultras

It seemed for a moment that Gattuso was going to serve Leo’s head up on a platter when he ran to the Inter bench after the opening goal for a few choice words with the man he freely admits he never got on with, although thankfully the pit-bull midfielder managed to keep his head and did apologise as the teams walked off at half-time.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Antonio Cassano failed to engage his brain when he came on with 10 minutes remaining as if he was some conquering hero – only to be sent off in injury time.

It was classic Cassanata – grabbing centre stage when the match had already been won; tearing off his shirt after scoring the penalty, thus garlanding a yellow card; and then moments later receiving a second booking for a needless challenge on Ivan Cordoba. There has never been a bigger airhead in Italian football, although Mario Balotelli seems to carrying the torch for those who brains remain firmly in their feet.

For once Berlusconi was scrambling for the moral high ground, forgiving Leonardo for pitching up at the court of Moratti and then claiming that the Manchester City striker was not a Milan type of player. Meanwhile, rumours grow that Cassano may be used as a makeweight to secure Kevin Prince Boateng’s permanent move from Genoa.

Well, few would have thought of Leonardo as a future Inter coach so tales of Cassano’s return to the red and blue half of the Liguria port city may not be that wide of the mark.

In the meantime, Allegri will continue to underplay the title run-in while Leonardo will have to remain in the shadows around Milan for some time to come.

Aquilani enjoying renaissance as Italy go for a stroll in the park

2011-03-28T09:02:00Z

The Italians love nothing more than their passeggiata (a traditional early evening stroll), so there is plenty of satisfaction with the way the national team’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign is progressing.

Group C is turning into something of a walk in the park for Italy after victory in Slovenia took the Azzurri’s advantage at the top of the table to six points over both their hosts on Friday and Serbia.

The only goal of the game in Ljubljana came from Brazilian-born Thaigo Motta, who Cesare Prandelli had to implore long and hard to take up Italian nationality. But it was one of Italy’s very own lost souls who really stood out.

Alberto Aquilani looked set for a glittering international career when the then-AS Roma midfielder scored twice against Montenegro during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and seemed to have answered Marcello Lippi’s calls to lead the country into a brave new future after the disappointments of Euro 2008.

Unfortunately, that future would be one of niggling injury after niggling injury, which saw him lose his standing in the Capital and then his international place - and those same fitness problems also blighted his stay at Liverpool, where his name became synonymous with ‘big-money flop’.

After making just nine starts for the Reds, a return to Italy and Juventus on a season-long loan offered ’the Little Prince’ hope, but the Roman walked into a side struggling to find an identity under Luigi Del Neri - a coach who had never put creativity ahead of work-rate.

Thankfully, Prandelli is now in a position to look beyond next week’s result and giving Aquilani the timely platform to display his undoubted skill and poise could yet see the playmaker return to England as once-again a workable component within the Liverpool set-up.

At 26, Aquilani has never played in a World Cup or a European Championship but it seems he can now look forward to finally appearing on the big international stage come next summer.

With Andrea Pirlo now in his 30s and suffering from injury problems of his own and Daniele De Rossi’s ill-discipline still an issue, Prandelli is really in need of some genuine quality rather than wholesome endeavour in the centre of the pitch.

And on Friday’s evidence there is plenty about which to be positive - most notably the manner in which Aquilani controlled the tempo of the game, keeping the ball moving in his elegant style and bringing the attacking full-backs Christian Maggio and Federico Balzaretti into play when the opportunity arose.

Riccardo Montolivo was more water-carrier than creator but that only gave Aquilani more freedom and it was only the profligacy of the likes of Antonio Cassano that forced Italy to wait until almost the closing quarter-hour to break the deadlock.

Aquilani, by then, had been pushed forward to support the front-two of Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini in place of the hard-working Stefano Mauri, who had been replaced by another player experiencing something of a renaissance: Antonio Nocerino.

Motta, in turn, was also able to venture further forward and it was the Inter man’s driving run to the edge of the area which finally brought the much-deserved breakthrough.

In fact, the goal summed up Prandelli’s philosophy for Italy perfectly – born as it was out of commitment and quality – something that Aquilani will want to show more off to get his career back on track.

Prandelli continues to prime the next generation for Italy

2011-03-25T10:55:00Z

Italy’s build-up to their Euro 2012 qualifier in Slovenia has been more about the notable absentees than those actually making the trip. Both Mario Balotelli and Daniele De Rossi have been left in the cold as Cesare Prandelli has observed his ‘code of ethics’ outlawing any sort of unsporting behaviour – which of course, if strictly abided to, would preclude most of the squad.

Neither Balotelli nor De Rossi had done anything untoward on the domestic front, coming a cropper in Europe with the young striker sent off for Manchester City in the Europa League while the AS Roma midfielder received a three-game ban from UEFA after being caught on video elbowing Shakhtar Donestk captain Darijo Srna.

Blacklisting two important members of the new-look Azzurri could yet backfire on the coach but rules are there to be… broken. Whilst De Rossi was seemingly unconcerned about missing out on the delights of a Friday evening in Ljubljana, preferring to use his imposed exile as an opportunity to rest up, Balotelli was reportedly pouring his heart out to his national team boss.

According to Prandelli, the troubled youth has demonstrated some hitherto untapped maturity and admitted that he is indeed the architect of his own downfall at the moment – and is in need of some guidance. The saintly Cesare has taken many a stray waif under his wing, so who better to guide the raw talent towards realising his undoubted potential?

Prandelli: "You wanna chillax, son"

Having extended the hand of forgiveness to both his bad boys, with Balotelli definitely back for the friendly against Ukraine next week, Prandelli then boosted the confidence of those attempting to build an international career.

With the likes of Francesco Totti, Antonio Di Natale and to a certain extent Alessandro Del Piero enjoying a rich vein of form, those in the current squad are being somewhat overshadowed and Prandelli joked that if the tie had been a crucial decider then the old guard would have been back.

Of course, the glory boys of 2006 won’t wear the blue shirt again – Prandelli hasn’t come this far to take a massive step backwards when the new generation of Italian footballers need all the support they can get.

In fact, he is something of a visionary and has put forward a proposal that a select group of under-21s are allowed to play as a team in Serie B, where they would gain valuable experience of the rough and tumble of professional life rather than kick their heels at clubs where there is no reserve-team football.

One player who has benefited from leaving a top team is Sebastian Giovinco, who looked set to become another wasted talent at Juventus where he failed to displace or even play alongside Del Piero.

With his confidence shot to pieces, the Atomic Ant moved on to Parma – and lo and behold, he's playing with the sort of verve and creativity that had originally marked him out as one to watch a few years ago.

Gaffer and Ant: "He's only this big!"

Prandelli’s selection policy is very simple: if a player is starting for his club on a regular basis, good; if he's playing well, even better. Thus Giovinco has been given his opportunity, as have Giuseppe Rossi, Alessandro Matri and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Giovinco has been touted for stardom for some time while Matri and Pazzini have made the step up at Juventus and Inter respectively. By contrast, at 25, Marco Parolo had never played in the top flight until this season.

However, despite turning out in a struggling Cesena side, Parolo's personal performances and eye for goal from midfield – he's scored two in the last three games – have been enough to ensure his call-up.

With the likes of Inter, AC Milan and Juve jammed pack with foreign stars, the inclusion of the likes of Parolo will give other players at less glamorous clubs the hope that their chance will come too. Prandelli may joke about the old guard waiting in the wings but he knows the future belongs to a new generation.

Pressure mounting on Rossoneri ahead of Milanese showdown

2011-03-22T11:20:00Z

The international break could not have come at a more opportune moment for AC Milan, who have seen their lead over Inter whittled down from 13 points to just two since the turn of the year.

There are still just under two weeks to go before the Milanese showdown which could either completely blow the title race wide open again, see the leaders increase their lead once more or bring Napoli and - surprisingly but totally deservedly - Udinese into the hunt.

That’s two weeks for the main protagonists of the north to trade barbed comments and score points in the hope of gaining an edge come April 2.

Milan raised the tension level barely a moment after the final whistle had signalled the end of Inter’s win over Lecce at the San Siro on. The title holders edged past last season’s Serie B champions with a goal that the Rossoneri felt should not have stood, claiming that Giampaolo Pazzini had controlled the ball in exactly the same manner as Zlatan Ibrahimovic had against Bari a week previously.

The only difference was that the Milan striker had been pulled-up for hand-ball as he fired the ball into the net, while his Nerazzurri counterpart was allowed to run-off, displaying his trademark ‘look into my eyes’ goal celebrations.

Certainly, Inter president Massimo Moratti was in no mood for mud-slinging just yet and when questioned on the similarity of the two moments, he replied with a curt: “They were not the same, let’s move on.”

The big chief had been surrounded by journalists on almost exactly the same spot in the centre of the city where only last week Lionel Messi had found out just what it is like to be football superstar attempting to do a bit of shopping – you can’t – well not in Italy.

At least Moratti had room to breathe but that intrepid band of press, radio and television reporters who set up camp outside Inter headquarters every day were demanding scraps of derby tittle-tattle that they could turn into a full-blown headline.

Would Ibrahimovic’s absence be felt more by Milan than Lucio‘s would by Inter? “Let’s hope it is Ibrahimovic,” was the only response. Then knowing that the day would be almost over before he even got to the office a sly grin played across those ragged features.

“You know what, everyone is talking about Milan and Inter but there is another team that is doing amazing things: Napoli.”

What better to throw the dogs of the press off the scent that turn the spotlight on a side that only a few weeks ago were being written off as also-rans – much like Inter in fact – and in doing so put them under renewed pressure.

It was also an indirect dig at Milan, reminding them that matters had been all in their own hands three weeks ago when they had ran roughshod over the Neapolitans but failed to take advantage - but they now have teams within touching distance of knocking them off top spot.

The Azzurri are a point behind Inter and are in a position to take advantage if one of the Milan clubs fail to take maximum points on the same weekend they meet Lazio at home. Walter Mazzarri’s men also have a pretty benign month ahead of them with only Udinese at home causing any real worries, on paper at least.

And if current form is anything to go by, Udinese cannot be ruled out of causing the shock of all shocks despite being six points off the pace.

The flying Friuliani have not been beaten in 2011, accruing 33 points and going seven games without conceding a goal. Then if we were to find everyone level on points come the end of the campaign they hold sway over Inter, having beaten them twice, having also so far drawn at Milan and defeated Napoli - both of whom they will face again in the run-in.

Of course, no one believes that the south or the provinces will do what Napoli and Sampdoria once did back in the mid-80s and early 90s and wrest the title away from the northern metropolis.

However, no doubt when Moratti is cornered on the way to work again he will make sure to sing Udinese’s praises - as well as mentioning again that he is a big fan of their star player Alexis Sanchez.

Inter help to restore Italian pride as Ibra sulks and Milan sweat

2011-03-18T10:30:00Z

The Tricolore was flying proudly around Italy yesterday as the country celebrated 105 years of unity.

The green, white and red colours of the national flag also happen to adorn the Scudetto badge awarded to the Serie A champions - and all of a sudden the impending culmination of this year’s title race looks very intriguing indeed.

AC Milan hold a five-point gap over Inter, with Napoli a further point behind - so the chances of a north-south showdown remain alive and well.

However, going into this weekend’s round of games the momentum is very much with the defending champions, who in these celebratory days are being heralded as the savours of national pride after overcoming Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The Nerazzurri’s season has been given a massive lift by their exploits in Munich and they are now talking up their chances of another glorious Treble-winning season rather than one of transition following the Jose Mourinho’s departure and the failure of Rafa Benitez to adapt to Italian football.

Only five days ago, La Gazzetta Dello Sport where questioning Inter’s domestic dominance with the headline “Ciao Scudetto” (Goodbye Title) after their draw at Brescia but now it took easily be a case of “Hello Again, Title”.

Defending their Champions League crown can take a back-seat for a few weeks - as can the Italian Cup semi-final against AS Roma - leaving Leonardo’s men to concentrate on closing the gap on their city rivals.

The Milan Derby will be played immediately after the international break so for both sides a positive showing is a priority this weekend – and Inter certainly have the easier task. They’re at home to relegation-threatened Lecce on Sunday afternoon, and will already know exactly where they stand as Milan play at Palermo the previous evening.

Neither side can afford to take their eye off the ball, but while there is plenty of euphoria floating around the Inter camp - especially with the news that Leo has an almost full and fit squad at his disposal - it is a different story across town where Massimiliano Allegri is counting the cost of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s petulance last weekend.

The Swede let himself down once again when he swung an arm into Marco Rossi’s ribs as the Rossoneri trailed to by a goal to Bari, receiving a straight red card and a three-game suspension which will include the derby on April 2nd.

There is no doubt that the weight of being the go-to guy for the team is becoming a heavy burden – and even before last weekend’s irritable performance he had been well off form.

The thought of a month’s rest is not something that seems if filling big Zlat with the joys of Spring and he was snappy with anyone unfortunate to get anywhere near him in training, which also included assistant coach Mauro Tassotti who, during a practice game in which he was acting as referee, had the audacity to blow for a foul against the striker.

There was a moment of tough-guy staring between the pair before Ibra stormed off, quickly followed by Kevin Prince Boateng who limped away with a reoccurrence of the ankle injury sustained at Juventus. The Ghana midfielder is now a major doubt for the trip to Sicily.

Napoli, who are home to Cagliari on Sunday evening, are well aware of how crippling a suspension to a vital player can be and during Ezequiel Lavezzi’s three-game absence for his spitting offence against AS Roma, the Azzurri struggled and scored just once.

However, with the tricky Argentine restored to their ranks at Parma, normal service was resumed with El Pocho scoring one and setting up another in a 3-1 victory, which was just as well because Edinson Cavani is going through an Ibra moment having failed to score in the league since mid-February.

While Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has Lavezzi to pick up the goalscoring slack and Leonardo has proven goal-getter Diego Milito raring to go again, Allegri’s options now seem a little more limited if Alexandre Pato, Antonio Cassano and Robinho fail to gel.

He will be hoping that without the presence of his moody team-leader, the trio can play with more freedom. Championships are won on pivotal moments and this weekend could be one of them.

Inter comeback spares Cesar's blushes and sets up possible Jose reunion

2011-03-16T11:11:00Z

Three weeks ago Julio Cesar walked home from the San Siro after his fumble in the Champions League Last-16 first leg against Bayern Munich enabled Mario Gomez to score the only goal of the game in the dying moments.

In truth he only faced a brief stroll down the road to reach his apartment complex, so last night - after another blunder - the Brazilian must have felt like having an ‘Into the Wind’ moment and just hitting the highway until he ran out of road.

Samuel Eto’o had put the Nerazzurri back on level aggregate terms early on in the Allianz Arena when JC (not the other miracle maker) failed to hold onto an Arjen Robben effort and allowed Gomez to hook the ball home.

From then on all he could do was pray his team-mates could hoist him out of the hole of his own making so he could banish every goalkeeper’s reoccurring nightmare: the routine shot that turns into the squirming eel.

Fortunately, the much-derided Goran Pandev produced a dream finish and Julio Cesar could get on the bus again.

The feeling was that if Leonardo’s men could get it right at the back then they could overturn the one-goal deficit considering the attacking potential available in Eto’o, Welsey Sneijder and as it turned out, Pandev.

All three found the net, with the indomitable Eto’o setting up two, and on this evidence the team are taking on a similar personality to Leonardo’s AC Milan of last season - albeit with a few more potent players going forward.

There was little fun watching Jose Mourinho’s well-drilled side sucking the life out of European matches last year on their way to winning the competition, but they very rarely lived as dangerously as they did last night, with their defence evidently unsure of how to deal with the threat of Robben, Franck Ribery and Gomez not to mention the late runs of Thomas Mueller into the area.

Not for the first time in Europe, full-backs Cristian Chivu and Douglas Maicon looked particularly vulnerable and, had it not been for Julio Cesar’s quick reflexes and Lucio’s warrior-like defending, the Bundesliga side could have been out of sight before the break.

Mou’s men may have rarely, if ever, found themselves in a position where they needed to go on all out attack over 45 minutes to save their skins – it may have been nervy at times, but at least they would had everyone behind the ball generally protecting an advantage of some kind.

There is no doubt Leo got his tactics wrong for around an hour, leaving Sneijder out on the left where he spent more time tracking Philipp Lahm than looking to create openings for Eto’o.

The game turned the moment the Dutch wiz switched back into the middle, replacing the labouring Dejan Stankovic - with Coutinho coming on to fill the role on the left, Pandev moving out to the right and Eto’o free to run the defence ragged through the middle or out wide if he wished.

It also provided an outlet for the previously ineffectual Thaigo Motta and Esteban Cambiasso, who in their defence have both not long returned from injury and were hastily drafted in after Javier Zanetti succumbed to an iffy tummy.

What this side has in common with that special one of last year is that they have rallied around their new coach in a manner they never did during Rafa Benitez's brief reign.

Even after winning the World Club Cup there was no mass celebration and Marco Materazzi didn't ever leap on the Spaniard in the manner he did with Leonardo at the final whistle last night - or Mourinho several times last season.

In truth, Bayern are not a great side and once the game entered the crucial latter stages with things still in the balance they looked very ordinary, which handed Inter the impetuous to take control.

It was a night of the heart and a stirring moment at the final whistle when Yuto Nagatomo danced around the stadium wrapped in a Japan flag ensuring his homeland were not walking alone.

Italy are still represented in the competition and Inter will not be dethroned as champions of Europe that easily.

Now, it has to be Real Madrid in the quarter-finals - it is as if everyone is willing the return of the Special One for another very special evening.

Ibra and Lazio see red as Milan slip and Totti conquers the Capital again

2011-03-14T11:57:00Z

It was a another topsy-turvy weekend in Serie A. One where nothing seemed to go to plan unless you happened to be Francesco Totti, and which left the race for the league title wide open once again.

Inter were fortunate to leave Brescia on Friday evening with a draw, with Andrea Caracciolo missing a late penalty for the home side - and by Saturday morning the defending champions were beginning to write off their chances of catching city rivals AC Milan at the top of the table.

That was until the league leaders fluffed their lines in the lunch-time kick-off against bottom side Bari, leaving it late to equalise through Antonio Cassano after seeing an irritable Zlatan Ibrahimovic handed a straight red card for a petulant swing on at an opponent.

The repercussions could well be felt at the start of April when the Milanese derby comes around and Ibra is likely to be suspended, with the likelihood being he will face at least a two game ban – although this will no doubt be fiercly contested.

Red cards, rows and rousing finales are all part and parcel of the Rome Derby, where those coming to bury Francesco Totti left the Olympic stadium hailing him once more as the King of Rome.

This was meant to be the moment where Lazio would end their four-game losing streak against their eternal enemy and along the way reaffirm their Champions League credentials as well as end the Giallorossi’s hopes of finishing in the top-four.

The Biancocelesti should have known it would all come to nothing on another sodden afternoon which brought back memories of a similar scenario back in the 1994-95 season, when Lazio were expected to send Roma tumbling towards the relegation zone but instead saw the old enemy ruin their day.

Edy Reja had never looked so bedraggled and shell-shocked when he came out for the post-game press conference to explain how he had failed to live up to his proclamation that “this was our time”.

At 66, the craggy, old coach has been round the block a few times without managing to savour one moment of success against Roma in the derby, while his opposite number Vincenzo Montella – a generation or two younger – once scored four goals in a derby and as a mere novice in the coaching game got his tactics, team selection and substitutions all spot on.

He knew that Lazio would always rise to the bait of Totti dangling out there as a lone striker but he also demonstrated a willingness to back his captain up with not one but two finesse players – in Mirko Vucinic and Jeremy Menez.

The fact neither had a real impact on the ball was negated by their mere presence keeping the opposing full-backs, Stefan Radu and Stephan Lichtsteiner in check, which meant that Lazio’s midfield had no outlet in wide areas.

However, it was Totti’s gladiatorial battle with just about every player in a sky blue shirt, going mano-a-mano at every turn, that in the end swung the contest in Roma’s favour.

The body count was high, with Stefan Radu and Cristian Ledesma sent off while Reja withdrew his flair players Hernanes and Mauro Zarate for the more prosaic approach of Stefano Mauri and Cristian Brocchi.

By then, the war had been lost as Totti taunted the opposition into rash challenges; the last man standing draped in his “sei sempre unica” (you are always unique) t-shirt – a little love note to his wife but it could easily stand for his performances down through the years in the battle for the Capital.

With Udinese continuing their goalscoring ways in a four-goal blitz at Cagliari and Napoli returning to winning ways at Parma it was a day to forget for Lazio, who not only missed another opportunity to get one over their bitter rivals, but also dropped out of the top four.

Milan and Ibra flunk English test yet again

2011-03-10T12:15:00Z

Out go the Serie A leaders to the English Premier League’s fifth-placed side along with the mesmerising passing movements in the best traditions of AC Milan. You can pass a team off the pitch – Milan produced 473 of them – but if there is no end product then the game can only pass you by: this is the stark reality of the situation that leaves Italy’s representation down to one after the Rossoneri exited the Champions League to Tottenham Hotspur.

Massimiliano Allegri’s game plan was ensure that Spurs had little or no space to work the ball wide – and with Mathieu Flamini and Kevin Prince Boateng covering in front of the full-backs they did very well in this task. Clarence Seedorf was in an unfamiliar withdrawn role in front of the defence, where his ageing legs had plenty of time to set the tempo for Milan’s forward motion.

Unfortunately, the problems lay further up the pitch where the front three failed to match the quick-fire passing from midfield with what was needed – a goal: Milan have now failed to score in their last three European outings.

Robinho is no natural goalscorer, as he demonstrated in the first half by miskicking in front of goal when set up by Alexandre Pato, William Gallas clearing off the line; then, late on, scuffing wide after the ball had fallen to him inside the six-yard area – although he did have a powerful effort deflected over the bar in the dying minutes.

"Where's the cavalry?"

Pato saw an angled shot well saved by Gomes and then came agonisingly close when he cut in from the left to drive a low shot just the wrong side of the post – but in general the Duck was Milan's most threatening presence.

In contrast, Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced one rasping free-kick which Heurelho Gomes pushed away and well, that was just about it. Once again failed to dissuade the doubters who believe that he will always fall flat in Europe. He has played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter and Barcelona – and not one of his previous employers have lifted the Champions League with the Swede leading the line, having to make do instead with becoming domestic champions.

Milan – who would be grateful for home-front success, having not won the Italian league title since 2004 – can at least take heart from the fact that Ibra is the man for the domestic chores, but he is prone to travel sickness when forced to leave those cosy confines for continental competition.

He may have scored four goals in the group stages but he has never found the net in the knock-out round – and coming into the return leg at White Hart Lane he hadn't scored from open play in seven games, his only goal in that time coming from the penalty spot against Napoli two weeks ago.

In his defence, he did set up Pato for a presentable chance and provided a neat lay-off for Robinho’s late effort but as everyone at the club keeps saying, the team is built around the big man and at times like last night he needed to carry the responsibility on his board shoulders.

He had the vibrant and pacy Pato and Robinho buzzing around him all evening but on too many occasions he failed to react to their darting runs. The Spurs defence on the whole ensured he was playing with his back to goal when the Brazilian pair had already set off on a run, but if you have pretensions of being the best player in the world then you have to produce that something out of the ordinary.

Once again Ibra was weighted down by over-expectation, especially amongst the Italian media who have been fawning over his every performance in Serie A where he has scored 14 goals. There was a different feel to Thursday morning’s press coverage, with his player-rating hovering around 4.5 out of 10.

"You people don't underSTAND me..."

If Milan are to ever regain their European crown then there will need to be changes in the summer. Alessandro Nesta will retire (or move to the States) with Philippe Mexes partnering Thaigo Silva in the centre of defence, but there seems to be no adequate left-back – which was highlighted last night when Marek Jankulovski failed to provide one decent cross into the area while Ignazio Abate only ventured forward late.

Youngsters Alexander Merkel and Rodney Strasser were introduced in the closing stages and had few opportunities to make an impression in midfield, but at least they offer some youthful hope for the future.

With the Rossoneri banished from Europe for the third consecutive season by a Premier League club, La Gazzetta dello Sport flicked through their get-by-in-English phrasebook to produce the headline “Bye Bye Milan" – but as Zlatan would no doubt echo, there's no place like home.

Roma go down without class or clue

2011-03-09T11:45:00Z

The lights have gone out on AS Roma’s Champions League campaign and the way things are going back on the home front the off-switch will be flicked for some time to come.

The statistics and the frigid weather – Shakhtar Donetsk’s 53 undefeated home games, -7C and dropping – were already stacked up as handy reasons why the Giallorossi would leave the Ukraine with nothing more than mild frostbite.

Then why not make the task even more unfeasible by missing a penalty, having a man sent off and going a goal down, all in the first half?

The tie was lost in Rome in the dog days of Claudio Ranieri’s reign in the 3-2 first-leg defeat, and you could see from the players' demeanour and body language when they got off the bus in the belly of the Donbass Arena that they would love to be anywhere other than their current location – a Sardinian beach for example.

Francesco Totti was grim-faced in the knowledge that he would be on the bench for the duration – a clear sign that Vincenzo Montella had more or less given up the ghost and was already thinking ahead to the derby with Lazio at the weekend.

The only respite for the away players came when the game was temporarily paused after a section of the floodlighting failed or when a home player was receiving treatment following another scything foul. The usual suspects were playing on the edge of legality – Philippe Mexes and Daniele de Rossi in particular are combustible characters at the best of times so it was no surprise that they would soon get on the wrong side of referee Howard Webb.

The English official demanded respect for his authority Cartman-style early on by flashing a yellow card at Mexes, who is too flashy for his own good when he commits a foul. So when the French fancy was caught out of position before dragging back an opponent it was no shock that he was flicking his ponytail on the way to the dressing room.

Another player too much in love with his own reflection is Marco Borriello – the culprit who could have brought his side back into the contest before Mexes was sent off but instead of which hit a poor penalty which goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov saved in routine fashion. The playboy striker, whom Claudio Ranieri claimed was the first to complain whenever he wasn’t picked, is never far from the limelight; such is his enormous ego honed from being a bit-player at AC Milan that the world must revolve around his amazing being.

He had attempted to take the spot-kick at Lecce last Friday but was forced to bow to Davide Pizarro’s seniority; unfortunately that wasn't the case last night, although Montella revealed that the Chilean was on spot-kick duties and at the same time gave an insight into a leaderless club.

However, it was De Rossi’s reaction that could have the greatest repercussions. Home captain Darijo Srna did all he could to inflame Roman wrath with some verbal sparring and his Giallorossi counterpart unleashed one of his trademark elbows on the Croatian in retaliation – the sword being much more painful than the word.

De Rossi had escaped with a short-arm hook to Dymtro Chygrynskiy in the first leg and it will be major surprise if he does not receive a severe sanction when the video evidence is viewed once again, proving that the heir-apparent to Totti has learnt little since the Brian McBride incident at the 2006 World Cup and will now join fellow miscreant Rino Gattuso in UEFA’s rogues gallery.

The climatic conditions may have been well below freezing but the temperature on the pitch was kept at boiling point, with Borriello and then John Arne Riise attempting to take a chunk out of Srna’s leg while Pizarro became more and more annoyed to the point where he just decided to belt the ball at the third goalscorer Eduardo.

The final 6-2 aggregate scoreline can be set alongside the 8-3 humiliation at Manchester United, but at least a good omen ahead of the derby is that generally the side coming into the encounter in worse form come out winners – cold comfort at this point in what was another embarrassing outing for an Italian club in Europe.

Del Neri's joyless Juventus sleepwalking through seasons

2011-03-07T11:23:00Z

RESULTS Fri 4 Mar Lecce 1-2 Roma Sat 5 Mar Juventus 0-1 Milan Sun 6 Mar Sampdoria 2-3 Cesena, Udinese 1-0 Bari, Napoli 0-0 Brescia, Bologna 2-2 Cagliari, Fiorentina 3-0 Catania, Internazionale 5-2 Genoa, Chievo 0-0 Parma, Lazio 2-0 Palermo

Every Monday seems to arrive with a fresh name on the roll-call of the dearly departed from the Serie A coaching fraternity.

Claudio Ranieri fell on his sword at AS Roma, Delio Rossi was shoved out the door at Palermo and Domenico Di Carlo is as we speak probably having his name removed from the office door at Sampdoria.

However, someone seemingly immune to the sack race is Luigi Del Neri who continues to receive the full support of his superiors despite overseeing a third consecutive defeat at the weekend – and in such a craven manner to AC Milan.

Despite the weekly calls for Del to go, changing the man on the bench at this stage of the season would reflect very badly on those who put him there in the first place – Andrea Agnelli and Beppe Marotta.

Post-Calciopoli, Juve have brought in and discarded coaches at a rate that would impress even Maurizio Zamparini, so even now as the team languishes 20 points off the top and five points away from a Europa League spot, the powers that be will not press the eject button until the end of the season at least.

Tuttosport have been clamouring for Gianluca Vialli to take over, reasoning that the former striker and darling of the disgruntled fans would at least bring some unity to a team that is completely shot of all confidence.

When Gigi Buffon allowed Rino Gattuso’s trickle of a shot to slip through his hands for what would turn out to be the only goal of a low-key encounter at the Olympic Stadium, the reaction from the rest of the team was to let their heads drop.

There was a banner in the crowd which read: “At Juventus we don’t care how, winning is all that matters.” However, there will be no honours for the Old Lady for another season – or for many to come until the club can bring in some quality players, never mind a new coach.

In truth, what are the club doing employing the likes of Armand Traorè, Jorge Martinez, Andrea Barzagli and Luca Toni – to name almost half of Saturday's starting line-up? Mistakes and mismanagement have been made at the highest echelons of the club so why shoot the messenger of a directive that no one seems to understand?

The message is a lot clearer at Milan, and Juventus must be firing envious glances at how their old rivals have on the whole made do with adequate players and a couple of world-class performers. Of course, Adriano Galliani is a much more persuasive operator than Marotta, otherwise Antonio Cassano would now be turning out in the black and white.

As it stands, Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri has instilled a very simple game-plan where the team attempt to get the ball as quickly forward as possible – and when they lose it, it's the job of the midfield is to win it back. On Saturday Mark van Bommel controlled the centre of the pitch, which enabled Mathieu Flamini and Gattuso to push further forward, hence the latter finding himself in a position to score from just inside the area.

Whist Alessandro Nesta and Thaigo Silva are classy acts in the heart of the defence, neither Ignazio Abate or Marek Jankulovski or whoever else is brought in at full-back offers much in the way of stability – but all they have to do is give the ball to a team-mate, their job done and their failings on one hand hidden and on the other exposed.

Juve’s problems are that Del Neri’s rigid obedience to four across the midfield without two natural wide-men does not conceal his side’s weaknesses so with all lost this year, why not lighten up a little and change the formation?

Pep it up a bit – have a bit of fun, which obviously doesn’t come easily to the po-faced Del Neri. Try three in midfield, Del Piero or even Milos Krasic behind a front two, three at back… the choices are endless, and as the banner on Saturday made plain, all the fans want to see is the team win.

NEWS, Sun 6 Mar: Quick Inter comeback stuns Genoa
NEWS, Sat 5 Mar: Rare Gattuso strike gives Milan win at Juve
NEWS, Fri 4 Mar: Roma beat Lecce with last-gasp penalty

Can an 110 year old rivalry help unite Italy?

2011-03-04T12:42:00Z

Support Italy! It’s the 150th year of unification, although you would hardly know it, evident by the apathy sweeping the country even with the prospect of a national holiday and an extra day off work on March 17th.

The organisers of this massive damp squib have been encouraging business and shops to hang a ‘Supporting Italy here’-emblazoned tricolour outside their premises, and in the sporting world the national anthem is being blasted out for every event from volleyball to the Italian Cup – with seemingly only the nation's rugby players actually up to speed with the words.

No matter that a sizable percentage of the population couldn’t care less about whether Italy is one country or not, the event is at least an excuse for some sort of party – and Italians, following their prime minister’s example, do like to have a good time.

So, to ensure the whole shindig doesn’t pass everyone by in the blink of an eye, Juventus have been drafted in to unite the country.

After all, Turin was the first capital of the fledging nation and is home to the first lady of Italian football, so who better to raise some interest in the landmark birthday than the country’s favourite/most hated club?

President Andrea Agnelli unveiled the commemorative shirt the team will wear against AC Milan on Saturday evening – the only difference from their normal attire is a tatty sticker reading 'Esperienza Italia 150th' glued to the chest.

You may have to squint to make out the badge of honour, but it has more to do with the associated symbolism of the Old Lady, whose ups and downs over her 114-year existence have been interwoven with that of a country that is more comfortable with a provincial identity than national unity.

Fittingly, the opposition are the government, in the guise of AC Berlusconi, who have never been known to hide their light under a bushel – and have woven "the world’s most titled club" into their shirts lest anyone forgets the jillions of trophies they have hoarded away while Juve have, of course, won the most league titles.

Sivlio was once famously quoted as saying, "When the world thinks of Italy, after pizza and the mafia, they think of Milan."

Hardly a glowing endorsement for what has been billed as Italy’s big unity match - the latest chapter in a rivalry that goes back to 1901, no less - and which brings into sharp focus two separate strands within the fabric of the country.

Juventus represent the old-style approach to life where business is done behind closed doors and a stoic demure is presented to the outside world, while Milan are the outside world: in your face, shouting to all who will listen, "Look at me and my amazing bling life."

It’s Charlie Sheen versus the Wall Street Bankers, and who would you root for? According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Massimo ‘Inter are the real Milanese’ Moratti will be supporting the suits – for obvious reasons.

However, on closer inspection of what he actually mumbled, there is no such heresy tumbling forth in the manner of "I am for Juve."

What he actually said was: "Milan have a duty to do well, but being closer to the top would give us further motivation. I will be supporting the team that plays better, but Juventus have all the motivation they need in facing Milan."

Reading between the lines, Mo’s backing his own club’s arch-nemesis down the A4 motorway as opposed to those closer to home. Who can blame him? Juve offer little or no threat in the title race, while Milan are five points clear at the top.

Even a draw would suit the Nerazzurri, who are at home to Genoa on Sunday and still have the derby in their locker. However, on past evidence a draw would seem unlikely. Juve-Milan fixtures are usually chock-full of goals, especially in Turin.

The Rossoneri ran out 3-0 winners last season, with Ronaldinho scoring twice and David Beckham playing his part as the irate home fans attempted to set light to the Olympic stadium so everyone missed the third goal.

The 2008-09 season was a 4-2 humdinger to Juve, while the year before that finished 3-2 to them too, so no one is putting their hard-earned Euros on a goalless draw – just as they will be not putting any store in the game uniting the peninsula.

Duck becomes top dog at Milan as Pato outshines Ibra

2011-03-01T11:37:00Z

Who’s the daddy now? Well, AC Milan in the title race and most definitely Alexandre Pato in the never ending struggle for dominance amongst the Rossoneri alpha-males.

Up until recently all Zlatan Ibrahimovic had to do was beat his chest and Pato would scurry off into the shadows: in the competitive world of the Milan frontline, the young man nicknamed Duck was more like a startled deer in the headlights.

Finally, last night the young Brazilian chose the top-of-the-table clash with Napoli as the moment to stand up for himself and decided there would be no more grovelling to the big Swede – or, for that matter, passing the ball to him either.

On two occasions, he could have set up his team-mate for a goalscoring chance but this was an evening for personal gain and glory, so with Ibra screaming for a pass on the edge of the six-yard box Pato waited patiently until Kevin Prince Boateng arrived in front of the goal before rolling the ball into the substitute’s path.

Ibra had broken the deadlock from the penalty spot – Pato was involved in winning it when his knockback from the by-line was needlessly handled by Salvatore Aronica – but he was very much on the margins from there on.

The real gem of what had been a glittering performance from the No.7 came soon after as he sprinted on to a headed clearance from Mark van Bommel before bearing down on the visitors' goal.

Ibra was again in support and this time had made a darting run to the left which Pato duly acknowledged by cutting inside and curling a wonderful shot beyond the sprawling Morgan de Sanctis. The Napoli goalkeeper had earlier denied his tormentor but was left helpless this time – and even Ibra was fulsome in his celebrations.

However, the pair still found time to exchange pleasantries as the final whistle blew after Pato made his fellow striker sprint forward into the opposition half before stopping and passing all the way back towards the defence.

Such was Pato’s newfound status that he dismissed Ibra’s complaints with a wave of his hand. As we already witnessed at Chievo, he is no longer a puny youth and to prove that there was plenty of testosterone pumping through his body, Pato even received a yellow card for swatting Aronica to the ground.

However, his real knockout punch came when he had the ball at his feet and his pace and verve was all too much for the labouring defence.
Napoli had arrived at the San Siro looking to storm the northern citadel but hardly mustered anything approaching an attack – and in fact failed to test home goalkeeper Christian Abbiati at all.

They were as damp and insipid as the Milanese weather that greeted the players and the near 80,000 capacity inside the stadium which brought back memories of the rivalry of the mid-to-late 80s when Diego Maradona and Marco van Basten were in their prime.

However, this current Azzurri side is a long way from the finished article and Ezequiel Lavezzi’s absence was sorely felt, leaving Edinson Cavani isolated and outnumbered against Alessandro Nesta – sporting a sensible hair-cut – and Thiago Silva.

Walter Mazzarri had no back-up plan when his team went a goal behind but the real problem was an inability to retain possession while the high-pressure game further up the pitch does not come naturally to a side with counter-attacking tendencies.

No doubt owner Aurelio de Laurentiis will address the lack of depth in his squad come the summer but in the meantime they will have to set their sights on third place and leave the title race to the city of Milan.

The victory ensured Massimiliano Allegri’s men kept Inter at bay – and after Pato’s performance he also found a new leader of the pack.

How the Top Dogs have squared up in 2010-11 season
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 25 games, 25 starts, 14 goals
2220 minutes played (158.5 minutes per goal)
Alexandre Pato 17 games, 6 starts, 11 goals
1074 minutes played (97.6 minutes per goal)

Palermo fans regret backing boss after 7-0 home defeat

2011-02-28T12:40:00Z

It has been one of the great mysteries of the season how Delio Rossi has survived so long in charge at Palermo.

The coach has given Maurizio Zamparini plenty of opportunity to wield the axe, not that the president needs much of an excuse: Rossi would be the 13th coach he'd fired since buying the club in 2002.

Even by half-time yesterday, the craggy Rossi must have thought that his time would be better spent drawing up his removals list than attempting to lift a side already five goals and a man down at home to Udinese.

The second half was marginally better, the visitors taking pity and only scoring two more (with Palermo having another player sent off). The 7-0 defeat is unsurprisingly Palermo’s worst ever top-flight loss and only one shy of the all-comers' record, set by Milan in a 8-0 demolition of Genoa in 1955. Perhaps visiting coach Francesco Guidolin had sympathy for Rossi, having in the recent past been sacked and brought back three times by Zamperini.

The gravel-voiced Palermo supremo was at his most combustible in the post-game inquest, giving his coach “one percent” chance of remaining while accusing him of destroying the team before his very eyes.

Certainly, Rossi didn't do his cause much good by leaving his most in-form defender Ezequiel Munoz on the bench when he was already missing Mattia Cassani and Dorin Goian at the back – instead starting Sinisa Andelkovic, who had played in the two defeats before this game and, like fellow centre-back Cesare Bovo, had it found it difficult to contain fast and mobile strikers.

So it was that Udinese livewires Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez helped themselves to a hat-trick and four goals respectively – the pick being the third goal scored by the fleet-footed Chilean.

Zamperini had already handed out none-too-subtle warnings about the coach needing to toughen up (“This team lacks cojones”) and getting it right at the back before playing the fancy stuff further up the pitch. Rossi never heeded the advice.

Apparently heading the list of those ready to leap into the lion’s den is another fiery fellow, Serse Cosmi, who only last Sunday was being linked with the AS Roma job after Claudio Ranieri’s resignation in the wake of his side imploding in Genoa.

Even so, Giampiero Gasperini is the favourite to take over next season, so candidates like Gianni De Biasi (who played for the club in the 1980s) and Franco Colombo are mere benchwarmers: Gasperini, who also played for the club in the early '80s, left Genoa early in the season so he cannot take up another post in the top flight in the same season.

Then again, Zamperini may not follow through with his threat. He has already backtracked once on getting rid of Rossi, changing his mind 24 hours after December's home draw with 10-man Bari.

There are of course no positives to be taken from a seven-goal thrashing – apart from the fact that it could have been eight – but in Rossi’s defence Palermo are still in the running to qualify for Europe either through their league position or by winning the Italian Cup, having reached the semi-finals where they will meet AC Milan.

Before Sunday’s shambles, the Rosaneri faithful had already sent their president an open letter calling on him to stick by Rossi but even they must be wondering if it is maybe time for a change.

Red faces too at Juventus where there was no sign that Andrea Agnelli’s pep-talk had the desired effect as the team limped to another defeat – this time at home to Bologna.

SERIE AAAARGH!, Fri 25 Feb: President Agnelli gives King's Speech to stuttering Juve

Delneri’s closest ally Beppe Marotti admitted that the coach was under “close scrutiny” – which basically means that a negative showing against Milan next weekend and it's curtains, with reports suggesting that Pavel Nedved will be made caretaker until end of the season.

Coaches are well aware that the only certainty is the uncertainty surrounding their employment prospects but with Ranieri resigning last week rather than waiting for the axe to fall, longevity in the job is a rare commodity.

In fact, the longest-serving coach in the top flight is Luigi De Canio at Lecce (hired 9th March 2009), probably only because he brought the team from Puglia up from Serie B – and unsurprisingly he is now hanging on by his fingertips.

And trailing De Canio by just a few months just happens to be Walter Mazzarri, who only took over at Napoli in October 2009 which says everything about the long-term planning clubs are willing to invest in the men on the bench.

President Agnelli gives King's Speech to stuttering Juve

2011-02-25T10:03:00Z

Andrea Agnelli does not seem the type who has ever had to raise his voice to get what he wanted.

More at home amongst the suits in the sedate surroundings of the boardroom, he has always seemed a reluctant Juventus president, despite following in a rich family lineage. So when forced to read the riot act to the under-achieving team he resorted to the cruel put-down.

Following the defeat to Leece last weekend he told reporters that the players had done so little in the game that he they didn’t even need to shower. They may be highly-paid stars in the world of football but they didn't go to prep school or Oxford – as Andrea did – so when the chips are down, it is the proles who obviously need a good dressing-down.

Hence one and all, from baseball cap-in-hand Gigi Delneri to oh-so-desperate for one last pay-day Ale Del Piero, were forced to sit through a 40-minute ‘pep talk’ from the president. By all accounts it was something of a King’s Speech delivery – the one when the royal has overcome his speech impediment – calm, collected and to the point: basically no more performances such as the one at Leece and a few more displays such as against Inter.

Having been put firmly in their place, the players trooped out to the training ground where Agnelli and the rest of the overcoats (now including Pavel Nedved) watched on for all of five minutes before returning to the warmth of their blacked-out sedans. Del Piero had reportedly sat through the ordeal staring into space, no doubt calculating if it was worth trying to get a few extra cents out of the club, before heading off to train alone – which says a lot about where the team are in terms of unity at the moment.

Slapcheek: Andrea Agnelli can't believe it

No one’s future is secure – Delneri has heard the rumours of Fabio Capello’s return, which in turn must have Del Piero eying a move to the MLS where he can play out another couple of years as minor royalty. Reports suggest the club are ready to offer their captain another year but set at a €1m salary while the player and his brother-agent Stefano were thinking more in the €2.5m ballpark.

With the club struggling to finish in the top four and having failed to make the knock-out stages of the Europa League this season, it would seem difficult to justify such a salary for a 36-year-old whose best years are well behind him, even if he's still the only member of the current squad with any real star quality.

The feeling is that the club are edging their talisman into a corner and if he wants to remain then he needs to do so on the basis of what is good for the Old Lady. When asked by reporters how Del’s contract talks were going, Agnelli snapped back "You need to ask him what he wants to do,” which backs up the presumption that the player will have to lower his sights somewhat.

Then there's wide-eyed Alberto Aquilani, who has just about given up on a permanent switch to Turin given that Liverpool will not drop their asking price lower than €16m. Like most Romans, the midfielder must be wondering why he ever left the capital in the first place. Oh yes, actually we do know why; and maybe the Anfield mob will take into account the fact that they are losing out paying €85,000 a week to someone who has made it clear he has no desire to return to England.

"You hear that? I'm rich!"

Fabio Quagliarella’s permanent transfer will also have to be sorted, but as the loaned-in Napoli striker is sidelined for the rest of the season the final amount should fall close to Juve’s offer of €4.5m.

There have been reports that Andrea Pirlo will incited away from Milan, but that would be welcomed with the same enthusiasm as Dejan Stankovic’s proposed move from Inter a few seasons ago. The Tuttosport poll, which is always a good gauge of feeling within the Juve nation, returned a resounding 90 percent “no” to signing the playmaker.

Another name being floated out there is Davide Santon, which would only encourage Inter to ask for Claudio Marchisio, who happens to earn less than Felipe Melo – so that's a deal that would come with plenty of strings attached.

Anyway, such matters will become clearer after Juve get through the next 12 games until the end of the campaign – and if things do not improve then it may not be a stern word or two but more like the hairdryer treatment next time they are called in front of the president.

Inter/Bayern match-up highlights problems facing the Italian game

2011-02-24T12:02:00Z

Four ties, three defeats, a draw, two goals for and five against make yet more dismal reading for Italians clubs in Europe.

It’s no wonder Thursday’s headlines were peppered with terms such as ‘flops’, ‘second-rate’ and ‘too poor to compete’.

La Gazzetta dello Sport summed up the general mood of doom and gloom when it comes to Serie A’s standing alongside the rest of the continent, by claiming: “We are no longer good enough to compete with the top teams in Europe”, before laying the blame on an inward looking mentality more concerned with avoiding defeat than attempting to win games.

Certainly the lack of goals adds some credence to this theory: Inter followed in the shallow footsteps of AC Milan and Napoli by failing to score at home - and only the latter avoided defeat in their first leg tie.

Inter, like their city neighbours, went down to a one goal defeat at the San Siro, and while AS Roma actually did manage to score twice, the three goals conceded to Shakhtar Donetsk leave all three Italian representatives having to play catch-up on the road in the Champions League.

Napoli could exit the Europa League this evening when they travel to Spain for their return leg against Villarreal, a place where no Italian club has ever won, although in this instance a score draw would do rather nicely - especially with Walter Mazzarri already focusing on the top of the table clash with Milan next Monday and ready to leave his regulars on the bench.

But another Italian defeat in Spain would seem the more likely outcome, especially when you take into account the Azzurri’s lack of away success in the group stages, where they drew against mediocre opposition and were well beaten by Liverpool.

Wednesday evening’s clash between Inter and Bayern Munich was not only a rematch of last year’s final, but also a tussle with representatives of the league now set to supersede Serie A as the third ranked in Europe behind England and Spain.

There was little difference between the two teams on the pitch, with Leonardo hindered by a lack of attacking options – Diego Milito was injured and Giampaolo Pazzini ineligible – which left Samuel Eto’o to take on the German defence single-handedly.

The San Siro was full to the third tier for once, and both sides kept plugging away looking for that vital goal which made for a vibrant encounter - although the Nerazzurri now look set to become another one season wonder when it comes to retaining the trophy.

Not that Inter successfully defending their crown would offer much succour to the domestic game, where stadiums lack even the most basic amenities and the commercial and merchandising sectors generally seem to consist of a trader flogging knock-off shirts outside the ground.

A comparison of Inter and Bayern’s balance-sheet shows the Bavarians in the black by nearly €3 million in 2010, compared to Massimo Moratti’s massive €69 million black hole.

While Bayern can point to a healthy profit of €31.2 million over the last five years, the Italian champions are left staring at losses of €609 million over the same period – no wonder Moratti has reined in his free spending transfer policy.

Inter can of course point to the fact that they do not own the San Siro, drawing just over €40 million in gate receipts compared to the €66 million Bayern pocket a year from matches at the Allianz Arena.

Television revenue accounts for 62 per cent of Inter’s revenue and only 26 per cent of Bayern’s, and with more Italian fans staying at home to watch their favourite team on the box, Serie A clubs are losing on average €100 million a year at the turnstiles.

Inadequate stadia and the perceived threat of violence are keeping families away - hence the commercial and promotional side has little hook to draw in the crowds – and everyone is feeling the pinch.

While you may be able to see fans in Inter shirts from New York to Beijing, the club’s overall marketing revenue is only €34.6 million a year, with Bayern enjoying a very healthy €159.7 million.

On-field success is still the top priority, but revenue needs to be drawn as evenly as possible from the three areas of match-day receipts, television and marketing.

At present there is an over-reliance on broadcast revenues and if Italy continues to be blinded by the bright lights of the big European evenings, the resulting diet of constant domestic football will eventually lose its appeal.

Can super-buff Pato and chums make the Berlusconi Era All-Star XI?

2011-02-22T13:20:00Z

Silvio Berlusconi had something to take his mind off all his other play things on Sunday, when he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his marriage to his one true love - AC Milan.

It was back on February 20th 1986 that he took over a then beleaguered club he had supported as a boy - and from there the good times rolled.

The Rossoneri threw off the shackles of catenaccio to play a pressure game which pinned the opposition back in their own half – and in doing so Milan would break out of the staid domestic game to conquer the world.

During Berlusconi’s time in charge, Milan have won five Champions League titles, seven Italian championships and three World Club Cups, so it was perhaps understandable that he felt it was his given-right to scribble his autograph on a specially commissioned commemorative shirt to honour the occasion when his team met Chievo at the weekend.

He also expected his league leaders to take all three points from their trip to Verona, even if the home side had not lost there since late September. They duly obliged, although not without a fair share of controversy - Robinho controlled Antonio Cassano’s cross with his arm before scoring the opener.

The other talking point was Alexandre Pato’s rapid transformation from puny youth to P90X work-out master. It looked as if he had been spending more time in the gym than out on the training pitch when he ripped off his shirt after scoring the winner to reveal his pecs and abs.

When viewed alongside his bum-fluffed boyface, the look was actually quite disturbing, but then one must be thankful that the annoying heart-shaped finger-gesture to the crowd is no longer part of his repertoire.

The victory, doubtless inspired by dear old Silvio, got us wondering how many of the current Milan side would make the Berlusconi Era All-Star XI? So here it is…

Goalkeeper

Sebastiano Rossi Holds the record of 11 consecutive Serie A clean sheets and was the man between the posts in the Invincibles' 58-game unbeaten streak between May 1991 and March 1993.

Defence

Mauro Tassotti Hard as nails with a velvet touch. Only Cafu comes close in terrorising opposition wingers and left-backs in equal measure.

Franco Baresi The blueprint for the modern defender and captain of the Immortals and Invincibles of the late 80s and early 90s. Made 719 appearances, won it all and the club retired his No.6 shirt as a mark of his legendary status. Grown men still weep at the mention of his name, not all of them strikers he once haunted.

Alessandro Nesta Graceful, elegant on the ball and never hurried into making a tackle thanks to his excellent positional scene, but with the steely resolve in the best traditions of Italian defenders.

Paolo Maldini Too cool, too sporting and too damn good-looking to be anything other than the greatest left-back of all time: Followed in dad Cesare’s footsteps from boy-wonder to hoisting the Champions League trophy - and of course they retired his No.3 shirt after a record 902 matches for the club.

Midfield

Roberto Donadoni Tricky dribbler and finisher who combined skill with work-rate first under Arrigo Sacchi and then for Fabio Capello’s Invincibles.

Andrea Pirlo Inspiration behind Milan’s most recent success in the Champions League under Carlo Ancelotti, and a player who considers giving the ball away a crime.

Frank Rijkaard Always in the right place at the right time, as he demonstrated with his winner in the European Cup final against Benfica in 1990 and then repeated the feat in the subsequent Intercontinental Cup against Olympica of Asuncion.

Forwards

Ruud Gullit Equally at home as sweeper or in attack, the Dutch star had the physical presence combined with the silky skills to unlock any defence: The dreadlocked Dionysus of Arrigo Sacchi Immortals.

Marco Van Basten The most complete striker of the modern era who scored spectacular goals coming at an astonishing average of one every one and a half games. Three-time Ballon’Or winner whose glittering career was cut short by injury at 30.

Andriy Shevchenko Fast and direct, the Ukrainian finished his first season in Italy as Serie A top goalscorer on 24 goals and took on legendary status after scoring the decisive penalty in the 2003 Champions League Final shoot-out against Juventus

Coach

Fabio Capello Learnt from the master Arrigo Sacchi and then turned the Immortals into the Invincibles, winning three consecutive Serie A titles between 1992 and 1994 as well as demolishing Johann Cruyff’s Barcelona 4-0 in the 1994 Champions Cup final.

Substitutes Nelson Dida, Marcos Cafu, Alessandro Costacurta, Ricky Kaka, Dejan Savicevic, Filippo Inzaghi.

Ranieri hopes to fire up stuttering Roma by jumping ship

2011-02-21T09:54:00Z

Roma as we know it does not exist anymore - either on or off the pitch. This was plain to see on Wednesday evening in a vacuous performance in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk – a team that had not played a competitive game for two months – and then again on Sunday as they allowed a three-goal lead to turn into a 4-3 defeat at Genoa.

There were underperforming players who know already that they would not be there next season, a coach who knew he was about to lose his dream job and a president who has no power left whatsoever and should already be gone.

Last Wednesday, Rosella Sensi cut an even more isolated figure than Claudio Ranieri as she sat puffing away in her favourite seat – and it wasn’t the blue haze of smoke wafting around the soon-to-be former owner that was sending those around her scurrying, rather the realisation that their meal ticket to the good seats was about to be discontinued.

The 3-2 defeat to the Ukrainian outfit was the prelude for the Curva Sud to demand the players march behind the goal so that the jeers and boos could really ring home – and not one player dared throw their shirt to the faithful as the shame of it being chucked back in their faces would surely have followed.

Leaderless, the players have been in open revolt and seemingly able to do whatever they want, as demonstrated by Marco Borriello who demonstrated his displeasure at being left on the bench in the Champions League tie by mouthing clearly for the cameras that he had “scored 25,000 goals” and that he should therefore be on the pitch.

Ranieri was in earshot but did little but remain stony still, staring no doubt into the abyss while all around the team crumbled to the ground - although he seemed oblivious to the fact.

“What crisis, I don’t see any crisis,” was his Nero-like take on the situation in the post-Shakhtar press conference - but after Sunday’s incredible events he knew the time for fiddling was over.

He had been left out in the cold at the club’s Trigoria training ground on Thursday as the players held their own meeting to see if they could at least muster some interest in the rest of the campaign.

Sensi had apparently demanded that the team be sent into the dreaded ‘ritiro’ where they would be locked up together 24-hours a day; but they refused point-blank which was further evidence that any sense of order within the club was absent.

Who is going to listen to someone who won’t be around for much longer? In reality the UniCredit bank are in control of club affairs until a new owner comes on board having taken on a debt-for-equity swap with the Sensi family to stave off bankruptcy.

The problem is that nobody seems willing to face up to reality and accept that it is all over: it should have been Sensi and her vapour trails of smoke heading out the door long before Ranieri became the scapegoat for failings further up the chain of command.

The Ultra community took things into their own hands in the most direct manner possible as the team prepared to depart for Genoa by lobbing smoke bombs and flares into the training ground before engaging in running battles with the forces of law and order. The coach carrying the team to the airport left with a escort of flashing lights and frayed nerves.

The players’ have been facing an uncertain future for some time now; John Arne Riise in particular seems bereft of all confidence in his own ability, as witnessed by the Norwegian losing his footing and the ball to enable Shakhtar to score their third goal on Wednesday evening.

The former Liverpool man looks a certain candidate for the exit door in the summer, as is Philippe Mexes, who is out of contract come June and didn’t even bother hanging around for the ritual post-game humiliation on Wednesday – before also going missing in the second half at the Luigi Ferraris stadium at the weekend.

The French defender, who has a stronger Roman accent than most of his team-mates, would in an ideal world like nothing better to stay in the Capital, but the new owners will be looking for a new start which of course brings up the thorny issue of what to do with Francesco Totti?

Keeping such a charismatic character as close as possible would seem to be the smart thing to do to ease them through their settling in period - and then over time allow age and the fading of the light to do the rest.

Beyond that, a ruthless streak is needed to rebuild the current ruins.

Timeline of Ranieri's departure

Sunday, February 20th

16.50 – AS Roma trudge off the pitch at Genoa after losing 4-3, having at one point lead 3-0.

17.00 – Gian Paolo Montali (a club consultant with the mandate of optimising the human resources for the sporting area) informs the media that the players and coach will not be speaking to the press and that a decision on the coach’s future will be made within 24 hours.

17.05 – Media abuzz with reports that Ranieri has resigned and has already told the players, wishing them the best for the rest of the season.

20.40 – The team lands at Rome’s Fiumicino airport and a briskly ferried to Trigoria, where a large police presence has already been deployed.

20.53 – Daniele De Rossi arrives at Trigoria having missed the match due to suspension.

20.55 – The club release official clarification that Ranieri has stepped down, with the lifelong Roma fan telling news agency ANSA: “I hope my decision fires up the team and I have always said that losing here hurts more for me than any other club.”

21.05 – Around 50 vocal fans gather in the rain outside Trigoria.

21.10 – Team bus arrives to a chorus of “mercenaries” with a few eggs, a bottle or two and a couple of oranges lobbed in its direction.

21.15 – The team bus carrying the Giovanissimi Nazionale (the under-15 side) arrives and on bound is their coach Vincenzo Montella who is favourite to take over from Ranieri. The former Giallorossi striker is greeted by cheers from the fans.

21.25 – Players are called into a meeting with club representatives.

21.35 – Sensi releases a statement that the club will make a decision on the new coach on Monday morning.

21.55 – Ranieri leaves Trigoria in his Smart car with police escort, who ignore the fact he is driving while chatting on his mobile phone.

22.15 – Players start leaving by a side gate, with Montella installed as the odds-on favourite to see the team through until the end of the season with Alberto De Rossi (Daniele’s father) as his assistant.

22.20 – Carlo Ancelotti installed has favourite to take over next season.

22.54 – Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, Marco Borriello, David Pizarro and Marco Cassetti meet in a restaurant near Trigoria for a late dinner.

Gattuso's Jordan spat reminds Milan of a past they'd rather forget

2011-02-16T12:17:00Z

One must wonder if Rino Gattuso is aware that AC Milan fans of a certain age hold Joe Jordan in high regard and with great affection, and therefore feel he should be shown respect and certainly not grabbed by the throat or head-butted under any circumstances.

The image of the pair coming together on the touchline offered the perfect link between the present side and a past all Rossoneri fans would rather see torn from the history books.

Back in the 1981/82 season, Jordan was running around upfront in a team that would end up relegated on the last day of the campaign in circumstances many with long memories still believe were rather fishy – with Milan winning at Cesena only for their direct rivals for the drop, Genoa, to score a late equaliser at Napoli.

Even making an immediate return to the top flight, thanks partly to Lo Squalo’s 10 Serie B goals, could not prevent a fallow period in the club’s history - until Silvio Berlusconi came along in 1986 to tear down the past and build a shiny new future.

Milan have come a long way since those dark days, currently sitting atop the Serie A table and looking likely to win the domestic title this season. But losing at home to the Premier League’s fourth side has suddenly left this feeling like that relegation season – pretty much pitiful.

Gattuso’s antics were a snapshot of exactly how Milan looked to approach a tie against a Tottenham side the Rossoneri backroom staff must surely have gauged were a compact team capable of breaking forward at pace.

Leaving aside the injuries to Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini, coupled with the ineligibility of Mark Van Bommel and Antonio Cassano, the defeat lies squarely at the feet of Massimiliano Allegri.

A small-time coach who is at home in his own back yard, but once ushered out into the big, bad world of European competition comes across as the novice he is; as witnessed by the timorous approach in Madrid in the group stage – now we can see why the club employed him: to keep the home fires burning.

Milan have now lost their last two home games in Europe – against Ajax and now Spurs – and they have also fallen to defeat at the San Siro to the major domestic rivals; Juventus and AS Roma, which backs any argument that Allegri is too provincial for such a grand club.

The tone was set on Monday when Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as usual, talked the big talk and made is crystal clear he expected to be joined upfront by Robinho – a player who had failed to make an impression in England – which reading between the lines meant he expected to see Alessandro Pato sitting on the bench.

Allegri duly obliged and the team was immediately shorn of something Spurs had in abundance – pace going forward – with Clarence Seedorf supposedly offering support behind the front two. The guile of the aging Dutch master and Ibra’s supposed hunger to leave his mark in Europe were meant to produce the goals the side needed to take to London for the return.

Instead, the move exposed a threadbare midfield three where Thiago Silva - whose very presence in defence alongside Alessandro Nesta usually ensures instant security - was once again drafted in alongside Gattuso and Mathieu Flamini.

The more established midfield duo’s failings are there for all to see: both are unable to move the ball quickly and precisely, with the Frenchman only at home using both feet when it comes to making two-footed lunges.

Behind that, for all Mario Yepes’ sterling efforts to score at the other end - which incidentally says a lot about the ineptitude of the attack - the Colombian looked completely out of his depth in the back four, while the full-backs Ignazio Abate and in particular Luca Antonini sank without trace, leaving Nesta to go down with the sinking ship.

It was not as if Spurs as a team created that much more than Milan, but as individuals within a team unit they seemed to have that much more quality and verve, which is very worrying not only for Milan but Italian football in general when it comes to keeping up with the neighbours around the continent.

At this rate, Serie A could one day become Europe’s fifth or sixth league, having already fallen behind England, Spain and Germany - with France and, if Ajax’s performance at the San Siro is anything to go by, Holland on the up.

What hope then for the second leg? Well, not much if Allegri refuses to change his tactical approach.

For a start, Thiago Silva has to return to his rightful position at the back, as not only can he bring the ball out of defence, the Brazilian has also the pace to offer some insurance when Milan need to force the issue by sending the full-backs further forward.

He must also look to jettison the three-man midfield and drop Seedorf back where, at least in theory; he can keep play ticking over. Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic really needs to prove he is indeed a team player and not ignore Pato, whose very purpose is to score goals.

Milan need goals but more than that, just as with their owner, they need to ensure their image and that of Italy is not tarnished any further.

Matri Juve's leading man but Cavani and Napoli still get star billing

2011-02-14T13:15:00Z

It was certainly a blockbuster weekend in Serie A, what with a historical epic, a coming of age tale, a feel-good flick, and a heist caper all hitting the screens.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is almost halfway through his five-year plan to take the club to the top of Serie A - and you would have to say that the movie mogul’s smash hit looks like being at the post production stage way ahead of schedule and under-budget.

He sees AS Roma as a benchmark for his own side’s progress, and after the resounding victory - not to mention an assured display - at the Olympic stadium on Saturday evening, the man who persuaded Robert De Niro to appear in one his Italian-produced rom-coms can no longer deny his football team star billing.

Napoli must now be considered viable co-stars to the Milanese pair. Edinson Cavani is vying with Zlatan Ibrahimovic for player of the year and the Uruguayan took his league goal-scoring tally to 20 with his brace in the capital. But what was most impressive about Napoli was the ruthlessness with which they attacked Roma’s soft defensive underbelly.

They also showed a bit of wiliness, knowing that the home side could easily be wound up, although there could be trouble ahead for the Neapolitans. Ezequiel Lavezzi could be in hot water after becoming involved in a spitting match with Giallorossi right-back Aleandro Rosi which was caught by television cameras.

Andrea Dossena could also have seen red for an elbow to Rodrigo Taddei’s face, however Walter Mazzarri promptly removed the former Liverpool man to ensure the home side were not offered a foothold back into the game.

Unfortunately for the Romans, that never really looked likely especially, with Claudio Ranieri losing his nerve and opting to start his most talented performer of late, Jeremy Menez, on the bench for the first half.

The Curva Sud were already voicing their annoyance at what they perceived to be a spineless approach from the coach long before Cavani scored his second from close-range.

The only positive that Roma’s potential American buyers would have taken from this game was the sight of the Stars and Stripes and a Roma fan dressed as the Statue of Liberty in the stands. The only noise at the final whistle came from the Napoli fans who celebrated a first win in Rome in 18 years, and one that kept up the pressure on league leaders Milan.

Antonio Cassano was blowing kisses to the San Siro crowd all evening after notching his first goal for the Rossoneri and setting up two in now customary fashion, although the fawning should perhaps wait until he downs more serious opponents than Parma.

It was day-light robbery down in Sicily, where Fiorentina ended a dismal away run which had seen them not win on the road since last March with a stirring comeback against Palermo. The Rosanero just cannot seem to wake up in time for early kick-offs – and this allowed the Viola to make off with all three points as they came from 2-1 down to win 4-2.

Sunday evening’s grandiose Derby d’Italia was crying out for a leading man, and Juventus found him in Alessandro Matri, who scored the only goal to take down an under-par Inter side who didn’t really click into geat until it was too late.

The former Milan player has always been considered too damn handsome for his own good and as something of a play-boy and is rarely seen without the footballer’s must-have accessory – the velina – a dancer from Italy’s favourite satirical TV show Striscia La Notizia.

There had been major doubts as to whether Matri could make the desired impact at Juve, given he is already at the grand old age of 26 and was forced to circle the lower division block before finding his goalscoring touch at Cagliari.

Early indications suggest that maybe he does mean business, although he still tried to wimp off late on clutching his rib cage only for Luigi Delneri to remind him that all three substitutions had been made and that he would just have to grin and bear it.

To his credit he did battle on, although he avoided the group hug in the centre of the pitch at the final whistle well aware that, on the eve of San Valentino, he was already a special someone.

Delneri to adopt cautious approach as Juve look to smother Inter

2011-02-11T13:13:00Z

Inter’s last match was everything any football fan would want from ninety minutes - so savour it in the pleasure centre of your brain, because this weekend’s encounter with Juventus is set to be rather more mind-numbing.

It is not that the grandly-titled il Derby d’Italia (The Derby of Italy) will lack feeling and passion - it just won’t touch the same heights of ecstasy the eight-goal treat between the Nerazzurri and AS Roma conjured up.

Always billed as the game of the season and the only match that the whole of Italy takes notice of, it is of course a manufactured derby; much like il Derby del Sol (the Derby of the Sun) between AS Roma and Napoli, il Derby del Sud (The Derby of the South) Napoli-Palermo or il Derby delle Isole (The Derby of the Islands - Sicily and Sardinia).

Il Derby del Sol also happens to take place this weekend and will probably be more aesthetically pleasing than the rumble in Turin.

Of course, there is history between Inter and Juventus going way back into the depths of time. But while there is nothing more satisfying than turning over old rivals, there is also nothing more feared than defeat - as the bore-draw at the San Siro earlier in the season demonstrated.

Whenever this game fails to live up to its billing everyone blames the tension that’s stirred during the build-up, and since Juve returned to the top flight it has been the spectre of Calciopoli that has hung most heavily over the fixture like the northern mists that will doubtless shroud the Olympic stadium on Sunday evening.

The ruling Agnelli and Moratti families have long been feuding like the Capulets and Montagues and there is little sign of a truce, even with San Valentino falling on Monday – but we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Massimo Moratti started the week in uppity fashion by claiming the championship had been a complete farce until 2006 - comments sure to have left the Old Lady smarting. But barbed comments have become as big a part of the pre-match build-up as tactical analysis.

Juventus will have a much better chance of beating Inter if Luigi Delneri continues to loosen the tactical straitjacket and allow his team more freedom to take the game to the opposition. The coach played three in attack at Cagliari and came away with a win – only their second in eight games, the other coming against doomed Bari.

However, it looks like it will be back into the padded cell of four in midfield and two upfront. Delneri has had a look at both 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formations in training in recent days and it seems as though he will attempt to smoother the play rather than spread it wide.

Of course, the revamped visitors need to be shown a certain amount of respect, but Udinese had little time for such niceties three weeks ago as they took the game to the Inter with flair and finesse, earning themselves a timely 3-1 victory over the European and Italian champions. So the Bianconeri of Piemonte understands how a defence can be torn apart: injecting some urgency and courage to take the ball deep into the opposition half.

Here lies the problem if Delneri reverts to four midfielders strung across the pitch. While Krasic - should he be able to muster the pluck to take on Javier Zanetti down the Juve right - will at least get to the by-line and attempt to get the ball into the box, even if the Serbian’s final cross lets him down at times, on the left flank it’s an altogether different matter.

Claudio Marchisio is neither a natural wide player, or for that matter left-footed, and cannot by the very nature of his game provide decent service to the middle. Simone Pepe is back in training and if the little livewire is available then he would be a better option in that position.

As a result chances for Juventus may well be at a premium, and with Leonardo’s side having much more flair going forward, perhaps a cautious approach is the right one for the Old Lady after all.

Mourinho's golden bench and Cassano's latest 'last chance'

2011-02-09T11:26:00Z

With the week’s international friendlies taking a large number of Serie A stars off on their travels, the coaches gathered at Coverciano on Monday for a technical meeting and to award the Panchina d'Oro (Golden Bench) for the coach of the year.

The award went to Jose Mourinho, who was snubbed last time round in favour of Massimiliano Allegri - but with the Portuguese (and his ego) now safely out of the country – and a treble winner - he is at last being given some credit by his former peers in Italy.

The day also offered an opportunity to swap ideas and listen to the latest musings on the game. The Italy squad were also at the Federation headquarters preparing for their match against Germany - so the coaches could keep an eye on their charges if they wished.

The majority of Italy players are as pious as cardinals when on Azzurri duty, but there is always the odd one or two who will use the occasion to break with club protocol - hence Allegri dropped in on Antonio Cassano to ensure that his recent signing was sticking to his diet.

There were no reports of the AC Milan coach finding empty jars of Nutella on the windowsill or chocolate wrappers hidden under the player’s mattress, but no doubt the portly Bari boy will be on the scales when he returns to Milanello on Thursday - just to be sure.

The pair had a quick word or two at the café inside the complex, where the player swore that lunch had been nothing more exciting than chicken before lifting his training top and tucking in his tummy - as if that was going to fool anyone.

Cassano arrived at Milan at the turn of the year looking well fed after being exiled from the Sampdoria squad for reportedly swearing in a different manner at club president Riccardo Garrone.

And for someone more in love with self-indulgence than self-discipline, Cassano has found it difficult to shed the excess baggage: in fact, he has made the latter-day Ronaldinho look almost svelte in comparison.

"ROOM SERVICE!"

Even the much-vaunted MilanLab have not been able to put any spin on Tony’s weight-gain plan - which is no surprise considering he has revealed that when he retires he plans to get fat, really fat.

There is no denying the skill and tricky are still there, but the initial thrill of seeing Cassano waddle on as a second-half substitute to set-up a goal or two has worn off somewhat amongst the Rossoneri faithful, who have now witnessed the league leaders draw their last two games in a worryingly collective wobble of their own.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted he is beginning to feel the strain of being the first name on the team-sheet and the Swede certainly has not been as sharp or clinical in front of goal in the last two games; spending more time growling at his team-mates than roaring past defenders.

A little R&R would no doubt not go amiss, but that seems unlikely - not with Cassano unable to last the pace and Allegri seemingly not yet having enough faith in Alexandre Pato to allow him to lead the line, despite the Brazilian netting a more than an adequate nine goals in 14 league appearances.

Cassano will at least have a opportunity to sweat off a few pounds in Dortmund, scene of that never to be forgotten World Cup semi-final in 2006, where Cesare Prandelli will hand him yet another ‘last chance’ – let’s hope he still has the appetite to take it this time round.

More hungry to leave his mark at international level is another descendant of the Italian Diaspora, Thiago Motta who will make his debut this evening.

The Inter midfielder has felt the tug of the old country on his heart strings for some time – his great grandfather emigrated from the Veneto region for South America when he was in his early 20s – which at the time you would have to say was not a bad move.

It seems that for now Prandelli has given up attempting to groom home-grown talent for the central midfield role alongside Daniele De Rossi, with Italo-Argentine Cristian Ledesma another of the ‘new Italians’ to don the Azurri jersey.

It may not have gone down too well with the tifosi, but if these homecoming sons - as with Mauro Cameronesi in the past – help lift the national side out of the doldrums, then boos will soon turn to cheers. And as Cassano will almost certainly testify, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

San Siro witnesses a Serie A classic as Inter continue to improve

2011-02-07T13:33:00Z

If Carlsberg broadcast Serie A matches they would show Inter - Roma every week.

Sunday evening’s goal-fest at the San Siro was a perfect advert for the Italian game, and will be remembered as a bona-fide classic.

The teams shared eight goals – although in truth it could easily have double figures – and a red card as Inter pulled themselves back into the title race, just five points behind leaders AC Milan with a game in hand.

The home side scored five in what was a five-star performance all round - if Roma’s potential starred and striped savours were watching from Boston then they too should be rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of becoming part of the show.

Everyone wanted to get involved, from the referee - who was as much at the centre of the action as the players - to the fans, who started waving the white handkerchiefs in an Italian version of the pañolada after Houssine Kharja was booked just before the break.

Certainly the crowd reaction was more in keeping with a La Liga match – while the apparent lack of tactical planning bar ‘get the ball forward as quickly as possible’ was pure Premier League.

There was so much to enjoy that it is difficult to know where to begin: Douglas Maicon’s drag-back inside his own area when surrounded by opposition players springs to mind. Or Wesley Sneijder, finally recovered from injury and illness, hitting a stunning opener to set the tone for the evening. Or perhaps Jeremy Menez refusing to stand in the shadow of Eto’o and Vucinic, with a couple of mazy runs that cut a swathe through the opposition ranks.

Then, there was the man well versed in attacking football of the Spanish variety, Eto’o - who just edged Vucinic for man of the match. The former Barcelona striker grabbed two goals and could easily have had four although he was helped by the visitor’s weak link, goalkeeper Julio Sergio who failed to hold anything aimed at his hands.

At the other end, however, Julio Cesar was in inspired form - making three crucial saves in one Roma attack at the start of the second half when the game was still evenly poised.

Attacking football has always come easily to both of these sides and in general the gold standard is that there are very few dull games at the San Siro, but the difference between the teams was in terms of strength and depth.

Leonardo had been presented with four reinforcements in the winter transfer market while Claudio Ranieri had been left to stare into an empty transfer kitty – and he must wonder if the Americans do decide to invest then he may not be there to enjoy the benefits.

When Roma can field there preferred starting XI, which means Francesco Totti down the pecking-order, then they are a match for anyone. However the centre of defence will always be a worry, despite the heroic efforts of Juan and to a certain extent Daniele De Rossi in front of the back four. Against Inter, Nicolas Burdisso was easily dragged out of position and then lured into a foul on Giampaolo Pazzini, which lead to his subsequent sending-off.

If things are not going according to plan for Inter, they can always give the ball to Eto’o to speed off down either flank, but Thiago Motta has become a very assured operator in the withdrawn role in midfield which enables Esteban Cambiasso to play in a more advanced role.

There is still a long way to go in the title race and if we get a few more champagne calcio evenings such as this, who needs the beer?

Milan run into a brick wall as Roma and Juve blame the refs

2011-02-03T16:21:00Z

The last round of midweek games of this season was all about bruised egos and bloodied noses.

AC Milan were the first team to run into a brick wall on Tuesday - or more precisely a very robust Lazio side whose beanpole striker Libor Kozàk dispatched Daniele Bonera and Nicola Legrottaglie to hospital, having rearranged both central defenders’ facial features (see the below video for his crack at Legrottaglie).

Lazio coach Edy Reja had obviously watched a re-run of AS Roma’s win at the San Siro against the leaders at the end of the year, and it was another Roman rearguard action without the subtleties going forward demonstrated by the Giallorossi.

The goalless scoreline and the carnage inflicted by Kozàk’s flailing limbs had the chasing pack smelling blood when all but one of the remaining fixtures took place 24 hours later.

Of course, when chucked this bone, Napoli and AS Roma sniffed at it, turned tails and scarpered off in the opposite direction. Were they not hungry enough for the big prize against, in all honesty, less intimidating opponents than Lazio’s heavies?

Napoli could have closed the gap at the top to just two points with a win at Chievo, but found themselves two-nil down ten minutes into the second half and staring despondently into the misty northern Italian night.

Once again the Neapolitans suffered a nose bleed north of Tuscany and while the Flying Donkeys have become something of a bête noir, having won at the San Paolo as well this season, AS Roma must be equally sick of the sight of Brescia.

Having lost at the Rigamonti where the Romans cited - surprise, surprise - refereeing bias, one would have thought the sweet scent of revenge would be in the air in the Capital, but instead it seemed Claudio Ranieri had been dishing out calamine tea instead of raw meat during his pre-match pep-talk.

No matter who the opposition – in this case the second-bottom side in the league who had lost nine of their last 12 games, just sacked coach Mario Beretta and brought back Giuseppe Iachini who had been shown the door in December – if you don’t actually create any decent openings going forward, you can’t expect to have much joy.

Brescia’s tactic was simple enough – pack the midfield and play one-man upfront. Roma responded by bulldozing down the congested centre of the pitch or disappearing into cul-de-sacs along the touchline.

Only the introduction of Jeremy Menez and Mirko Vucinic - the latter finally awakening from his evening nap - produced anything approaching the flair and verve we have come to expect at the Olympic stadium.

In the end it was all too sloppy and, having equalised, the visitors could have grabbed a winner in added-time when Davide Lanzafame hit the bar.

Juventus must feel like hitting themselves over the head just to make sure they are not living a never-ending nightmare - one in which they are falling off a cliff only to wake up in a cold sweat having plummeted to the bedroom floor.

The Vecchia Signora are thus in freefall: two-down in twenty minutes at Palermo and only the denial of a stonewall penalty when Cesare Bovo handled could jolt Juve out of their slumber, with Claudio Marchisio scoring soon afterwards to raise some hope of a comeback.

Unfortunately, Alessandro Matri fluffed his lines not once, but twice as the new signing caught Amauritus - missing exactly the kind of chances you pay good money for your principle striker to tuck away.

Now out of the running for a European place completely and with little to clutch on to, the club have resorted to a familiar defence – ‘Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me.’

Juve still believe they are paying for the shady deeds of the recent past, and referees - they seem to be claiming - are at the head of a much-wider witch-hunt. They have therefore demanded the suspension of Wednesday’s official Emidio Morganti, who Gigi Del Neri claimed was ‘in no fit state to referee.’

One solitary victory in the last seven league games suggests perhaps someone isn’t fit to coach.

Overall, it was one step forward, two steps back in the title chase and we all know whose corner we would like to be in at the moment – Inter can go joint third with a win at bottom side Bari this evening.

Serie A's big guns rush to beat the transfer deadline

2011-02-01T16:43:00Z

The transfer window closed with a late rush on the market as clubs throughout Serie A jostled to find the missing ingredient that will make the second half of the season that little more tasty.

Juventus turned to Alessandro Matri, Inter rubbed Rafa Benitez’s nose in it again, bringing in their fourth signing: Yuto Nagatomo, Napoli brought Giuseppe Mascara back home and AC Milan could not resist opening the gates of their country club to Nicola Legrottaglie.

The summer may have belonged to Milan with the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho but the winter has become Massimo Morrati’s playground, despite Silvio Berlusconi’s capture of Antonio Cassano, Mark Van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson and left-back Didac Vilà from Espanyol.

Giampaolo Pazzini was an instant hit for the Nerazzurri at the weekend, and the striker’s arrival takes the pressure of Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito. Another new signing, Houssine Kharja, will ease the problems in midfield where Wesley Sneijder, Dejan Stankovic and Esteban Cambiasso have all been injured at various times this season.

The third new signing, or in fact the first arrival at the turn of January, Andrea Ranocchia, is ensured even more game time with Lucio now out injured for at least a month.

And that seemed to be the end of business for the defending champions until Davide Santon’s limp performance against Palermo persuaded the club’s hierarchy that Yuto Nagatomo was a better option for cover at left-back.

Cesena were immediately informed that the Japan international, fresh from winning the Asian Cup under Alberto Zaccheroni, would be spending the rest of the season on loan in Milan to leave the player who was once hyped as the new Maldini in a relegation dogfight.

It could have been worse – he could have been Sulley Muntari, returning to England and Sunderland, or Nelson Rivas, who is off to Ukraine to Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

Most of the Juventus side perhaps should have been exiled to the footballing equivalent of the salt mines for a dose of hard labour, but in the end the club could only force Amauri into exile at Parma.

Transfer chief Beppe Marotta is finding out the hard way that the Juve name does not carry as much weight as it did under Lucky Luciano Moggi, hence the signings of Pazzini and even Alejandro Dominguez of Valencia never materialised.

Instead, a last-minute search for fire-power produced a frantic call to Cagliari where Alessandro Matri was waiting with his bags packed. Hopefully, the one-time Milan youth player has broad shoulders because he will be expected to carry the attack where goals have been as rare as a cheery crowd at the Olympic stadium in Turin.

An initial outlay of €2.5million with an option to add a further €15 million to make the deal permanent at the end of the season does not seem too much of a gamble on a player who has scored 11 league goals so far this season, which needless to say sits very favourably with what has gone before – Amauri having last found the net in the league back in October 2009.

In fact, Giorgio Chiellini has scored more goals over than period than the Brazilian who apparently had recently taken to hiding behind a mask such was his shame.

Napoli pulled off something of a coup by signing Victor Ruiz from Espanyol. The central defender was reportedly an Inter target and strengthens the weakest area in Walter Mazzarri’s side while Mascara will add cover as the poor-man’s Ezequiel Lavezzi.

So with the Roman clubs without a cent between them and in truth Lazio and AS Roma need to trim their squads rather than add to them, once again it was the Milanese giants that landed the best winter deals.

Inter go Pazzini crazy as Van Bommel starts as he means to go on

2011-01-31T15:47:00Z

As debuts go you cannot get much better than scoring two goals and winning a penalty to fire your new club to a comeback victory - so take a bow Giampaolo Pazzini.

Inter were trailing two-nil at home to Palermo at the break, so there was little for Leonardo to do but return to his coaching roots: take off a full-back for a midfielder and throw three upfront, with Pazzini replacing the support-striker Coutinho.

‘Pazza Inter’ (Inter Crazy) is the official club song, so of course the first syllable of the new man’s surname was ready to hit the newsstands on Monday morning: 'Inter Pazzesca' (Inter go crazy) trumpeted La Gazzetta dello Sport with the rest of the dailies duly following suit with their own variant on the theme.

It has been a rare sight indeed to see a new signing in an Inter shirt, but all of a sudden new coach Leonardo has been handed a trio of them: the aforementioned Pazzini, Andrea Rannocchia and Houssine Kharja who both arrived from Genoa.

Rafa Benitez had pleaded in vain for the same number of new arrivals and having been rebuffed, such recent transfer activity suggests that nothing in the world of Massimo Moratti and that included a World Championship was going to save the Spaniard.

Moratti kept claiming that there was no money to spend and that the squad was fine the way it was, but the €12 million plus Jonathan Biabiany to Sampdoria - and depending on what value you put on the French winger that amount comes to €12.5m or €24m – is the bargain of the transfer window.

And not just that – he is Italian (hooray), has an annoying goal celebration (boo), is only 26. He has also scored over 100 goals during a career that has taken him from Atalanta - where he burst on to the scene with Riccardo Montolivo, to Fiorentina - where the pair continued their partnership, and most recently Sampdoria - where he formed a prolific partnership with Antonio Cassano.

Wearing the number seven shirt, last seen on Ricardo Quaresma but more productively on Luis Figo, Pazzo bounded on to the pitch along with the other last-minute arrival from the city of Genoa, Kharja, to lead the cavalry charge on the Palermo goal.

As script-writing goes it was all pretty predictable: the new signings combined to get their team back into the game, the opposition missed a penalty. The new striker scored his second. And then the leading man, in this case Samuel Eto’o, sealed the victory from a spot-kick after the new boy had been fouled as he ran on to a ball from the other new man - and so on and so on. Oh yes, and the returning goalkeeper made a stunning save with his foot to deny a late equaliser.

Breathless entertainment indeed, and matches like this only strengthen Leonardo’s position – who needs Jose Mourinho’s pouting mug staring from the sidelines as his team grind out results when dashing Leo’s men can demonstrate the same heart but throw in a bit of fun as well?

The result ensured that the defending champions did not fall any further off the pace set by AC Milan, who crafted a routine win at Catania despite having Mark Van Bommel sent off on his league debut.

At this rate the Dutchman will spend more time in the stands than on the pitch during his five month stay at the Rossoneri.

The midfielder picked up two yellow cards for what he believed were no more than routine fouls and despite being something of robust tackler the competitive midfielder was only ever sent off four times in the Bundesliga.

He will to learn quickly that Serie A referees allow no room for leeway when it comes to a late challenge regardless of its intent. Alexis Sanchez also suffered the same fate at Juventus on Sunday evening but by then the Chilean had dispatched the home side to another dispiriting defeat – but trying to sort the Old Lady out would drive anyone mad so we will leave the day to Crazy Heart Pazzini.

Old Lady kisses goodbye to her season as cup goes into hibernation

2011-01-28T11:02:00Z

It has been a busy week, what with the Italian Cup attempting to sneak under the radar once again, AC Milan going Dutch on the transfer front and Adrian Mutu promising for the umpteenth time that he will be a good boy.

It's not as if the Coppa Italia is losing its appeal – there's never any interest amongst clubs and fans alike until the semi-finals at least – but in the last few seasons the Football Federation (FIGC) has attempted to revamp the competition.

The much maligned two-legged encounters were jettisoned until the semi-final stage, and the final became a one-off with a permanent home in Rome.

However, with midweek rounds in the league, Champions League and Europa League ties and internationals to fit in, there's little room in the fixture calendar for Cup games so they have to be shoe-horned into the dead time in January.

We've had two rounds in the last two weeks – the last 16 and quarter-finals – leaving a black hole in the memory bank until April, when we will be reminded that the semi-finals will take place.

These January stages can become glorified a kick-around for Serie A benchwarmers in front of sparsely-populated crowds for afternoon or late-evening mid-winter kick-offs.

However, the FIGC has latched on to the fact there is a worldwide television audience out there and even if there is little interest at home, the armchair fans in Asia, in particular, are all for watching the likes of Inter, Juventus and Milan, while Napoli, Palermo and Roma have major fanbases in the Americas.

In fact, only the absence of Lazio – dumped out by Roma last week – made the quarter-finals a clean sweep of the league's current top eight teams: interlopers Parma were dispatched by Palermo after penalty-kicks which seemed to be the only point of their appearance in Sicily on Tuesday evening.

There were few takers - with people having jobs, families and suchlike - for the Sampdoria-Milan matinee show to heckle the pantomime villain Antonio Cassano on his return to the Marassi stadium – and anyway it was such a low-key affair that the home side didn’t wake up until midway through the second half, when Alexandre Pato had already scored twice for the visitors.

The occasion, if you call it that, did give Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri a chance to blood his two new arrivals, Mark van Bommel and Urby Emanuelson: the Dutch pair must have wondered if a friendly had been specially arranged for their benefit.

They ran around a bit, passed the ball, and Van Bommel made his obligatory lunge at an opponent, but what is the point of this pair? OK, they arrived on free transfers, and Van Bommel is represented by Italian-born Dutch agent Mino Raiola (who also brokered Zlatan Ibrahimovic's moves in and out of Milan), but what return do you get from a 33-year-old midfielder and a 24-year-old who is fundamentally no more or less talented than many home-grown players?

No wonder Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is lamenting a dearth of potential internationals when the major clubs refuse to invest in Italians, but decide on the low-cost option from abroad.

Milan had expressed an interest in signing Domenico Criscito before the close of the January sales but not if Genoa are demanding something like, heaven forbid, cash: €12m, although €8m and a couple of youth players would probably seal the deal.

Instead, it seems that Adriano Galliani will turn once more to foreign shores and Espanyol left-back Rossello Didac Vila – coincidentally, another Raiola client – who will cost a mere €3m.

At least Inter seem to be putting some faith in a future Azzurri, Andrea Ranocchia (and have now signed another Italian in Giampaolo Pazzini), but we will wait and see how long that lasts.

Centre-back Ranocchia started in what semed to be the pick of the cup ties at Napoli, but in truth we could have skipped 80 minutes and tagged the other 10 minutes on to extra-time. It was well past most people’s bed-time before the penalty shootout ended with holders Inter through.

Juventus could have played all night against Roma and never scored. The Old Lady can just about kiss goodbye to her season after losing 2-0 at home to the Giallorossi, who never really had to get out of first gear and of course have what the Turin side do not: a quality striker in Mirko Vucinic.

So we can wave farewell to the cup until the more mellow days of spring. Which brings us on to someone looking to soften his turbulent life: bad boy Adrian Mutu, who has been lying low ever since storming out of training when Fiorentina decided that he could'nt pick up all his toys and flounce off to Cesena.
In his defence, the evidence suggests Romanian may not have been thinking clearly as he processed the information coming from his agent Victor Becali, considering that Cesena look destined for an immediate return to Serie B.

Having parted ways with Becali, angry Adrian called a press conference to apologise and pleaded for another chance in the Renaissance city. No doubt he was sincere in his intentions to toe the line, but the only people who need to believe him are the club.

President Andrea Della Valle seems to have bought it when he called Mutu’s apology “lovely” - and no doubt the wayward talent will be back in a Viola shirt if not this weekend then in time for the following midweek round. The whole saga is a bit like the Italian Cup – long-winded and very predictable.

Juve unlikely to window shop, leaving Delneri to look for a Plan B

2011-01-26T11:59:00Z

Juventus continue to paper over the cracks of their rebuilding programme – and we are not talking about the new stadium, which by all accounts will look amazing and put those who are meant to be performing there to shame.

Being nine points off leaders AC Milan is one thing, but being in a real scrap to qualify for the Champions League - the target set out by the club at the start of the season - is quite another.

Currently, Luigi Delneri’s side are joint-fifth with Inter and two points off fourth-placed Lazio. But with the defending champions rediscovering their form under new boss Leonardo, and Palermo and Udinese - both in the chasing pack - looking particularly impressive, Juventus are likely to have to battle hard to even qualify for the Europa League.

Investment in the first team squad is required, and President Andrea Agnelli’s new regime are at risk of deluding themselves that the current squad will be strong enough to be playing Champions League football in the new stadium some time in the near future.

The UEFA financial fair play regulations are playing their part, or so the club claims, but wasn’t this “project” to restructure the whole organisation on and off the pitch meant to have started back in 2006?

There have been some false starts along the way and patience even amongst the most fervent Juve follower is beginning to wear thin. There are only a few days left in the January transfer window, but there are still gaping holes right through the squad.

And yet it seems the only arrival will be defender Andrea Barzagli from Wolfsburg – another hero of Berlin ’06 to reminisce about the glory days with Luca Toni, Fabio Grosso, Alex Del Piero and Gigi Buffon.

Barzagli (left) looks likely to be Juve's sole winter purchase

Cover in the centre of defence should probably have been one of Juve’s lowest priorities, with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini on the whole remaining free of injuries and slowly developing a partnership that will bear dividends in the future.

That stability has been sadly lacking in the full-back positions: Armand Traorè limped into the club from Arsenal and after just three starts, the left-back set the record for quickest ever substitution in Italian football on Sunday when he pulled a thigh muscle 52 seconds into the stalemate at Sampdoria.

This is of little significance when compared to the problems in attack, where needless to say a goalscorer will always make the difference – and that is something Juve just do not possess.

AC Milan have Zlatan Ibrahimovic on 12 goals and despite his own injury problems Alexandre Pato has netted eight so far, Napoli’s Edinson Cavani is on 14, Samuel Eto’o has 12 for Inter and AS Roma’s Marco Borriello who turned down a switch to Turin in the summer, is on nine goals.

Antonio Di Natale also snubbed the Old Lady and is currently leading the goalscoring charts at Udinese on 15 goals.

Fabio Quagliarella had found the net nine times until his season was ended and the key to finding a decent replacement came down to whether the club could sufficiently cash in on Amauri and Mohamed Sissoko.

The former has rarely hit the high notes since his arrival in Turin from Palermo and there have been no takers for the Brazilian-born Italian national, perhaps unsurprising given he has also had his fair share of injury problems. The same goes for Sissoko who has been punted to clubs in France and Germany only to be rebuffed at every turn.

The names of Luis Fabiano, Diego Forlan and even Klaas Jan Huntelaar have been bandied about but if no one moves on then, as Juve transfer chief Beppe Marotta lamented: “What can be done?”

There just isn’t €10 to €12 million in the transfer kitty so Delneri will have to make do with whatever he can scrape together from the fit players currently at the club for what is likely to be a testing month ahead. This could be as good a time as any for the coach to start thinking outside the box somewhat and jettison his rigid ’four in the middle and two up top’ approach.

With Milos Krasic being run into the ground having not had a break for over a year after playing for CSKA Moscow through August immediately after the World Cup, perhaps now might be time to rest the Serbian. Jorge Martinez could actually be fit again and could be brought in on the right side of a two in support of a lone striker, be it Amauri, Toni or another injury victim Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Simone Pepe has provided one of the rare positive notes of late and should continue on the left flank; behind those three there is room for a solid three of Alberto Aquilani, Felipe Melo (or Sissoko if the Brazilian cannot stay on the pitch) and Claudio Marchisio who would feel more at home in a narrow midfield role.

Next up on Thursday are AS Roma in the Italian Cup followed by in-form Udinese on Sunday, a midweek trip to Palermo and then a visit to Cagliari before Inter arrive at the Olympic stadium. It is crucial Juve get their act together over these coming weeks if they are to salvage something from this season.

Udinese's diminutive odd couple keep tying the giants in knots

2011-01-24T13:03:00Z

Small, fast, skilful, elusive: Udinese forwards Antonio Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez are the odd couple of Serie A, as no other side in the top flight play with a diminutive front-two who possess such exquisite technical qualities.

Di Natale and Sanchez both stand around 5ft8 in their sock feet and like nothing better than a tight turn before accelerating away with the ball to play quick-one-twos in and around the area – they’re both also deadly from long range; be it from open play or dead-ball situations.

Di Natale was at it again on Sunday with a wonderful strike from a free-kick putting the flying Friuli ahead in what was a high-tempo 3-1 home rout of Inter – a result which put the brakes on the newfound momentum the Nerazzurri had found under coach Leonardo.

The defending champions should have expected as much; Francesco Guidolin’s men had already put four past AC Milan at the San Siro two weeks ago, - although they also conceded the same amount that night - and then hit four again last weekend at Genoa, this time running out 4-2 winners.

Di Natale is topping the goalscoring charts once again on 15 goals, only two of which have come from the penalty spot, having been crowned Capocannoniere as Serie A top scorer last year when he netted 29 goals in total.

The tactic of playing two smaller frontmen would seem to have its limitations but the astute Guidolin changed the system during the comeback win over Fiorentina in December: no sitting back, no more high balls but quick, decisive passing – and the switch paid dividends.

Since then the Bianconeri have suffered just one defeat, which happened to come in the game after Fiorentina, at Lazio when most of the starting XI plus subsequent substitutes all took it in turn to miss a hatful of chances.

The change in approach also called time on Antonio Floro Flores reclaiming a starting place and it was no surprise that the third wheel moved on to Genoa last week rather than sit on the bench.

Of course, the glory is not down to the pocket-sized front-two alone, but a midfield five that ensures constant service. The tactic is simple enough: win the ball back and then get it forward as quickly as possible to catch the opposition off-guard.

The tall and imposing Gokhan Inler is the lynchpin in the middle flanked by the equally robust Giampiero Pinzi and Kwadwo Asamoah but there are two other vertically-challenged performers in Mauricio Isla and Pablo Armero who race up and down the flanks, providing a constant outlet – it is an non-stop intensity and fitness allied to skill that is almost like watching Barcelona at times – well the closest an Italian club can get to the Catalans.

There is also a team ethic that binds, but the Bianconeri will have to enjoy it while they can. For a start the Di Natale and Sanchez partnership may soon come to an end: the Italian is 33 while the Chilean is just 22-years-old and.

Born outside Naples, Di Natale has never found the need to move to a bigger club – having been linked with AS Roma and Napoli in the past and in the summer demonstrated his loyalty to the unfashionable north-east by turning down a switch to Juventus.

Having spent eight years in the backwater of Empoli he found out long ago that the grass is not always greener having been a nearly-man for Italy as a succession of coaches felt he did not possess the glamour to play on the international stage – by South Africa it was too late and even then he was given a bit-part by Marcello Lippi.

It is days such as yesterday that Totò dreams off: feeling appreciated among the down to earth citizens who visit the Friuli stadium and repaying that sentiment with some sublime performances – hat-tricks against Lecce and Napoli in consecutive home games this season spring to mind.

Di Natale may have found his home but El Ninho Maravilla - as Sanchez is known – is only starting out on his long road in the game. He has learnt from the old maestro although the young Chilean will not remain in one place for much longer and the top sides throughout Europe have been eyeing the South American.

He created a buzz at the World Cup finals so it is not as if he is a completely unknown quality and has already hit a couple of stunning goals this season, the pick of which coming at Bari.

Udinese president Gianpaolo Pozzi has slapped a 30million Euro price-tag from which Massimo Moratti shied away at the turn of the year but may well have to reconsider tabling a bid in that ball-park or miss out on what his aging Inter side needs: youth and talent in one bundle.

The signs are that the Di Sanchez will remain until the end of the season which on current form should see Udinese back in Europe - so for now we can all enjoy the odd couple who have so much in common as they cut the giants down to size.

Milan cannot afford to continue isolating 'out of sorts' Pato

2011-01-20T11:39:00Z

AC Milan surely couldn’t be losing that loving feeling for the Boys from Brazil, could they?

In the summer, Leonardo gave up having to bow to Silvio Berlusconi and the writing was then on the wall for Ronaldinho, who recently slipped back home leaving the corridors of Milanello no longer echoing to the Samba beat.

Thiago Silva, Robinho and Alexandre Pato are still there of course, but the latter is now feeling something of the cold shoulder from the new coaching regime.

Massimiliano Allegri has brought a more pragmatic approach after Leonardo had previously paid a romantic homage to the Brazil World Cup side of ’82 by occasionally playing four up front.

With Antonio Cassano arriving to reinforce the Italian contingent, Zlatan Ibrahimovic ploughing his own path on and off the pitch and Robinho coming to grips with life in a new league, Pato has been given the distinct feeling that he is becoming the odd man out.

He probably won’t end up like Dinho, disappearing inside a giant snood like an old woman waiting for a bus that’s just never going to come, but since the turn of the year it has been made clear to the 21-year-old that now is the time to start imposing himself on matches.

When Berlusconi met the players to give out his New Year pep talk ahead of the league game at Cagliari, he went round the gathered audience picking out faces and making a comment or two about each and when he got to 'the Duck' his opening line was 'stop getting injured'.

It wasn’t the most ringing endorsement and not the first thing that a player wants his boss to think when he claps eyes on him. Injuries, after all, are part and parcel of the game, and Pato’s set-backs have generally been minor niggles rather than season-wrecking ailments, such as those that have plagued Fabio Quagliarella, Walter Samuel or even Filippo Inzaghi’s five month lay-off.

Rino Gattuso then had a go at him as they walked off at half-time at Lecce on Sunday, lementing what the combative midfielder felt was a lack of effort from his team-mate; at least Pato answered in kind and Clarence Seedorf was forced to break up the verbal sparring.

Cassano eventually replaced the youngster who was clearly out of sorts – and ahead of this evening’s Italian Cup tie against Bari, Allegri had to deflect probing questions on whether the South American was unable to coexist with Ibra who demands passes played to his feet in tight spaces so that he can dance around with the ball for a while.

The Swede had complained earlier in the season that he was seeing less of the ball when Dinho and Pato were on the pitch and preferred to have Inzaghi as his partner upfront, but he has since toned down his comments no doubt due to the fact that he is now the big chief in the side.

Under Leonardo, Gattuso was pushed to the margins but he is just the sort of competitor most Italian coaches like to have in their side, hence he has become more vocal when the bad times threaten to raise their head – such as now with the side drawing the last two while Inter closed the gap to six points last night after their fourth win in 2011.

Pato, for his part, prefers inspiration to perspiration so it is doubtful if he will ever find common ground with a player who will run himself into the ground to patch over a lack of natural ability.

It is hard to say what affect such sniping and public displays of frustration will have on Pato – he still looks as fresh-faced as the teenager who arrived at club back in 2007 but answering back to Gattuso demonstrates there is a hardening steely resolve developing underneath those soft features.

The statistics bear out the fact that apart from the Lecce game he has been no turkey when fit – eight goals in eleven Serie A outings – ten of which he started – is more than an acceptable return.

He netted braces against Leece (on the opening day), Chievo and just recently Udinese to take his overall tally to 49 goals in 106 games for Milan - which for someone barely into their 20s is quite extraordinary.

He has already nipped any speculation that he would follow the man who brought him to Milan - and then acted like a big brother and confidant - to Inter, but there has been speculation that Europe’s heavyweights will be knocking on Milan’s door this summer: Carlo Ancelotti, wherever he may be next season, would definitely be making enquiries.

The club’s hierarchy may need to rein in any growing criticism of their prize asset from within the rank and file or face losing another Samba Boy ... Kaka, Ronaldinho and now Pato, surely not?

Cassano cameo can't inspire Milan, but Inter on the march again

2011-01-17T09:41:00Z

For once Antonio Cassano has been speaking sense - although in his usual straight to the point manner he painted a stark picture as to where his future may lie, claiming that if he failed to take his chance at AC Milan then he deserved to be institutionalised.

Cassano will never be held in the same esteem as the divine Roberto Baggio or even Alessandro Del Piero, but at least he now has a genuine opportunity to leave some sort of positive legacy at a club with the word professionalism woven neatly into its very fabric.

Strange really, when you consider who runs the whole operation, but Silvio Berlusconi told the players at the turn of the year that Milan success was good for the government and, with his political enemies gathering at every corner, the laughing cavalier will hope his team go on an unbeaten run to the end of the season, winning the league, Champions League and Italian Cup to boot…

Away from such flights of fancy, Cassano can at least play his part on the domestic front and with each session on the training pitch his fitness is of course returning - and class as they say in Italy - is not like water, i.e. you can’t bottle it.

Witnessing the way the likes of Alessandro Nesta, Rino Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf go about staying in shape, Cassano - again employing his colourful language - claimed he was more than motivated to “get his finger out and start training like a dog as well.”

So far so good: two outings coming off the bench for a total of 35 minutes and three assists leading to goals. Yesterday evening the fifteen-or-so minute man was back in Puglia - not in his hometown of Bari, but rather the more hostile surroundings of regional rivals Lecce.

In fact, he was given an extra five minutes in the place of the ineffectual Alexandre Pato when Milan, to all intents and purposes, were in complete control even if the score was only 1-0 - the product of another Zlatan Ibrahimovic wonder goal.

Cassano was less productive than in his previous cameos against Cagliari and Udinese, although through no fault of his own, with Nesta and Thiago Silva having their worst game of the season. To call Milan’s defending from the corner which resulted in Lecce’s late equaliser sloppy would perhaps be being a bit kind, with nobody picking up Ruben Olivera who gladly swept home from 10 yards.

Milan should have been out of sight even before Cassano entered the game, but once again the chance to open up a significant gap over the chasing pack was missed, suggesting that Massimiliano Allegri’s men are not the genuine title-winning material they had us believe in the first half of the season.

Cassano still has plenty of time to leave is mark throughout the rest of the campaign, but imagine the glittering career he may have had if he had come under the protective wing of Javier Zanetti early on, rather than head off down his wayward road.

The Inter captain equalled Giuseppe Bergomi’s club record of 519 appearances in Serie A against Bologna on Saturday evening and ever since arriving in Milan back in 1995 the Argentine has kept his game and his life much like his hair: neat and tidy.

The tractor wheels are still churning away and one moment early in the first-half on Saturday summed the 37-year-old’s approach to the game: As Bologna’s Gaston Ramirez broke into open space down the left flank the veteran came racing back to dispossess the midfielder and not only keep the ball in play but instigate an attack that almost led to a goal at the other end.

Milan’s old enemy are on the march again and Bologna were displaced with ease. Samuel Eto’o was at his rampaging best and weighed in with two goals in the 4-0 blitz including a precise fee-kick, Diego Milito also found the back of the net again while the midfield and defence were fully in synch.

The biggest cheer of the evening, however, came when Zanetti was replaced in the closing minutes: the game was still going on behind him as he soaked up the adulation, but as always for one of Serie A’s all-time greats there was no time to look back.

With each passing match it looks more and more likely that the defending champions will soon be back near the summit: they can close the gap on Milan to six points on Wednesday when they play the first of their two games in hand, at home to Cesena.

Milan target Van Bommel as Serie A sides go on bargain hunt

2011-01-14T17:21:00Z

Second-placed Napoli can at least claim to be top of the league when it comes to getting their house in order financially – that should please UEFA and Michel Platini.

Club owner Aurelio de Laurentiis was all smiles when he informed the world that he had balanced the books, and if he wanted, the movie mogul could blow the rest of Serie A away if he ever deemed to cash in on Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Another 100 million Euro in the bank account would be all well and good, but the Partenopei have their sights firmly set on Champions League qualification, and like the rest of those chasing a top-four place they want and need reinforcements.

The forward-thinking De Laurentiis had given Walter Mazzarri more authority over transfer dealings, turning him from a coach into more of a manager in the English mode.

There may be no Diego Maradona-like figure out there but Mazzarri can at least target three or four names that, together, can take the club to the next level.

One objective is Claudio Yacob , the 24-year-old midfielder with Racing Club Avellaneda. At a mere 5m Euro he would be a much better prospect that Momo Sissoko, who has been touted around the league and beyond by Juventus but with no takers so far.

Of course, no Napoli side can ever have enough Argentines in their ranks, but an Italian may well be the sort of dream arrival (as we said, times are hard) the fans have been calling for: Giuseppe Rossi.

The Villarreal striker is suddenly in demand and Juventus would love to take the Italy international to Turin, especially after Luca Toni broke down last night during the Italian Cup win over Catania. But with funds tight, the bargain basement Antonio Floro Flores looks more affordable to the Biaconeri.

The Old Lady must be wishing they had not let David Trezeguet leave so easily. The veteran has rediscovered his goalscoring touch and joie de vivre at Hercules in Spain, and Ronaldo has already contacted his old mate about joining him at Corinthians, but a move back to Italy has been mooted.

However, it is the same old problem of cash – or lack of it. Lazio have made contact with the former France international’s Spanish club, who want at least 3m Euro, while the Romans were thinking more along the lines of a free transfer.

The signs are that somewhere in the middle could just see one of the most unlikely returns to Italian football taking place. Having missed out on Roque Santa Cruz, the Biancocelesti are desperate for added fire power upfront, where Tomasso Rocchi and Sergio Floccari have only scored six goals between them – the last of which came back in November.

It is the same story around the rest of the league: bringing in quality reinforcements on shoe-string budgets (or least budgets working towards staying on the right side of Monsieur Platini).

Everyone will have to fall in line. Hence, AC Milan have been sounding out Marco van Bommel, out of contract at Bayern Munich in the summer. At 33, though, he hardly fits into the long-term planning for a club with designs on dominating at home and Europe again.

Domenico Criscito, on the other hand, is the sort of investment that the Rossoneri should be making. At just 24, the Italy international would solve the problem with the left-back position, but Genoa are asking 18m Euro while run-of-the-mill Cagliari midfielder Andrea Lazzari is valued at 10m Euro.

Of course, Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani make be able to wangle a lower price, or maybe even a loan deal, but as we enter the second-half of the winter transfer market the stakes are becoming higher – even if the outlay for players throughout Serie A remains modest.

Stroppy Totti needs to learn a lesson from his peers or risk denting legacy

2011-01-12T11:39:00Z

We all get the blues now and again, but Francesco Totti is in a right old January funk.

Four minutes was all it took for the moody Roman to fall out of love with 2011. Four minutes was all Claudio Ranieri deemed the veteran should spend on the pitch last weekend at Sampdoria.

The fact that those four minutes were the amount of time added at the end of a game AS Roma were trailing 2-1, left Totti in a right state of agitation to say the least.

As he climbed the steps of the club bus outside the Marassi stadium, he asked in jest, “Has the game started.” The journalists lapped the comment up but Ranieri, who was in ear-shot, was all daggers and once again gloom descended over Roma’s training ground at Trigoria.

In fact, Totti claimed that he has been feeling a little down on every occasion he turns up for training and a lot happier when he jumps in his motor and back out the gates again.

His life seems to be imitating art at the moment, as he acts out a similar scene of making a quick exit in an ad for an international mobile phone company with the tagline “Life is Now” which should really be along the lines of “Live your Life”.

Unfortunately with time running out on his career, the 34-year-old seems to be doing anything but living his life and his attitude has left something of a toxic atmosphere in the camp.

Ranieri has been involved in a power struggle with the man who is seen as Mr.Roma – and one he seems to have won, with the club siding more or less with the coach.

Rosella Sensi is hanging in there as president until a new buyer comes along, and the way things are going she could be there for quite some time, although she did little to placate her unhappy star.

“There is a reason there is competition for places in the team and that is to motivate players,” was her carefully worded statement on Tuesday. “Those who love the shirt have to be ready to give a professional response when called upon.”

Of course, it doesn’t take much to read between the lines and gather that she expects Totti to knuckle down and accept he is no longer the first name on the team sheet – and that she may well call his bluff on the No.10’s threat to leave.

This season a number of fading Serie A stars have been left warming the bench: Ronaldinho could not hack it at AC Milan, where he also suffered what he felt was the indignity of four minutes against Sampdoria back in November – and from that moment with his humiliation further compounded by Massimiliano Allegri’s assertion that the former world player of the year was very much on the margins, Dinho’s time was up although he never made any of his dissatisfaction public.

Alessandro Del Piero had to kick his heels in his quest to equal the Juventus goalscoring record until the final minutes of the match against Lecce in which he came off the bench with the Old Lady cruising at 2-0.

Del Piero has since surpassed Giampiero Boniperti’s 178-goal record and, along the way, accepted he can still be a team leader without stepping on to the pitch from the first minute – and when called upon - for example in the Italian Cup and Europa League - offer guidance to the future generation of Bianconeri players including Boniperti’s grandson Filippo.

Gigi Buffon has had to wait for his return to action such has been the good form shown by Marco Storari, despite Juve conceding seven goals in the last two games. But he has demonstrated respect for his team-mates by refusing to demand his starting berth back.

Clarence Seedorf left the pitch on Sunday with the jeers of the AC Milan fans ringing in his ears after the midfielder’s mistake gifted Udinese a goal in their incredible 4-4 draw, but the Dutchman came out to face the press and admit that the fans were right to vent their anger with him.

Of course, all stars will rally against the fading of the light, but Totti for one should look to the example set by some of his peers when things are not going his way, otherwise we risks tarnishing his reputation once and for all.

See Naples and die! Brilliant Cavani treble kills off Old Lady

2011-01-10T13:07:00Z

The great thing about Italy - especially if you reside in the north of the country - is that if you tire of the long, inclement winter then all you need do is hop on a plane and an hour later you are basking in the warmth of the south.

So rather than face another Sunday in frigid Lombardy, Serie Aaaaargh! decided to board a mid-morning flight to Naples and grab the only ticket in town: Napoli against Juventus.

Touching down in the shadow of Vesuvius under pristine, blue skies with the temperature a good 15c warmer than in Milan, there was more than the feeling of spring in the air: the taxi driver set the tone for the day asking if our party were Juve fans down from the damp flatlands for the game.

He was not at all surprised to learn that we had merely sought to escape the greyness of the north -even if was only for a day - and what a day to pick when the whole of the city was abuzz with the arrival of the Old Lady who was ripe for picking, according to said taxi driver.

As the cab sped through the tunnels, giving a tantalising glimpse of the Bay and coastline to the south of the city, fans were already gathering in bars to listen to radio commentaries or watch pay-per-view coverage of the afternoon matches.

AS Roma had already come undone at Sampdoria and picking an outside table along the Lungomare area that runs around the bay there were soon yelps of delight to be heard as Udinese took the lead at AC Milan and Catania followed suit at home to Inter.

It may be an old cliché but they really do love their football down in old Napoli, and they are not afraid to express an opinion about it either: the taxi driver had already predicted that the home side would clean the floor with Juve but that the team lacked depth to finish in the top four.

The drop-dead gorgeous waitress with penetrating eyes (Italians never miss a trick when it comes to the important things in life) was certain that owner Aurelio De Laurentiis was going to lead her beloved club to the Promised Land while grandma at the cash register was still all misty eyed for the days of Diego.

In fact, it was one of those days where there was no better place to be than feeling the warmth of a winter sun in a football-crazy city. Taking a taxi back past the San Paolo around 5pm and it seemed that over half of the capacity crowd were making their way to the stadium or already inside for what was to be the first sell-out in many a year.

Expectations were high: Milan had been held to a 4-4 draw on what seemed to have been a crazy afternoon at the San Siro, Lazio had imploded at home to Lecce, Roma had already been on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at Samp and Palermo had ended goalless at Chievo which only left Inter’s 2-1 win at Catania to spoil a perfect day.

Still, the Nerazzurri were still off the pace and in Napoli they only have eyes for one love and on the walk to stadium, the air was heavy with adoring adulation while once inside it was a cauldron of emotion.

The home team may have been coming off a sobering 3-1 defeat at Inter, but then again Juve had recently capitulated against Parma, lost the ‘traitor’ (as he is now known in Naples) Fabio Quagliarella to injury, and had signed Luca Toni…

In fact, watching Juve warm-up the words of the taxi driver that the Old Lady was there for the taking came ringing back.

There in the full-back positions were Armand Troare and Zdenek Grygera – the former making his starting debut in Serie A and the latter in the line-up only because teenager Frederick Sorensen was still suffering from the shock of his stinker against Parma.

Then in attack, there were the photo-fit twins, Toni and Amauri, all straggly hair and flailing arms and whose very presence invited the long-ball game.

The home side, for their part, looked the business. The weak-link in defence, Salvatore Aronica, had been relegated to the bench in favour of the diminutive but tough-tackling Gianluca Grava, with the Holy Trinity of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik and the soon-to-be-hero of the hour Edinson Cavani ready to reap havoc up front.

And so it turned out, as Cavani swept home a hat-trick on what was an intoxicating evening of typically raw, southern Italian passion, albeit without the tears (except from the Juve fans, obviously).

There was a least one striker with long, flowing locks who knew how to use his head although Toni can feel hard done by that he had a header disallowed for an adjudged foul of goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis when the score was 1-0.

However, it was the simple adage of get the ball wide, take on the full-backs and deliver telling cross for a frontman on form that won the day. Cavani is now entering the realms of a world-class striker: 13 league goals, seven in the Europa League not to mention five in four international outings for Uruguay since the summer

There are very few strikers who can carry a team on their shoulders – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Samuel Eto’o and Cristiano Ronaldo come to mind - but now ‘El Matador’ can join such exalted company – and you know you have made it when your president claims that not even €50 million of Manchester City’s oil money would be enough to prize away the new darling of the Neapolitans.

There is an old Italian saying dating back to the 19th century that translates roughly as ‘see Naples and die’. Far from being a blunt threat, this was a reference to the breath-taking beauty of the city. Perhaps the phrase needs to be updated for 2011. ‘ See Naples and die, but not before you get the chance to see Napoli at the San Paolo’.

Merkel a good boy, but Melo can expect nothing but coal

2011-01-07T15:40:00Z

Italian folklore has it that La Befana delivers gifts or coal on the eve of Epiphany to children, depending whether they have been good or bad.

This Santa Claus-character is depicted as an old witch-like lady and also goes under the name of La Vecchia, so in theory Juventus should have expected a sack full of presents to open on January 6th but instead of which they ended up asking themselves what they had done to deserve a lump of bad luck?

No more than two minutes into their first game of 2011, at home to Parma, and Fabio Quagliarella who had been Juve’s best performer in the first half of the season jarred his knee at one of those angles that immediately has 'season over' written all over it.

Luigi Del Neri already has Vincenzo Iaquinta sidelined so president Andrea Agnelli will have to loosen those very tight purse strings to bring in another striker – and pretty swiftly too as there is little hope of mounting a title challenge with only the aging Alex Del Piero and lumbering Amauri in attack.

Maxi Lopez had been linked with a move from Catania to Turin at the end of last year and could come back into the reckoning but the names of Alberto Gilardino, Alessandro Matri and Giampaolo Pazzini were being mentioned as Quagliarella was being stretchered off although the smart money is on that old warhorse Luca Toni.

If misfortune heralded the first major talking point of the New Year then it was quickly followed by good, old stupidity and who better to provide it than the ever unreliable Felipe Melo.

Seventeen minutes had passed on the clock but if the Brazilian had made any resolutions to keep his temper in check then they soon went the way of most people’s commitment to go to the gym at this time of the year.

The midfielder flew into a tackle on Massimo Paci and as both players gathered their bearings from a prone position, Melo inexplicably thrust his studs into the defender’s face and although the lashing out lacked clout the vehement intent was there so the referee who was standing nearby had no option but to produce a straight red card.

From there on it was all downhill for Del Neri who sacrificed Del Piero for the more mobile Simone Pepe and for a time it seemed that was life in the Old Lady as Giorgio Chellini had a goal ruled out for kicking the ball out of grounded goalkeeper Antonio Mirante’s hands.

Then of course, what usually happens in such situations, a former player who was discarded comes back to haunt his old employer: cue Sebastian Giovinco. The Atomic Ant grabbed a brace and another Juve old boy Raffaele Palladino scored the fourth to add to a penalty from the evergreen Hernan Crespo.

Del Neri was left shell-shocked at the final whistle but the coach will have to pick the team up psychologically for the trip to Napoli at the weekend or face a collapse similar to this time last year under Alberto Zaccheroni.

In the end, Antonio Cassano made the difference after sitting on the bench for 74 minutes when he set up his fellow substitute 20-year-old Rodney Strasser (big toe possibly offside) for the only goal of the game at Cagliari to ensure that AC Milan will be crowned Winter Champions – usually a good indication on where the title will go at the end of the season.

It was a precious three points for the Rossoneri in what had been something of a gamble by Massimiliano Allegri to start Alexander Merkel in the free-role, once coveted by Ronaldinho, behind Robinho and Pato as Zlatan Ibrahimovic served a one-game suspension.

The 18-year-old who was born in Kazakhstan, possessing some Russian blood, is a German national and has been capped at every level for Germany up until under-19. He looked the business and his youthful vigour and sure touch meant that the veterans Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini and Rino Gattuso had no need to stray from their holding positions in midfield.

Allegri now has options and more importantly youngsters to step in when the inevitable injuries and suspensions coming calling as they did yesterday.

Inter know all about these twin hindrances but a New Year and new life as they say ... oh and a new coach ... saw the champions rediscover that dynamism that had made them almost unbeatable under Jose Mourinho.

Leonardo had reportedly called the Special One to ask for some advice on managing Inter and the Brazilian must have passed on a few choice words of wisdom because the Nerazzurri tore into the form side Napoli with a purpose very rarely seen under Rafa Benitez.

Basically, they ran the neat and tidy but lightweight visitors into the ground and with only the suspended Samuel Eto’o to return while Andrea Ranocchia to be eased into first team action, Leo’s Lions may well yet give Mr Berlusconi a few sleepless nights as the campaign wears on.

AS Roma also threw themselves back into the mix and while ill luck may have dogged the side ahead of them at the start of the day it was good fortune that befell the Romans.

They ran out 4-2 winners against Catania, thanks in part to two dubious decisions; the first when the ball seemed to have gone out as John Arne Riise set up Marco Borriello for the equaliser and then replays showed that Mirko Vucinic was offside as he scored the all-important third goal.

On a more positive note, Claudio Ranieri played the last ten minutes with four attackers but what seems apparent in these early days of a new year that keeping Lady Luck close will go some way to deciding the outcome of the title.

Serie A returns, even if some South American stars don't

2011-01-06T13:43:00Z

The dangers of a mid-winter break have been laid bare in Italy: it allows players to swan off to warmer climes and there is a good chance they won’t come back.

This has been particularly relevant when it comes to South Americans and especially those with an axe to grind who happen to play for AS Roma.

Both Adriano and David Pizarro failed to report back for training at the end of December, the former citing bureaucratic and/or personal reasons; the latter a more mundane troublesome knee twinge.

There is no doubt Adriano would love to kick back in Brazil, having spent a torrid time in the Eternal City making little or no attempt it seems to get fit, starting for Claudio Ranieri‘s side only twice.

However, in the last game before the break at AC Milan, he demonstrated that an overweight striker can cause problems for the opposition by holding the ball and falling over when the thought of having to move arises – and it looks as if he will have to force his frame back into one of those snug airline seats for a flight back to Italy in order to see out the next six months on the bench.

The same fate may not await Pizarro, who has fallen out of favour completely with Ranieri and may well circumnavigate Italy completely and head straight to Russia and his old coach Luciano Spalletti at Zenit St. Petersburg.

Ronaldinho took advantage of Milan’s kind offer of an all expenses paid few days in Dubai before jetting back to Brazil to mull over the tempting offers from Gremio, Flamengo and, errrm, Blackburn Rovers.

Sun, sea and limitless good times and never having to wear a woolly hat again are what Dinho craves so it isn’t too difficult to see his future lays in the home of sun and samba, not (David) Dunn and (Christopher) Samba .

It is hard to believe that Massimiliano Allegri actually got his own way and Silvio Berlusconi was shredding a farewell tear for his favourite party boy, but in the next breath was once again all ‘wink, wink’ and ‘nudge, nudge’ when Antonio Cassano turned up at his doorstep.

The Rossoneri president - looking as if he had enjoyed a hearty holiday period of over-indulgence - met up with the game’s biggest comfort eater yesterday to impart a few words on wisdom on living the life of a sportsman and never, never speaking back to the man who pays your wages.

The Bari Bawler blushed demurely towards the man who has done it all and lived not to tell any tales and will now take Ron’s place at chugging around the training pitch in a fruitless bid to get fit by March.

In the meantime, the rest of the league has its collective sights set on putting the league leaders in their place when Serie A shakes off the last of the New Year excess and gets back to business on Thursday.

The knives are already out for Leonardo who starts his time in charge of Inter against the team-of-the-moment Napoli, with seemingly most of the country hoping he falls on his face believing that he has become a little too suave for his own good i.e. charming his way from one big club to another.

The dashing Leo’s switch of allegiance across town has left a bad taste amongst both sets of Milanese followers while in the wider sense, the likes of Walter Mazzarri, Luigi Del Neri and Delio Rossi have come up the hard way through the coaching ranks and are more deserving of their moment of glory.

Certainly, on current form Napoli - who hold joint-second spot with Lazio - could be a good punt for the title, and tellingly all their South Americans were back on time to resume training.

With the most open title race in recent times set to heat up who would want to miss it?

Serie Aaaaargh's Italian Team of the Season so far...

2011-01-05T15:50:00Z

This season has finally seen a shift away from one team’s dominance in the league and this is reflected by the Serie Aaaaargh! team of the campaign so far.

The goalkeeping positions were always up for grabs, so to speak, with Julio Cesar suffering from an uncharacteristic lack of form and persistent injury problems, while Gigi Buffon has not played a match as the Juventus No.1 continues to recover from back surgery.

There are a number of home-grown keepers who have impressed, such as Buffon’s stand-in Marco Storari, Stefano Sorrentino at Chievo, Bologna’s Emiliano Viviano and Salvatore Sirigu of Palermo - all of whom have both broken into the Italy squad. But taking the gloves is Fernando Muslera who has taken his excellent performances from the World Cup with Uruguay into the league to help Lazio maintain their chase at the top of the table.

The full-back positions are always tricky ones to fill – what with the need for those in that role to have both defensive and attacking attributes. Lazio’s Stephan Lichtsteiner has certainly been a force of nature - if at times erratic - while Palermo's Mattia Cassani has been efficiency personified. However, with three goals to his name and a solidity obviously honed out during his time in the Bundesliga, Cristian Zaccardo of Parma claims the starting place at right-back.

There are very few ‘true’ full-backs around with the majority midfielders converted to the role or wing-backs masquerading as defenders to reinforce three-man backlines such as Domenico Crisito at Genoa, Udinese’s Pablo Armero but for the genuine article we need look no further than Federico Balzaretti in the left-back position.

Central defence has seen the development of some fine partnerships, such as that of Andre Dias and Giuseppe Biava at Lazio; the indomitable Thaigo Silva and Alessandro Nesta of AC Milan and Cesare Bovo and Ezequiel Munoz with Palermo while Andrea Ranocchia has cemented his growing reputation at Genoa.

Each one could stand beside the man who has been head and shoulders above the rest – Giorgio Chiellini. The Juventus defender has thrown his body in where others fear to wave a boot so a touch of class provided by Thaigo Silva would dovetail nicely with the Juve action man.

A midfield three has been the platform to instigate attacks for the majority of the clubs enjoying success this term, and anchoring the centre of pitch have been a number players combining grace and a high work rate – Gokhan Inler of Udinese and new Italy international Cristian Ledesma with Lazio have been two who have caught the eye but it is the diminutive Walter Gargano who has really been pulling the strings in Napoli’s charge into the top four.

The Uruguayan has the ability to switch the direction of the attack in a split second and in a moment to intercept an opposition drive forward and bring the pace of game back into control of his own side.

The right-hand side of most Serie A midfields has seen a mix of tricky from the likes of Alexis Sanchez at Udinese, genuine pace and a direct running in Milos Krasic of Juventus and the more explosive all-purpose performer as witnessed by Kevin-Prince Boateng’s eye-catching performances. All three can find the net but the Juve man just shades it with his desire to get to the by-line at both ends of the pitch.

The opposite side of the midfield trio needs a player who can support the attack with timely forward runs rather than out and out dribbling and another new arrival, Kevin Constant has impressed at Chievo, Mathieu Flamini has been busy with AC Milan while Josep Ilicic has been a real surprise package at Palermo. However, Stefano Mauri’s all-round approach makes it difficult to look beyond the Lazio man.

It is even further forward that fans have been treated to a real bumper year for the trequartisti – Javier Pastore, Jeremy Menez and Marek Hamsik have all shone, but Hernanes slipped into the league with little or no fanfare to quickly become the talk of the town at Lazio and then throughout the league.

It has been a vintage year for the frontmen, with the evergreen Hernan Crespo and Marco Di Vaio in rich veins of form, Samuel Eto’o has been a one-man wrecking ball for Inter, Marco Borriello has finally offered AS Roma the targetman they have been lacking while few would bet against Antonio Di Natale finishing the season as top goalscorer again.

Of course, any one of these strikers would flourish even more alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Robinho has done and the little and large partnership is always a real threat.

Mauro Zarate could offer the unexpected as could Ezequiel Lavezzi and Fabio Quagliarella but Edinson Cavani - who may not be that little but is certainly on the lean side - would provide it more often so the Napoli man completes the line-up which would be coached by Stefano Pioli who has taken Chievo into the top ten and along the way defeated Inter and Napoli as well as drawing with Roma and Juventus.

Serie Aaaaargh’s team of the season so far: Muslera; Zaccardo, Chiellini, Thaigo Silva, Balzaretti; Krasic, Gargano, Mauri; Hernanes; Ibrahimovic, Cavani. Coach: Stefano Pioli.

Leonardo may need to adapt softly-softly approach to succeed at Inter

2010-12-30T11:19:00Z

Most of us would have been content with an iPad for Christmas, but not Massimo Moratti. The Inter president would only be really happy with a new coach - and one who would cause Silvio Berlusconi the greatest amount of discomfort to boot.

So, enter Leonardo, who had walked out of the court of the laughing cavalier in the summer claiming he could not work with a narcissist, but now finds himself across town working with an equally self-important club owner.

AC Milan will see it has the ultimate betrayal and the Brazilian, for all his charm, will now be set in stone as a Judas amongst the Rossoneri, although the Inter president has been head-over-heels in love with the dashing South American for ages in the same way he has been with Paolo Maldini, who in another piece of mischief-making he sounded out about taking a role at his club.

Then there are the overtures towards Ricky Kaka, who Leonardo brought to Milan, just to rack up the local rivalry a notch or two. However, it seems that leaving Real Madrid for the Nerazzurri will be a step too far for the impending transfer window, with the arrival of Luca Toni likely to provide a more sobering reality check.

As the 14th coach in the Moratti era, Leonardo will have a similar task to the one presented to him when he stepped out of the suit and into the tracksuit at Milan: to get one last hooray out of an aging squad whilst at the same time integrating some new faces into the set-up.

Once again, he will rely on a solid right-hand man, Beppe Baresi who will provide the technical experience just as Mauro Tassotti did last year.

Baresi is well respected amongst the South Americans – Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Ivan Cordoba - who run the Inter dressing room and he would have been a welcomed caretaker if Moratti had not found a suitable replacement for Rafael Benitez.

Leonardo has already negotiated the corridors of power at one Milanese giant before finding it all too much for his sensibilities, and will do everything he can to ensure that he stays on the right side of the hierarchy and win over the players on the other side of the Naviglio.

This was something that Benitez spectacularly failed to achieve in his six-month period in charge, but Leo was at Milan when Adriano Galliani gave the green-light to sell Kaka and then introduce a whole sway of austerity measures concerning contract extensions for the old guard.

However, he was never one to crack the whip and in introducing his four-man attack last term he memorable stated that “Ghandi had freed India without having to raise his voice."

A softly, softly approach worked up until to a point, but in the end Milan fell into their old wayward ways of blown points and lapse defending. Inter are no longer imperious but at least the trip to Abu Dhabi saw the return of the majority of the injured players to some semblance of fitness for the second half of the campaign.

The impending introduction of UEFA’s financial fair-play regulations - which call on clubs competing in the Champions and Europa Leagues to break even over a rolling three-year period - will mean the new man cannot starting demanding wholesale changes. but least he will have Andrea Ranocchia available immediately.

The highly-rated central defender was destined to return to the club in June, but with Walter Samuel sidelined for the foreseeable future, splashing out €12.5 million for the remaining 50 per cent stake of the 22-year-old’s contract with Genoa looks money well spent.

Selling Sulley Muntari would also make sound business sense and a €12 million fee which Liverpool are apparently ready to match would of course wipe out the outlay for Ranocchia.

Leonardo was considered something of a visionary and Inter certainly need a new approach if they are to retain their title in what has been an unpredictable season so far, with the likes of Napoli, Lazio, AS Roma and Juventus just as likely to take over leadership from current table-toppers Milan.

San Siro to zero: Milan are beaten and Rafa signs suicide note

2010-12-20T12:33:00Z

RESULTS Serie A: Sat 18 Dec Cesena 1-0 Cagliari, Milan 0-1 Roma Sun 19 Dec Lazio 3-2 Udinese, Bari 1-1 Palermo, Chievo 1-1 Juventus, Catania 1-0 Brescia, Parma 0-0 Bologna, Napoli 1-0 Lecce, Sampdoria P-P Genoa Club World Cup: Sat 18 Dec TP Mazembe 0-3 Inter Milan

Just by the law of averages Zlatan Ibrahimovic had to have an off day. And so it came to pass in the week before Christmas, when all was quiet in the San Siro, that the Swede swung a big-socked shot over the crossbar when he should have buried the ball.

Had he scored, AC Milan would have been back on level terms with AS Roma: much has been made of the over-reliance on Ibra to find the back of the net when it matters and this fact was laid bare on the most frigid night of the year.

The Romans arrived in less than charitable mood, determined not to permit an open and expansive contest which would have enabled the home side to hit their talismanic striker quickly and directly.

Instead, Claudio Ranieri set out the most miserly defence possible coupled with a Scrooge-like meanness in squeezing play as far up the pitch as possible. The upshot was that the Rossoneri attack – and Zlat in particular – was caught offside time and time again, which only led to ever-increasing frustration.

And just when the sparse crowd who had braved the Arctic conditions had given up on ever feeling life in their frozen toes again, who else popped up to spoil a Milanese Christmas – with the help of his shin – than the dashing Marco Borriello?

The former darling of every female Milan fan felt the icy blast of a spurned lover when he was substituted late on, but as the jeers rang around the stands his heart probably skipped closer to his new home in the capital.

Claudio Ranieri is a Roman through and through, and the fans hold him dearly to their hearts – but the press love to create mischief, and the coach must have spent many a sleepless night of late with visions of first Marcello Lippi and more recently Carlo Ancelotti marshalling his beloved team from the sidelines.

While Massimiliano Allegri was constrained by form and to a certain degree by injuries on his starting line-up, and with the last chorus of “Dinho, Dinho” a mere echo before his January departure, on the other bench the old master was ready to spring a surprise.

There in the warm-up was not a Yeti but in fact Adriano who had been unwrapped especially for the occasion and preferred to the half-fit Francesco Totti – and with the Giallorossi season and possibly Ranieri’s future employment resting on the outcome, it was a brave decision to put faith in the Brazilian who had only made one other starting appearance all season.

However, that extra girth proved handy in not only keeping out the cold but also holding off the robust challenges of Daniele Bonera and Rino Gattuso – and, when needed, strategically drawing fouls to break up the flow of the game whenever the momentum threatened to swing towards the home side.

The whole of Italy was watching closely to glean a way of how to nullify the leaders. They would have seen that playing a high line can pay dividends in annoying Ibra and Robinho, while flooding the midfield will eventually wear down the ageing legs of Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Clarence Seedorf, but that searing pace allied to close skill will hurt Milan's full-backs and cause panic inside the area.

Jeremy Menez has both speed and tricks in abundance and the French whizz spent the evening tormenting Luca Antonini and Iganzio Abate – and it was the latter he bamboozled to provide the cross for Borriello’s rather fortuitous close-range finish.

Not only were Roma given the perfect fillip from the result but the rest of the chasing pack were licking the lips at the prospect of closing the year within touching distance of top spot.

Just to demonstrate that this league race is set to be the closest for years, Lazio, Napoli, Juventus and Palermo all struggled but at least the former pair recorded victories, be it with late winners and in Napoli’s case with a contender for goal of the season from Edinson Cavani.

Of course, the spectre of Inter will hang over the winter break. The Nerazzurri finally laid to rest their own ghosts by winning the FIFA World Club Cup – but, being Inter, they had to take the shine off the celebrations.

Marco Materazzi and Dejan Stankovic took umbrage at not being considered good enough to face TP Mazembe of Congo. In the case of the moody Matrix, all he wanted was a walk-on part in the closing stages so he could then let it really rip in the post-game celebrations – as Jose Mourinho had consented to in the Champions League final.

Having been left to stew on the bench this time around, the walking tattoo who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time when football history was being written stormed off to the dressing room without collecting his medal.

Rafa Benitez could be collecting his redundancy card after finally breaking his silence on what he really thinks of the situation at the club and his comments that he lacked both support and a genuine transfer policy has backed Massimo Moratti into something of a corner.

NEWS, Sat 18 Dec: Benitez issues Inter ultimatum after Club World Cup win

Craggy old oilmen do not like being backed into a corner and usually come out swinging – and after missing out on showing Mourinho the door Moratti must be itching to inflict a good old sacking again.

NEWS, Sun 19 Dec: Benitez comments were inappropriate, says Inter chief

It has been an open secret that the players are still under the spell of the Special One and that this irks Benitez to no end – but without new faces, how can he ever hope to stamp his own identity? In the end, this cry for help could well turn out to be professional suicide.

NEWS, Mon 20 Dec: What will Inter do with Benitez?

The Monday morning papers were all certain in their belief that the Spaniard is off Moratti’s Christmas card list and that Giuseppe Baresi will take over as caretaker coach – unless Luciano Spalletti can be incited away from the depths of Russia.

All in all, the Christmas break is not going to be a time to completely kick back and relax for the Milanese cousins, but the rest of the title pretenders cannot wait for January 6 when the league returns again.

Milan ready Cassano move as shadow of Ancelotti hangs over Ranieri

2010-12-17T14:41:00Z

With Inter kicking back in the warmth of Adu Dhabi ahead of their glorified friendly, sorry, the moment they will be crowned world champions of club football, the rest of non-Nerazzurri supporting Italy will be concentrating on much more important matters back home.

Rafa Benitez might be set to save his neck at the court of Moratti with victory over TP Mazembe, but that issue is of fleeting interest compared to that of whether Antonio Cassano will step into Ronaldinho’s dancing shoes at AC Milan, whether Carlo Ancelotti will become the new emperor of Rome, whether the country’s Champions League representatives would end up with nightmare draws, and whether most of the games in northern Italy would be snowed off to bring 2010 to a frigid end?

Cold comfort could yet be found for Cassano, as the court of arbitration has decided that the Sampdoria rebel’s contract will not be rescinded. The ruling was delayed yet again until Thursday evening and in turn it was delaying any decision on the Bari boy’s future.

Cassano was sitting at home in Genoa waiting for his agent to tell him of the tribunal’s ruling - which will be definitive and not subject to appeal. In short, he will remain under contract but suspended without pay until January 31 and then paid only half his salary until the end of the contract in 2013.

Samp president Riccardo Garrone is apparently expecting to field offers for the man who reportedly called him “an old so and so …” and Milan are in prime position to add to their growing number of players with bad-boy reputations.

With Filippo Inzaghi a long-term absentee and Alexandre Pato never far from the treatment table, Massimiliano Allegri has been given the green-light to bring in another striker, although Cassano’s arrival would put Ronaldinho’s future at the club very much in doubt.

President Silvio Berlusconi is feeling flushed with the festive spirit after surviving a no-confidence vote in parliament, and has decided that he needs to make another grand statement on the transfer front.

Cassano’s erratic behaviour has followed him wherever he has been, but Milan will be hoping the fact that they are a ‘special club’ which requires a certain standard of behaviour - combined with the fact a move would represent the player’s last real chance to play for a top team and possibly forge a return to the national side - is enough to see him change his ways, for good.

With the courts deciding not to side with Sampdoria, Adriano Galliani has already set out a plan to bring in the forward on a loan deal, which would mean the Rossoneri could afford to pay Cassano’s €2.5 million salary until June when a permanent option could be taken up.

Milan attempted to sign Cassano a few seasons back, only for Paolo Maldini and his fellow senior squad members to veto the move. But with the legendary captain gone, the remaining old guard are towing the party line.

Now, Cassano’s arrival very depends on Dinho heading out the exit door and whispers suggest Berlusconi has given the go-ahead for the sale of the Brazilian who has been on the fringes of Allegri’s plans for the last month or so.

The former Barcelona star’s contract expires in June and so far there has been little talk of an extension. David Beckham’s LA Galaxy have been interested in taking him Stateside for some months now, although the player himself seems to be more tempted to return to his native Brazil to take a punt at winning the Brasilero Serie A and the Copa Libertadores.

Just a few days ago his brother and agent Roberto de Assis met with Palmeiras, although no deal has been reached so far. We will know more on Saturday after the match against AS Roma, which could prove to be the last time Ron pulls on a Milan shirt even if it is just to sit on the bench.

This weekend could also be the beginning of the end of Claudio Ranieri’s reign in charge of Roma, with the long shadow of Carlo Ancelotti known to be cast over the Roman’s future.

The Giallorossi have courted their former player in the past but, with new owners hopefully in charge before the end of the campaign, Ranieri’s contract will not survive the summer, in part for his failure to handle the big personalities – and we all know who the biggest ego is in the Capital?

In the meantime, Allegri, Ranieri, Benitez, Francesco Totti and the rest were left mulling over some festive tidings from UEFA who handed all three Italian clubs more than winnable ties in the last sixteen of the Champions League although as they always say a lot can happen between now and the end of February.

The Club World Cup doesn't matter? Try telling that to Massimo Moratti

2010-12-14T15:59:00Z

Rafa Benitez has had to steel himself for many pivotal moments in his career, and he will have to draw on every ounce of his experience this week.

The Spaniard can only save his job at Inter if he returns from Abu Dhabi with the FIFA World Club Cup tucked under his arm as the best ever Christmas present for Massimo Moratti.

It is doubtful the sun in the United Emirates will add much colour to the president's even-paler-than-usual complexion, but he will be glowing inside if his club can finally be crowned World Champions.

Juventus and AC Milan have also achieved the feat and Moratti’s nemesis across town Silvio Berlusconi never misses an opportunity to remind his polar opposite that he has overseen world dominance on three occasions out of the four times the Rossoneri have reached the summit.

The Grande Inter won the Intercontinental Cup under Massimo’s father Angelo back in the 60s, so from the moment Javier Zanetti lifted the Champions League trophy back in May, Junior was already dreaming of getting another monkey off his back this December.

The owner sent the party off with a stirring speech which ended with something along the lines off “don’t bother coming back without the trophy” which was probably aimed more at Benitez, who had plenty of time to mull over the challenge on the five-hour flight from frigid northern Italy to the warmth of the Gulf, where the squad have looked in a pretty relaxed frame of mind – well it is not as if they face the sack.

When not training, the players have been lolling around the reception area of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, fiddling with their iPhones and putting their feet up on the expensive upholstery – they may be two games away from becoming masters of our footballing universe but they still give off the air of overgrown school kids on a field trip.

Benitez has been in tricky situations before of course – the 2005 Champions League Final against Milan for starters - and just has he shook the Liverpool players up during the interval in Istanbul, he will need to get this underperforming lot in the right frame of mind before they take on Seongnam in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Victory will be expected against the South Koreans, but it needs to be achieved in a manner that ensures the team head into the final believing that they have finally turned the corner under their new coach.

It has not been easy for Benitez to convince the players that there is another way to play rather than defend and hit the opposition on the counter-attack. Jose Morinho’s tactics suited the majority of the team as they relied on physical power and a well-defined pattern of soaking up pressure and then breaking to the opposition area employing the minimum of passes en-route.

The new man arrived with a different mind set and wanted his team to play in the opposition half, push further out of their comfort zone at the back and basically play attractive, attacking football which unfortunately is just the way Serie A sides like the opposition to play.

There has had little time to engrain such creative thinking into a team used to performing unimaginative tasks, and maybe if Moratti had sanctioned a couple of new signings akin to the Spaniard's way of thinking that transition would have been much easier.

Injuries played their part has well, but that can only be used as an excuse up to a point; too many players had it too easy in that they did not have to think for themselves, Mourinho told what to do and they did it, and if they didn’t such as Mario Balotelli they were soon warming the bench or sitting in the stands.

Each one of those players who, in the words of Wesley Sneijder, were willing “to die” for Mourinho are available for selection, albeit in various physical conditions. Now they have to put themselves on the line for Benitez.

Napoli keep on dreaming while Pirlo finds a new role

2010-12-13T11:31:00Z

It has been many a fine year since a meeting between Juventus and Lazio meant anything as far as the title race was concerned.

Last season’s encounter was played out in the shadow of Ciro Ferrara’s sacking and ended in a 1-1 draw in Alberto Zaccheroni’s first game in what would prove to be a fruitless period in charge of Juventus. The Rome side were not in much better shape and finished the campaign with no indication that they would be in the top-four come the end of 2010.

Old friends Luigi Del Neri and Edy Reja have rejuvenated their respective clubs to such an extent that they are completely unrecognisable – and it has been the arrival of Milos Krasic that has helped galvanise the Old Lady of Turin.

The Serbian has made quite some impact since his summer arrival from CSKA Moscow and has become a more than worthy successor to Pavel Nedved - right down to the shaggy, blond hair and hunched running style. But what he really shares with the Czech legend is the ability to burn up full-backs and maintain perpetual motion until the final whistle.

And just like Nedved, he has learnt that falling over just for the sake of it will get you nowhere and instead staying on your feet especially inside the area brings results like this:

That last-gasp winner has put Juve firmly into a title chase that has all the makings of being one that will go right down to the wire.

It is not so much a change in personnel but rather a change in approach that has turned Lazio’s fortunes around, with Reja cutting his cloth accordingly by forming a razor-sharp counter-attacking style that has been the making of the Romans. However, as with Juve, there are still question marks over the full-back positions.

Napoli have an altogether different gripe, and that is that they cannot intice players from northern Europe to the club due to the bad press the city receives – with talk of crime and grime supposedly dissuading potential signings.

Marek Hamsik is from Slovakia and after leaving Brescia three years ago has settled into life amongst the Partenopei as effortlessly as a local, right down to apparently dogging traffic tickets with a shrug of the shoulders and a winning smile.

The man with the mohawk scored the only goal of the game at Genoa to send the Azzurri into dreamland – although sadly dreamland is probably the only place the league title will be making its way south for the first time since the Diego Maradona era.

A few hundred not-so-early birds turned up to welcome the team home on Saturday night and the Marassi stadium had a healthy travelling contingent supplemented by numerous “exiles” to ensure the occasion had a Cup feel about it although both sets of fans are longstanding Gemelli (twins) to always make it a festive affair, in the stands at least.

The stirring success on the pitch was achieved without the injured Ezequiel Lavezzi, leaving Edinson Cavani to lead the line, but Walter Mazzarri made sure that the striker was not left isolated and lacking support: Juan Zuniga was employed as the muscle ahead of the midfield platform which enabled Hamsik to torment the home defence at will.

The 23-year-old is extraordinarily gifted in every facet of his game and no doubt Maradona would have welcomed him with open arms into his scudetto team of a few decades ago.

A fifth away win of the campaign ensured the pressure was on Juventus and Lazio ahead of their Sunday evening meeting, but as for AC Milan they could put their feet up and enjoy the evening knowing that they would still be top of the heap going to into the final round of the year.

The lunchtime date at Bologna had called for diligent planning on the part of Massimiliano Allegri’s men, who had been tucking into a bowl of pasta at 9.30 and then tailoring their training around the 12.30 kick-off.

Armies cannot march on empty stomachs, as they say, and even before they had fully digested their Penne, the Rossoneri were out of sight at the Dall’Ara through Kevin-Prince Boateng and Robinho, with who else but Zlatan Ibrahimovic adding a third after the break.

Again the secret to the new recipe was using tried and trusted ingredients in a new way – and in this case it was employing Andrea Pirlo in a wide midfield role known as a mezz’ala from where he had more space to splay the ball around and where his deficiencies in the physical match-ups are at least masked.

It proved to be a tasty dish and the party were back on the high-speed train to Milan for an afternoon’s repose before enjoying their just desserts in the evening.

Italian players lay out their demands as strike threat looms

2010-12-09T15:24:00Z

“Right lads – down tools, we're all out.”

You know the world has gone crazy when footballers are threatening strike action. This Saturday and Sunday, full-backs will join fantasistas around the flaming oil drums on the picket-lines to protest at the “slave-like” conditions they're forced to work under.

Of course, not all players earn multi-million-Euro contracts like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will have to forgo his €320,000-odd weekly wage packet if the union make good on a walk-out. The average top-flight weekly salary might be "only" €5,300 but the average office worker has to make do with less than €250 a week.

How one contract rebel made his point

However, the current agreement between the footballers’ association and the clubs has expired and now the players are filled with revolutionary zeal, just when they may need to toe the line for once. How many times has a player basically broken his contract to ensure a move to another club or sat around earning vast sums of money for doing nothing because he refuses to accept a transfer?

Both parties are to blame for the situation we find ourselves in now – the clubs have been handing out massive and lengthy contracts to players in their late twenties and expecting them to be at the peak of their powers in their early thirties or even later.

AC Milan are prime example. The players who avenged the 2005 Champions League final defeat by beating Liverpool two years later were rewarded with four-year deals – meaning that at the pinnacle of their careers, the whole squad was set up for life.

There was only one direction they were heading after that and Milan were saddled with the likes of Marek Jankulovski, Nelson Dida, Massimo Oddo and Kakha Kaladze – who simply didn't deserve the star status bestowed on them.

Milan attempted to get some value out of having Oddo hanging around by extending the full-back’s contract for another season but spreading the final payment over 24 months.
However, Jankulovski refused to budge and will no doubt literally sit out his final season before becoming a wealthy free agent at 33.

With this in mind, what concerns the players’ union is the proposal that will allow clubs to terminate the final year of a contract and pay the player 50 percent of what he was due if he refuses accept a move to another club of equal standing.

Tellingly, Oddo was the shop-steward at the press conference to warn the country that their national sport was heading the way of the public transport system – brought to a standstill on a regular basis by industrial action.

“We are not objects,” he bleated as he sat there in his designer shirt, sporting perfectly manicured sideburns and looking all for the world like the perfect object of footballing desire. Clarence Seedorf, Javier Zanetti and Rino Gattuso nodded gravely in agreement while the rest of the working world shook its head in disbelief.

Oddo, Seedorf, Zanetti and Gattuso: model professionals

Let’s face it, any current player who has been in the top flight for the last four or five years should be able to survive until the end of the century on their earnings, investments, luxury villas, cars and other trappings of material wealth. Even those players not given star billing can have few gripes about earning a very good living from playing football. Considering football is all about results and success, if you are good enough you will generally reap the rewards from the game.

There are a number of other issues. Clubs want to decide where a player has treatment for an injury and not the player. Under that arrangement it would be difficult to imagine Alessandro Nesta spending 18 months in Miami receiving treatment on a back injury. And the union has demanded that coaches must work with one group of players in training – ensuring that those no longer in their plans or in dispute with the club cannot be exiled to train with the youth team, or all alone.

There is no doubt now that the party is over but these issues can no doubt be solved through dialogue rather than threats of bringing the national game to a halt. Silvio Berlusconi would not have been taken too kindly with the stance taken by his Milan militants, especially in the light of the team’s defeat to the proletariat – newly-promoted Cesena, whose annual wage bill is less than Ibra’s basic annual pay.

FEATURE, 9 Sep 2010: Milan lead the way as wage bills revealed

However, only the under-fire prime minister could still profess solidarity for his hard-put-upon stars in the most political manner by claiming that the match referee’s political leanings were to the left.

Maybe he should have been questioning his own team's work ethic. But then, Inter aside, it wasn't a profit-making weekend for the top flight’s fat cats: Milan were humbled by Cesena, AS Roma thrashed at Cagliari and Juventus held by Sampdoria. On top of that, Palermo lost at Brescia while Fiorentina went down to Lecce and Napoli drew at home to Bari.

Chievo won at Genoa to leave the table-topping Flying Donkeys as the only team on maximum points. Power to footballer’s true workers, and long may it continue.

Whatever happened to that team called Inter?

2010-12-06T12:01:00Z

There once was a team called Inter – they were quite good, in fact, they used to dominate Italian football for about five years or so and even won the Champions League so they must have been pretty hot.

So, where did they disappear to? Apparently, they were in Rome on Friday, well it said Inter in all the newspapers and the television listings had them down to play Lazio in the Olympic stadium at 8.45pm local time – it was all there in black and white or pink and black depending which paper you read.

Anyone attending the match or subscribing to pay-per-view to watch the game from the comfort of their living room should be demanding their money back or least an explanation of why one of the teams failed to turn up.

Of course, Lazio fans were dancing into the wee hours of the damp night or grabbing another beer from the fridge to toast revenge for last season when it was their side who rolled over for the same opposition just to scupper any lingering chance of AS Roma winning the league.

Strangely, this time the Curva Nord were urging the Biancocelesti forward, rather than threatening their own players with physical harm, and enjoying every moment of the visitor’s humiliation.

In fact, the home team would have been even more morally corrupt this time around had they allowed the defending champions to leave the capital with anything other than their tails between the legs, and the evening was brought to the perfect close with the third goal from man-of-the-match Hernanes.

The match was brought forward so to help Inter better prepare for the FIFA World Club Cup, but before that do-or-die moment for Rafa Benitez there is still a vital Champions League tie at Werder Bremen to play.

If Inter return from Abu Dhabi empty-handed then Massimo Moratti will step up his bid to prise Pep Guardiola away from Barcelona, and in the meantime install either Walter Zenga or Diego Simoene as caretaker. There has been plenty of rye amusement that either of these two club greats could change things around sufficiently to make the idea of managing Inter even the slightest bit tempting for Guardiola to leave Spain for the pain in Milan.

Attempting to make up at least ten points on Milan in the New Year will stretch Inter’s resources to the limit, but for now it is the city cousins and Lazio looking forward to the winter break in rude health.

Here’s a little teaser to mull over – would Lazio be top of the table if they had Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading their attack instead of Sergio Floccari or Tommaso Rocchi?

There is certainly plenty of evidence to suggest that a simple ‘yes’ would not be that wide of the mark.

Robinho has been pitching in with an ever-improving goal-tally, but with Pato forever injured it has been a rare sighting of another player finding the net apart from the big Swede.

It did occur in the demolition of Brescia on Saturday evening, but as was the case against Bari and Sampdoria, it was Zlat who set up the finish – on this occasion for Kevin Prince Boateng.

Of course, Ibra also left his mark on Brescia inside the half-hour mark with a finish that nearly ripped the net out.

Lazio have been relying more on their midfielders and defenders to ensure they find the back of the net – they have contributed eight goals so far this season (four from Hernanes) compared to four by their Milan equivalents.

Overall, there is little to choose between the two side’s current starting XIs: Mauro Zarate is a similar type of player to Robinho in that they are both supreme dribblers, and in midfield Hernanes, Christian Brocchi, Christian Ledesma and Stefano Mauro are a match for Andrea Pirlo, Rino Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Massimo Ambrosini.

There is little difference between the two sets of full-backs and in the goalkeeping positions although you would have to say Milan win hands down in the centre of defence when comparing the classy Alessandro Nesta and Thaigo Silva to the more workmanlike Giuseppe Biava and Andre Dias.

However, it is in attack where the real difference is telling – Ibra eight goals to go with all those assists, Floccari five goals which is not a bad return for an adequate frontman, but to win the title a team needs a world-class striker – Samuel Eto’o, David Trezeguet, Andriy Shevchenko, Gabriel Batistuta and of course Ibrahimovic stand testimony to that fact.

Talking of world-class strikers Adriano once promised to fall into such exulted company rather than the lunch-buffet which now seems to be the case.

There was some surprise to say the least when Claudio Ranieri decided to start the overweight Brazilian at Chievo, but the happy-go-lucky Roma coach probably thought that, seeing as the Bentegodi pitch resembled a beach after being churned up by some burly rugby-playing sorts a couple of weeks previously, the conditions were ideal for the striker to leave his mark.

Well, he certainly played like a beach-bum, although the heavy going at least meant that the Emperor did not look out of place labouring around in the sand pit.

The pitch at Verona has always been something of a barren patch and until yesterday evening Catania’s Massimino stadium had also been a bit of wasteland for visiting teams. The Sicilians had not lost at home for nearly a year but Juventus ended that proud record with a 3-1 victory.

Fabio Quagliarella scored twice but should really have had a hat-trick when the referee and his assistant failed to spot that a thunderous shot from the striker had crossed the well after coming down off the underside of the bar.

In the end, it made little difference as Juve consolidated third place and with Napoli and Palermo meeting this evening, the top of the table is beginning to take shape even if one familiar name is missing.

Napoli just about keep Italian flag flying in the Europa League

2010-12-03T13:19:00Z

Italy’s collective Europa League campaign has been one of flops, failures and in the end a freezing out of Europe’s B-list competition.

Napoli are the sole survivors with one round remaining of the group stages, where the four Serie A representatives have managed just two wins out of a possible twenty.

Juventus, Sampdoria and Palermo all saw their hopes disappear this week, but in truth the damage was done earlier on when victories were needed but never materialised.

Juve could well have complained that they could have done with playing in anti-glare snow goggles in Poland, where they drew with Lech Poznan in temperatures that reportedly fell to -11c, but there had been a chilling wind signalling an end to the Old Lady’s European hopes long before that.

Five straight draws have ultimately proven their undoing, and if they had managed to hold on for a draw at Manchester City then the return match next week may have held some significance, rather than becoming a glorified friendly. The goalless draw at home to Salzburg is something Gigi Del Neri and his men will not look back at with much pride either.

The rallying call in Turin will now be ‘the scudetto’ but clubs with their sights set on the title are generally not participating in the Europa League in the first place, never mind exiting at the group stage

Granted, there isn’t one team dominating the league at the moment and Juve are only six points off leaders AC Milan, but as in Europe, dropping two points has been the problem and the Turin outfit have also been dogged by the inability to put consecutive victories together.

Palermo look better equipped to launch a title bid after their failure to overcome Sparta Prague left them also facing elimination from the Europa League.

The Sicilians will have gained valuable experience from their brief stay in the competition - especially when it comes to ensuring that, if they are going to pick up yellow cards, they need to spread them around the team.

Dorian Goian was the latest guilty party when he needlessly picked up a yellow card early on against the Czech team and then could have no complaints when he received a second for a foul to give away a penalty.

Petulance is Javier Pastore’s problem and kicking the ball away when you are already booked was just plain brainless for what was the Argentine’s second dismissal in the competition, although a talent such as he will no doubt be performing in the Champions League next season, be it with his current club or his pick of Europe’s elite.

Whatever you may think of Sampdoria’s stand against the potty-mouthed Antonio Cassano, the truth of the matter is that they lacked that extra quality their star performer brings to the pitch (and that he so obviously lacks away from it) in their 2-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

Earlier this season, the Blucerchiati were sixty seconds away from making the group stages of the Champions League against Werder Bremen, but ultimately paid for not been able to hold on to a lead as was the case again in both matches against the Dutch side.

So it is left to Napoli to maintain some Italian pride, and a home win in their final game against Steau Bucharest will see them through.

The Partenopei had Edinson Cavani to thank again in another incredible comeback when it looked all over in Utrecht last night. The Uruguayan, who had grabbed a 98th-minute equaliser at Steau earlier in the campaign, hit a hat-trick against the Eredivisie side to set up what is effectively a knock-out European tie at the San Paolo against the Romanian side next Thursday.

It is hard to believe that Palermo president Maurizio Zamperini felt that Cavani was not up to the task of leading the frontline and although Juve, Samp and Palermo will not have another chance to show what they can do in Europe this season, at least one club from the peninsula is keeping the flag flying which for a time yesterday evening looked highly unlikely.

Robinho matures into manhood at Milan

2010-11-29T12:14:00Z

RESULTS Sat 27 Nov Sampdoria 1-1 Milan, Juventus 1-1 Fiorentina Sun 28 Nov Internazionale 5-2 Parma, Bari 1-1 Cesena, Bologna P-P Chievo, Brescia 0-0 Genoa, Cagliari 3-2 Lecce, Lazio 1-1 Catania, Udinese 3-1 Napoli, Palermo 3-1 Roma

If a Brazilian can't settle at AC Milan, he's not really a Brazilian – more like an Argentinian.

The club has always been a home from home for Samba Boys, from Altafini and Amarildo to Cafu and Kaka, so there were expressions of puzzlement amongst the Rossoneri hierarchy back in August when it was suggested that Robinho was a risky signing.

True, there had been tantrums and walkouts at Real Madrid and Manchester City, but there has never been any suggestion that the fleet-footed South American would be storming out of Milanello.

He slipped in quietly, compared to the headlines surrounding the arrival of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Many believed he would either play second string to Ronaldinho, who had been buzzing in pre-season training, or as a luxury substitute whenever Alexandre Pato’s fragile frame gave in. Many outside the club expected party tricks with Dinho to focus on the dance floor, but the only time Robinho was photographed away from the pitch was coming out of a Brazilian food store with a bag of rice.

Massimiliano Allegri’s initial 4-3-3 formation ensured Robinho was indeed the odd man out, but the coach's switch to a more balanced 4-3-1-2 – not to mention Pato’s injury problems and Ronaldinho’s nocturnal wanderings – has seen Robinho take a more pivotal role.

A model professional, then? Allegri certainly thinks so, putting his trust in the new Brazil captain, who has taken the pressure off his coach when the question "Are Milan too reliant on Ibra?" Saturday’s goal at Sampdoria was his fourth in the league, just three behind the big Swede who has also scored two from the penalty spot.

But for losing his bearings in front of goal at Bari the other week, he'd probably be level with the Swede in the scoring charts. Either way, it certainly looks as if he is finally fulfilling the potential he has only shown in flashes since arriving in Europe five years ago at the age of 21.

There had been question-marks over whether he was too much of an individual for the constraints of the Italian game and although his party-piece is still the pedalada – the exaggerated step-over – it is employed to turn defenders to distraction rather than infuriate his team-mates.

His licence to roam from left to right has definitely given Milan a new impetus and when Zlat is off-colour, as was the case this weekend, the nimble support striker has been on hand to energise the team.

Having taken the lead in Genoa, the league leaders might have lost their way after the opposition equalised, but it was Binho who offered the greatest threat – and it was no wonder that the other Ho was left on the bench until the last minute, seeing as a certain Scandinavian is now the untouchable one. After all, Allegri had maintained that it would be very difficult to see all three ball players on the pitch at the same time – and it was certainly a blink and miss it moment.

Just for the record, Ronaldinho has not started since the 3-1 win over Chievo on October 16 and another late night before the Fiorentina game has not helped his cause; the former World Player of the Year is now the luxury benchwarmer.

Lazio, Napoli and Juventus couldn't take advantage of the leaders dropping two points, but Inter shook off weeks of self-pity to stick five past Parma.

Sub-zero temperatures and a noon kick-off seemed just the ingredients for another sub-standard display, especially with Samuel Eto’o sitting out the first of his three-game suspension.

However, those hardy souls willing to drag themselves to the San Siro under slate-grey Milanese skies were rewarded by a vibrant display from the ailing champions – but only after it seemed that Javier Zanetti demanded that Rafa Benitez push Wesley Sneijder forward to support Goran Pandev and Jonathan Biabiany in attack.

As with the Champions League win over FC Twente in midweek, Inter enjoyed a fair share of good fortune – the lack of which the ever-more isolated Benitez had been bleating on about for the last seven days – in the shape of two deflected goals from Dejan Stankovic.

The Serbian bagged a rare hat-trick and described the win, Inter's first at home in the league in just over two months, as being like a dose of penicillin. It remains to be seen whether it's a panacea or a placebo.

Wins for Roma and Milan put smile back on the face of Italian football

2010-11-24T15:50:00Z

Italian football has been in desperate need of a little pick-me-up in Europe for a good few months, and Tuesday evening provided it in the best possible manner – AS Roma’s fight-back from two-nil down to defeat Bayern Munich.

Serie A’s Champions League representatives had so far failed to overcome their main continental rivals so far this campaign – Roma having already in Munich, AC Milan coming up short to La Liga kingpins Real Madrid and Inter falling flat on their faces against the Premier League’s very own Tottenham Hotspur.

With the Milanese sides up against French and Dutch opposition in the penultimate round of group stage matches, the pick of the games from an Italian perspective was always going to be the Romans at home to last year’s finalists.

Of course, the Bundesliga side had already made safe their passage to the knock-out stages as group winners and were shorn of big guns Mark Van Bommel, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben, which does put things into perspective somewhat, but at least the final outcome provided succour in times of need.

It seemed for a time that it was more a case of suckers for punishment, as the Romans handed Bayern two quick-fire goals after their own period of sustained, but ultimately fruitless, pressure.

With Mirko Vucinic unwilling to track back and Jeremy Menez causing more problems for his own side when he did, Roma conceded wide open tracks of space to the visitors who were more than happy to populate in numbers.

The territorial advantage had been lost, which was very unlike Claudio Ranieri’s side in recent times – with their recent seven game undefeated run built around masterful possession and razor-sharp incursions into the opposition final third.

Granted, the two best passers were on the bench, but Francesco Totti and in particular David Pizarro had already missed games along the way without the team looking so disjointed and bereft of the ball.

In all honesty it could have been at least 4-1 to the Bavarians at the break and no one would have batted an eyelid, but at least Ranieri had fifteen minutes to go batty at his players and no doubt Menez felt the sharp end of the Roman’s tongue lash.

It needed a bit more of the sword and less of the sandals if there was to be the kind of epic comeback required to ensure qualification remained in Giallorossi hands going into the final group game.

The French winger could never be described as gladiatorial, but it was his stirring run and cross for Marco Borriello to score the first goal that galvanised both the home team and its supporters who certainly played their part from the stands roaring their approval at every turn.

Roma legend Bruno Conti has claimed that Menez is a better player than he ever was, but there was always one thing that the 1982 World Cup winner did right and that was the basics.

As long as he is gliding forward, Menez is indeed magical, but anywhere near his own goal he becomes mesmerising in all the wrong ways as witnessed by the air-head pass to Daniele De Rossi on the edge of the Giallorossi area which lead to Bayern’s second goal.

Ranieri pointed the former Monaco man in the right direction – down the right flank - and with Vucinic hugging the left suddenly it was wing command taking control.

With Borriello unnerving the backline, the scene was set to drive the sword home and for Totti to make the sort of entry that we will become more accustomed to – a 15-minute cameo of sublime touches and defence-splitting passes and to cap it all, the winning goal.

Local Roman newspaper il Messaggero summed up a evening that Ranieri described as “historic” perfectly: “It was a virtuoso performance from the soloists that demands a standing ovation from the whole of Italy.”

Also playing the happy beat were AC Milan, who secured their runners-up spot behind Real with a routine 2-0 win at Auxerre. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s absolute blinding strike and Ronaldinho’s own cameo performance rounded off with a perfectly-placed curler also helped put the smile back on the face of Italian football – well until Inter play at least.

Zlat the Splat turns Serie A into the walking dead

2010-11-22T12:23:00Z

RESULTS Sat 20 Nov Roma 2-0 Udinese, AC Milan 1-0 Fiorentina Sun 21 Nov Genoa 0-2 Juventus, Brescia 1-2 Cagliari, Catania 1-0 Bari, Cesena 1-2 Palermo, Chievo 2-1 Internazionale, Lecce 2-3 Sampdoria, Parma 1-1 Lazio, Napoli 4-1 Bologna

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed he is nothing more than a zombie at the moment, stumbling around throughout the week in a daze until he gets a scent of matchday.

Then, like a character from The Walking Dead, he goes tearing lumps out of any unfortunate soul within his reach. Last week it was Marco Materazzi and on Saturday it was Fiorentina’s Per Kroldrup.

The Inter he-man had to be taken to A&E after coming off second-best to a flying taekwondo kick, while the gangly Dane was dragged around the San Siro like a rag-doll before he plucked up a bit of courage to lash out at his tormentor – only for his yapping to the referee to result in his own red card.

By that stage he was a hapless heap of quivering flesh anyway, which has been the case for just about every backline in the league when the big man starts pounding into them – and there's nothing they can do about it.

The way things are going AC Milan will win the league at a canter unless someone (or something) halts the Swede marauding around the country every weekend.

Serie A defenders like to think they are made of the right stuff but now that Ibra has settled back into life in Italy no one has been able to hang in there for more than a few rounds.

Giorgio Chiellini could be a contender, having gone the distance with his old sparring partner in the past (see video), but unfortunately we never got the opportunity to witness a bit of rough-house recently: the defender with the face of a battered punchbag failed to get through the pre-game warm-up without inflicting injury upon himself.

So far the only man man enough to stand toe to toe with Zlat The Splat has been the 200-pound Oguchi Onyewu – but unfortunately for the rest of the league the American bruiser is also employed by Milan although he could become of some use if he secures a loan switch to another Italian side in January.

In the meantime, there is no one taller, tougher or with more physical presence than the Rossoneri Rumbler: eight goals so far this campaign and the matchwinner in the last two outings has ensured that no one can mess with a side that had always put brain before brawn in the past.

Not that it is all bluster with Ibra – as witnessed by his Viola-dispatching bicycle-kick at the weekend. After scoring he threw his arm skywards with such gusto that there seemed for a moment that the limb would fly off into the stands.

Ibs has been accused of lacking heart and a team ethic in the past but not anymore and for all the intricacy of passing that made Milan stand out there has never been a real focal point for the attack since Andriy Shevchenko moved on.

Now the Scandinavian thrives on the menace he provides in the area of confrontation so vital in Italian football – imposing your will on the defence.

Massimiliano Allegri would love that his enforcer could veg out now and again at the weekend but three points ahead of Lazio at the top of the table and a whopping nine in front of Inter means that the coach will be throwing his hit-man opposition shirts to sniff in every pre-game training session from now on.

And what of the other daddy of the league: the player brought to Inter to replace Ibra, Samuel Eto’o? Well, frustration, pent-up rage and in the end a poor imitation of a Zinedine Zidane headbutt on Chievo’s Bostjan Cesar summed up his current state of mind.

It wasn’t that convincing really; more as if he was wiping sweat off his brow against the defender’s sternum than attempting to puncture his enemy's chest, as the Frenchman had seemingly endeavoured to do to Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final.

Verona is the city of broken hearts, where Milan’s own title dreams have been put to the sword in the past, and now it was the turn of the current champions to commit their own scudetto suicide on a grey old Sunday.

Not a cheery tale to tell, what with the one-time lords of the manor down to sixth in the table and the only player seemingly able to lift his game above the mediocre now facing anything up to a four-game ban.

Taking advantage of the waning Rafa Benitez’s fruitless time at the court of Moratti are Napoli, Juventus and AS Roma, who all enjoyed victories at the weekend.

Lazio remained just ahead of the Neapolitans in second after a draw at Parma. However, there is one team – or should that be one man – standing head and shoulders above the rest, and as long as Ibra’s is taking no nonsense Milan will continue to knock the opposition off one by one.

Tetchy Moratti gives Benitez his backing - for the time being

2010-11-19T12:05:00Z

So, after storming away from the San Siro on Sunday, spending Monday in tetchy mood with reporters before falling into sulky silence, Massimo Moratti broke cover to hand Rafa Benitez his full backing.

Usually the vote of confidence is a harbinger of doom for any coach and Moratti has plenty of previous when it comes to telling the public one thing and doing completely the opposite in private. Well, sort of in private, as it is well-known in Milanese circles that sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport will break a story originating from the inner sanctum of Inter headquarters.

Alberto Zaccheroni, Hector Cuper and Roberto Mancini no doubt have the press clippings horded away somewhere foretelling of their demise. Benitez has three games to save his job was the gist of the latest premonition, coming as it did from reliable sources close to the man from the black stuff.

Oil is a pretty slippery liquid, so any blame for the coach’s failure will seep downwards towards Marco Branca, who persuaded his employer that Benitez was the man to continue where Jose Mourinho had left off – without any new signings, of course.

Apparently the technical director brushed away the Spaniard’s concerns that, having landed the Treble, the team were in natural decline and in need of a few fresh faces, claiming that the club had everything in hand but when Benitez put forward a few transfer targets they were ignored.

As long as the current group continued to dominate at home then the hierarchy could get on with bringing the club finances under control, but the last month or so have seen the side sail some choppy waters, spring a leak along the way before running aground in the derby.

It was left to Branca to see what could be salvaged and then get the vessel afloat again, dispatched as he was to the training ground with vice president and heir to the throne Angelo Mario Moratti, for a clear the air meeting with Benitez and his assistant Amedeo Carboni.

Or put it another way, let’s get tough with this Iberian interloper. The meeting came at a time when most of the first-team squad were away on international duty or injured, so no one could hear the pleas from Benitez for more time.

The emissaries apparently returned to the city satisfied that they had made is suitable clear what was expected, but all too aware that once a rift occurs between an underling and the boss then there is little that can be done to heal it.

Mancini sealed his fate with his public resignation at the final whistle after losing to Benitez-managed Liverpool in the Champions League despite going on to win the title.

Benitez is a veteran of boardroom politics from his time in England and he knows he needs to get results back on track again which means getting tough with his players.

Early momentum has come to a grinding halt over the last month or so with just 10 points from the last eight games while Milan have gathered 21 points. So an 11-point gap has turned into a six-point deficit.

Injuries are one thing but what seems to be at the heart of the problem is that the dressing room is missing belief - something Mourinho excelled at, getting the best out of whatever resources he had at his disposal – Moscow when the side were on the cusp of elimination from the Champions League, Chelsea after the 1-1 draw at home and of course Barcelona when the odds were stacked against them, all come to mind.

Benitez cannot seem to lift his charges in the same way – witness the abject performance at Spurs and the lacklustre response in the derby against 10-man AC Milan which so obviously ticked off Moratti.

If Inter cannot get positive results from Chievo, Parma and FC Twente then any Inter coach would be expecting the dreaded meeting with the main man, but as it stands the World Cup for Clubs will be the moment where Benitez’s fate will be sealed.

He flunked the European Super Cup and failed in the derby so if Inter are not crowned World Champions then it would be adios Benitez.

If reports are to be believed then the candidates are indeed wide ranging – Leonardo obviously just to get up Silvio Berlusconi’s nose, Frank Rijkaard and Luciano Spalletti fresh from being crowned Russian champion with Zenit St Petersburg.

They have all been strategically placed to up the pressure on Benitez who needs to demonstrate some of that tactical wisdom to negotiate the corridors of power in what has been a five months at Inter that few could have envisaged.

Former Hammer Diamanti hoping to finally find himself in fashion

2010-11-17T11:04:00Z

Marcello Lippi may have been a man to give the nod to household names, but his successor Cesare Prandelli has preferred to trawl the lesser-known path to unearth Italy internationals.

For starters, the squad to face Romania this evening has an Argentine in its ranks, with Cristian Ledesma following in the footsteps of Mauro Camoranesi, but what is more striking are the number of players from less fashionable clubs.

In fact, it would take less time to name the players plucked from the Serie A elite, but at least it gives the Azzurri a more homely feel which should help the likes of Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Andrea Ranocchia (Genoa) and Daniele Gastaldello (Sampdoria) settle in without feeling intimidated by their new surroundings.

One new cap who seems to have taken to the manor-born is Brescia’s Alessandro Diamanti, who has been darting around in training like Antonio Cassano should be, winning everyone over with his enthusiasm at just being part of La Nazionale set-up. He is proving that if you have what it takes technically and the fire in your belly, you can make it.

The 27-year-old is a hero to the outsiders – the street dribbling, off-the-cuff mavericks who never quite had the talent of a Cassano and thusly spent their careers with boots slung over their shoulders travelling the backwaters and by-lanes of the Italian football scene (and East London, in Diamanti‘s case).

The Tuscan-born Diamanti did it his way, from Serie D to A; but never became part of the A crowd.

There were spells at his hometown club Prato, Empoli, Livorno and three games for Fiorentina when they went under the name of Fiorentia Viola - and always there were whispers of a step-up into the big time, but it seemed his face would never fit at one of the more prestigious clubs.

Never fully appreciated at home, he pitched up at Gianfrano Zola’s West Ham United, where he immediately drew comparisons with another ball-playing entertainer who liked to do things his own way: Paolo Di Canio.

He had the same pinched features, hunched running style and was never afraid to take a penalty or two – in fact he even shaved his head in the fashion of the Roman. But just like his predecessor at Upton Park, he seemed destined to never be fashionable in the eyes of those back home, especially when after just one season in England he moved to Brescia.

However, looks can be deceiving. He may be heavily-tattooed (although what Italian players aren’t?) and still has a penchant for eye-catching hair-styles – the latest was a cross between Robert de Nero in Taxi driver and an extra from Max Mad which thankfully had grown out by the time he arrived at Federation headquarters at Coverciano - but he prefers to live the family life with his wife and two kids.

One thing that does set him apart is that he can play a bit, and for Brescia fans he is the closest thing they will ever get to another Roberto Baggio, although club president Gino Corioni’s assertion that the new darling of the fans was better than the one-time Divine Ponytail was well wide of the mark.

The player was the first to laugh off Corioni‘s comparison, joking that he could only his left foot, but already this season he has given a master-class in tricky against Inter and Juventus – scoring an absolute stunner against the latter.

And it was no surprise that when he was forced to sit out three matches after being banned for berating the referee as he left the pitch after being sent-off at Lazio, the Rondinelle’s form nose-dived in his absence.

With Cassano off the scene until March, Diamanti has the chance to take up the mantle of the team’s creative fulcrum, for one night at least. He’ll be hoping he can stay in fashion.

Sumptuous Serie A servings show Inter no longer at top table

2010-11-15T11:52:00Z

RESULTS Sat 13 Nov Fiorentina 1-0 Cesena, Juventus 1-1 Roma Sun 14 Nov Lazio 2-0 Napoli, Bari 0-1 Parma, Bologna 1-0 Brescia, Cagliari 0-1 Genoa, Palermo 3-1 Catania, Sampdoria 0-0 Chievo, Udinese 4-0 Lecce, Inter Milan 0-1 AC Milan

Mid-November and the first mists of early winter begin to hang over the country, but the league starts to take a clearer form – and with the top eight facing each other over the weekend, it seemed an appropriate moment to bring some order to the table.

AC Milan had displaced Lazio at the top of the table with Napoli leapfrogging Inter while Juventus and Roma loomed just outside the top four.

With the Milan derby, Juventus against AS Roma and the meeting between Lazio and Napoli there promised a mouthwatering weekend of drama, goals and no doubt contentious refereeing decisions.

And even if seventh-placed Sampdoria against eighth-placed Chievo held little for the appetite, a dash of some great football and sprinklings of individual skill made the weekend crackle and fizzle like a frying pan of pancetta.

Fifth-placed Juventus and sixth-placed AS Roma was more than just a tasty little appetiser and certainly got the juices flowing: always a grudge game, especially for the Romans, and this time with Claudio Ranieri still seething with rage over the way the Old Lady dumped him while Alberto Aquilani faced his old "family".

Such affairs need strong referees and looked as if Mr. Rizzoli was going to stand for no nonsense when he booked Jeremy Menez inside 40 seconds for a late lunge on Fabio Grosso.

However, moments later when Felipe Melo rattled into Francesco Totti, the yellow card remained firmly in the official’s pocket – which only encouraged the players to play on the edge of legality for the rest of the game.

Roma were better at maintaining possession because their players are more technically adroit, but Juve are a tenacious and obstinate bunch – apart from the nimble-footed Aquilani, whose cheeky nutmeg on Leandro Greco followed by defence-splitting cross set up Vincenzo Iaquinta for the opener.

Both sides were up in arms at the referee just before the break: first the visitors, when Giorgio Chiellini dived into a challenge on Philippe Mexes inside the area but play was waved on; then the home side surrounded the official after a penalty was given when Totti’s free-kick cannoned off Simone Pepe’s arm.

After dispatching the spot-kick for his first league goal of the season, Totti baited the home faces and a heated debate continued all the way down the tunnel.

Words were exchanged between the Giallorossi captain and Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari – the origins of which dated back to Storari witnessing Totti and his team-mate Daniel de Rossi verbally abusing the Sampdoria players after they had all but ended the Romans' title hopes last season.

The second half was even more blood and thunder, summed up perfectly by the image of Chiellini in the dying seconds with blood streaming down his face, after a collision with Mirko Vucinic, refusing to leave the pitch to receive treatment.

Sunday lunchtime served up more delectable fare in the sunshine of Rome's Olympic Stadium. Against Napoli, Lazio coach Edy Reja allowed Mauro Zarate to dish up a smorgasbord of delightful skills to fire the Biancocelesti back to the top of the table in a 2-0 win.

It was an important victory, especially after the derby and midweek defeat at Cesena – even if Zarate’s opener had the touch of handball about it as the Argentine raced on to a bouncing ball inside the area.

However, to be really sated only an evening feast of fancy footwork, flying tackles and Milanese artistry out on the lush greenery of the San Siro would suffice.

This being Inter v AC Milan, everyone was expecting Marco Materazzi to make one of his meaty challenges from behind on Zlatan Ibrahimovic early on. The veteran obliged but misjudged his position, which happened to be inside the penalty-area.

There was only ever going to be one man to take the spot-kick and how the big Swede must have enjoyed his former fans choking on their jeers when he stepped up to dispatch the ball firmly into the corner of the net. Revenge and cold dishes, as they say.

Injuries have dogged Inter all season, but the latest seemed to help them get back in the game. When Joel Obi limped off with Esteban Cambiasso stripped off and ready to come on, Rafa Benitez changed tack and chose Philippe Coutinho. With Dejan Stankovic moved inside and the young Brazilian playing wide right, the Nerazzurri were potentially more of a threat – although you would never have known it with barely a shot troubling Christian Abbiati.

Another substitute Goran Pandev, on for another limper Diego Milito, attempted a different approach when he wound Ignazio Abate up by shoving the full-back to the ground.

The Milan man fell for it, so to speak, raising his hands to his opponent's face and receiving a second yellow card. Tellingly, the reckless Abate was just about to be substituted which brought back memories of Rino Gattuso seeing red last year moments before his number was about to come up.

Ibra’s martial arts skills came in handy when he attempted to tear a lump out of Materazzi (shades of Zinedine Zidane, but with the boot rather than the head) and as the Inter man was stretchered out of the stadium you just knew the after-dinner drinks were off.

Also off the menu was any further meaningful football as a fully satisfied 10-man Milan closed up shop for the evening while the Inter players wandered around the edge of the opposition area waiting for the referee to call time on their depressing evening.

So having gorged on a marathon two-day pig-out of Serie A’s finest offerings the conclusion is that no one course was the meal of champions although Inter’s days at the top table looks finally over.

Preview: AC Milan look to reassert derby dominance over Inter

2010-11-12T10:00:00Z

FIXTURES Sat 13 Nov Fiorentina v Cesena, Juventus v AS Roma Sun 14 Nov Lazio v Napoli, Bari v Parma, Bologna v Brescia, Cagliari v Genoa, Palermo v Catania, Sampdoria v Chievo Verona, Udinese v Lecce, Inter Milan v AC Milan

With the derby coming up this weekend, going top of the table for the first time in two years couldn't have come at a more timely moment for AC Milan.

The Rossoneri swept past Palermo in the midweek round, despite having to put up with the ever-so-fragile Alexandre Pato limping off again: just what is going on at the much-vaunted Milan Lab that they can't keep the Brazilian on the pitch for more than 20 minutes at a time?

NEWS: Milan go top

And just when Filippo Inzaghi was feeling on top of the world, damaging knee ligaments means the end of the veteran’s season – and possibly his career at the club, unless Adriano Galliani takes pity on him.

NEWS: Inzaghi to miss rest of season

Anyway, things could be worse: they could be Inter, who for once come into the Derby della Madonnina needing all the help they can from the Virgin Mary.

During Jose Mourinho’s time in charge there was only one team in town as the Nerazzurri lorded over their old rivals on three consecutive occasions – indeed, Milan haven't even scored in the last two encounters.

Those were the days when Inter fans strutted around with the air of mini-Mourinhos, checking their look in shop windows and generally feeling smug with life. Now that exuberance, that top-of-the-heap numero-uno aplomb seems lacking, replaced by something else.

Like the onset of winter, there is a chilling acknowledgement that the wildest, craziest affair they ever had will most likely never be repeated – never again will they hit the heights of ecstasy as they did not once but thrice in one season.

Just one tiny thrill would probably do before everyone hunkers down for another long Milanese winter – and if it doesn’t come on Sunday then it’s going to have to be the Club World Cup.

Rafa Benitez isn’t exactly titillating locals who are missing that bit of devilment - that wild, reckless streak Jose brought to every occasion and especially derby encounters.

After a draw at Lecce as pale as Wesley Sneijder with anaemia, all the Spaniard could muster was that his team were unlucky and that he expected more from his players.

January joy as Inter celebrate a derby win last season

Across town Massimiliano Allegri – in need of another haircut a mere two weeks after getting a neat back-and-sides – has been doing little to get the pulse racing either, claiming that the derby will not be decisive in determining the outcome of the title race.

Well, so what? Inter are there for the taking: at this stage of the campaign last season, they were top with eight points more and had scored double the amount of goals. Now even Napoli have overtaken them.

Of course, it matters little if the coaches fail to ratchet up a bit of tension in the manner Mou and Leonardo did last season and even Carlo Ancelotti before that. A derby is most often remembered by what the players do when they take centre stage.

It will be interesting to see how both sides react to what on paper seems a bit of a role-reversal where Milan are the mean and moody bullies, as witnessed by the way likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rino Gattuso and Mathieu Flamini have been snarling their way through games of late.

Inter seem almost retiring in comparison, even if they still have few tasty competitors in the side such as Douglas Maicon, Lucio and Ivan Cordoba.

However, beware the wounded beast, as they say and the club’s medical staff are confident that Esteban Cambiasso will be fit to start while a few days' rest will hopefully have brought a bit of colour back to Sneijder’s cheeks.

One man who knows what it takes to win a Milan derby, having appeared in 56 of them, is Paolo Maldini. He believes that his old club won't have a better opportunity that this to put one over their cousins and strike a psychological blow by opening up a six-point gap.

The legendary defender is of the opinion that Milan are well equipped to win the league title, more so than progressing to the latter stages of the Champions League, so now is the time to seize the moment.

For their part Inter will feel that this is the ideal occasion to get their season up and running again – which could yet make for an stirring evening of strong passions at the San Siro.

Rafa looks to younger limbs as Inter's injury problems mount

2010-11-09T12:56:00Z

Rafa Benitez and Massimo Moratti must have had a long look at each other after Inter’s draw with Brescia on Saturday and pondered where it was all going wrong for the defending champions.

The following day that young rebel Mario Balotelli was scoring twice for his new club Manchester City, while the Nerazzurri were counting the length of their injury list. Walter Samuel was the latest to collapse in a heap and it looks as if the central defender’s season is over with ligament damage to his knee.

It was damp old evening at the San Siro and Inter were off-colour from the start. Only Samuel Eto’o demonstrated anything in the way of a positive attitude against well-organised but ultimately beatable opponents who were allowed to grow in confidence after taking an early lead.

Benitez may not be ‘special’ like Jose Mourinho, but even the Portuguese would find it difficult to get anything out of a side decimated by so many injuries to key players.

Douglas Maicon’s troublesome hamstring finally gave in at the weekend and the full-back joined Esteban Cambiasso, Thiago Motta, Julio Cesar and Sulley Muntari in the treatment room nursing a range of muscle strains.

Athletic trainer Paco De Miguel looks set to be working overtime to get players fit again and he has defended claims that his preparations had caused some of the injuries, maintaining he had changed little from the previous regime and was working towards ensuring the players stayed in shape over the hump of the season without tiring their limbs.

Youngsters on the whole do not tire as much as the more mature players, so Benitez and his staff will have to work on fine-tuning the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Joel Obi and the speedy Jonathan Biabiany over a shorter period, with nearly two months still standing between them and the January transfer window.

Inter will then, by all accounts, buy up the outstanding fifty per cent of Andrea Ranocchia’s contract from Genoa - worth something in the region of €10 million - thus not breaking the bank for a new central defender.

There is a round of mid-week games coming up and the defending champions will leave dull, cold Milan for the relatively benign climes of Lecce.

However, it is the weekend derby that will be on their minds, so Wesley Sneijder will sit out, having become all light-headed in the dressing room at the weekend which meant he couldn’t take the pitch for the second half.

The San Siro showdown will not be for the faint-hearted – not with AC Milan suddenly becoming the macho side in the city.

Having beaten Bari, the Rossoneri will want to push on this week against Palermo, although Massimiliano Allegri is finding it difficult to keep some of his players, who feel they know more than the coach, in check.

Rino Gattuso tore into the team’s tactics after conceding the last-gasp equaliser to Real Madrid in the Champions League which just about forced Allegri to drop Ronaldinho and play Rino, Massimo Ambrosini and Mathieu Flamini at the base of the midfield against Bari.

It ultimately made little difference as the team still conceded two goals, and Allegri didn’t help his cause by refusing to bend to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s veiled demands that he preferred playing upfront with Filippo Inzaghi - by fielding Robinho instead.

Pippo was left to sulk on the bench and in a show of 37-year-old petulance threatened to leave in January alluding to “a couple of interesting offers.”

No doubt the moody vet will start against Palermo, but Ibra needs a slap on the wrist; so just to annoy both of them the Swede could well be left on the bench.

The club have made great efforts to play down the bust-up - for that’s what it apparently was -between Ibra and the man mountain Oguchi Onyewu in training last week with photos surfacing of the pair really going at it after the stroppy Swede had dived into a late challenge on the American defender.

Insiders have claimed there pair didn’t “kiss and make up” and only performed the most reluctant of handshakes – and in a scene familiar to any prison drama, the Brazilian clique have taken the big Yank under their collective wing, although this may ultimately be for Ibra’s protection as much as anything else...

However, as long has the Rossoneri are pushing for top spot and can overcome Inter at the weekend the team will continue to present a united front.

While the Milanese giants play make or break-up, Lazio hang on to top spot despite their derby defeat and have a chance to get back on track against struggling Cesena. Joint-fourth Juventus – Happy Birthday, Alex – and Napoli are on the road at feisty Brescia and Cagliari, respectively which leaves AS Roma the most likely to profit as they face Fiorentina at home.

Ranieri outwits Reja as Giallorossi shoot down soaring Eagles

2010-11-08T11:48:00Z

There was something in the air ahead of the Rome derby, and it wasn’t Olympia the eagle, which had been grounded due to fears for the poor feathered soul’s wellbeing.

The last time the Lazio mascot was let loose he/she/it remained on the stadium roof for 35 minutes before being coaxed down – so rather than turn the event into a bird of prey target practice session, Olympia was instead paraded in front of the relative haven of the Monte Mario and Curva Nord stand ahead of the game.

The military band of the Bersaglieri must have wished they had remained there as well. The Sharpshooters don’t march, they jog and they needed to be quick on their feet when they ventured over to the Curva Sud – home of the AS Roma hardcore fan base.

There to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unity of Italy and as a tribute to Lazio founder Luigi Bigiarelli, the little runners were met by a burning flare arching through the air and into their ranks.

The trumpeters legged it through the smokescreen to the other end of the stadium where they received a warmer welcome.

Already it had all the makings of another heated Derby della Capitale but it was a shame to see such wide open spaces along one side of the ground.

The running battles in the Tevere stand which marred last season’s corresponding fixture had left that area a no-man’s land, open only to Lazio season-ticket holders, children and the over-60s – and we wonder why the Italian game is not family-orientated.

Three o’clock is no longer the traditional kick-off time for big games and despite one team being top of the league and the other coming off a win in the Champions League there seemed little enthusiasm among the locals to turn out in large numbers - and who can blame them.

There were the usual crowd disturbances along the Ponte Milvio after the game although the police claimed it ‘a success’ that only one fan had been stabbed, while another lost a finger trying to scale a wall into the stadium.

While the aforementioned Roma fans were spoiling the band and eagle’s afternoon, their Lazio counterparts took to taunting the rather soft target of Adriano, unfurling an enormous banner with the appropriate enough but less than original ‘Hippopotamus Adriano’ scrawled across it.

Having failed to grab the imagination off the pitch, there was plenty to hold attention on it and any match that is decided by two penalties is always going to be somewhat contentious.

There can be little argument about the first spot-kick when Stefan Lichsteiner’s hand got in the way of a thunderous goal-bound Simplicio effort – and the referee had already pointed to the spot before the Roma players could swarm over him like a swarm of shouty, whinging bees.

But the second was not quite so clear-cut. Julio Baptista pushed Lichsteiner, who then collided with Guglielmo Stentardo as he mistimed his leap: the loose ball fell to the Brazilian who tumbled under the slightest contact from Andre Dias.

Lazio had two genuine appeals for spot kicks of their own waved away: the first when Sergio Floccari tangled with Philippe Mexes, whose swan-dive earned him top marks for evading a certain red card as well.

The referee then missed John Arne Riise dragging Stefano Mauro down as a free-kick was swung into the area, although his assistant had also not spotted that Dias was in an offside position when the dead-ball was struck.

Claudio Ranieri filled the midfield with lively players with energy to burn, nullifying Lazio’s strongest area of the pitch and in turn providing a springboard for attacks from eventual goalscorers Mirko Vucinic and Marco Borriello.

Ranieri had already given notice of his approach to the encounter in the pre-game press conference when he recalled legendary Roma coach Zdenek Zeman’s feelings that the derby was ‘just another match’.

Being a Roman and a Romanisti, there were never going to be any feelings of neutrality from the Giallorossi coach, who now has three consecutive derby wins to his name.

As expected Francesco Totti’s absence was more of a hindrance for Lazio: having no hate-figure to direct their ire towards while the Roma players were not obliged to pass the ball to their captain at every turn. And would the local lad have kept his cool when it came to the penalty kicks?

Ranieri got it spot on while his opposite number, the more prosaic Edoardo Reja, failed to dare when it really mattered – and now we have to wonder if the eagle is in danger of becoming permanently grounded.

Pippo strikes again but Mou's Madrid mug meek Milan

2010-11-04T11:28:00Z

It was fitting that Filippo Inzaghi’s record-setting goal would come from his favourite position – offside – even if SuperPippo was pipped at the post in his moment of glory by the Special One.

AC Milan looked home and dry against Real Madrid thanks to Pip’s two-goal burst, only for that old Jose Mourinho jinx to strike again when Pedro Leon made it 2-2 with just about the last kick of the game.

Grabbing the record as the top goalscorer in European club competitions overall, the veteran striker had already whipped out two commemorative shirts emblazoned with the number 69 and 70 – but it was the Portuguese who was whipping down the touchline in final celebration.

Still, Inzaghi has now moved ahead of Gerd Muller and Raul in European goals scored – and in front of Marco van Basten’s 184 goals in the Rossoneri goalscoring charts, an amazing achievement for the 37-year-old whose career looked to be over five years ago.

It was one of those rip-roaring evenings at the San Siro and Mourinho was primed to play the pantomime villain when greeted by a wall of whistling and jeers, responding with a three-fingered salute reminding the red and black half of the city of his personal achievements last season.

"Yoo-hoo! I'm back!"

At least Mou’s presence had encouraged Massimiliano Allegri to smarten himself up, instead of looking like some small-town council official who had allowed his mother to cut his hair and pick out his clothes from the local Upim (cheap and not so cheerful clobber outlet for the sartorially challenged).

However, he has not yet stamped his authority on the side. Otherwise he wouldn't have given in to the obvious pressure coming from Silvio Berlusconi - not the first time someone has had to bow to the little cavalier – to play Ronaldinho in place of the in-form Robinho, who had kept his compatriot out of the side recently.

Forget the "diplomatic" injury, the club have been kidding no one – Allegri doesn’t want the boss’s favourite party guy in his side, but it's the coach who is hamstrung at the moment.

At least when the No.80 had proven that he is only in shape to hang around Milanese watering-holes, there was the oldest swinger at a loose ball ready and more than willing to seize his moment.

The first goal was a typical Inzaghi reaction to a goalkeeper making a complete hash of a routine ball played into the six-yard area. And the second, well, it made up for all the other times he hadn't been offside in his career.

Taking care of business: Pippo bags the first

Milan’s display may have lacked the slickness of the big city but there was plenty of provincial endeavour on show – although that will not serve in progressing a long way in the competition.

This is where Allegri needs to overcome his awe at coaching a club with such a rich tradition in Europe and shed the inferiority complex which makes him concentrate on nullifying the opposition rather than believing in the instincts of his own team.

Milan never used to worry about going a goal down but now their play is hampered by what-ifs. It took to some shoddy Madrid defending and a myopic referee’s assistant to get their noses ahead last night, but ultimately they lacked belief in victory.

The Rossoneri may have suffered a late sucker-punch, but AS Roma came off the ropes to produce some deft counter-attacking to down Basel and put the Giallorossi back in the box seat for the runners-up spot in their group.

It was a positive evening for another old hand, Francesco Totti, who got on the scoresheet for the first time this season in the 3-2 win – and can now put his feet up and watch the Rome derby at home, where in true Roman scaramanzia [good luck] he expects Lazio to win with a Sergio Floccari penalty.

There may be life in both old dogs yet but there is still much work to be done for all three of Italy’s Champions League representatives – and finishing second in their respective groups will only cause concern for Inter, Milan and Roma further down the line.

Jose's Milan return highlights task facing beaten Benitez

2010-11-03T10:54:00Z

Jose Mourinho swept back into Milan yesterday, strolling triumphantly through the arrivals hall at Malpensa airport.

The return of the Special One was always going to be big news and the Inter fans had gathered in numbers to hail the man who had led the club to an amazing Treble last season – a couple had even paid €320 for a room in the same hotel as Real Madrid just to say they had “slept” close to the man with the Midas touch.

In the early hours of this morning Rafa Benitez slipped quietly back through the same airport with no more than a sideways glance from a couple of cleaners and a few other weary travellers.

Having lost their Mou-Jo in the summer, Inter are becoming a pale shadow of their former self with each passing week and Benitez cannot seem to correct the slide which has seen the Nerazzurri drop off top place both at home and in their Champions League group.

Of course, they had a worse start in Europe last season when they could easily have gone out early on, but you always felt there was a steely resolve coupled with Jose’s tactical cunning to see them through.

Bale and co. gave Rafa plenty to ponder

Going into the game at Tottenham, Benitez had been forewarned off Gareth Bale’s pace and for that reason decided that the speedy Jonathan Biabiany should play in front of the labouring and out-of-sorts Douglas Maicon.

Unfortunately, the French winger was neither a defensive reinforcement nor an attacking threat so it was puzzling why he remained on the pitch for so long when the sharp and in-form Coutinho was left on the bench having done so much to hurt Harry Redknapp‘s side in the previous meeting.

One of the secrets of Mourinho’s success was his willingness to change his tactics quickly if he saw that his plans were not working - even if it was only ten minutes into the game.

The Spaniard’s reluctance to change allowed a situation to develop whereby Bale was embarrassing Maicon every time he picked up the ball. The right flank had already been torn to shreds long before Benitez made a change in personnel, and this was after the forewarning of the last 35 minutes of the home tie against Spurs where the same happened.

It was always going to be an evening where pace and the directness of the home side needed to be nullified, but with Biabiany and Goran Pandev pushing high up the flanks and Wesley Sneijder a mere spectator in the middle, there were massive gaps through the centre for the likes of Modric and Van der Vaart to exploit.

No doubt the presence of Esteban Cambiasso and Dejan Stankovic in the centre of midfield would have ensured Spurs did not have quite the same freedom to pin Inter to the edge of their own area, which was the what ultimately led to the first goal.

Neither Sully Muntari or Javier Zanetti got close enough to their opposite numbers and they are not the type of players at ease moving the ball forward, which meant that Sneijder was forced to drop back further to instigate attacks which in turn left Samuel Eto’o isolated.

"Still, at least we had fewer offsides..."

However, even when out-numbered, the Cameroon striker caused the home defence all sorts of problems and his well-taken goal, which he made for himself, gave hope of something better with ten minutes remaining.

What Benitez will hopefully have learnt from this sobering experience is that Eto’o needs to play alongside Diego Milito in a front two, with Sneijder in behind.

The Argentine’s belated entry seemed to make the lights finally come on throughout the team, with his first run taking him into a shooting position and visibly giving his team-mates some much-needed belief.

Another rasping drive which clipped the bar when the game was already lost suggests that the Prince will be back on the goal trail soon.

Ideally, Inter would line-up with the aforementioned trio pushing forward, with Zanetti on the right, Cambiasso in the centre and Stankovic on the left of the midfield.

The defence is what it is, and Maicon and Cristian Chivu, who once again had words with Benitez during the game over his positioning, would benefit from experience and a bit of bite in front of them, while Lucio and Walter Samuel are aging but still massively effective central defenders.

Victory at home to Twente in three weeks time will ensure safe passage to the knock-out stages and provide Benitez with another bargaining chip when trying to persuade Massimo Moratti that he needs to open the cheque book in January.

All is not lost, but clearly that Inter swagger - like Mourinho - is long gone.

Del Piero celebrates as Cassano sulks

2010-11-01T11:09:00Z

Alessandro Del Piero trotted off the San Siro pitch on Saturday evening a very happy and contented man.

There were five minutes remaining when he was substituted; having given Juventus a 2-0 lead at AC Milan, the little forward had all but finished his work for the evening.

You would have expected the Bianconeri faithful in the stands to rise to hail their captain – but clusters of home fans were also ready to applaud a vintage display from the veteran star. Not only vintage, but record-breaking: Del Piero’s goal took him past Giampiero Boniperti’s 178 Serie A mark for the Old Lady.

A job well done and time to flop into the comfy seats on the bench, or soothe those ageing bones in the bath? Not with a vital win tantalisingly within reach – and there he was alongside Luigi Delneri cajoling his team-mates to see out the game.

That moment more than anything sums up Del Piero’s undiminished love for the game and he obviously appreciates doing something he enjoys – especially when it produces special nights like Saturday.

At the final whistle he was back on to the pitch to celebrate with his team-mates who had held on for a 2-1 victory and in turn receive their plaudits for the part he had played in propelling Juve into the title race.

There's still a mental and physical toughness about Del Piero and an instinct for the half-chance that ensured he followed play all the way into the Milan penalty area after Momo Sissoko had made a right hash of his own.

When the midfielder regained possession, Ale was lurking and with no backlift dispatched the ball into the back of the net without a second thought.

Del Piero will be 36 next week and he joked before kick-off at the weekend that it could be his last appearance at the San Siro. With more and more players continuing well into their late thirties, he may have second thoughts about calling time on his career at end of the season.

The club seem to be working out a contract package which would see the player move upstairs to the boardroom – although that may come after a hiatus in the MLS.

Del Piero seems to have come through that mid-life crisis where every substitution or omission from the starting XI was taken as a personal slight and in the closing years of his career each minute on the pitch is now taken has a gift.

There is still unfinished business – a 200-goal landmark to reach, maybe one last Italy cap, a new Juve stadium to grace and of course playing in the Champions League where the rest of Europe took him to their collective hearts.

Already this season there have been standing ovations in Dublin and Manchester where Juve played in the Europa League but you just know that leading the team he joined in 1993 back into the premier competition still holds a special place in his heart.

In an age of big egos, it's Del Piero’s craving for success at the basic football level that makes him stand out. You could say that Alex has the perfect life – which is something the weekend’s other headline-grabber, Antonio Cassano, is a long way from.

By all reports, Italian football’s tortured soul insulted just about everyone associated with Sampdoria after refusing to attending a club awards evening.

President Riccardo Garrone got an earful of abuse, as did a few team-mates, followed by the usual round of slamming doors before he stomped off home.

The new domesticated Fanantonio claimed he just wanted to be with his pregnant wife: the club demanded a written apology and when none was forthcoming they basically sacked him. So much for player power.

However, the Football League must sanction any termination of a player’s contract and they are likely to oppose such a measure.

A chastened Cassano claimed he called Garrone to apologise, but get ready for a public kiss and make up followed by Samp selling their sulky star in the January transfer window for 20million Euro.

There will be no problem finding a taker but maybe at times Cassano must wish he could just find a way to play football and live his life in the perfect manner of Del Piero.

NEWS: Del Piero breaks remaining Juventus record

You can dupe a ref, but can't evade video justice

2010-10-29T15:05:00Z

Diving has always been part and parcel of the Italian game, but in recent seasons there have been signs of upright behaviour, with fewer incidents in the top flight.

Milos Krasic had obviously not read the memo when he tripped over thin air inside the Bologna penalty area to win his side a spot-kick last Sunday.

The referee Andrea De Marco had been unsighted and his assistant unable to keep up with play so the main official had to make a judgement which has had consequences for this weekend’s round of games.

Video evidence proved that the winger had gone crashing down in a heap without the slightest help from the nearest Bologna player, defender Daniele Portanova.

A two-game suspension ensued along with a slew of headlines condemning the Serbian’s (they aren’t in Italian good books at the moment) behaviour.

If the referee had spotted this piece of gamesmanship then he would have given Krasic a yellow card and that would have been the end of it even if it has become more unacceptable in a league that once prided itself on getting one over officials.

Believe or not but times are changing and the Football Federation (FIGC) was correct in enforcing a two-game suspension on the player. The message is that you may dupe the referee but not video justice and if that means missing a crucial match so be it.

Juventus, for their part, were suffering from selective myopia in seeking to justify the actions of their player which is a shame.

Coach Gigi Del Neri and sporting director Beppe Marotta had the opportunity to castigate the player in public but they refused to hold up their hands and admit that the club would not tolerate deception of any kind.

After all, this is meant to be the beginnings of a fresh, new era for the Old Lady and it would have sent out a positive message if the leading figures in Turin had taken the lead but it seems that old habits die hard.

Club resident Andrea Agnelli eventually mumbled an apology of sorts but it was wrapped up in an attack on the press for their “unfair” reporting of the player’s character.

It has been a collective rather than an individual effort to clean up the Italian game – next up has to be all-in wrestling contests inside the area at every dead-ball situation which has become the norm for referees to ignore even when it is going on in front of their eyes.

Juventus were within their legal rights to appeal the outcome (and of course Juventus face AC Milan this weekend) which was heard on Friday afternoon but the evidence always pointed to the two-game ban remaining in place.

That was the outcome when Adriano fell over inside the AS Roma area a few seasons ago when he was playing for Inter although then the club had the good grace not to appeal and of course Alberto Gilardino’s deliberate handball to score for Fiorentina at Palermo received the appropriate sanctions.

Gilardino had a bad rep when it came to simulation with his swan dive during a Champions League tie at Celtic when the striker was playing for AC Milan comes to mind. Fortunately, since the Palermo episode he seems to have cleaned up his act.

Krasic has subsequently admitted his guilt: “It was instinctive” meaning it was something that comes naturally but hopefully now he will become an upstanding citizen.

No surprise to see Italians not make the grade

2010-10-27T10:25:00Z

The national team’s limp showing in South Africa coupled with Inter not having a home-grown regular in their Treble-winning side meant it was somewhat unsurprising to hear there were no Italians on the 23-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

However there are four Serie A, and specifically Inter, based nominees in the running – Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto’o, Douglas Maicon and Julio Cesar - but strangely no Diego Milito, who seems to have paid for a World Cup spent on the Argentina substitute’s bench despite being the top goalscorer in last season’s Champions League and scoring twice in the final.

There is also no space for Nerazzurri defender Lucio, although that is perhaps more understandable given his poor showing in South Africa and, by his standards, poor early-season form at club level.

Eto’o’s goalscoring has been exemplary but the boat has probably long since sailed for the Cameroon international as far as winning the top awards goes, leaving Sneijder as perhaps Serie A’s leading contender for the recently restructured gong.

An excellent first season in Italy followed by a World Cup Final appearance seemed to have put the Holland international in pole position but, like Lucio, his form so far this season hasn’t been quite as impressive.

There have been whispers that the former Real Madrid player has not warmed to new coach Rafa Benitez and would have followed Jose Mourinho back to Spain if the chance had arisen.

A new contract has yet to be agreed although the club have maintained it is a mere formality – but even if he does sign there is no guarantee that the midfielder will remain beyond the summer.

Inter's Ballon d'Or contenders...and Diego Milito

The Dutch master needs a couple of really high-profile performances in Europe to keep him ahead of the Barcelona trio of Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi - although if he does make the final three-man shortlist then helping his side win the Club World Cup could well do the trick when the winner is revealed on January 6.

The Ballon d’Or has been kind to Serie A over the last decade; Pavel Nedved in 2003 (although it should have been Paolo Maldini), Andriy Shevchenko the following year, Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, (thanks in part to Marco Materazzi World Cup final shenanigans), and Ricky Kaka in 2007.

However, recent seasons have been lean for Italian nominees, with none last year either. Gianluigi Buffon is generally a shoo-in, but the Juventus goalkeeper has spent most of the year injured.

Daniele De Rossi’s career has stalled in spectacular fashion over the last two seasons – a combination of burn out and injuries have impeded him, although his reluctance to leave the bubble of Rome for the big wide world has ultimately been his undoing.

His personal problems were the talk of the Capital and you never know a move to Real Madrid could have been just the fillip to re-ignite the midfielder’s career never mind getting him noticed for an award.

As it stands there were no viable candidates: Antonio Cassano didn’t have the chance to pull on the Azzurri shirt in the summer, while playing for Sampdoria isn’t exactly going to gain many plaudits .

Mario Balotelli received more headlines for his spats with Jose Mourinho – a certainty for coach of the year – than for his on-pitch exploits, while the only other name that springs to mind is Giorgio Chiellini, so we rest our case.

Oh well, England and France don’t have a name on the list either, and if Sneijder were to win we could at least point to football being a team game - just not a team of Italians in Inter’s case…

Sunday lunch menu hard to swallow

2010-10-25T11:19:00Z

Italians by and large are traditionalists and one sacred cow is of course Sunday lunch.

Even football fans making long trips around the country will ensure they are in a restaurant near the host stadium a few hours before kick-off for a bowl of fresh (is there anything else?) pasta at the very least.

The introduction of a regular 12.30 start this season has left fans not only stewing over missing out on their hearty sustenance, but also the quality of the fare on the pitch.

Parma fans brought a novel approach to Sunday’s lunch date against AS Roma by inviting anyone attending to bring a sandwich to the Tardini stadium and munch away as the players took to the pitch.

The aim was to highlight that the game did not revolve around those sitting at home in front of their television sets but the faithful who follow their teams every week.

Unfortunately, the majority of those armchair fans probably thought eating in the stands was just a quaint Italian custom, considering they were watching in Asia.

Prime time in downtown Shanghai would seem to be more important than down time in Rome to the Italian football league, who employed a rights and marketing company to wring as much as possible out of TV deals.

The feeling was that Asians would devour any football dished out at a decent hour, and potential Italian football fanatics in burgeoning markets such as China and Japan are not best served by the 3pm and particularly 8.45pm kick-off times.

So they might now tune in but what they make of the quality is another matter. Yesterday’s game finished goalless, and so wayward was the shooting that both sets of players may have been a little faint from low blood sugar.

The previous week was another drab affair in Cagliari where Inter came out 1-0 winners – disrupted by racist abuse directed at Samuel Eto’o, which proves that whatever the hour there will always be unpalatable morons.

Before that, for some reason beyond the realms of common sense the majority of the matches had been in the south of the country where the high-noon temperatures were still in the high twenties – and in the case of Bari against Cagliari in the sultry mid-thirties.

Needless to say, the games have been pretty lifeless affairs in front of sparsely-populated stands. But there is hope that domestic fans at least will gain an appetite for an early start to future Sunday rounds, with current leaders Lazio at home to Napoli, Juventus welcoming Parma and Milan at Bologna on the menu before the winter break.

RESULTS Sat 23: Fiorentina 2-1 Bari. Sun 24: Parma 0-0 Roma, Bologna 0-0 Juventus, Chievo 2-1 Cesena, Genoa 1-0 Catania, Lazio 2-1 Cagliari, Lecce 2-1 Brescia, Udinese 2-1 Palermo, Internazionale 1-1 Sampdoria. Mon 25: Napoli v Milan, 7.45pm

Roma’s plight left their fans with plenty to think about on yesterday afternoon's return from Parma to the capital where Claudio Ranieri finds himself an ever more isolated figure but the club cannot afford to pay him off or to pay for a half-decent replacement for that matter.

The Giallorossi will have muddle on for the time being and must hope that the derby in two weeks' time can turn their season around. Lazio may be happy to laugh off any talk of the title but the Edy Reja’s battlers continue can bask at the top table for some time to come, especially as European competition continues to take its toll on their rivals.

Inter looked completely worn out from chasing Gareth Bale around last week, against a Sampdoria side who were much more at ease playing counter-attacking underdogs at the San Siro than favourites to win an Europa League tie in Ukraine.

The defending champions were once again shackled (remember Jose Mourinho’s crossed-hands gesture in the corresponding fixture last season?) and it was left to Eto’o to get them out of prison with a late equaliser - the Nerazzurri are four points off top spot and could be overtaken by AC Milan, who are at Napoli this evening.

As soon as Juventus started playing up their chances they go and knock over their half-full glass of expectation with a goalless draw at Bologna: earlier on in the campaign they conceded too many goals now they can’t seem to score any.

Gigi Delneri spent most of the post-game interview defending Milos Krasic from receiving a suspension for diving to win a penalty which Vincenzo Iaquinta then missed, but the Serbian looked to have gone down unaided and could well miss the game at Milan this weekend under the new video evidence procedure.

Come to think of it, checking in on video misdemeanors might be more enjoyable than the lunchtime fillers so far.

Serie A-ren't we terrible...?

2010-10-22T13:47:00Z

It was another hellish week for Italian clubs on the continent - one which makes you wonder if there's any point battling all season to qualify for Europe only to then embarrass yourself at nearly every turn.

Not many will remember but Serie A teams once possessed determination and energy; now they are becoming better known for being weak-willed and lifeless.

The tactical masters can still play the perfect game in their heads, but have no answer to quick movement on and off the ball.

Even the usually dependable Inter almost allowed Spurs back into a game they were leading by a street, only to be nearly overtaken by the speedy Gareth Bale and the help of the befuddled Julio Cesar – sorry, where else is a left-footed player going to put the ball when he is speeding into the area on his stronger foot?

The far post of course, and it was more like the last post for Javier Zanetti, Lucio and Ivan Cordoba who must have seen the sun setting on their careers as they laboured behind a player over a decade younger.

Never mind. Serie A is full of old men dithering around the pitch every weekend only because the game in Italy is played at a pace in keeping with a summer’s afternoon in Sicily.

Like their ageing AC Milan counterparts across town, who had no answer to Real Madrid's direct approach, they are driving the Italian game forward at the speed of an OAP on a country road.

The cycle of such players is almost over but really it cannot come quickly enough, with the greying generation nearly on their push-bikes.

While the Champions League representatives may be labouring under pedal power, the Europa League is a dumping ground for the clapped out in the extreme.

Juventus were fortunate to grab a draw at Salzburg and remain without a group win so far, while Napoli played the tradition of Liverpool rather than the reality of the once mighty Reds - and of course the home fans kept the Italian game in the medieval age of stabbings and mob rule.

Sampdoria were shamed by ten-man Metalist Kharkiv and Palermo also had no answer to the rise of the East when they crashed 3-0 at home to CSKA Moscow who could also afford to miss a penalty.

Even the previously divine Javier Pastore has fallen into Italian petulance when the chips are down, and was duly sent off for applauding the referee having already been booked.

Inter may be champions of Europe but we cannot blind ourselves to the fact that there was a special reason for that. Italian clubs have been stumbling for a long time and are now fall guys not only for the traditional heavyweights but welterweights as well.

Apart from the Nerazzurri, there is a real danger of having no representatives in the knockout stages of either the Champions League or its lesser second-cousin the Europa League. This may dilute both competitions when they reach the more watchable rounds, but there can be no complaints if Serie A gets left behind.

If we cast our minds back into the mists of time, to 2003, Old Trafford was the venue for an all-Italian Champions League final. But drawing conclusions from this week there is little chance of Wembley Stadium repeating that feat. Dublin too need not worry about an invasion of dark shades and hair gel.

Inter only Italian option for Rooney

2010-10-20T12:23:00Z

If Wayne Rooney is contemplating a future in Italian football, then of course there is only one club capable of matching not only his wage demands, but also his ambitions on the pitch.

Inter president Massimo Moratti has always admired English players, but having half-jokingly claimed that he was considering making a bid for Leo Messi in the January transfer window, maybe he will start cracking a few one-liners about hiring the Manchester United rebel.

It will certainly keep the rumour mill ticking over now that Messi has put an end to any speculation about leaving Barcelona, while Moratti is still silently seething that Silvio Berlusconi landed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who he would have been welcomed back in the Nerazzurri fold with open arms.

Moratti’s principle medium of communication is generally to mutter a few words to journalists as he strolls into work in the centre of the city which then morph into the gospel according to Massimo.

Ever since his arch nemesis across town stole a march in the transfer headline stakes, the feeling is that the old oil baron is planning something spectacular.

If this is the case, then he is either keeping it to himself or Rafa Benitez is a very good actor: the coach has been beside himself with frustration at not having a big-name signing to show off.

Moratti has made it clear that he wants the club on a sound financial footing to comply with UEFA regulations but there may be a loose €70 million or so lying around for the January sales.

No doubt Wayne and his advisers are studying the European market for a big day and they will have an opportunity to check in on Inter this evening when the Champions League holders take on wet-behind-the-ears Tottenham Hotspur.

Little thought has been given to the English side that arrive at the San Siro lacking the gravitas of a United, Chelsea or even Arsenal.

However, it has been left to Inter once again – which made the morning coffees even sweeter for their fans – to salvage Italian pride in the competition.

It is doubtful if the names of AC Milan and AS Roma have come anywhere near the radar of the Rooney camp as potential destinations – and you can see why.

Neither club looks certain of even making it out of the group stages – Milan’s defensive problems were laid bare once again at Real Madrid, while Roma were just downright woeful in the home defeat to Basel.

Massimiliano Allegri had stated that the march wasn’t about him and Jose Mourinho - and didn’t he get that right?

He was left gawping like a provincial boy in awe of the bright city lights and, just as the Special One made sure that his Inter teams were psyched up for the Milan derbies, it was the same attention to detail which helped his Real Madrid charges win with more than a little to spare.

Despite the experience running through the Milan side, Allergi was not primed for the early Real onslaught and the contest was over within the first 15 minutes.

At least back in Serie A there are few teams that play with such intensity from the first whistle – Palermo spring to mind and before that Roma under Luciano Spalletti had their moments.

Milan will still hope to sneak through but the Giallorossi are in real danger of missing out on the knock-out stages all together which would probably save them from further humiliation.

The Olympic stadium is such a cavernous bowl that it is difficult to generate a big-game atmosphere at the best of times, but the vast swathes of empty seats in the stands last night summed up the depressing mood around the club at the moment.

The uncertainty over a buyer with the financial muscle to drag the Giallorossi out of the perilous state is affecting everyone.

Claudio Ranieri has lost that control he initially had over the team who now fail to follow basic instructions such as covering back and making tackles - whispers persist that he will be out the door when a new regime takes over while the players are in the dark on who will be offered new contracts.

Until the off-pitch problems are resolved there seems little hope of Roma turning their dismal season around.

Inter, of course, have no such worries and their continued success is more in keeping with Wayne’s world.

Mihajlovic suddenly cuddly as Dunga awaits

2010-10-18T11:42:00Z

Sinisa Mihajlovic isn't one to go down without a fight, but even he must feel that fluffy Fiorentina need a cuddle rather than a slap round the back of the head.

Cesare Prandelli's humanistic approach is ingrained into the club's psyche and the big, brash Serbian has never come across as someone who is likely to put an arm around a player's shoulders – unless it was to grab him in a headlock.

He arrived at a club that was already feeling a little fragile after a season that had promised so much: they topped their Champions League group ahead of Lyon and Liverpool and came within a whisker of knocking the eventual finalists Bayern Munich out of the competition.

Ultimately, however, it all ended up as flat as a piadina and the domestic form suffered: since January, only 28 league points have been collected.

Adrian Mutu's suspension for lax dietary control and Stevan Jovetic's season-ending injury left the team shorn of two classy performers even before the new campaign had begun, but more than anything it was the departure of the saintly Prandelli that took away the team's heart.

Mihajlovic's idea of lifting the players is a denouncement that midfielder Adem Ljajic eats too much chocolate, spends his spare time playing too many video games and should get his hair cut - and after the home defeat to Palermo before the international break, describing the team as "weak-willed."

The shrinking violets clung to the wall once again, appropriately kitted out in all yellow, in Genoa. There they crumbled to allow Sampdoria back into the game in the last 10 minutes, conceding two goals in a blink of an eye to go down 2-1.

The result saw the Viola sink to bottom of the pile. The last time they were down in the basement was back at the start of the 2006-07 season, and that was only because they were docked 19 points on the back of the Calciopoli judgements.

Just one win in the opening seven games would leave any Serie A coach fearing for his future. Mihajlovic being Mihajlovic, he was as aggressive as ever going into Sunday’s game, claiming he's not one to resign and that he expected the players to turn things around.

They may do that but it could be with Dunga at the helm: the former club midfielder and Brazil coach was recently spotted chowing down with Fiorentina's sporting director Pantaleo Corvino in a fine eatery.

Even if they were discussing the merits of Tuscan cuisine, to be seen with an out-of-work coach could only have sent out one message to the players: this ordeal will be over soon.

The players have never gained an appetite for Mihajlovic's puritanical tactical approach, where possession is something you do to clear the ball as far up the pitch as possible. It may have worked at Catania but the Florentines are used to something a little more cultured.

Fear has replaced flair so it was no wonder some of the players were in tears after the final whistle yesterday as they walked down the tunnel to face an inquisition on another lacklustre finale.

Alberto Gilardino, Alberto Santana and the candy-loving Ljajic may have provided the soft touch that gave Fiorentina the lead, but Mihajlovic would say the hard edge is missing, with injuries to Gaetano D'Agostino, Cristiano Zanetti and Mario Bolatti.

Juan Vargas and Ljajic both limped off with those old niggles that seem to crop up in players when their confidence is shot to pieces, but at least the boss was not putting the boot in for once when he faced the media in the post-game press conference.

In fact he seemed to have an overriding urge to come across all new-age man as opposed to his default mode of stone-age man – talking about confidence building and how the whole team had to put the distress of the day behind them and look forward.

Expect then a group hug at training sessions from now on, but will the new sensitive Mihajlovic be enough for this Fiorentina side to overcome their insecurities? Do feel free to find your inner self and discuss the issue over an herbal tea.

Mean Old Lady

2010-10-15T15:00:00Z

One positive to come out of Tuesday evening’s shenanigans in Genoa was that Giorgio Chiellini didn’t get a chance to kick Milos Krasic.

The Juventus defender had warned his team-mate that he might have to give him a “little knock” despite warnings from Gigi Del Neri to his rambunctious tackler to show some caution.

Memories of Euro 2008 came flooding back, when the then out-of-control colt crocked Fabio Cannavaro even before the competition had kicked-off. And of course, in the build-up to the Serbia game, Chiellini had denied that Giuseppe Rossi had nut-megged him in training, claiming on Twitter “he wouldn’t be able to walk again if he had.”

As it turned out the Serbian nationalist pride away day ensured that the players at least returned to their clubs with limbs intact.

Chiellini must have been kicking himself that he missed the little dust up in training between Felipe Melo and Momo Sissoko, who apparently squared up to one another like rutting stags during a five-a-side game.

There is no evidence that the ball was actually anywhere in the vicinity of the combative midfielders who have a taste for what some have termed ‘reckless tackling’ - or what they would probably describe as ‘wholehearted endeavour’.

As happens in such moments an animated discussion ensued followed by a bit of pushing before the arrival of a team-mate or two to separate the pair, who subsequently made up with a round of high-fives.

Both players are literally battling it out for one spot in midfield and reports suggest Melo has come out on top with Sissoko to be sold in January, although that seems to be the club’s yearly New Year's resolution when it come to the Mali international. So far he has survived intact.

Not that the incident will have concerned Del Neri, who observed the scene from afar no doubt feeling that he is finally moulding the team into his own image – mean, moody and competitive.

Maybe not a band of brothers but certainly a side that can demonstrate character, which has always been a feature of Juve teams down the years.

There has never been anything beautiful about the Old Lady – charming at times, alluring at others - but really comes into her own when she is left to be a craggy old dear.

We have seen something of her settling into her more familiar look in recent games – against Manchester City and Inter – where the team was well-drilled in its defensive duties and composed going forward.

Before that indiscipline was everywhere, with little or no cohesion between the defence, midfield and attack, but that may have had more to do with the employment of the personnel at the coach’s disposal.

The midfield area has been a particular problem but with Alberto Aquilani gaining in match fitness there are signs that finesse may not remain an entirely forgotten element within the team.

Having a minder such as Melo or Sissoko in the centre of the pitch and flanked by two willing wide men, the former AS Roma man can begin to flourish once again after two years of misery on the sidelines.

Having held Inter before the international break, Juve now have two more than winnable games coming up – at home to Lecce this weekend and then Bologna away.

Del Neri won’t mind if his side win them ugly as long as the Old Lady is sitting pretty heading into the clash with AC Milan at the end of the month.

Serbs bring darkness to Genoa (again)

2010-10-13T12:05:00Z

Genoa doesn’t have a great record for public disorder. There was the stabbing of a Genoa fan by an AC Milan ultra in 1995, the infamous G8 clashes in 2001 – and now nothing short of co-ordinated mob rule.

Let's be clear. Last night, the Marassi stadium came under the control of Serbian nationalist ultras. In effect they held hostage all those inside and around the ground, including the forces of law and order, who seemed completely powerless in the face of such an onslaught of anti-social behaviour. "The Beasts", screamed La Gazzetta dello Sport with an unnerving image of a balaclava-clad ultra leering over the fence to give the world the short-arm salute.

The same black T-shirted, heavily-tattooed bogeyman was splashed across the Corriere dello Sport over the headline "We surrender to you!" His tattoos were to give him away when he was identified boarding a supporters’ bus much later and subsequently arrested.

There was no escaping who the culprits were, with Tuttosport calling the events "The shame of Serbia." Evidence suggests this isn’t sport, but another darker agenda tied up with the region's politics.

There had been rising tensions all day as Serbians fought with police outside the stadium and generally rampaged around the city in a well-organised paramilitary operation. The aim was pretty clear – the match would not go ahead and the local police were incapable of snuffing out the trouble at source even though the Serbia Football Federation claimed that they had warned authorities of such a possible outcome.

The troublemakers were obviously well aware that the police would corral them and their paraphernalia to riot inside the ground rather than make mass arrests, lending inevitably toward the depressing conclusion of postponement.

That the match even went ahead beggars belief. Well before kick-off, the fire service were forced to extinguish burning flares. As the ground filled, objects rained on to the pitch at regular intervals. TV footage clearly showed the invaders cutting away the protective netting to clear the way for the inevitable bombardment of flares.

The players were barely able to warm up, and the compact nature of the Marassi was always going to leave the goalkeepers exposed to whatever objects were thrown in their direction – as was the case with Azzurri goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.

Even with kick-off delayed by 35 minutes, the Serbian players showed little desire to take to the pitch – unsurprising, given reports that goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was threatened not only on the team bus but also near the dressing room area. Dejan Stankovic led the visiting team out but the Inter man looked ashen-faced as he held the team pennant to his face to whisper to the opposition that all was not obviously well.

But the situation had clearly reached tilting point well before the national anthems were roundly booed and the minute’s silence for the death of Italian soldiers in Afghanistan was cut short. The rioters wouldn't be stopped no matter what their team tried, be it "ironic" applauding or raising three fingers to indicate that they could forfeit the match to a 3-0 defeat – which, despite Serbia's official apology to Italy, will probably be the case.

Belfast, Bestie and barn doors

2010-10-11T11:59:00Z

As the city that produced George Best, Belfast is familiar with dribbling wizardry. And the locals may have been expecting more of the same from Italy’s Antonio Cassano on Friday evening.

Instead, Italy’s most gifted player was a marginal figure in the Euro 2012 qualifier at Windsor Park against an adequate but hardly adventurous Northern Ireland side.

The Azzurri may have boasted players of great technical quality, but would have needed a little sprinkling of Fantantonio star dust on Best’s old patch to break down the well-organised home defence.

There were a couple of tempting crosses – one in particular for Giampaolo Pazzini, which the striker should have volleyed home - and a darting header which was turned over the bar, but no tricks and feints to draw defenders into challenges and create that extra space behind the backline.

Not once did the Samp man get to the by-line inside the area and then swivel back to set-up a chance or angled a shot into the corner in trademark fashion.

We have seen that move so many times in Serie A, but it never really looked like happening at Windsor Park, which once again suggests all the fancy stuff will never really transfer onto the international stage.

Cesare Prandelli may have defended his star turn, but the coach could only lament once more the lack of alternatives - and the dearth of attacking talent was certainly visible in the mediocre performances from Simone Pepe and Marco Borriello.

There isn’t a barn-door in the world big enough for either player to have hit on Friday night –especially the Juventus winger, who should probably have been jettisoned after South Africa.

If Prandelli is to persist with a three-man front-line then the rest of the team needs to be confident that the forward trio will be clinical enough to kill off the opposition – Pazzini flanked by Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi already looks a lot more positive.

The only player who would have got the seal of approval from Bestie would probably have been Andrea Pirlo, but unfortunately Pepe was never on the same wavelength as the deep-lying playmaker – either dropping too short when there was space in behind or galloping off when he needed to hold his position.

It was no wonder that the AC Milan man looked in the opposition direction towards Cassano whenever he could, but the Irish eventually cut off that route, leaving Pirlo with few options when in possession.

Apart from Pirlo, the midfield was its usual mix of mediocrity and ineptitude.

Daniele De Rossi’s physical (for an Italian) approach looks to have finally caught up with the AS Roma schemer - who quite frankly looks worn out - while Stefano Mauri is a run-of-the-mill player albeit in the form of his life at club level.

The defence was as shaky as an old tree and all that hand waving by Giorgio Chiellini and De Rossi could have found a more sharp-eyed referee pointing to the penalty spot.

The whole team still looks uncoordinated and vulnerable when the game is taken to them as occurred when Northern Ireland eventually came to the conclusion that this was no Italy side to fear.

Of course, two wins and a draw from the first three group games keeps Prandelli’s men in pole position especially after Serbia’s defeat to Estonia.

Tuesday’s meeting between the sides in Genoa marks the moment Italy can go some way to removing their main rivals from the fray but they will need to start finding that barn door.

Zambrotta return a sign of the times

2010-10-07T10:31:00Z

The sight of Gianluca Zambrotta sitting in front of the media at the first Italy press conference ahead of the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Serbia had a slightly depressing air about it.

It is not that the AC Milan full-back is not an urbane and charming interviewee, more the fact it seemed the first step backwards in what had been billed as a bright new and youthful era for the national team.

Cesare Prandelli had promised a clean slate, but Zambrotta’s return brought back memories of the words of Fabio Cannavaro prior to the World Cup, when he puffed out his chest and defiantly asked: “Where are the youngsters better than us?”

In turn, Marcello Lippi howled from the deck of the sinking ship: “I have not left any stars at home” before disappearing beneath the waves somewhere off the Cape of No Hope.

Zambrotta was part of that South African folly and at 33 should have really followed Cannavaro and Rino Gattuso into international retirement.

However, Prandelli must take any criticism now heading his way squarely on the chin, as it was he who called the player and asked him if he wanted to add to his 97 caps – and who is going to turn down such an offer?

Mattia Cassani, Domenico Criscito – a mere 23 – and Cristian Molinari, in for the injured Luca Antonelli, must feel the Italian obsession with age and the aged will never cease.

It is not as if Zambrotta is a regular at his club anymore, falling behind Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini in the pecking order at the San Siro, which surely suggests his best years are well behind him.

Prandelli revealed he had watched another full-back, but considered him too inexperienced for what will be the intensity of Windsor Park in Belfast followed by what promises to be another tough encounter with Serbia in Genoa on Tuesday.

That player was thought to be Lorenzo De Silvestri, while there was also said to be an uncapped 28-year-old in contention - probably Cesare Bovo of Palermo - but Prandelli still opted, in these times of doubt, to fall back on one of the old guard.

There was stark warning for any young hopeful when Prandelli complained, “It’s a league rich in talent but not what I am looking for. I don’t see young players with the potential to be stars.”

The task facing the Italian federation’s technical chiefs Roberto Baggio and Arrigo Sacchi in unearthing new talent looks a long and laborious one, but we may just see results by the time Criscito is about to retire in some twenty years time.

Hence the inclusion of 30-year-old Stefano Mauri, who has captained Lazio to top of the table and is at least in a rich vein of form, although there has to be question-marks over the midfielder’s club team-mate Sergio Floccari - added to the squad in the place of the injured Alberto Gilardino.

The uncapped 28-year-old has only scored once so far this season, albeit a finely-taken close-range finish against AC Milan – no wonder Luca Toni has been trumpeting his own return to
La Nazionale…

The first stop is Belfast and it looks as though Zambrotta will take a step closer to his century, but the Azzurri seem to be taking a step back into a previous era.

At the same time as the full international side were gathering, the nation’s 24 best under-21s were preparing for their European Championship play-off with Belarus

In Pierluigi Casiraghi’s party, only De Silvestri and Leandro Ranocchia are playing regularly enough to be seriously considered to make the step up to the next level – which again poses the question; how and why are Italian clubs failing to nurture the next generation?

Sunday night is gripe night for pundits

2010-10-05T10:34:00Z

Sunday evening television is a time to sit back, vegetate and take stock of the weekend ahead – unless, of course, you are a football pundit.

Then it is a time to let all your gripes and grumbles come flooding out, safe in the knowledge that a nation is hanging on your every word.

From the state-run RAI to Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset empire and beyond into the netherworld that is local television, any forgotten player or coach with an opinion and person of a certain age with a press pass can get into an on-air slagging match.

Everyone is fair game and the 'guests' are encouraged to have a go and get the ratings up so that even more time can be spent promoting useless products such as sun-loungers or marker pens.

After what was a relatively low-key Inter-Juventus encounter – hardly a foul so no red cards and no on-pitch or in the tunnel melees to talk about – the discussion had to centre on the football.

The moaning and complaining quickly focused on how the two teams at the very heart of the game’s most-heated rivalry – the Derby of Italy no less – could serve up a goalless draw.

That scoreline had last been flashed up at the San Siro back in the 1998-99 season, but although there were no goals it was an enthralling game nevertheless.

The pundits complained that these two traditional heavyweights should never cancel each other out, but it was no through a lack of effort that neither could find the net.

For Inter, Samuel Eto’o created chances out of nothing; the off-form Diego Milito was wasteful from close-range and Marco Storari’s reflexes denied Douglas Maicon’s downward header.

At the other end Vincenzo Iaquinta got all Filippo Inzaghi – drifting offside at crucial moments – while only Julio Cesar’s sharp blocks denied Fabio Quagliarella and Milos Krasic from breaking the deadlock.

The match was a goalless draw in name only despite the moans of those in the television world whose gloomy summarising made one long for the commercial breaks.

It wasn’t just the lack of goals that irked those on the cozy couches; it was the fact that Rafa Benitez had the gall to play two unseasoned youngsters in a game of such importance.

The Spaniard retained the same starting XI that had put four past Werder Bremen in the Champions League in midweek – in part due to injuries to Goran Pandev and Milito - which meant that Coutinho and Jonathan Biabiany flanked Eto’o on either wing.

Raw pace and fearless determination did not go down too well with some of those on the sidelines, who felt that the two young Inter charges should not have even been in the squad never-mind on the pitch.

The argument is that inexperienced players need to be sent out on loan to learn their graft at lesser clubs rather on the grand stages of the Italian game.

Thankfully Benitez does not come from that short-sighted school of thought and, although injury may have forced his hand over the last week at least Coutinho and Biabiany are not just there to make up the numbers.

Biabiany is 22 and has already completed his apprenticeship in the provinces at Modena and then Parma last season where he learnt the responsibility of being a first-team regular.

In fact, during the Jose Mourinho reign, the France Under-21 player whose speed would push Pato and Alvarez close over 50 metres, ended up on a co-ownership deal at Parma before being bought back in the summer for around €9 million.

You would have to say that the club must have felt confident that he was first-team material or they would have left him the relative backwater and saved the millions.

At only 18, Coutinho was snapped up by Inter two years old but could only officially play for the club this season – and has been coaxed to give his best by Benitez which has been in stark contrast to the treatment Mario Balotelli received from Mourinho.

The latter has of course moved to England but the young Brazilian has every chance of becoming a fully-fledged star in his current environment where the pressure to perform is even greater.

Sometimes appreciating life away from the cosseted surroundings of a top club can toughen up a player and give him character but it doesn’t work for everyone – just look at Sebastian Giovinco.

As for the pundits, they have it cozy every Sunday but they never seem to appreciate that – and it’s time to turn them off.

Hernanes shines as Eagles soar

2010-10-01T11:49:00Z

Heading into the last round of fixtures before yet another international break, just five points separate nineteen of the twenty in Serie A, with only Udinese off the pace on one point so far.

Inter lead the way, which is no real surprise, but there alongside the defending champions on ten points in joint-first place are Lazio.

The Eagles, who released a real-life bird of prey ahead of the match against AC Milan, were last in such a lofty position heading into the third game of last season. Before that they made a more stirring start two seasons ago when they held onto their lead for six games before falling away.

Most of last season was one long round of recriminations for Lazio, as president Claudio Lotito went head-to-head through the courts with contract rebels Goran Pandev and Cristian Ledesma.

The former won his case and joined Inter, but the latter was left to go cap in hand and ask for his place in the squad back after he failed to have his contract rescinded on a technicality, as the Argentine had been training with the first team.

Lazio's celeb fans include Bill Oddie and Terry Nutkins...

It was all soon water under the bridge with the midfielder signing a new deal, but Lotito decided that the only way to ensure there was more harmony within the camp was to give everyone a pay-rise.

The annual wage bill has increased by €10 million to somewhere in the region of €41 million – pocket money for the Milanese clubs and even AS Roma for that matter, but enough to put Lazio in the top six of the league’s big payers.

Astute as he is cantankerous, Lotito has always possessed the ability to dig up a little gem from apparently nowhere.

Two seasons ago it was Mauro Zarate - a Birmingham City reject – who had taken the top flight by storm and now it looks as if Anderson Hernanes is another find who will have AC Milan and Inter wondering why they allowed the Brazilian to slip through their grasp.

The midfielder had been linked with both clubs for a number of seasons and it seemed odds on that he would be wearing red or blue and not the sky blue of Lazio.

However, while the Rossoneri dithered as to whether Hernanes was the heir to Andrea Pirlo, and Inter decided he should first be loaned to Chievo if they bought him, Lotito was working his connections in Brazil. All it took was €13 million for Sao Paolo to part with their playmaker.

Hernanes: Soaring high with Lazio

The chance of a starting place in a Serie A team was enough to persuade the player nicknamed the Prophet that his future was in the Capital – and along with Zarate who has rediscovered his touch and guile – the 25-year-old has been in inspired form.

He may lack pace but he is quick over two or three yards, which enables him to escape close marking, as he demonstrated when he skipped past Alessandro Nesta to set up Sergio Floccari for the equaliser against Milan.

However, it is his effortless control and quick-feet that stand Hernanes out as the most creative player Lazio have had since the majestic midfielder stroller Juan Sebastian Veron.

There are similarities between the two: an almost languid style, excellent range of passing and an ability to take a shot early. In fact, apart from Inter’s Samuel Eto’o no one has had more efforts on goal than the new darling of the Curva Nord.

Around him there are a host of hard-working and seasoned professionals: Cristian Brocchi, Stefano Mauri, the aforementioned Ledesma and the fit-again Matuzalem, who are all willing to put in the hard work to leave Hernanes free to get into advanced positions.

It is not as if the new man is grabbing all the limelight however, and tellingly in the first five games seven different names have appeared on Lazio's scoresheet.

Much of this success is down to veteran coach Edy Reja, whose hard work from the end of last season in bringing the team together is really starting to show dividends - and in their last eight away games the Biancocelesti have accumulated 19 points out of 24 thanks to six wins, a draw and a defeat (2-0 against Sampdoria on the opening day of this season).

This weekend another surprise pacesetter, Brescia, arrive at the Olympic Stadium, but the Prophet has already sent out the message that the Aquile are soaring again.

Inter united on the pitch, divided off it

2010-09-30T10:55:00Z

It may be different in other countries, but in Italy players only get up close and personal on the pitch and very rarely is there any ‘team bonding’ off it.

They may socialise now and then, but in general they are content to go their own way and get on with life in the traditional Italian, family-orientated manner.

That’s not to say there aren’t dressing room cliques, and nowhere are they more prominent than at Inter, where the South American clans hold sway.

Well, the non-Brazilian cartel that is – the Argentines Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Walter Samuel along with Ivan Cordoba of Columbia have the final say on most matters, while the Brazilians keep themselves to themselves, probably secretly wishing they could hang-out with their fun-loving compatriots at AC Milan.

Having obviously been used to the off-field activities of players in the Premier League, Rafa Benitez must have been surprised at the divisions within his new dressing room.

When the Spaniard apparently suggested the whole squad go out for a meal together he was met with blank looks until a senior South American – we can only guess who – informed the new would-be ‘social secretary’ how things worked.

The coach may be the boss on the pitch, but off it he had no say on how the players spent their time, as long as they weren’t indulging in the sort of activities that blighted Adriano’s final period at the club – and there is no evidence that this crop like to do anything more exciting than watch a bit of TV.

This set-up didn’t concern Jose Mourinho, and as long as results were going his way it didn’t matter if the players ignored each other or not.

Now having to start all over again with a new coach in charge there have been signs some of the outsiders are beginning to raise their voices.

Christian Chivu could never be accused of speaking out of turn, but the sight of the full-back exclaiming to the bench that certain members of the team where not putting in enough effort raised concerns – or hopes, depending on your point of view – that all was not well in the camp.

The Romanian’s blast, ìif they don’t start running, I am offî came midway through last weekend’s defeat at AS Roma and, with the silence broken, fellow full-back Douglas Maicon also opined that the front players were too egoistic.

Maybe that is why Inter are already a lot more entertaining to watch this season – with Samuel Eto’o freed from having to track back – but last season’s successes weren’t achieved by playing open and attacking football.

Tellingly, Zanetti was missing from the trip to Rome – recovering from a ball struck to the nether regions during the Palermo game the previous week - and in his painful absence it was left to his consigliere Cambiasso to lay down the law that any problems are solved inside the dressing room and they would remain there.

There was never any chance of recriminations last night in the Champions League game against Werder Bremen.

Eto’o was given the freedom of the pitch as the out-and-out striker flanked by the eager-to-please Coutinho and Jonathan Biabiany.

And how the Cameroonian thrived through the middle where his pace and direct running garnered a hat-trick as well as setting up one for Wesley Sneijder in a 4-0 stroll.

Eto’o was a player in his element again and the joy of being back in his natural habitat was there for all to see when he grabbed a photographer’s camera after scoring his third to snap the snappers.

Even Benitez was more animated than usual, and spent most of the match pacing his technical area and encouraging the mop-topped Coutinho, who is a clone of Alexandre Pato, to actually enjoy himself.

Yes, enjoy – not a word that is often associated with Inter but maybe that will become the Benitez trademark as long as he doesn’t try and organise any more nights out for the players.

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Totti walks out of Roma regularity

2010-09-27T10:30:00Z

Now we know what has been ailing AS Roma: Francesco Totti.

When his substitute Mirko Vucinic danced into the dressing room after scoring the Inter-defeating goal that may well have turned the Roman club's season around, the leader, the figurehead, the man they are meant to look up to, was nowhere to be seen.

As the team finally came together as a unit, the Emperor had gone into the night, no doubt to brood over the waning of his powers.
The Giallorossi captain turns 34 today and is into the autumn of his career - and the signs are worrying. If drastic action isn't taken soon, he's in danger of becoming a lamentable figure.

Against Inter, the self-proclaimed king of the Stadio Olimpico heard the first stirrings of discontent on the Curva Sud as groans grew louder at every failed control and misplaced back-heel.

He failed to take down a cross with his instep which would have led to a free shot in front of goal - and then when that opportunity presented itself from an indirect free-kick some seven yards out, he blasted over. The frustration was clear for everyone to see.

When Claudio Ranieri could bear it no longer - and we had to wait until the final 15 minutes - he was removed from the fray. A disconsolate figure, the No.10 marched purposefully past his coach without even a sideways glance and straight down the tunnel.

On many major occasions on his home turf, Totti either leaves the pitch to acclaim or disgrace, with a referee waving a red card at his departing figure.

This time, the whole stadium was too engrossed in this intriguing encounter to pay much attention - and with Vucinic fresh and willing to run at a tiring Inter defence whose midfield had been worked into the ground, the game shifted back towards Roma.

With the last breath about to be sucked out of the evening the Montenegrin dived full-length to head home Daniele de Rossi's curling cross. The explosion of noise would have reached down into the depths of the stadium where Totti was making good his exit - and who knows how bitter he felt.

Francesco Who? Vucinic scores – click to watch

There's a battle of wills in the Roma camp. A few days ago the coach looked an ever more isolated figure, but beating the champions has helped Ranieri reassert his reputation. Having replaced Totti at a pivotal moment, he then decided to keep Adriano on the bench – after the Brazilian had stripped off and looked set to come on.

When the change was made, it was Julio Baptista who was brought on while his compatriot sat stock still, back in his tracksuit. Questioned on the sudden change of heart, Ranieri said that he hadn't liked something about Adriano's demeanour – although the striker had spent a full 10 minutes warming up, so maybe all that exercise was too much for him.

One player Ranieri can't doubt is Jeremy Menez. A constant menace down both flanks, he also impressed through the middle when given the freedom to wander. With Marco Borriello working hard to hold the ball up, the coach should feel justified in starting Vucinic alongside the former AC Milan man with Menez in the free role.

Roma's victory has cleared much of the brooding within the camp, but it also means the time has come to rethink the whole concept of Totti as the first name on the team-sheet.

Alessandro del Piero went through a similar period before accepting that he could no longer play in every game; in doing so, the Juventus captain has extended his career towards his 36th year.

The time has come for Totti to put the club he adores ahead of his own self-love and let the younger generation of Vucinic and Menez carry the burden instead of carrying him.

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Roma's bucket of tears fit to burst

2010-09-23T10:01:00Z

Buckets of tears, sang a great man and that could well become the AS Roma official song.

There were floods of the wet stuff at Brescia last night, as howls of anguish and frustration pierced the night sky.

Another defeat for the much put upon Claudio Ranieri, but one where the Romans can genuinely feel aggrieved after another lamentable refereeing display which will probably see the official in question Carmine Russo sent on gardening leave for awhile.

Philippe Mexes was the first to well up and then completely lose all semblance of restrain when he the furious Frenchman was sent-off for a last-man challenge where not only did he win the ball cleanly, but contact occurred outside the area.

The referee demurred to his assistant who gave the defender the thumbs down.

The double whammy of a red card and penalty was all too much for Gallic sensibilities and defender’s team-mates wasted a fair amount of energy dragging the blond bawler off the pitch.

Parents of children in their terrible twos up could only have shaken their heads in sympathy when the little tantrum continued all the way to the touchline where an innocent-looking foam pad became the victim of a vicious right boot.

Julio Sergio’s grief was much more understandable, although equally unsettling, as the goalkeeper was forced to remain on the pitch despite being in no condition to move.

The Brazilian had been the architect of his own demise when he came lunging out of the area to upend Panagiotis Kone - and in the process injure his ankle.

He could have come off had not Mexes beaten him to it and Ranieri had no further substitutions at his disposal so the water works were in full flow until the final whistle.

The brave soldier was carried off the pitch in a considerable state of distress and the initial diagnosis was ligament damage of some sort although the word ‘rupture’ was not mentioned.

However, it seems to be all coming apart for Ranieri who having ranted at the press at the weekend over his treatment was more itchy then belligerent when he faced the cameras for the post-game television inquisition.

It must be said that his prickly demeanour is understandable - what with the name of Marcello Lippi cropping up at every turn as his odds-on replacement.

Ranieri always suspected that the former Italy coach was behind his demise at Juventus and now the spectre of his cigar-chewing nemesis is once again haunting his thoughts.

Suspecting a plot stirring from the Lippi camp, Ranieri used the Sky Sports Italia platform to make his feelings very clear.

"I knew what was going on in Turin, I knew that Lippi was behind it and same things are appearing in the press now as they were then," he said in almost a doomed manner.

However, on a warm Thursday morning on the Tiber, the Roma-supporting citizens remain loyal to their own and the Roman-born coach still has the support of the 'Curva' as they say but defeat to Inter at the weekend could lead to ruin and more tears.

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Cesena show Serie A the way forward

2010-09-22T11:21:00Z

The first midweek round of the Serie A season and already Inter are top of the table, but the defending champions have an unlikely pace-setter matching them stride for stride.

Cesena are enjoying the late summer warmth on their return to the top-flight after a 19-year absence and it is not as if they have garlanded their seven points the easy way.

A more than well-deserved draw at AS Roma on the opening day was followed by a stunning win over AC Milan which had Silvio Berlusconi claiming that a left-wing plot had been hatched by the match officials – after all Cesena is situated in the old red-supporting Emilia-Romagna region.

Then at the weekend they demonstrated they could defeat a club of similar stature in fellow newly-promoted Lecce.

Much has been made of the fact that Zlatan Ibrahimovic earns more than the whole Cesena combined but the Cavallucci marini (Seahorses) are no floundering minnows.

Their Dino Manuzzi stadium is a 23,860 capacity envy of any club in Italy and has a playing surface that would put the San Siro and Olympic stadium to shame never mind the potato-fields in Naples and Bari.

If Italy had won the bid for Euro 2016 then it would have been one of the host stadiums ahead of the Luigi Ferraras in Genoa

Even last season, the club had a record 8,175 season-ticket holders in Serie B and once promotion to the elite league was ensured, 36-year-old president Igor Campedelli launched a promotional campaign that encouraged families and females to join the 'fun' at the Manuzzi.

Five hundred family packages have been sold and 2,000 females have signed up for all the home games. There is also a burgeoning fan-club of German fans no doubt drawn to the team’s white and black kit.

The total number of season-tickets across the board has now gone beyond 10,000 to almost 11,000 – compare that to Milan with 26,000 season-ticket holders for Serie A games and you get a fair idea of the buzz for football when it can be watched correct environment.

They are certainly one of the most progressive clubs in a region that has never felt it should be held back by the Italian affliction that you can only beat the system by looking after number one.

If la dolce vita really existed then it would be in the Emilia region which boasts the best quality of life in the country – and so it is no surprise that the club put fans first and ensure that families can watch matches in a manner you would never witness in most other grounds around the peninsula.

The playing staff are mostly those who came up through the divisions but they have augmented by experienced performers who form the spine of the side such as 41-year-old goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli, yet to concede a goal, Albanian striker Erjon Bogdani, now 33, and the scorer of two goals so far having gone almost a year without finding the net.

The Argentinean defender Maximilano Pellegrino is approaching 30 as is midfielder Stephen Appiah who came back onto the radar during the World Cup with Ghana after a serious knee injury.

In fact, South Africa was a success for Cesena who also picked up Japan left-back Yuto Nagatomo who has formed one of the speediest and certainly vertically-challenged partnerships down the flank with the team’s star man Emanuale Giaccherini.

The diminutive 25-year-old winger has made the rise from the fourth division and having torn Roma and Milan’s defences apart, he is expected to force his way into Cesare Prandelli’s reckoning for an international call-up.

Massimo Faccadenti is a no-frills coach who has followed the attacking blue-print drawn by Pierpaolo Bisoli after the latter’s move to Cagliari.

Even when they were reduced to ten men against Lecce at the weekend when captain Giuseppe Colucci was sent-off on 30-odd minutes, in one of the worst ever cases of mistaken identity when Nagatomo had been the culprit, they kept going forward to find the winner.

It may only be the early stages of the campaign but Cesena’s aim will be to repeat the feats of Chievo in 2001 when the side from the suburbs of Verona came up from Serie B and surprised the world of Calcio to finish fifth in their first season.

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Squabbling, lies & big feet

2010-09-20T09:01:00Z

It was one of those weeks in Italian football where deep-rooted feelings of anger and frustration came boiling to the surface and it seemed that just about everyone was out to settle a few personal scores.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Arrigo Sacchi were involved in an on-air spat, Leonardo laid bare Silvio Berlusconi’s ugliest personality traits and Claudio Ranieri lost his temper in spectacular fashion with the Roman press.

It is not easy to maintain your clarity when you are caught up in the moment and when pushed to express something your reaction can be volatile to say the least.

Ibrahimovic was the first lose his temper when he was confronted by old nemesis Sacchi, who has never rated the Swede and took little persuasion to have a sly dig when he cited Ibra’s size 47s as the sole reason he scored his first of his two goals against Auxerre in the Champions League.

The comment may have been made in a jovial manner – well sort of – but it just happened to have been uttered live on the post-game round-up show

“Big feet” just happened to then appear in a link-up and the cat-calling started.

Refusing to speak directly to the Milan legend, the man who has yet to achieve legendary status outside his own household, fumed: “Sacchi should learn to be quiet and if he wants something he can come and see me.”

That’s a fighting talk, but sensing he had the moral high ground, the man a mere year away from pensionable age remained calm and composed and attempted to explain.

However, he never got the chance as Zlat cut him off with, “I don’t want your explanations. If you don’t like the way I play then don’t watch me.”

Just imagine if Sacchi had called him “big nose.”

If Ibra thought he was defending the oversized then he was mistaken: the Milan Channel was bombarded with calls and e-mails demanding the latest signing show some respect to a man who after all had taken the club to the very pinnacle of the game.

No apology was forthcoming but if the forward thought he could let his feet doing the talking he was once again to left disappointed.

The Rossoneri were back to their wasteful old ways in a 1-1 against Catania and look like a team that are going to be even more frustrating than Leonardo’s side last season.

The Brazilian is now on a busman’s holiday, “studying” the game around Europe and especially in England where he has picked some sort of TV gig similar to his appearances in the past on Sky Sports.

He does manage to pop back to Italy now and again – and on this occasion it was to give La Gazzetta dello Sport the inside skinny on why he walked away from coaching Milan in the summer.

Unsurprisingly, it was all down to Silvio Berlusconi, who had claimed that the Brazilian was just too damn good-looking – no, he didn’t really – it was all about tactics and how the team should have played.

‘Not so’, countered Leo, who only told us what the whole of the country was well aware off – Berlusconi is vain and self-centred.

“Narcissus doesn't like anything that is not a reflection of himself,” was his poetic take on the whole sorry situation which now finds one of the finest young coaches hanging around TV studios giving his opinion on the game.

Having cleared the air he finally broke his ties with the club he had spent 13 years with by not ruling out a possible return to Italy and if Inter ever came calling he would not turn them down.

Tension had been lingering in the capital well before AS Roma’s dreadful start to the season and Ranieri may regret getting all medieval on the local media at the press conference ahead of the weekend encounter against Bologna.

Francesco Totti had already made it open season on his coach with his complaints that the team were betraying their attacking traditions by playing catenaccio.

“It’s not true,” raged Ranieri. “And I’ll prove. This is my team. I am the coach and the players do as I tell them.”

As the scribes sharpened their pens, the old Roman let loose with a tirade of abuse towards the press in similar fashion, table-thumping included, to Giovanni Trapatoni when he went on a rant in pidgin German during his spell at Bayern Munich, - expect this outburst was in pure Roman.

It was like one of those summer storms – as soon it gets going it soon abates – which sums up the way Roma are playing at the moment.

Having taken a 2-0 lead against Bologna they looked set fair for their first win of the season but ended up drawing 2-2 with former Lazio striker Marco Di Viao scoring both goals for the visitors – and the equaliser with almost the last kick of the game.

Of course Ranieri could not leave well alone when his side were charge and instead of encouraging his players to go for a third he brought off Jeremy Menez for Fabio Simplicio who had not stepped on a football pitch for about four months.

The local press had been calling for the Brazilian and in hindsight it looked as if Ranieri was bowing to pressure which does not bode well for his future employment in his home town.

After all, there is only ever one emperor at a time along the Tiber and we all know who that is.

If a vacancy does come up in the Capital then it is doubtful Leonardo will be leaping into the pool of self-love that is Roma.

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Milan already taking Ibra to their hearts

2010-09-16T09:32:00Z

Ballyhoo follows bathos follows hyperbole at regular intervals throughout the world of Italian football, so it was no surprise that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would shine on a stage where he usually falls flat on his face.

The big Swede was brought to AC Milan primarily to turn the Italian government’s in-house team into an eye-catching outfit on those glittering Champions League nights despite the fact that you don’t see a lot of Zlat when it comes to European games.

Of course having rightfully laid low after last weekend’s forgettable debut at Cesena where he missed a penalty - which had Inter owner Massimo Moratti chortling as if he had stroke comic gold - it was Ibra who got up his former president’s nose last night with no one, but two goals for the team 'across town'.

Okay, it wasn’t one of those evenings where bottling it would have been fatal – but with nearly 50,000 season-tickets already sold for the Champions League group stage the San Siro public were expecting plenty of entertainment against the supporting act, Auxerre.

However, for long periods Milan looked like what many observers had been forecasting – a talented bunch of individuals that would never gel into a cohesive unit.

So Andrea Pirlo tried to find Clarence Seedorf who only had eyes for Ronaldinho who couldn’t pick out the immobile bean-pole in the centre while Pato waved frantically out on the left wing only to be ignored by all and sundry – strange really as the young Brazilian was the main threat on the rare occasions he was given the ball.

Then in a moment, it all clicked together and each of those giant egos remembered that they possessed the razzle and dazzle to banish any thoughts of vulnerability.

A shimmy from Dinho, a step-over from Clarence and a mazy run from Pato ended with a back-heel from Ibra – unfortunately to no one in particular - but the lights were suddenly going on and the opposition was caught in the glare of pure skill.

Another rapid move enable Ronaldinho to drift inside to deliver an angled cross into the area where Kevin-Prince Boateng flicked the ball on for Ibra to stab home.

The was merriment to follow with Ronaldinho in particular, irresistible and forthright in taking the ball forward – shaking off a challenge and accelerating (yes, he seems to have found some of that long-lost pace) to the edge of the area before releasing the big man for his second goal.

The self-same fans who would have derided Ibra a few weeks before were in delirium but that’s show-business – and the signs are that the Ron-Zlat duo is set to replace the Clarence and Dinho double-act as the must-see performance.

There will be more severe tests down the line against Europe’s elite but there were other positive performances to banish the negatives: Boateng or - Prince as likes to be known - was a pleasant surprise to many.

Little or nothing was known about the midfielder when he first arrived but possessing work-rate aligned to a sure touch he looks a more suitable starter than the ailing Massimo Ambrosini whom he replaced early on or the now redundant Rino Gattuso.

Robinho came on for Pato who does not seem to completely free of his injury problems and showed glimpses of his deft touch and quick passing but certainly lacked match fitness.

Of course, doubts still abound in defence and especially in both full-back positions.

Age is against Gianluca Zambrotta whose leg are beginning to go while Luca Antonini has not been converted from a second-string midfielder to anything like a consistent left-back.

In fact he is not even left-footed – while Ignazio Abate cannot even be considered as adequate cover which demonstrates how bad things are in that department.

The majestic Alessandro Nesta papers over the fragility along the backline but he is another veteran whose body could give in at any moment.

Then again it is just this sort of swashbuckling approach that the San Siro faithful have become accustomed to so it is no wonder they have already taken Ibra to their hearts.

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Party over as players threaten to strike

2010-09-13T11:51:00Z

"Right lads, down tools we are all out."

You know the world has gone crazy when footballers are threatening strike action.

September 25th and 26th have been earmarked as the dates when Italian football comes to a standstill as the country’s players take to the picket-lines to protest at the ìslave-likeî conditions they are forced to work under.

Of course, not all players earn multi-million Euro contracts such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic who will have to forgo his €320,000-odd weekly wage packet if the union make good on a walk out.

However, the average salary is still around €23,000 a month in the top flight so on the surface there seems little to protest about – unlike the average office worker who has to make do with less than a €1000 a month.

The current agreement between the footballers’ association and the clubs has expired and now the players are filled with revolutionary zeal, just when they may to toe the line for once.

How many times has a player basically broken his contract to ensure a move to another club or sat around earning vast sums of money for doing nothing because he refuses to accept a transfer?

Both parties are to blame for the situation we find ourselves in now – the clubs have been handing out massive contracts over four years to players in their late 20s and expecting them to be at the peak of their powers in their early or some cases mid-30s.

AC Milan are prime example, having awarded the players who "revenged" the 2005 Champions League defeat to Liverpool two years later with four-year deals which meant that the whole squad was set up for life at the pinnacle of their careers.

There was only one direction they were heading after that and Milan were saddled with the likes of Marek Jankulovski, Nelson Dida, Massimo Oddo and Kakha Kaladze who you could never say deserved the star status bestowed on them.

Milan attempted to get some value out of having Oddo hanging around by extending the full-back’s contract for another season but spreading the final payment over 24 months.

However, Jankulovski refused to budge and will no doubt literally sit-out his final season before becoming a wealthy free agent at 33.

With this in mind what concerns the players’ union is the proposal that will give an employer the right to terminate the final year of a contract and pay the player 50 per cent of what he was due if he refuses accept a move to another club of equal standing.

Tellingly, the shop-steward at the press conference to warn the country that their national sport was heading the way of the public transport system - brought to a standstill on a regular basis by industrial action - was Oddo.

Massimo money mo' problems...or something

'We are not objects,' he bleated as he sat there in his designer shirt; sporting perfectly manicured sideburns and looking all for the world like the perfect object of footballing desire.

Clarence Seedorf, Rino Gattuso and Javier Zanetti nodded gravely in agreement while the rest of the non-football playing work shook its head in disbelief.

Even those players who do not warrant star billing have little to complain about: earning a very good living from playing football – and isn’t football all about results and success so if you are good enough you will generally reap the rewards from the game.

There are a number of other issues on the table, so to speak: clubs want to decide where a player has treatment for an injury and not the player. So now we know why Alessandro Nesta spent 18 months in Miami receiving treatment on a back injury.

There is another good one: the union has demanded that coaches must work with one group of players in training thus ensuring that those no longer in their plans or in dispute with the club cannot be exiled to train with the youth team - or all alone.

There is no doubt now that the party is over but these issues can no doubt be solved through dialogue rather than threats of bringing the national game to a halt.

Silvio Berlusconi would not have been taken too kindly with the stance taken by his Milan militants especially in the light of the team’s defeat to the proletariat: newly-promoted Cesena whose annual wage bill is less than Ibra’s basic annual pay.

Maybe he should have been questioning his own team work ethic and apart from Inter, it was not a profit-making weekend for the top flight’s fat cats: Milan humbled by Cesena; AS Roma thrashed at Cagliari and Juventus held by Sampdoria.

On top of that, Palermo lost at Brescia while Fiorentina went down to Lecce and Napoli drew at home to Bari.

Chievo won at Genoa to leave the Flying Donkeys as the only team on maximum points and top of the table – power then to footballer’s true workers and long may it continue.

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Milan lead the way as wage bills revealed

2010-09-09T10:40:00Z

La Gazzetta dello Sport has just printed a handy guide for anyone wishing to browse through the salaries of each and every current Serie A player gathered from Italy’s biggest-selling sports paper’s own sources.

According to the Milan-based daily, in total, the 20 clubs in Italy’s top flight will shell out €802 million this year - from AC Milan at €130 million, right down to Cesena on €8.3 million – some €700,000 less than Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s basic take home pay for the year.

However, these figures do not tell the whole story of the final salaries amongst the elite of Serie A who have leapt at the carrot of incentive-based bonuses.

Inter led the way last season when the first-team squad was awarded with €600,000-a-man for lifting the Treble – and with a good run on the transfer market this summer more and more players are accepting less in their basic but looking to top it up if the team reach certain pre-defined targets.

So, for example, Ibrahimovic may have seen his salary drop from €12 million to €9 million after his switch from Barcelona, but if Milan have a successful campaign then he may climb beyond even the figure the big Swede became accustomed to in Catalonia.

Samuel Eto’o moved in the opposite direction to Ibra last season and was offered €9 million which, of course, he duly accepted.

However, looking at the figures for this season, the striker’s published salary is €8 million which suggests that the shortfall plus the rest will be made up in bonuses and incentive schemes in whatever they may come in – scoring a hatful of goals being the obvious example.

On top of that, there are “grey areas” where an undefined bonus can be added to the contract at the end of each season – a little extra to squirrel away in a off-shore account, hand over to charity, or whatever the player wants to do with it.

So how have these “flexible contracts” suddenly become all the rage?

Well, of course, never far from the surface of any upheaval is the new influx of television money which is now beginning to wash into the Italian game.

The clubs pitched in together on a collective bargaining scheme to get as much as they could out of the TV rights right across the board and the Players’ Association have also gone down the same route in their own negotiations with the Football League.

As part of a new collective, players can earn bonuses of up to 50% on top of their current contract- and the clubs have welcomed the new initiative for one simple reason: it looks good on the balance-sheet; well, it doesn’t actually appear on the balance sheet.

We will not know what the likes of Ibra and Eto’o are earning beyond their basic salary this season because that is the figure in print – and the true amount may never come to light, with bonuses showing up as one figure in the accounts a year down the line.

It paints nothing more than a false picture, just as the loan-to-buy deals that have become in vogue this summer fail to provide a clear indication of how much money is disappearing out of the club accounts over the course of a year.

There is little doubt that many Italian clubs are playing a dangerous game that is not in keeping with UEFA fair-play finance plan where by clubs will be forced to live within their means.

Even by the end of last season, salaries were accounting for 70% of revenue amongst Italian clubs and it seems increasingly difficult to reverse the trend.

The television money has opened eyes to the financial rewards to be reaped, but with no income as such from stadiums and merchandising only slowly catching on there is still a substantial hole to fill - and unfortunately it may turn into a black hole when it comes to the true cost of player salaries.

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Italy finally deliver the goods

2010-09-06T10:51:00Z

It was a painful nine-month gestation in which Italy went seven games without a win, but finally in Estonia the Azzurri came through and delivered the goods.

The frigid temperatures in Tallinn were not welcoming for Cesare Prandelli’s men who had spent all week training in the late-summer sun back home - and the first half display was equally off-putting.

It was the worst failings of South Africa all over again, with passes going astray, control of the ball an alien concept and the whole backline wobbling whenever there was a set-piece to defend.

In the end, it was the class of two players who dragged Italy out of a tight corner in this Euro first 2012 qualifier: Antonio Cassano and Andrea Pirlo.

In fact, Pirlo delivered the two corners from which Cassano first drew Italy level with a header and then produced a trademark back-heel to enable Leonardo Bonucci to score from close range.

Much of the first hour had been almost unwatchable and in fact the viewing public back home missed the equaliser after state broadcaster RAI decided the moment of a rare Italy corner was the perfect time to flash up an ad (you’d never see that happen in England… - Ed).

After ten seconds of some forgettable football, seeing the players suddenly celebrating was a bit of shock until it became clear that their merriment was not down to winning another corner.

Up to then, the only positive had been Pirlo’s display anchoring the midfield - and wearing the captain’s armband the AC Milan man kept the ball moving; finding his target from 74 out of 81 of his passes.

It was as if he had the ball on a lead and he was taking it for a walk around the park. Unfortunately, further forward it more like headless chickens as possession could not be turned into a genuine goal threat.

Cassano was too many times the culprit as he too often attempted to pick out his Sampdoria team-mate Giampaolo Pazzini, who had one good effort in the first period but failed to get a shot away at all after the break, than do the simple but much more productive thing such as passing to another player wearing a blue shirt.

It was only when FantAntonio dropped – no doubt at Prandelli’s insistence - a little deeper and began playing short passes and one-twos with Pirlo that Italy started to function as a unit.

The ball then found its way out to the flanks and Mattia Cassani, in particular, enjoyed some telling runs down the right wing much in the way Gianluca Zambrotta used to.

The introduction of Fabio Quagliarella in the place of the very ineffectual Simone Pepe also give the team much-needed zip just as he had done in that fatal World Cup game against Slovakia although in the end to no avail.

However, it is the first step on a completely new era for la nazionale and there are positives to be taken, above all, a new spirit in the team.

It may look on the whole as if there are too many mid-table club players in the squad but this could be to Prandelli’s advantage, having after all turned the likes of Parma and Fiorentina into competitive outfits.

A little bit of joie de vivre is just what is needed and who better to provide it than Cassano; under Prandelli’s patient guiding hand he will learn to play for the team and understand that he can rely on his team-mates to carry the workload as well, just as he has done at Sampdoria.

It is all a little hazy at the moment but what is clear after freezing for a time in Estonia, Italy will enjoy a warm welcome back home at Prandelli’s old stomping ground in Florence against the group’s whipping boys the Faroe Islands.

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Italy's love affair with the No.10

2010-09-03T08:00:00Z

Deep in their heart of hearts Italians accept that football is a brutal game where only the result matters – players put themselves at the disposal of the coach and follow the mister’s orders to the letter.

The tactics and style of play can be as ugly as you like, as long as you come out on top.

Then again, Italians as a whole love beauty, they also love to feel that they are beyond the rules set out by society so of course they were always going to fall in love with the ‘No 10’.

Even in the most mundane life there needs to be some spark of creativity. There is something of the artist in very Italian, even if, when push comes to shove, pragmatism always wins out.

That is why the fantasista has always held a special place in Italian hearts: the genio creating the bella figura while the artisans go about their day’s labour.

The love affair really took off with a Valentino of course: Valentino Mazzola who captained the Grande Torino that dominated the Italian game in the post-war years and who lost his life in the Superga plane crash in 1949.

His son Sandro would keep the light burning brightly as the creative force in the Grande Inter of the 60s and then, as we shall see, give an Italy coach endless selection headaches.

Mazzola senior may have created the allure for the position everyone envies but at the same time carries the greatest burden – and when it comes to a time for expediency the artist will be sacrificed for the perceived good of the team.

Roberto Baggio’s substitution at USA ’94 after Italy had goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca sent-off is an good example of when the Italian coach – in this case Arrgio Sacchi – understood that he could not afford any luxuries and served up a game plan based on avoiding defeat at any cost.

Sacchi got away with it only because it was Norway, when another Baggio – Dino – scored the only goal of the game. However, the Divine Ponytail returned for the following game and then basically dragged the Azzurri kicking and screaming all the way to the final.

There he missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Brazil, but was forgiven because his feet were never made of clay.

Italians are not adverse to a bit of anarchy and Evaristo Beccalossi was the king of the nutmeg and the reason why many a Milanese kid supported Inter in the late-70s.

Il Bec never got the opportunity to take his undoubted talents onto the international stage as Enzo Bearzot refused to call him up to the squad for the 1982 World Cup – but then he did have the equally-elegant and more team-orientated Giancarlo Antognoni to call upon although donning the number nine shirt.

When the home-grown talent has failed to bloom such as the in the early 1980s, Italy has imported number 10s with the eye of a wine connoisseur choosing a fine vintage: Michel Platini, Diego Maradona and Zico arrived and uncorked a golden age of sublime skill and invention in Serie A.

However, it us the grape off the home vine that is more to Italian liking, so Marcello Lippi left a bitter taste when he refused to take a trequartista to South Africa – leaving both Antonio Cassano and Francesco Totti at home.

It was first time since the 1986 World Cup that Italy were without a natural creator in the advanced role as opposed to the regista in the more withdrawn position – and in the end the cost was more severe than it had been back in Mexico.

Lippi knew he had betrayed a rich legacy and only left himself open to more ridicule when he attempted to employ Claudio Marchisio and Mauro Camoranesi in that gaping hole of magical possibilities even though Antonio Di Natale was wearing the 10 shirt.

In the end, it was Fabio Quagliarella who took it upon himself to scatter a little star-dust in the dying moments of the final group game against Slovakia.

However, the Napoli man is a seconda punta – a support striker – a defined role far removed from that of the maverick 10, which demonstrated how far the national team had fallen from the mantra of facci sognare or ‘makes us dream’.

In the past, Italy coaches were spoilt for choice when it came to subtle back-heels, killer passes and unforgettable goals, which reflected the country’s unfailing love for a player who could brighten even the dullest Sunday afternoon with a moment of divinity.

The 1970 World Cup coach Ferruccio Valcareggi could not decide whether Gianni Rivera or Sandro Mazzola’s creative instincts best served the team and devised the staffetta – the relay baton where each man played a half.

What a shame Valcareggi could not have built a side around these two Milanese talents who embodied the cool but yet resourceful nature of late 60s and early 70s Italy.

Baggio burst on to the scene at Italia ’90 and had Gianfranco Zola as back-up through the mid-1990s while Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti vied for the role through the noughties which takes us up to Cassano and his return to the national side under Cesare Prandelli.

We can only hope that Fantantonio’s second-coming does not mark the end of a love affair with Italy’s dream position.

My Perfect 10: Paul Simpson on Vladimir Petrovic
My Perfect 10: Riccardo Rossi on Roberto Baggio
My Perfect 10: Steve Morgan on Robert Prosinecki
My Perfect 10: Andy Mitten on Eric Cantona
My Perfect 10: Michael Cox on Rui Costa
My Perfect 10: Hugh Sleight on Zico
My Perfect 10: James Horncastle on Francesco Totti
My Perfect 10: David Hall on Zinedine Zidane
My Perfect 10: Sefa Atay on Gheorghe Hagi

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Are Inter feeling an icy blast of austerity?

2010-09-02T10:36:00Z

Rafael Benitez must have felt that he had waved farewell to financial constraints and was about to say hello to earth-shattering amounts of transfer funds when he arrived at Inter.

However, the Spaniard has found that any transfer business over the summer would be heading in the opposite direction – selling Mario Balotelli to Manchester City and keeping Real Madrid at bay by pricing Douglas Maicon out of the market.

The former Liverpool manager claimed he was more than willing to stay out of the financial side of the business and just get on with coaching – leaving president Massimo Moratti and transfer chief Marco Branca to actively deal with the recruitment policy.

Having been stung before by Jose Mourinho’s insistence that the club sign Ricardo Quaresma there was a marked lack of conviction to go the extra euro to land Javier Marscherano and especially Dirk Kuyt.

Benitez has quickly found out he is not that special, but then he has not had the luxury of taking advantage of a major transfer coup that fell into Jose Mourinho’s lap when Barcelona jumped at Zlatan Ibrahimovic and threw in Samuel Eto’o for good measure.

In fact, last summer could not have gone better with Wesley Sneijder arriving from Real Madrid for a pocket’s worth of change.

Deals like that do not come around that often so in one respect Benitez has been slightly unfortunate, although he could have expected more than the modest out-lay on Jonathon Biabiany, who was on a co-ownership deal with Parma so cannot be counted as an outright transfer.

Midfielder Gokhan Inler and Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini also came into the frame late on in the day but when Udinese and Sampdoria, respectively, refused to play ball Inter backed off.

Moratti has never been so expedient – and for once in a quite a number of years Silvio Belursconi has stolen the limelight across town with the arrival of Ibrahimovic and Robinho.

There is no secret that the owners of the Milanese clubs have little in common and Moratti’s more prosaic approach is at odds with his AC Milan counterpart’s razzmatazz.

That is maybe why the Mourinho partnership worked: Moratti the steady anchor when his coach became caught up in the stormy seas of Italian football.

Now we have two individuals given to mumbling, and Benitez was certainly chewing on his words when the transfer window slammed shut and Inter had locked themselves out of any reinforcements.

A quick glance at the latest available accounts for 2009 shows the club in the red to the tune of €154 million pushing the figure to a reported half a billion Euros over the last three years.

With UEFA threatening clubs that cannot balance their books Moratti may be beginning to feel the offset of an icy blast of austerity.

However, at the same time Benitez is not as if he is looking at a training pitch full of under-achievers and it might be case of the new man stepping up to the standards to his predecessor and keeping to his word that he will just get on with coaching.

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Showman Berlusconi has the last laugh

2010-08-31T14:24:00Z

Silvio Berlusconi has been written off on numerous occasions lately, but just when it seemed as if his demise was imminent the laughing cavalier has, well, had the last laugh.

He was certainly chortling away on Sunday evening as he strolled out of the San Siro after watching AC Milan produce their best 45 minutes of football since they tore Manchester United to shreds in the Champions League some four years ago.

Ever the showman, Berlusconi was more than willing to play to the gallery although he had certainly not forgotten that only a few months ago the fans were calling for him to step aside if he was not willing to dip into the transfer market.

With reporters hanging on his every word on how he had brought off the transfer coup of the year in landing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the diminutive leader of the country was interrupted in full flow by a group of ultras who had gathered to offer words of praise for a change.

The chief in staff accepted them graciously before reminding them that they were entitled to celebrate all they liked or complain as much as they wanted, but there is only one person who was actually dipping into his pocket at the end of the day.

And with a regal wave of the hand the Silvio Show was over and the sound-bite was soon flashing across the late news bulletins – of the media magnet’s television stations of course - along with a new slimish-looking Ronaldinho who was in element against a Lecce side whose coach Luigi De Canio fielded two youth-team players in defence.

The new boys paid the price in a 4-0 thumping and suddenly season tickets for the Rossoneri are going through the roof while Ibra number 11 shirts are flying off the shelves.

Well, any good news is always welcomed on an opening weekend where there were only 15 goals and by the looks of it a few players have not yet recovered from their World Cup hangovers.

None of those unfortunates who played a major part in Italy minor contribution to the finals in South Africa started the new campaign on the front-foot - apart from maybe Giorgio Chiellini.

Andrea Pirlo and Giampaolo Pazzini cannot be considered as their playing time was minimal, but Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio and Simone Pepe were visibly suffering at the weekend.

De Rossi, in particular, was completely out of sorts in AS Roma’s goalless draw against newly-promoted Cesena and the midfielder cut a forlorn figure when he was substituted midway through the second half.

Both Marchisio and Pepe looked well off international class as Juventus began the campaign with a defeat Bari which brought only resigned shakes of the head from their long-suffering fans and a baffling aside from Luigi Del Neri that the team were on the right road – to mid-table obscurity it would seem.

There were shades of South Africa in Florence where Edinson Cavani was awarded a goal for Napoli even though replays clearly showed the ball had bounced off the underside of the bar and hit the line. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRzbILS2smg

The “phantom goal” again raised calls for goalline technology which Gazzetta dello Sport has been punting for all its worth since Frank Lampard’s effort was ruled out in the summer.

There was also a phantom of sorts on the Bologna bench during the Monday night game against Inter.

Franco Colomba should have been taking his place there in charge of the home side but was relieved of his duties over the weekend because he had been pestering the new club owner Sergio Porcedda for something called ‘new players’.

As is generally the case when a team is left to its own devices it produces a positive result – and fortunately for Bologna the defending champions had not shaken off their European Super Cup defeat.

Having being suitable chasten in Monte Carlo, the Nerazzurri once again looked heavy-legged in a goalless draw. However, each of their last three seasons have started with a point so maybe it is an omen of things to come.

Of course just when we get started again along comes a break weekend for the Euro 2012 qualifiers but for now it is Milan and their chirpy president who are all smiles.

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My Perfect 10: Roberto Baggio

2010-08-30T14:26:00Z

The new issue of FourFourTwo is a 'Playmakers Special'. This week on FFT.com our writers will be celebrating their favourite fantasistas – Riccardo Rossi continues the series with a look at the man best known as the Divine Ponytail...

The late 1980s were an enjoyable time to follow football in Italy.

The national team were coming off a positive performance at Euro ’88 and with the likes of Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Mancini and Paolo Maldini making their breakthrough, hopes were high that the Azzurri would win the World Cup in 1990 as hosts.

On the club front, AC Milan were starting to play the sort of football that would see Silvio Berlusconi’s club sweep through Europe, Napoli were packing the San Paolo as Diego Maradona held court, while it also looked as if Inter were finally coming out of the doldrums.

Then, every week there was the treat of witnessing the likes of Van Basten, Gullit, Maradona and Careca along with the rest of the glittering gallery of some of the world’s best players in action.

Everyone wanted to be in Italy ahead of Italia ’90 – and every Italian wanted a home-grown hero: that wish would come true.

What drew the football-watching public to Roberto Baggio was just how unremarkable he looked.

Baggio shares a tender moment with Salvatore Schillaci

Maradona was a barrel-chest Napoleon, Van Basten tall and elegant in his very movement, Gullit a dread-locked colossus but Baggio was a skinny urchin with a face you would never pick out from the rest of the curly-topped youths of that era.

Then, his look was so different from the players of the clubs ruling the league at the time: shirt outside his shorts, socks around the ankles and that hunched run – he was the street player in every one of us.

Playing for Fiorentina also set him apart because, never-mind that the Viola were never going to win the league, they were hardly ever going to win away from home.

And when they did, it was generally Baggio who produced a moment that could never be taught on the training field and his solo goal at Napoli at the start of the 1989-90 season sealed the deal forever

No one ever had audacity to turn up at the San Paolo and waltz through the best defence in the league before walking the ball into the net – the goal was replayed through the evening of that broiling hot Sunday and right through the following week.

A flickering television highlight was one thing but now you had to see this young dribbler who seemed to float past opponents live in front of you.

Serie Aaaaargh! would have to wait until the last day of that season in the inauspicious surroundings of the Stadio Flaminio in Rome for the moment to arrive.

AS Roma and Lazio had been temporarily evicted from the Olympic stadium so that it could be brought up to standard for the World Cup so they moved across to the Tiber to the compact Flaminio where the Six Nations Rugby matches are now held.

It was a third division ground really, but at that meant you could press yourself in front of Perspex glass to get close to the action.

Roma had already qualified for Europe and Fiorentina were safe from relegation and somehow – well we knew how – qualified for the final of the UEFA Cup so it was basically one of those end-of-the-season kickabouts.

The Giallorossi had Giuseppe Giannini controlling the midfield at a leisurely pace with his thoughts on the World Cup and for all we know Baggio was taking it easy too.

However, whenever the ball arrived at his feet the tempo of the game was lifted a notch or two – he was ahead of Mardona in the goalscoring charts and just behind the league’s top goalscorer Van Basten.

A couple of goals could have possibly made him the league’s capocannoniere and in fact he had an opportunity to score, but unbelievable missed a penalty or if memory serves correctly Franco Tancredi, the current England goalkeeping coach, dived to his left to save.

The sight of Baggio with his hands on hips and head bowed was a rare sight at that time but it only added to his allure.

He may have been subbed off shortly afterwards, but little did it matter because Italia 90 was less than a month away and tickets had been procured for all the games in Rome – which meant Italy and without doubt another glimpse of Baggio.

However, there no sign of our hero the first two group games – against Austria and USA – as Italy stumbled through by the only goal in both encounters.

With the team’s most naturally-gifted player languishing on the bench, coach Azeglio Vicini was becoming the most unpopular man in Italy.

He had to start Baggio against Czechoslovakia and it was a decision that produced one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history (video below).

To be there as the whole of the Olympic stadium rose as one when Baggio collected a pass from Giannini on the halfway still produces goose-bumps.

After that everything seemed to go into slow-motion as Baggio kept the ball almost tucked under his foot before producing a dummy inside the area that is better remembered in the mind than any television replay.

Then, it was all a bit of a blurry as gape-mouthed astonishment was followed by total and utter unbridled joy as the stadium celebrated until the final whistle - and right through the night – the best moment of the World Cup, the best moment of any World Cup in fact.

That instant would mark the end of youth and innocence as the world came tumbling down on Italian hopes and dreams – the Azzurri were dire against Ireland and then left the Capital for Naples never to be seen again.

When Baggio resurfaced he was no more a blossoming talent but a genuine superstar in the making, wearing a Juventus shirt and transforming into Il Codino Divino, but those snapshots of the mind from the early summer of ’90 were the essence of Italy’s greatest number 10 – the skinny lad with the ball at his feet making dreams come true.

More from Serie Aaaaargh!

My Perfect 10: Paul Simpson on Vladimir Petrovic
My Perfect 10: Steve Morgan on Robert Prosinecki
My Perfect 10: Andy Mitten on Eric Cantona
My Perfect 10: Michael Cox on Rui Costa
My Perfect 10: Hugh Sleight on Zico
My Perfect 10: James Horncastle on Francesco Totti
My Perfect 10: David Hall on Zinedine Zidane
My Perfect 10: Sefa Atay on Gheorghe Hagi
My Perfect 10: Jamie Bowman on Michael Laudrup
My Perfect 10: Joel Richards on Juan Roman Riquelme

Videos: Football's finest playmakers in full flow

The 'Playmakers Special' issue of FourFourTwo is in stories throughout September 2010.

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Mou & Ibra almost overshadow new season

2010-08-27T14:46:00Z

We might have known that it wouldn’t take long for Jose Mourinho to return to haunt one half of Milan.

The Special One will back at the San Siro when Real Madrid face AC Milan in the Champions League.

He will be something of the evil twin of Ricky Kaka who slipped out of the city without a ciao, ciao - and had to wait until Real played the Rossoneri in Europe to thank everyone for helping him for a leg-up in his career.

Subsequent events have suggested that his time in Italy is probably as good as it will get for the Brazilian but who knows if last season will turn out to be a similar football-epithet for the Portuguese.

One thing is certain when Real pitch up at their hotel they will be mobbed by Inter fans who can’t wait for such a special return.

The draw set the pulse racing to varying degrees for each of Italy’s group stage representatives.

The defending champions, who also swept the awards from goalkeeper to striker at the Champions League draw ceremony, will be content to have pulled Tottenham, Werder Bremen and FC Twente out of the pot – little travelling, excellent stadiums and teams that play in a straightforward manner.

Milan have less to be satisfied with – and as it was last season it will not be the double-header with Real that settles the outcome of the group but the matches against Ajax and AJ Auxerre.

The Rossoneri came away with a win at the Bernabeu last year and then followed that up with a draw at home only undo all their good work with a home defeat to FC Zurich and a draw against Marseille which left them facing Manchester United in the round of the last sixteen as group runners-up.

AS Roma will have similar concerns when they take on FC Basel and CFR Cluj, having lost to both opponents in last year’s Europa League, however, the stand-out games will be against Bayern Munich and the Giallorossi should be looking to top the group.

The Champions League will remain an inciting side-dish for a few weeks yet and amongst all the headlines on whether Zlatan Ibrahimovic will join Milan and why no one wants to move to Juventus, the new season starts this weekend.

Inter won’t be in action until Monday evening at Bologna so for once we will have a new name at the top of the table – or more than likely a long line of team on three points.

Roma should get their campaign off to a winning start at home against Cesena who are back in the top flight for the first time since 1991 – and will no doubt approach the game with the mentality of a Serie B side playing an Italian Cup tie at the Olympic stadium.

Another new arrival, Lecce might fancy their chances, however, at Milan who have lost to newly-promoted sides at home on the opening day in the past.

The third new boy, Brescia would also expect to take something from their trip to Parma although Sebastian Giovinco could finally start to blossom in the more relaxed atmosphere of Emilia-Romagna.

However, the games of the first round will be Fiorentina at home to Napoli and Bari welcoming Juventus.

All four teams will be worth watching – for differing reasons. How will the Viola fair under Sinisa Mihajlovic, can Napoli do a Sampdoria and make the breakthrough into the top four and will Bari follow their 10th-place finish with a year battling against relegation?

However, all eyes will be on the Old Lady as she desperately searches for a new identity under Gigi Del Neri.

Diego has been moved on and by the time you read this Fabio Quagliarella should have arrived on loan from Napoli but the sum of the parts may not add up to a top-four chasing whole.

There are certainly enough teams pushing for European places, such as Genoa who are home to an Udinese side lifted by Antonio Di Natale’s snub of Juve. Sampdoria need to put their Champions League exit behind them when they meet Lazio who could just as easily explode or implode.

Watch out for Palermo who finished two points off fourth place last term. The Sicilians have cashed in on Edinson Cavani and Simon Kjaer but have kept potentially the player of the year: Javier Pastore. Much will depend on tightening up a defence that conceded 47 times last year.

So, putting the Serie Aaaaargh! head on the block, here comes the predictions for the 2010-11 Serie A season.

1.   AS Roma
2.   Inter
3.   Palermo
4.   Genoa

Europa League
Napoli
Milan
Juventus

Relegated
Bologna
Cesena
Brescia

Italian Cup winners
Napoli

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Galliani capable of wrestling Ibra from Barca

2010-08-26T11:15:00Z

The bigwigs of AC Milan met up with Barcelona’s decision makers yesterday at a restaurant that Woody Allen frequented during his stay in the city filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

No doubt the one-liners were flying back and forth between Adriano Galliani and Barca president Sandro Rosell before an attack of neurosis set in as the diners failed to get past ordering the hors d’oeuvres.

On the face of it Milan are back in the realms of flights of fancy as they attempt to dupe - sorry - persuade the Catalans to give hand over Zlatan Ibrahimovic and continue to pay the bulk of his wallet-busting €12 million-a-year salary.

However, just like one of Allen’s main characters, do not underestimate Galliani’s ability to get what he wants: he after all apparently convinced Rosell’s predecessor Joan Laporte to cut Manchester City out of the equation and then drop the asking price for Ronaldinho by simply refusing to leave the president’s villa until the deal was done.

Conveniently enough, this time around Milan have been in town to play Barcelona in the Gamper Trophy so Galliani had a ready excuse for claiming he just happened to be in the neighbourhood and thought he would drop in for a chat – not that he really does chats; more like a monologue.

So, Rosell will have to accept that Silvio Berlusconi’s right-hand man will tough it out until he gets what he wants – and that is a big Swede on a flight back to Milan.

Not only that, someone is going to be lighter in pocket and chances are it won’t be the Italians who seem to have a knack of ensuring the figures always add up in their favour.

The move for Ibra has all the makings of a sequel to the Ronaldinho saga where it started with a plea of poverty and ended up with a firework-extravagance unveiling at the San Siro.

No one will be that concerned about the pyrotechnics this time around but Berlusconi will have kept good on his promise to the Rossoneri fans to always bring in a big-name at least once every two seasons – sorry “Prince” it wasn’t you.

Of course, there is a third corner in this “who stands to gain” triangle and that is the player’s agent Mino Raiola who seems to be doing everything possible to drive a wedge between his client and Barca coach Pep Guardiola although Ibra has been weighing in as well, claiming he hasn’t spoken to his coach for six months.

Even though he has ruled out a loan deal, Raiola may have to accept that in the long term it is the only way he is going to beat the house with what will be a weaker hand with every passing year.

There is still some more filthy lucre to be wrung out of the situation as Milan will have some readies available next summer when nine mega-contracts at the club come to an end.

If Ibra produces the goods this season then his 30s can still be lucrative years with a four-year contract waiting to be signed.

Then, of course, there is overcoming the thorny issue of that giant elephant in the room – 12m big ones – and no one in their right mind is going to take a massive pay-cut when they have no reason to do so.

Galliani will be standing there cap in hand claiming fiscal woes in the hope that Barcelona will continue to pay half of the player’s salary with the promise of a ‘good price’ in the offing when it comes to making the move permanent.

Maybe Barcelona will be thinking that Milan will want them to carry the player all the way to Italy as well – and you never know they may end up doing so just to get rid of Galliani.

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Roma must play Inter at their own game

2010-08-23T09:55:00Z

It looks like a case of as you were – Jose may have gone but Rafa seamlessly steps in and Inter are raising four fingers to the rest of Italian football.

The Italian Super Cup became the club’s fourth trophy of 2010 following on from the domestic double and Champions League – and a fifth could be in the trophy cabinet before the team kicks-off the Serie A season if they overcome Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup on Friday.

Certainly the majority of the 60,000 inside the San Siro on Saturday evening expect nothing more than Nerazzurri dominance once again this season, and it was something of a familiar scene against a familiar opponent in AS Roma.

As has been the case for the last five years or so, the Romans created the illusion that they had the measure of their Milanese rivals only to be left with another disheartening reality check. Some kamikaze defending aside, the difference between the sides did not come down to the amount of possession but what the teams did with the ball when they had it.

Roma like to work the ball around the midfield utilising David Pizzarro’s ‘give and go’ style in the centre of the pitch, which brings just about every Giallorossi player into play. Inter, meanwhile, usually take no more than three passes to find themselves in and around the opposition penalty-area.

Mourinho installed this high-tempo, no frills game-plan and Benitez has seen no reason to vary an approach in which the players feel comfortable.

The only player who likes to take what could be called an extra touch is Lucio but the Brazilian’s marauding style in breaking out from defence led to the breakthrough second goal when he motored to the edge of the area before playing in Diego Milito to set up Samuel Eto’o for a close-range finish.

Neither of the two frontmen took more than two touches before looking for a pass, while Wesley Sneijder touched the ball 85 times against Roma, but the majority of those where quick lay-offs or an extra touch to propel the ball into an advanced position to fire off one of his six shots at goal.

One of the Dutchman’s quick releases set up Eto’o for the third goal of the game after Rodrigo Taddei had dawdled on the ball too long and too near his own area to lose possession.

Even though Inter’s equaliser was the product of Mirko Vucinic committing the cardinal sin of passing the ball back across his own six-yard area, the pressure exerted on the opposition so the high up the pitch had led to Roma being hemmed in.

There is no doubting that Claudio Ranieri’s team can match Inter man-for-man in most areas of the pitch, but they could benefit from adopting a similar tactic to that of the team they hope to dethrone.

However, there would have to be major shift in how Francesco Totti is employed. There is no doubt the Roma captain can pick out a pass that most other players can only dream about and is the match of Sneijder in terms of touch and control. However, the Inter man shaded his opposite number ten in every area thanks in part to dropping a little deeper and having that extra time and space to move the ball into dangerous areas.

Under Lucio Spalletti, Totti resisted the demands of his coach to take up a withdrawal role - preferring to play as the main striker in the belief that remaining further up the pitch would save his body from the skirmishes of a crowded midfield.

That did not prove to be the case as his ravaged calves and ankles bear witness to. Too many times he has been facing away from goal and taking the brunt of a defender’s challenge from behind.

Now nearing 34 and looking to prolong his career for another three seasons, it may be time to become the creator allowing Mirko Vucinic and Jeremy Menz to run freer further forward where their dribbling skills can come to the fore.

Ranieri would have to demand that his star have a rethink about his role but maybe taking a step back could be the key to unleashing an even more potent Roma going forward.

As it stands, if the perennial runners-up don’t start playing Inter at their own game they will continue to finish second-best.

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Kevin Prince and the paupers

2010-08-19T10:40:00Z

Today’s La Gazzetta dello Sport has a front-page photo of the grandly-named Kevin Prince Boateng looking mean and moody, sitting on a pile of rubble on what seems to be a mock-up of a building site.

In riposte, after obliterating a wall or small building, with sledge hammer in hand the evidence suggests that Milan’s newest recruit is a tough, no-nonsense sort of guy – the wrecking-ball of football; the new Rino Gattuso.

Inside there is an exclusive full-page interview – it’s August after all, a slow month – with probably the least-known footballer to have graced the cover of Italy’s biggest-selling daily, who goes on to say: “It’s unbelievable to be there.”

Plenty of Rossoneri fans are also thinking how far-fetched it is that a club that titles itself ‘the most successful in the world’ is now reduced to taking on loan signings from Genoa.

The midfielder may have caught the eye in a couple of games in the World Cup but that seems hardly a compelling reason for Adriano Galliani to get involved in a deal where Genoa stump up the readies so that Milan can take the player on loan.

Maybe the photo of Boateng on the debris is more apt as a metaphor on the sorry state in which Milan find itself in at the moment.

By the looks of it they don’t have a cent to rub together, let alone the ability to scrape up the €6 million Portsmouth were looking for - forcing them to go cap in hand to Genoa owner Enrico Preziosi to fund the deal.

You could say it is a win-win situation for both parties: Genoa can expect an €8 million Euro transfer fee if Milan decide to make the move permanent at the end of the season – a 30 per cent return on their investment - and if it doesn’t work out then Milan have saved a few cents.

"Hello? Yes, I'd like a refund on my sunglasses..."

Having handed out big, juicy contracts to the heroes of the 2007 Champions League triumph, Milan are now stuck with the wage-draining likes of Kakha Kalazde and Marek Jankulovski until the end of next season at least.

It is not uncommon for Italian clubs to buy a player, only to loan him out almost immediately but that it usually with the aim of giving the new signing some experience before he returns to the fold.

This is certainly not the case with Boateng – and Preziosi has already stated that he does not expect to see the player in a Genoa shirt.

The whole episode certainly has the feel of the gentleman’s club about it and both clubs have already cozied up this summer on the transfer market, with Milan signing Marco Amelia and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

In fact, Preziosi had been working on brokering a co-ownership deal with Lazio to bring Boateng to Italy – the sole purpose would seem to have been to put the player in the transfer shop window once again.

However, the Roman club are not exactly in descending order: high-profile, in with a chance of silverware, on TV every-week material hence the San Siro rather than potential mid-table obscurity.

The pressure is on Boateng to persuade Milan that he is the answer to their midfield problems where Gattuso is well on the wane and Mathieu Flamini is neither a creator nor destroyer.

If he fails there is no way he will ever taste the delights of Liguria – not good enough for Milan but maybe okay for Genoa is never going to happen.

At 23, at least he will add some much-needed youthful vigour to Massimiliano Allegri’s side and the coach has been asking very politely if there was any chance of the club’s hierarchy sanctioning a move for a physical midfielder.

Well, the damage he did with that sledge-hammer suggests Allegri may have got his man but the way Milan went about it gives further credence to the belief that a once proud club is crumbling before our eyes.

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Big Three go head to head to head

2010-08-16T10:52:00Z

Let’s face it – these lazy days of late summer are just downright boring if you're stuck in one of the big Italian cities.

Most of the locals have hung out the ‘See you in September’ signs and headed south to the beaches of the Bel Paese, so why shouldn’t the country’s best-supported teams follow suit and decamp to Bari for a Friday evening triangular tournament?

It's a home from home for Juventus, Inter and AC Milan, who all have significant numbers of fans dotted all over the heel of the peninsula. These fans were out in force in the San Nicola stadium, which is usually only this full during the season when the aforementioned northern giants are in town.

With the new season still two weeks away, the players are still some way from full fitness but the three games of 45 minutes apiece gives a sliver of light on how the three big sisters of Italian football are shaping up under their new coaches.

Unsurprisingly it's Rafa Benitez who can look forward to the new campaign with plenty of confidence, while Gigi Del Neri and Massimiliano Allegri are faced with enough shortcomings to suggest that they will do well to hold off the likes of Napoli, Palermo, Fiorentina and Sampdoria – never mind compete with last season's clear runners-up AS Roma.

Benitez has inherited a team oozing with quality and Jose Mourinho’s Treble-winning year has left the senior players with the hunger to repeat the feats of the last season.

The opening encounter of the evening pitted the Nerazzurri against their old nemesis Juventus, who have been back in training since the beginning of July but already have the look of a side that has been through a long, tough season.

A one-sided affair could have seen Inter two goals up after 10 minutes but they had to wait until the 25th minute, when Wesley Sneijder produced a stunning long-range finish.

Wes wangs a wonder… CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

Juve of course could well have been saving their energy for Thursday's Europa League play-off first leg against SK Sturm Graz, but there's no getting away from the fact that the team are some way from playing in the manner Del Neri would like.

The aim is to get the ball wide and then quickly into dangerous positions, but the problem is that Diego, Momo Sissoko and Felipe Melo each want to take the ball forward – which then closes up the space for widemen Davide Lanzafame and Simone Pepe to work in.

The Old Lady needs less haste and more speed. The latter has long gone from Ronaldinho’s armoury, but the old magic is still there at times.

Dinho drops a demon… CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

Allegri has accepted that he is going to have to build a side carrying too much deadwood around the immobile but still twinkled-toed Brazilian.

What his compatriot Diego would give to have a side built around him. Juve's No.28 found the equaliser against Milan doing what he does best: taking a position closer to the opposition penalty area and then bursting forward to get on the end of the final ball. You have to admire the man's fortitude, even as the club does everything possible to move him on.

Having flexed their muscles in the first 45 minutes, the Milanese sides let the kids run around well past their bed-time with the only newsworthy note that the two standout youngsters were Inter’s 18-year-old Brazilian Coutinho and Milan's young German midfielder Alexander Merkel.

Complacency was the problem in the penalty shootout and it was left to Dinho to demonstrate that he is incapable of taking the straightforward option.

Worst shootout ever? CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

Allegri was left shaking his head. It may become a common sight throughout the season.

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Azzurri look to end annus horribilis

2010-08-10T09:40:00Z

Here is a depressing fact: Italy have not won a game in 2010. There have been World Cup qualifiers, the World Cup finals and a few friendlies in between, but not one measly victory to mention.

The saying goes that Italy don’t do friendlies, preferring to get it right when it really matters, but South Africa held that theory up to ridicule.

Cesare Prandelli begins his reign as Italy coach against Ivory Coast this evening in what would usually be termed a meaningless and un-needed kick-about between players who are nowhere near match-fit, and in some cases still removing the sand from between their toes after their summer holidays.

In the knowledge that most Italians are taking the almost obligatory August break, the Italian Football Federation have switched the match to London and although the welcome will no doubt be warm from the Anglo-Italians, the pressure is very much on the new coach.

Prandelli needs to hold firm in his commitment to launching new generation of players whatever the outcome of the game at Upton Park.

There are ten newcomers in the squad and the average age is now down to a more acceptable 25 years and seven months compared to the near 29 years under Marcello Lippi.

With the scourge of Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli joining the rest of the pensioners on the beach these two supposed mavericks have an opportunity to at least put some faith back in a disillusioned public that La Nazionale is worth following once again.

The training footage from the last few days certainly suggests that there is more fizz in this new group than amongst the tired old faces in June.

You would expect Prandelli to be animated in his first days in charge but it is his enthusiasm during every drill that has really caught the eye while most of the sessions have been pretty relaxed affairs just as they were when the 53-year-old was in charge at Fiorentina.

Certainly without the likes of the retired Fabio Cannavaro and Rino Gattuso, not to mention assorted other old-stagers, the new faces can ease their way into the international set-up.

Amauri and Balotelli both have points to prove – the former to win over those who believe the Juventus striker is not up to international class (never mind the fact he’s Brazilian…), while the latter seems to have the world at his feet but doesn’t know what to do with it.

Maybe running out at a Premier League ground will open his eyes to the possibility that he can build a career away from Serie A, which for many players in the past meant that they had little or no chance of receiving a call-up to the Azzurri.

Giuseppe Rossi may have a recent exception to the rule but it would seem that the new regime is open to everyone near and far: Stuttgart’s Cristian Molinaro is a case in point, having failed to get anywhere near a call-up when he was at Juventus, of all places.

Of course, it is taking advantage of these opportunities on the pitch that will be the acid test and in Cassano’s case his third and last strike to leave his mark in the blue shirt.

Significantly, he has grabbed the number ten shirt so hopefully the newly-married and in Prandelli’s words “a more mature” Cassano will play with the sort of freedom he demonstrated through the latter-half of last season.

Amauri or Marco Balotelli leading the attack with Cassano and Balotelli in support would be the ideal way to start a new era - not to mention a victory to finally put an end to what has been an annus horribilis for the former world champions.

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Meet football's Bill Murray

2010-08-06T10:42:00Z

The story of Luis Jimenez bears some resemblance to the 1993 Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day.

The midfielder is no run-of-the-mill footballer, having worn the shirts of Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter and West Ham.

The Chile international spent the second half of last season at Parma but as ever he has ended up returning to the backwater of Terni, tucked into the rolling green countryside of Umbria, from which he cannot escape.

The local team go by the name of Ternana and it was for them that Jimenez pitched up in 2002 having secured a dream move to Europe from Club Deportivo Palestino.

It was meant to be a mere staging post on what had all the makings of a stellar career for a player nicknamed “The Magician” but every August for the last eight years, there he is getting ready for another campaign with the Prima Divisione side hoping that the bad dream will finally come to an end.

As he rewinds his day each time the same story unfolds: Ternana are willing to sell but the price is never right.

Jiminez in happier times (despite the kit...)

He thought he had found a way out in 2006 when Fiorentina took the stylish playmaker on a co-ownership deal of €2.5 million, but Ternana would not release him from their steely grip, feeling that they could get even more for him if he extended his contract with a club which had its sights set on promotion from Serie B.

That never came to pass, and after a thoroughly disheartening loan spell at Lazio it seemed that the mighty Inter would exert enough political muscle to sway the minnows when they took him on another co-ownership move in 2007.

A mixture of injury and loss of form saw poor Luis shipped off to West Ham for another forgettable loan spell which was only ended when Parma came to the rescue – even though it was all too late to secure a World Cup place with his country.

The last discussion with Nerazzurri owner Massimo Moratti came in June and was apparently terminated abruptly when Ternana, having laughed off Inter's €1.9m bid, came back with a counter-suggestion of €4m. Parma were willing to go as high as €3.5m but once again that seemingly inviting sum was turned down.

The Chilean would probably quite fancy a return to Inter

Not only is the 26-year-old missing out on top-flight football, but having pocketed an annual salary of €1.1million at Inter he's now back on a measly €100,000 a year, with his contract not expiring until 2013. Maybe it's time to find a new agent…

Jiminez still possesses all the trappings of a Serie A star, arriving at training in a black Porsche and eating out at a restaurant everyday (even if it's the same one he used to frequent when he first arrived at the club).

He's even shipped mum and dad over for a prolonged holiday and to help out with looking after his triplets, who were born in June.

Despite the misfortune that has dogged his football career, Jiminez's dashing smile helped him win over Maria Jose Lopez – a model and sometime show girl on Italian television who was axed from the football show Controcampo for revealing a little too much to the viewers one Sunday evening.

To heap further woes on her husband, she was then rumoured to have had a fling with another Chilean player, Mauricio Pinilla – although if recent events are anything to go by all is fine and dandy in the Jimenez household now.

However, for hubby, he's still having the worst football day of his life over and over again.

The story of Luis Jimenez bears some resemblance to the 1993 Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day.

The midfielder is no run-of-the-mill footballer, rather a pla...(that's enough of that - Ed)

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Divine Ponytail to divine intervention

2010-08-04T09:05:00Z

It has been just over a month since Italy’s world fell apart and the nation could no longer bask in the title of world champions.

La Gazzetta dello Sport’s apocalyptic headline “The Darkest Hour” summed up the miserable mood post-South Africa – and there seemed little light on the horizon to lift the country out of the doldrums.

The future looked bleak to say the least: a top-flight league with an average age of 27 years and four months - making it second oldest only to Cyprus – compared to a European average of 25 years and eight months; where only eight per cent of players under 21 saw first team action last season and where the Under-19 national side followed in the footsteps of their senior counterparts and failed to go beyond the group stage at the European championships.

Year Zero indeed - and time for a rethink of the country’s national sport at all levels.

Certainly the arrival of Cesare Prandelli as Azzurri coach was step in the right direction or least step away from the confines of the old guard which crippled Marcello Lippi’s second stint in charge.

However, of greater significance could be the integration into the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) of one of the most skilful players Italy has ever produced: Roberto Baggio.

From the Divine Ponytail to Divine Intervention - in footballing terms at least - Baggio has been handed the grand title of President of the Federation’s Technical Sector.

Considered nothing more than a symbolic post when it was held by the coach of the Italy team at World Cup ’90, Azeglio Vicini, under the current restructuring the former World Player of the Year will work closely with the youth set-up and coaches at all levels of the game.

Just having a figure such as Baggio in charge of nurturing future generations is enough to give one hope that Italy will not disappear into a footballing abyss.

Two other greats of the Italian game – Gianni Rivera and Arrgio Sacchi – will work under Baggio, which in the latter’s case puts the boot on the other foot so to speak, having coached the number 10 at international level; most famously to the World Cup Final in 1994.

Rivera will oversee the youth sector at school level while Sacchi will co-ordinate the national teams up to Under-21 level, and with such a wealth of experience at their disposal the game’s decision makers cannot waste this opportunity especially with Baggio.

Now 43 sans ponytail and only able to run in a straight line after his knees finally gave out, the former Golden Boy has been taking all the relative coaching badges and after six years away from the game Roby is as close to the pitch as he is ever going to get again.

He may find that controlling a ball and skipping past defenders was a lot easier that dealing with those who influence how the game is played.

He will need to work on changing a mindset that has always put the results before anything else – and Baggio was always something of a free-spirit when he played so hopefully we will see the Italian game evolve and move towards a more stylish approach.

He was after all the player when he started out who used the back-heel to pass the ball in tight areas in training games only to have the drill brought to a halt with his a succession of coaches screaming that such a move had no place in the competitive game and was best left to street football.

Thankfully he ignored them just as the likes of Alex Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano no doubt did – and maybe now we can look forward to the return of that fine art from a new generation of youngsters even if they would never be seen sporting a pony-tail.

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Pre-season? Yes! Friendly? No!

2010-08-02T10:42:00Z

After a week or so of pre-season friendlies, which were anything but the usual summer kick-around, it was good to see some positive performances from Italian clubs over the weekend.

The general rule at this time of year is: put in a good hour or so and then ring the changes, no diving into tackles, no pressure on the referee and handshakes all round at the full-time whistle.

Unfortunately, Cagliari and Bastia had not received that memo turning their match into Fight Club - and a standing count for both sides as the contest was suspended with twenty minutes to go.

Catania and Greek side Iraklis then took the pitch on Friday for their own summer dust-up which also failed make it to the final whistle while Brescia’s game against another Greek team Larissa had its moments but at least went the full ninety minutes.

Italian clubs – at the higher level anyway – rarely if ever get involved in full-on brawls preferring to stick to gesticulating widely with threats that are never followed through.

Of course for the likes Serie A’s aristocracy there is no need to meet assorted Greeks or Corsicans in August, when there are money-spinning tournaments to be played throughout Europe as well as the obligatory trip across the Atlantic to the USA.

Inter, AC Milan and AS Roma were all in action over the weekend in such diverse locations of Paris, London and Baltimore.

Rafa Benitez has based his Inter squad in Rocky’s hometown of Philadelphia for a week’s training and certainly the Nerazzurri looked punchy as they took Manchester City apart thanks in part to Patrick Vieria demonstrating that he is still all elbows when it comes to aerial challenges.

A routine if feisty run-out against ten-men was just the way the Spaniard would have wanted to start a tour that will take in further games in Toronto and Dallas before the end of the week.

There are more pressing concerns back home where the club will want to move Mario Balotelli and Douglas Maicon on as quickly as possible: tidy sums of €30 million for the former and €28 million for the latter have been agreed in principle and now it is up the player’s respective agents to wring as much out of City and Real Madrid in terms of salary.

The search will be on for replacements and although Dirk Kuyt has been earmarked to take over from Balotelli, replacing Maicon will be no easy matter: Javier Zanetti could well find himself returning to the position where he started out his career, making way for imminent arrival Javier Mascherano in midfield.

AC Milan would love to be in a position to negotiate a few key moves and new coach Massimiliano Allergi will have a very clear idea where the squad needs strengthening after a competitive weekend in London.

The Rossoneri came away from the Emirates Cup with draws against Arsenal and Lyon but plenty of question-marks over the strength and depth of players at his disposal.

The club have made it clear that only by selling will funds become free for high-profile signings – and with this unlikely the names doing the rounds are either free agents such as Manuele Blasi or of the low-cost variety such as Andrea Lazzari of Cagliari and Mahamadou Diarra from Real Madrid.

Roma, for their part, have been ticking over nicely in pre-season and like Milan picked up two draws over the weekend – this time in Paris against Bordeaux and tournament hosts Paris St Germain.

In what was close to a regular starting XI, the Giallorossi were in complete control against PSG but Claudio Ranieri’s side fell into their old failings when it comes to closing out games, as Francesco Totti missed a penalty he was forced to retake, and the Romans then conceded an equaliser six minutes into added time.

Of course, with three weeks to go before the start of the season the sparring will continue but let’s hope the gloves don’t come off again.

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No tears for Balotelli departure

2010-07-26T11:10:00Z

Inter flew out to the States on Sunday for their pre-season tour and as the fans at Malpensa airport waved farewell, there were few tears being shed that Mario Balotelli will more than likely be a Manchester City player before the team gets over its jet-lag.

Saddled with the ‘Super Mario’ tag, the youngster has done little to live up to his moniker since making his debut as a raw seventeen-year-old under Roberto Mancini.

Now about to turn 20, those rough edges have not been softened and his career stalled last season when Jose Mourinho decided he was nothing more than a frustrating talent who was unable to integrate into a team – and exiled him to the margins of his Treble-winning squad.

Balotelli’s overall demeanour – on and off the pitch - did little to win over his doubters: throwing his shirt on the ground, winding up his own fans by donning a Milan shirt and generally acting like a spoilt brat in most people’s eyes.

In fact, there was little that he did right last year - and it seems he has still not learnt that he need not open his mouth whenever a microphone is thrust in his face.

Waiting for the flight to the USA, he was asked by reporters if he had a message for Inter fans: “Yeah, I am off on holiday.”

And a one-way ticket it will be, adding further ammunition that Inter are doing the right thing in taking the €30 million from City to be done with a player who has all the makings of being as much a disruptive influence under Rafa Benitez as he was when Jose was in charge.

At least Mancini knows what to expect, having been something of a hot-head in his playing days, which is probably why he put so much stock in the teenager when he first made his breakthrough.

There is no doubting the striker’s potential but the jury in Italy seems to have finally decided that he is guilty as charged – a wasted talent more concerned with the trappings of success than working to achieve it.

It is the likes of Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso that the Nerazzurri fans adore – because they only want to play football - but then again they are not blessed with the skill and turn of pace of Balotelli.

However, the question has to be asked: did Mario want to leave Inter, was he forced out by a dressing-room influence – or the whispers i.e. advice, over the last few months finally take hold?

The answer probably lies in a mix of all of the above, but the figure of his agent Mino Raiola looms large throughout the whole affair, having already negotiated another maverick Zlatan Ibrahimovic away from Inter this time last year.

He has been pushing all the right buttons to angle his young client in a position for a move, but so far the only firm offer has come from City – Manchester rivals United have been mentioned and before that there was Barcelona although the talking was coming from the Raiola.

When he took over the player’s management he was able to wrest a €2 million-a-year pay deal out of Massimo Moratti for his client, but with it came the flash car, the rapper-looker and an even-more inflated attitude.

The riches will double at City but maybe the move is the best option for the player to escape the goldfish bowl back home.

There will be little chance that he will pull on a Manchester United shirt on an evening out and even if he utters the sort youthful nonsense that has ruffled the feathers of Italians it is unlikely to grab as much attention in England.

It is not as if living in Milan or anywhere in Lombardy is that different from the north-west of England in winter – after all he grew up in Brescia which isn’t exactly Florence.

In the long run it may be cold comfort for Italian football to lose one of its brightest talents but for Balotelli let’s hope it is the making of him as a true professional.

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Diego's face doesn't fit at Juve

2010-07-20T15:44:00Z

Juventus were sporting their new away kit at the weekend: all white with the Italian tricolour sweeping down the centre of the shirt.

Wearing the green, white and red will bring back memories for Bianconeri fans, memories of a time when the colours were almost a permanent fixture on the club shirt – in the shape of the championship shield. If the Old Lady is going to reach those heights again, she'll have to do it the hard way.

New coach Gigi Del Neri has had his new charges back in pre-season training for two weeks. And while the other title contenders ease into pre-season by racking up dozens of goals against amateur sides, Del Neri has put his side through their paces against quality opposition.

Sunday saw the team record a goalless draw against Hamburg and they will take on Lyon this Saturday – all in preparation to face either Bnei Yehuda of Israel of Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

This time last year, there was a belief that the team could mount a genuine title challenge but after a blistering start through September and October, everything had fallen apart by the turn of the year.

It is a much more prosaic Juventus preparing for the upcoming campaign – and no grand claims of dominating the rest of the league have been made this around, even without the Champions League to contend with.

In fact, it seems that very few reassurances can be given to any of the playing staff who have going out of their way to win over the new man in charge.
Diego, in particular, has been in excellent form in training – but then that was the case last summer as well. However, the Brazilian is going to have to produce something out of the ordinary as Del Neri has already made it clear that he cannot envisage Diego playing alongside Alessandro Del Piero in his preferred 4-4-2 formation.

Having spent €25m on the 25-year-old last year, the club would apparently happily offer him up to persuade Wolfsburg to release Edin Dzeko. Rather than find a manner to incorporate Diego into the side, Juve should be doing all they can to land the Bosnian striker – who may not be a star name but looks to possess the qualities that the attack have been lacking.

"I wanna play!"

Strength, power and mobility have been missing, and with Dzeko leading the front-line there would be little need to work the ball in and around the area, which is Diego’s trademark.

It's goals that the Bianconeri faithful have been calling out for – and neither Amauri or David Trezeguet seem capable of producing them. Neither player wants to leave the club but certainly the writing must be on the wall for Trez, who looked well off the pace at the weekend – and could prove an unsettling influence on the bench as he did last season.

A suitably chastened Felipe Melo will remain part of the grand scheme of things in what will be a hard-working and physical midfield, but the problem for Del Neri, or more to the point general director Beppe Marotta, is persuading Diego that he is not part of the new hard-edged set-up.

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Milan tighten belts, unlike Dinho

2010-07-14T10:56:00Z

Juventus have been back in pre-season training for nearly a week; Inter and AS Roma have been going through their paces for a few days, which just leaves AC Milan to lure the television cameras to their Milanello base.

The height of the holiday season is upon us in Italy and the players generally make for an unhappy bunch as they trudge through the gates on their way to their first day “back at school.”

All eyes will be on whether Ronaldinho will be conspicuous by his absence at Milan come next Tuesday when the squad reports back although club officials are expecting his arrival from Brazil over the weekend.

Recent photographs of the step-over king enjoying the good life on the beach back home in Rio suggest he has been letting himself go somewhat - much in the same manner of his compatriot Adriano.

Speculation has been growing in direct proportion to the player’s girth that the Rossoneri are seriously considering offloading the star-turn in an attempt to ease the strain on their own financial belt.

The Ronaldinho clan are beginning to understand that the golden egg of the Silvio Berlusconi nest is no longer central to Milan’s plans.

It seems to be a case not so much of cashing in but more a matter of cutting loses – and a move back to Brazil may be the ideal answer – in the short-term anyway – for both parties.

Joining Flamengo would enable Ron to continue his life of leisure for a few months and not miss out on the Rio carnival to boot, but there have also been reports that LA is calling where he would team up with Milan part-timer David Beckham at the Galaxy.

Has Ronnie waved goodbye to Milan's fans for the last time?

Dinho’s brother and agent Roberto De Assisi is set to hit town for a meeting with Adriano Galliani; apparently to thrash out a deal that would enable Milan to cash in their chips before the striker becomes a free agent in a year’s time.

A move to another European club such as Olympiakos in Greece would probably fetch around €10 million, with the return diminishing at a club across the Atlantic.

The first problem facing Galliani will be persuading Berlusconi that he would be making a €16 million saving on salary alone over the next two years if he were to give up his favourite player.

However, the president is always willing to make an exception when it comes to the wayward South American – and there are whispers that this could cause a rift within the boardroom where the bottom line is slashing the budget.

New coach Massimiliano Allegri is all for toeing the company on this issue but even if the club’s biggest earner were to move on, viable replacements to ensure season ticket sales do not reach an all-time low are thin on the ground.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edin Dzeko are beyond the financial reach of the new slim-line Milan, Luis Fabiano could end up going the way of Ricardo Oliveira while another name that has been floated out there, Lukas Podoski, would hardly have them queuing around the block.

Hopefully talk of Robinho filling the void remains just idle chatter from those looking to fill in the long, lazy days of summer.

In fact, Gaùcho may end up enjoying an endless summer break, but it would be a shame to think that at 30 it is now the sunset of a once shining career.

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Benitez not in awe of task ahead

2010-07-13T10:19:00Z

There was a stark contrast between the unveiling of Rafael Benitez as Inter coach and that of his predecessor Jose Mourinho. While the Portuguese’s arrival had been the event of the summer, Benitez had slipped into town and out again with hardly a passing nod from the locals.

That was last month, and the Spaniard finally got his feet under the table on Monday afternoon when he got down business with his first “tactical and technical” press conference.

While Mourinho controlled every aspect of his “grind” with the media; even down to his presentation – well-gelled hair and the ready-to-roll stubble - Benitez ambled into the conference room showing off a well-fed stomach and possessing the look of a man who understands that a little bit of humility can go a long way.

There was no need to grovel for explanations on how he envisaged the team playing, which annoyed Italian journalists more than anything during the Special One’s reign. In fact, they lapped up anything to do with formations, movement off the ball and suchlike. Only the blistering temperatures precluded the wearing of anoraks.

The former Liverpool manager will be expected to be special but in his own less histrionic way – Massimo Moratti has already admitted that a repeat of last season’s treble would be “difficult” but at least one of the major titles should remain in the club’s hands.

Spot the difference...

The opening exchanges with Benitez, in full command of his Italian, had the club and hacks beaming as questions on tactics, team selection, and the future surrounding certain players were all dealt with in an open and calm manner.

The press room remained hushed not because the platform in front of them was bristling with hostility, but because the media was finally receiving the type of insight that they expect from coaches – they certainly got their fill of “tactical and technical” chat.

Softly spoken and looking very relaxed, Benitez did not give off the image of a man in awe of what lay ahead – not having to step out of Mourinho’s long shadow, but instead perform a seamless transition and continued dominance on the home front at least, helps.

Benitez arrives in a Serie A probably at an all-time low in terms of genuine title contenders amongst the major clubs. Juventus have all the makings of being solid yet but unspectacular, AC Milan look no closer to kick-starting a rebuilding programme while unless AS Roma find a new owner they could implode rather than explode.

The rest of the league lacks the financial clout to mount a challenge, and the likes of Sampdoria, Palermo and Napoli will have to mix and match as best they can.

Inter are also not immune to the financial constrains that are sweeping through the Italian game – and there will have to be sales before new players can be brought in. Real Madrid seem to have dropped their interest in Douglas Maicon but if €30m or so can be wrung out of either of the Manchester clubs for Mario Balotelli then the club can delve a little deeper into the transfer market.

One element that will change from Benitez’s time in England will concern his involvement in the transfer dealings: he can make suggestions but it will be sporting director Marco Branca making the final decision.

There will be no need for enormous changes within the squad and Mourinho’s philosophy of “team before self” will remain intact. In fact, it has all the makings of a very quiet pre-season for the champions – and if first impressions are anything to go by then that’s just how the new man will like it to remain.

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Writing on the wall for stricken Roma

2010-07-09T10:25:00Z

Would anyone out there like to buy AS Roma? The Eternal City’s flagship team has a massive fan-base and in the right hands could be potential title winners.

It could be snapped up for a knockdown price of €200 million so; please contact your local branch of Unicredit Bank of Milan and no doubt they will be happy to listen to any offers.

In fact, they will do just about anything to offload what has become another Italian financial black-hole much in the way the once flag-carrying national airline Alitalia was.

The writing has been on the wall since Rosella Sensi took over from her late father Franco two years ago and more so without any Champions League football last season, running up a debt that has now reached over €400 million...

There is no doubt that over this period her heart ruled her head – and she could have walked away rich beyond anyone’s wildest dreams by selling up: before the world financial meltdown Roma’s market value was well over €300 million.

Instead of which through the club’s controlling shareholder, Compagnia Italpetroli, she oversaw a rampant growth in debt where there could be only one winner – as anyone who has been in to hoc to a bank will testify.

Unicredit’s chief executive Alessandro Profumo – a well-known Inter fan who flew around 1,000 bank clients to the Champions League final in Madrid – finally ran out of patience but Sensi was hanging on by her well-manicured finger-nails late into Thursday evening.

After failing to reach an agreement where she would pocket a comforting €30 million, she turned to one of Silvio Berlusconi’s trusted aides Gianni Letta to intervene, but considering the way the country seems to have run into the ground by the present government that may not have been the smartest move.

However, as they say business is business and bowing to growing pressure Sensi accepted that her time was up otherwise a court of arbitration was sharpening the knives to crave up the club and cut out its heart.

The likes of Juan, Mirko Vucinic and Philippe Mexes would have gone for give-away transfer fees although at least two out of three will have to be sold anyway and any new arrivals would be loan signings.

Although Sensi will hang around until a buyer is found, her last meaningful act was posing with a XXXL shirt alongside Adriano who by the looks of it will need three or months of boot-camp to get fit.

However, it has been an unforgettable seventeen years with the Sensi family in charge: a league title, second runners-up spots, five Italian Cup finals, and Italian Super Cup and the quarter-finals of the Champions League on two occasions.

Roma could yet fall into the hands of another financial institution; Banca di Roma director Giovanni Malagò.

However, there are obvious concerns that he may not possess sufficient financial clout to banish fears that the club would slip into the mire once more.

Italian clubs are in a mess financially anyway – and even Inter will have to sell before they delve back into the transfer market – but for the moment they have resisted the urge to sell the family jewels to a foreigner.

Roma may have to accept that a white knight is only going to ride out of the Urals or gallop across the sands of the Gulf region to save the day.

If that is the case then expect a few more big names to attract foreign investment as the Italian football market hits rock bottom.

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Knee-jerk ruling will hurt Italian football

2010-07-05T10:22:00Z

As knee-jerk reactions go after Italy’s dismal failure in South Africa this one is going to hurt Italian football.

With the transfer market about to swing into full-on negotiating mode, sporting directors from Turin to Palermo will have to rethink their strategies after the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) sprung a new law limiting the number of non European Union signings to one.

Up until Friday, clubs were gearing up to sign at least two players from outside the EU – and with a number of players shining at the World Cup there were pickings aplenty to be had.

FIGC president Giancarlo Abete - who unsurprisingly survived the post-World Cup purge only because there was no other viable candidate capable of stepping in - dropped the bombshell which the federation hopes will force clubs to promote local talent rather than look abroad.

Abete claimed that the decision had nothing to do with what happened in South Africa but the issue of whether to reduce the number of non-EU players from two to one is brought up by the federation every year and then quietly dropped.

Strange then that it should suddenly become a central totem of the game’s governing body – and looks rather heavy-handed when you consider the dearth of talent in Serie A at the moment.

What difference will it make if there are one or two non-Europeans turning out for clubs in the grand scheme of things and especially in a league that has traditionally been a welcoming destination for players from all over the world?

What the new ruling does is immediately cut a swathe through transfer options for a number of clubs.

Juventus, for example, have been chasing Edin Dzeko and Milos Krasic but will have to drop their quest for one of them; Inter can wave goodbye to signing Brazilian midfielder Ramires as they have already taken up their option on his compatriot Philippe Coutinho.

AS Roma have already landed Adriano and the player set to cause commentators a moment of hesitation, the Sri Lankan Panushanth Kulenthiran, but they had their sights set on Argentina left-back Clemente Rodriguez – not any more.

AC Milan have just released Nelson Dida so they can at step up their chase for Keisuke Honda who impressed for Japan and CSKA Moscow in the Champions League.

It is going to be tough though for Lazio whose transfer team decamped to South Africa to hunt down new talent while Udinese’s whole scouting system is built around unearthing young gems from the four corners of the globe.

Numerous players who made an impression over the last month will be heading to England, Spain, Germany and France rather than to these shores.

There is certainly a basis for ensuring that young Italian players have an opportunity to progress considering that the percentage of foreign players has leapt from 29 to 47% over the last three years.

However, as with most things where the Italians get it wrong the Germans have already got it right – and following the model of the Bundesliga where a team can have as many foreigners as they wish but eight players must have come through the youth ranks, makes sense.

This move, which frankly has left the whole of Italian football floored, is so short-sighted that it can only be seen as a step backwards for Serie A in maintaining its position amongst the European elite.

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Will Italy's new broom sweep clean?

2010-07-02T13:18:00Z

It is not as if a collective state of amnesia has swept the country since Italy’s early exit from the World Cup but at least it's a clean slate that awaits Cesare Prandelli as he begins his tenure in charge of the national team.

Thursday may have been a day the former Fiorentina coach will never forget – well, until he gets down to drawing up a list of players capable of restoring Italian pride on the international front.

At least expectations have been suitably realigned with the new world order, which leaves Italy in a similar position to those other fading football empires England and France.

However, the new man has the opportunity to create a fresh identity so get ready for the new buzz word in Italian football: Meritocracy. Players will be in the squad on current form, not just because they are household names.

Marcello Lippi tried this policy once in a friendly against Northern Ireland last summer ahead of the Confederations Cup – but once the World Cup qualifiers kicked in again, the ball-playing Giuseppe Mascara, Pasquale Foggia and Sergio Pellissier were immediately cast aside for a more prosaic approach.

Prandelli’s first task will be to ensure that he does not follow that tired and tested route to ultimate failure – and add to that unwanted number of one- or two-cap wonders.

His biggest worry must be that the young players will not get a chance at club level over the arc of a season to even merit a cap but there is no doubt that Mario Balotelli will finally make the breakthrough to the senior squad for the friendly against Ivory Coast in August.

There should be space for Davide Santon, who drifted off the radar following the Confederations Cup – but at least the full-back wasn't tainted with the same brush as those who travelled to South Africa this time around.

Spot the difference: Confederations Cup line-up v Egypt

Domenico Criscito, Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci will have learnt from last month’s sobering experience - and then there should be room for Lorenzo De Silvestre at Prandelli’s former club and Bonucci’s central defensive partner Andrea Ranocchia, whose season was curtailed by a knee injury.

So already there are seven names that could breathe a bit of freshness into what had become such a stale set-up – and then of course there is Antonio Cassano. The people’s choice will be a mature 28 in a week or so, and the newly-married Sampdoria star may turn gamekeeper to keep the youngsters in line or least take the pressure of their shoulders.

Tradition will be maintained with the most capped player – in this case Gigi Buffon – wearing the captain’s armband but promoting Daniele De Rossi to vice-captain is the correct move, as will be paying more than lip-service to selecting players who may not have been born Italian but hold the requisite passport.

The press conference at Prandelli’s unveiling certainly gave hope that this would be a more approachable and humble Azzurri set-up compared to the torrid tail-end of the Lippi reign.

Of course it's not difficult to be amiable when you are attempting to make a good first impression: just look at Jose Mourinho on his arrival at Inter. But at least Prandelli starts on the right foot, well respected both within the game and amongst the media.

With a solid club record, an amenable personality and an ability to get the best out of even the most wayward performers the new Commissario Tecnico is at least in there on merit.

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Inter prepare to board managerial merry-go-round, thanks to the Deserting One

2010-05-31T10:57:00Z

Not only did he skip the celebrations back in Milan, he failed to even board the team coach outside the Bernabeu stadium - preferring to jump into his new sugar daddy’s car to whizz off into the Spanish sunset.

The spurned Massimo Moratti certainly felt he had been letdown and much of the shine had been taken off the club’s defining moment, with the future of his soon-to-be former coach grabbing the headlines.

Like any divorce involving the obscenely rich, it usually comes down to splitting the filthy lucre – and in this case it was a €16 million settlement at the centre of the final split.

However, even if Inter did wring €8 million out of the Deserting One, the former object of Nerazzurri affection still walked away without a second glance.

Moratti knows that Florentino Perez will be back sniffing around for Douglas Maicon, so expect a few extra million euros on the price tag and of course Real can forget about the €3 million that it is still owed on Wesley Sneijder

And now Inter have to join the summer merry-go-round to install a new coach.

While the majority of them are quite happy where they are, it is a fact of life for an Italian coach that the summer will be spent house-hunting and getting to know a new club.

Over half of the Serie A misters will be on the move over the next month or so as presidents up and down the country look for instant success.

While Inter have been linked with Fabio Capello (the firm fan favourite), Carlos Dunga, Luciano Spalletti and Luiz Felipe Scolari, Serie A rivals Juventus have already signed up Luigi Del Neri – a man who seems permanently stuck in fast-forward mode, so quickly does he speak.

Taking Sampdoria to fourth place was an achievement in itself but doing the same with the ailing Old Lady will just not do, so Del Boy has his work cut out - especially as the team needs a complete overall. Then there’s the small matter of keeping Juve’s other Del Boy happy too...

Samp have gone for another middle-of-the-road manager in Domenico Di Carlo, while AC Milan are edging towards Massimiliano Allegri only because Silvio Berlusconi cannot spare the time from his duties of running the country into the ground.

AS Roma will retain Claudio Ranieri, but he cannot be overjoyed that the famed fan of life’s simpler pleasures, Adriano (yes, that one), will be hitting the spa town that is known as Rome.

Fiorentina have lost Cesare Prandelli to the greater cause that is the Italy national team and the candidate list for his replacement is as long as the weekend traffic jam coming off the motorway outside Florence.

However Sinisa Mihajlovic will probably already have a Viola scarf around his neck by the time you read this, having resigned from Catania in the mistaken belief that Moratti would take him back.

Francesco Guidolin and Pasquale Marino only need to swap notes after swapping clubs with the former heading to Udinese as the latter gets ready to speed down the motorway to Parma.

Plenty more kilometres will be eaten up as too many coaches chase too few jobs but all eyes will be on that very special job – the real tasty one at Inter.

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Italy fail to get their fans onside as Lippi prepares to name final 23

2010-05-27T10:18:00Z

Italy have set off on the sort of World Cup build up that on the face of it does not bode well for the finals themselves: the squad booed and jeered on its first official outing.

This was a result of Marcello Lippi and his 28-man squad’s refusal to stop and sign autographs as they boarded their bus for the maiden training session in the alpine resort of Sestriere above Turin.

It was mostly dads with their young sons who had just paid €8 for the pleasure of gathering around a hotel exit to watching their heroes walk out of the foyer and climb on to a bus - so they could have at least expected the players to scribble something on a piece of paper.

Enthusiasm turned to disappointment which is the majority feeling on the Azzurri chances of defending their crown in South Africa.

The PR gaff has since been partially corrected with free access to training on the snowy Alpine peaks for the next few days but as we know Italy only really respond well in adversity.

Four years ago the party travelled to Germany with a valid reason to lift the Cup but this time as World champions they have everything to lose which does not sit squarely on Italian shoulders.

Lippi will need to direct the sense that they have been written off even before they leave these shores by molding a united group of players with the desire to win over the doubters.

The final culling of five players ahead of the June 1 deadline will inform us on whether Italy are travelling to the tournament to make up the numbers or as potential history-makers

Having jettisoned the penalty shoot-out hero of Berlin, Fabio Grosso, and his Juventus team-mate Antonio Candreva from the original 30, the coach has already demonstrated that what was achieved in the past counts for nothing and there will be no favours for anyone.

There are eight players from 2006 and both Mauro Camoranesi and Gianluca Zambrotta would seem to be the ones in jeopardy especially if Lippi decides that three at the back and five in midfield is the preferred system.

Camoranesi would come under pressure from not only Simone Pepe but also Andrea Cossu who just might be the surprise choice as he is at home playing just ahead of two holding midfielders if two wing-backs are to be employed.

Zambrotta could slot into one of those wing-back positions although Christian Maggio is a better crosser of the ball and can pop up with the odd goal now and then.

However, the AC Milan veteran is certainly versatile and has spent a good part of his career on the left so he may just edge out Mattia Cassani.

The name of Salvatore Bocchetti keeps popping up as the other odd-man out in the defence but the Genoa player offers genuine cover in the centre of the backline.

Let’s take it as read that there will not be four goalkeepers in the party, so with Salvatore Sirigu left at home there may be a case for leaving the defence well alone - dropping two in midfield and two forwards.

Camoranesi would be one and Riccardo Montolivo would have to be the other as he does not offer more than adequate cover for Andrea Pirlo, whose position can be taken up by potential utility-man Angelo Palombo, who can also be used as an emergency defender.

Upfront, the names of Fabio Quagliarella and Giuseppe Rossi immediately spring to mind, although if it came down to one to miss out then it would have to be the Napoli striker who seems to have lost that spark for the unexpected.

So as it stands it is Sirigu, Cassani, Camoranesi, Montolivo and Quagliarella who will not have to worry about autograph hunters.

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Party time in Milan, but the 'Blubbering One' doesn't fancy the challenge

2010-05-24T07:52:00Z

A Saturday night hasn’t had this much fever since John Travolta donned a white suit and swaggered into the mindset of a generation.

In footballing terms, Diego Milito is the latter day Tony Manero for the manner in which the Argentine strutted through the Bayern Munich defence on an unforgettable and highly-charged evening in Madrid.

Jose Mourinho can turn on the water-works as neatly as Milito turned Daniel Van Buyten and his two left feet in the area, and there he was again for the second time in less than a week snivelling into the sleeve of his expensive suit.

And of course alongside the Blubbering One was a manically-beaming Massimo Moratti, who must be the worst investor in the world, having had to wait fifteen years for a return on the near one billion Euros thrown into his all-consuming goal of winning the big one his father Angelo landed in successive years back in the 1960s.

In fact, he cut short the Sky Sports Italia presenter who decided that, in the moment of the purring president’s greatest achievement, he should bring up the matter of all those failed signings - and terminated the post-game interview with a curt good-night before turning on his heels and disappearing into the night.

Back in Milan they have been gathering in their thousands all day and anyone who has ever staggered across Piazza Duomo laden down with designer purchases or trailing in the wake of a significant-other in a shopping daze will know how grand that open space from one side to the other is.

"Hang on - if I'm here and you're there, who's driving...?"

Well, it was not just packed on Saturday evening, it was heaving, over-flowing, bursting to the seams to do any Italian game-show dancer proud – estimates put the crowd at 100,000.

The Nerazzurri faithful had come from near and far to be in the very cradle of the club’s existence – as it was in a restaurant just around the corner from the city’s main square that Internazionale was formed by a group of disgruntled AC Milan types who were fed up with too many Italians in the team.

The founding fathers would have been settling contended in their graves when the teams walked out without one Italian in the starting line-up – and the roar that greeted the final whistle was enough to awaken the dead as a life-time of frustration and exasperation came pouring out.

Forty-five years is a long time for anyone walk to around with a sense of “what it’s all about” but for Inter fans of a certain age - Moratti would count himself amongst them – they at last got it.

NEWS: Inter crowned kings of Europe

So this is why we exist: this truly is the meaning of life and the universe wrought whole into this rather cramped space they may or may not have mused.

Even if the celebrating and absolutely delirious Inter followers could only express themselves in a succession of grunts, screams and the odd yelp it was a sight to behold.

Needless to say the party went on all night as fans raced through the city on mopeds waving huge flags and motorists honked their horns in scenes more akin to week-day rush-hour traffic in say Naples or Rome rather than staid-old Milan.

Around 50,000 fans even found the energy to tramp out to the San Siro to welcome the team back at 6am with a dawn chorus.

"Please don't make me stay Mummy - the other boys are horrible to me!"

The flight that touched down at Malpensa airport an hour earlier was shorn of many of the main protagonists including Mourinho who had remained in Madrid with Moratti for no doubt one last, lingering good-bye.

Now, there is a question that has to be raised.

We all know that Jose is sick and tired of certain elements of the Italian game, with the media topping his list of hates but fellow coaches, rival presidents, Mario Balotelli and all other clubs are not far behind.

He has been plotting his exit strategy for some time and now that he feels his work is done he can say whatever he wants - but the fact that he told RAI Sports that he was looking for a “new challenge” had something of a hollow ring to it.

What can be more demanding than attempting to repeat the achievements of this year with Inter? No club has defended the Champions League crown in its current form or repeated a treble for that matter – and what kudos in the game would accompany such a feat?

Seeing as he is only about one signing away from hitting the billion-euro mark on transfers anyway, surely Moratti could have provided his dream maker with all the riches he required for what would have been the real challenge?

NEWS: Zanetti desperate for Mourinho to stay

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Mourinho's impending departure leaves Moratti lost for words

2010-05-21T09:55:00Z

Jose Mourinho may have booked a one-way ticket out of Italy along with all of his possessions - and if Inter lose to Bayern Munich on Saturday evening we will not see him back on these shores until Real Madrid play here again.

It may not be an obsession for the Portuguese to win the Champions League, having already tasted success with Porto, but that cannot be said for his soon-to-be late employers and their legions of fans who expect nothing else but to witness the Holy Grail in all its shining glory displayed in the Duomo on Sunday evening.

Massimo Moratti is certainly feeling the weight of destiny hanging over him as he attempts to emulate his father Angelo's feat of landing the trophy some 45 years ago.

In fact, his gruff tones which are such a feature of everyday life on Italian sports news bulletins, have been remained silent after admitting that his 14th and most successful coach will not be around for much longer.

Usually you cannot keep the man away from a microphone but obviously Mou’s defection has hit him hard so it has been left to the fans on the street to voice their opinions, doubts and predictions on what will be the Special One's last great act at the club.

It has been another week of frayed nerves and lost appetites for the Nerazzurri faithful; La Gazzetta dello Sport even provided its readers with a detailed survival pack for those lucky enough to be making the trip to the Bernabeu stadium.

Amongst the check-list of identity card, scarf and so forth should have been throat spray such has been the endless chatter on how events will unfold across the Iberian Peninsula.

The team's final training session saw a few hundred fans gather out at Appiano Gentile for a rousing send-off and a final attempt to persuade his Holiness of Setubal to remain in situ.

"I'll keep in touch, I promise..."

"Please don't go Jose," they screamed to no one in particular; much better to save one’s voice for a full-throttled backing on Saturday evening.

No doubt the man at the centre of all this fawning was happy to get his feet under the table in his new surroundings after the full party flew out on Wednesday as a precaution against the threat of volcanic dust sweeping down through Europe.

As it turned out the skies were clear and the omens are set fair for an Inter victory – no doubt Manchester United thought the same thing ahead of their meeting with Bayern Munich – but Jose and his men have never been ones to undersell their own worth.

There is enough quality and experience to see Inter through on a day where captain Javier Zanetti will make his 700th career appearance, and Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso and Wesley Sneijder will be back on their old stomping ground.

There will be no surprises in the starting XI apart from Zanetti occupying the covering role in front of the defence alongside Cambiasso in the absence of Thiago Motta – and little deviation from the manner in which Cheslea were dismissed over two legs and the way Barcelona were dispatched at the San Siro.

Mourinho has employed a 4-2-3-1 formation or with a slight variation morphing into a 4-2-1-3 ever since the competition got underway again in late February.

He will come up against his old boss Louis Van Gaal, who is even more obsessive when it comes to note taking so the aim will be to hit Bayern early and hard then ruthlessly keep the opposition pinned back to ensure that Arjen Robben, as like Lionel Messi, has little or no space to fire up those weaving runs.

However, it is going forward where Inter can catch the Germans out and Sneijder will be the key to the master plan as he has been throughout this momentous season.

Drifting beyond the Bayern midfield the playmaker can exploit the space in front of the penalty-area to play Diego Milito or Samuel Eto’o into a goalscoring position.

There should also be opportunities arising to take advantage of the Dutchman’s expertise at dead-ball situations – and it could well be a set-piece that settles the outcome.

It has been a long wait for glory and Inter can let this moment pass them by – especially now that Mourinho has locked up the house for one last time.

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Inter Milan dominate Serie Aaaaargh's Team of the Season

2010-05-19T10:31:00Z

So another Serie A season comes kicking and screaming to an end – and once again Inter lord it over one and all although all credit to AS Roma for at least making it an exciting run-in.

And keeping with traditional it is time to unveil the Serie Aaaaargh XI of the year so as quickly as Jose Mourinho can high-tail it to Madrid, let’s getting going.

There has to be a formation of course and we will bow to the Special One and go for a 4-2-3-1 line-up which gives us plenty of opportunity to select a good mix of flair and power just like good old Jose does.

The goalkeeper position saw the usual suspects - Gigi Buffon and Julio Cesar - drop below their usual high-standards but certainly the future looks in safe hands with both Federico Marchetti and Salvatore Sirigu enjoying breakthrough campaigns.

However, it is another Julio who has really caught the eye: Julio Sergio. The AS Roma keeper was nothing more than a bench-warmer until Alexander Doni picked up an injury and then lost all confidence in his ability.

Not particularly tall and generally incapable of catching a high cross which is no major defect in Italian football, the Brazilian’s reflex saves provided some of the stand-out moments of the year – the most memorable being the penalty save against Lazio.

Right-back has been something of a movable feast this season with a number of midfielders converted to a deeper role such as Christian Maggio at Napoli.

Another potential member of the Italy World Cup squad Mattia Cassani has been solid but for sear dynamism not to mention an eye for goal then we can look no further than Douglas Maicon.

The Inter man was of course part of the meanest defence in the land so it is no surprise that Shrek-a-like in the heart of defence will be at least one of his team-mates: Lucio has had his moments but Walter Samuel has not only been a wall but an absolute rock.

Thiago Silva held Milan’s aging backline together and how they could do with a youngster such as Simon Kjaer of Palermo. Cannavaro had a good season – no not Fabio, but brother Paolo down at Napoli.

However, it is another unheralded player and an Argentine as well who lines up alongside Samuel – and that is Nicolas Burdisso.

Discarded by Inter like an old cardboard box, the South America turned out to be as tough as teak to fortify Roma’s previously porous defence, so he edges it ahead of his more classy team-mate Juan.

Fabio Grosso’s exclusion from Marcello Lippi’s preliminary 28-man squad for South Africa should see Domenico Criscito make the Italy left-back position his own but the Genoa youngster is probably more at home as a wing-back.

John Arne Riise has become something of a cult hero with the Roma fans but lacks a bit of pace for our liking unlike another lesser name for many: Federico Balzaretti.

It seemed that after leaving Juventus and then failing to impress at Fiorentina, Palermo would be the end of the line, but his forays along the flank, neat touch and excellent positional sense are more than worthy reasons for his inclusion.

There are enough candidates in the Inter team to anchor the midfield and while Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta have spoilt many a free-flowing attack, Javier Zanetti stands head and shoulders above the rest with an unruffled approach to match his hair-cut.

Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo have both suffered from pushing their bodies to the limit over the last four years and as they run out of steam so Angelo Palombo has kept going in the Sampdoria engine room.

With the defence and midfield firmly anchored to repel any storm further ahead we can that much more creative.

It certainly has been a year for the return of the vintage trequartista – Javier Pastore at Palermo, Cagliari’s Andrea Cossu, Clarence Seedorf during the first half of the season, Jeremy Menez at Roma in the second, but unfortunately not Diego.

Wesley Sneijder, on the other hand, only needed two minutes into his debut for Inter in the derby to demonstrate that Real Madrid must have lost all sense of reason in allowing the Dutch master to leave.

The diminutive number 10 has the freedom of the park through the middle and there is an abundance of talent who can operate down either flank as well interchanging positions with the main striker.

So whom to pick?

Samuel Eto’o has shown versatility; Fabrizio Miccoli has been at his pigeon-toed best; Antonio Cassano’s late-season form was what we expect from the Bari Bawler while Ronaldinho was at times an exclusion zone in his own little area out on the left but still capable of flashes of blinding skill.

They all deserve special mention but we need a little more zip and goals to boot so it is Antonio Di Natale on the right and Mirko Vucinic on the left.

They can switch flanks with ease or drift inside in a heartbeat; Vucinic picked up the pieces as Francesco Totti fell apart while how can you leave out someone who scored 29 goals for Udinese no less?

You can’t, not when you have a main striker who is going to draw this array of talent to him.

That man of course can only be Diego 'The Prince' Milito – the league’s most clinical finisher and an unselfish runner who brings others into the game.

So there you have it: a team that would give the best from the English Premier League and La Liga a run for their money.

Of you may not think so and as you sip your cappuccino or coffee feel free to come up your own team of the year.

Goalkeeper: Julio Sergio (AS Roma)

Defence: Douglas Maicon (Inter Milan), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo)

Midfield: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria)

Midlfield/Trequartista: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Mirko Vucinic (AS Roma)

Attacker: Diego Milito (Inter Milan)

Mourinho left misty-eyed at impending farewell

2010-05-17T10:34:00Z

The day of destiny for Serie A could have ended in tears - and in fact it did but not from the expected source.

As AS Roma accepted their fate with a rare show of stoicism, it was a strange sight indeed to see Jose Mourinho welling up with emotion as the feat of taking Inter to the league and Cup double was itched into his heavily-stubbled face.

A cynic may say they were crocodile tears or the tears of the showman milking his last current call, but the emotion did seem genuine enough from a man who likes nothing better than a sense of theatre.

There had been drama for nearly an hour as AS Roma held the advantage with their two goals at Chievo but then as on so many occasions this season Diego Milito popped up to burst the Roman bubble and set the bubbly on ice in Siena.

With history made on the domestic front there is nothing to keep the Portuguese on these shores anymore even if he fails to land the Treble in Madrid.

There is no hope of even Massimo Moratti with all his deep pockets retaining the services of his star attraction even if the man in question was happy with life in Italy – which he isn’t.

After all, Mourinho has stated many times that he wants to win the title in England, Italy and Spain.

He will soon be setting up home in the Spanish capital and let us hope he is a bit more respectful of his surrounding there than he has been in belittling his current abode.

NEWS: Nervy Inter seal Serie A title

Even in the moment of Inter’s triumph as the players danced around the Artemio Franchi stadium – well park pitch with a couple of rickety stands bolted on – Mourinho was turning the knife one last time.

"This is not my home; it’s not an easy place to work and be happy," he told those self-same reporters whom he had been ignoring for the last two months.

It was a calculated dig at his hosts who pride Italy as one giant casa where everyone is invited to pop in for a bowl of mama’s homemade pasta – and it was also a veiled warning to any foreign coach considering a move to Serie A and having the temerity to even try and emulate his achievements.

So watch out then Rafa Benitez, if Massimo Moratti comes a calling.

There is also the issue that this Inter team has peaked and if they defeat Bayern Munich next Saturday then what next for those history-making players – a repeat performance is unlikely to happen.

It is an aging side, with only Mario Balotelli and Davide Santon under 20 while Wesley Sneijder and Goran Pandev are in their mid-20s – but the remainder of the squad are heading into or already in the twilight years of their careers.

Mourinho built this squad for such a moment as Sunday, and off course to win the Champions League - and although Moratti can go out and potentially land just about any player he wants there will be no massive turnover of playing personnel next season.

Mou would love to take Sneijder and Milito to Madrid but that seems very unlikely: Moratti will not let his old employee cherry-pick his team, but Sneijder is already a Real reject while the Argentine for all his rapier-like goalscoring is no Galacticos photo-fit.

However, such concerns can be left to another day for now – and it may have been Roma that put the romance back into the title race but the real drama has only ever centred on one man.

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Mourinho set for one final wind-up as Inter prepare for title showdown

2010-05-14T12:38:00Z

Roma’s mantra over the last month or so ìIt’ll never happen but if it does Öî will finally be laid to rest one way or another this weekend.

The phrase has appeared on banners and has been printed up on T-shirts - and no doubt many of the 10,000-plus Giallorossi support travelling to Verona to will be reciting the lucky charm along the way.

While the Romans lay siege to Chievo’s Bentegodi stadium; heading along the motorway in the opposite direction will be the Inter tifosi en-route for Tuscany where they will be expecting a title party to take place.

It is north against south, the Capital against the financial powerbase, the villain against the hero and gripping stuff it promises to be indeed on a day of destiny.

In fact, so concerned are the local authorities in both Rome and Milan that total social collapse is only 90 minutes away that both AC Milan and Lazio have had their games switched to Saturday evening.

Their reasoning was it was better not to risk mayhem ensuing outside the San Siro and Olympic stadiums when either of the city rivals were crowned champions.

So, Milan and Lazio fans can make themselves scarce on Sunday and what ignominy it is for Milan not to mention Juventus whose traditional showdown has become no more than a TV schedule filler.

However, there was only ever going to be one prime-time and the tension has been cranking up all week to such an extent that radio stations in both cities have had to close their phone lines a few minutes after going on air to deal with the surge from those unable to keep their emotions in check.

And there has been plenty of speculation on how the afternoon will pan out; needless to say conspiracies have been fuelled like jet planes.

Of course, a mischievous Portuguese threw petrol on the fire by joking – well he said it was a tongue-in-cheek comment - that Roma would pay Siena to beat his side.

SERIE A PREVIEWS: Del Neri rumours hamper Samp

It is a wonder Jose Mourinho didn’t mention that Siena’s team owner is called Mezzaroma or like Roma they sport a she-wolf on their shirts, but casting aspersions over the integrity of Italian football has been his favourite past time of late.

The usually serene Claudio Ranieri hit back by claiming that his nemesis was a ìloose cannon,î ready to go off unexpectedly one day.

The lovable old Roman doesn’t believe his rival is that special and has quizzed members of the press why they hype up an already over-sized ego.

That sense of self worth will go stellar on Sunday if Inter do the Double and it will be absolutely stratospheric if he lands the Champions League the following weekend – that could be grounds for a no-fly zone over the western Mediterranean.

Can the unthinkable happen to finally wipe that smug grin off Jose’s face?

Well, apart from Roma, Siena are the only side to have pushed Inter all the way at the San Siro - and although already relegated they will not roll over as Lazio did a few weeks ago.

In fact, for once Jose may be regretting opening his mouth although the way he has been making overtures to Real Madrid he is probably past caring what he says in Italy.

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Is reigning champ Lippi throwing out a smokescreen with his selection?

2010-05-12T10:21:00Z

Marcello Lippi has revealed that he already knows which 23 players will be making the trip to South Africa to defend Italy’s world crown.

Seven players will head to the pre-tournament training camp near Turin on May 23rd already earmarked for the heart-breaking news that they do not feature in the coach’s plans, but is the old fox throwing out a smokescreen as thick as his famous cigar smoke?

There could still yet be room for a surprise or two as the Azzurri boss attempts to energise a squad that on the whole looks well past its sell-by-date.

The goalkeeper situation is the most settled area of the team: Gianluigi Buffon will of course be the undisputed No. 1 and barring injury or suspension both Morgan De Sanctis and Federico Marchetti will not see any game time. But for Marchetti in particular the experience will be invaluable as the current Cagliari keeper has been ear-marked as Gigi’s heir at club and international level.

Palermo’s young shot-stopper Salvatore Sirigu will benefit from pre-tournament experience and is definitely an international in the making.

The problems begin to become clear as soon as we get to the out-field players and for a nation famed for its defensive prowess there is no embarrassment of riches.

NEWS: Totti & Legrottaglie left out of Italy squad

The fault lies with the fact that the old guard have not grown old gracefully, or in many cases done the right thing and stepped aside, which is also partially Lippi’s error on his return.

So going into the first group game against Paraguay we could see three of the heroes of Berlin plus Giorgio Chiellini shoring up the backline: captain Fabio Cannavaro will partner Chiellini in the centre of the defence flanked by Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso.

If things do not get off to a positive start then there could be a complete reshuffle of the backline.

Leonardo Bonucci could come into a back-three allowing Lippi to employ two wing-backs such as Christian Maggio and Domenico Crisito to offer some much-needed freshness – such a strategy would probably see Salvatore Bocchetti and Mattia Cassani miss out.

The central of midfield will be another area where we have seen it all before, with Andrea Pirlo, Rino Gattuso and Daniele De Rossi all certainties but, Lippi will need cover which would come in the shape of Angelo Palombo, Claudio Marchisio and Riccardo Montolivo .

Out wide, Mauro Camoranesi will definitely make the final 23 which would leave his Juventus team-mate Andrea Candreva along with Andrea Cossu and Simone Pepe fighting for the last place: Candreva is the more versatile so he should get the nod.

There is room for five attackers but Lippi may feel that a physical approach is more of a priority especially as the tournament progresses so Vincenzo Iaquinta, Giampaolo Pazzini, Alberto Gilardino, Antonio Di Natale and Marco Borriello will be on the plane, with the flair players Guiseppe Rossi and Fabio Quagliarella back home watching on TV.

Roma fans unconcerned by Totti's cup final petulance

2010-05-10T11:10:00Z

If any player was feeling a little uncomfortably about walking out on to a football pitch on Sunday, then it must have been Francesco Totti.

The AS Roma captain had been vilified for his unruly behaviour in the Italian Cup final where he booted Mario Balotelli not once but twice and then had to defend himself from allegations that he had made a racist comment towards the Inter player.

Totti admitted that he had lost his head but his subsequent claims that Balotelli had it coming for, among other things, winding the Roma players and fans up in the league match at the San Siro last season suggested that his actions in the dying moments of the game may have been premeditated.

The fall-out was the sort of bad press someone looking to impress his national team coach ahead of the World Cup could do without - and it is still touch and go whether Marcello Lippi will recall the bad boy for South Africa – a decision that will become clear on Tuesday.

Another concern for the veteran is that, although he has a €5million-a-year contract with Roma until 2014, there are also a number of very lucrative commercial endorsements to be milked.

The last thing he wants is a major mobile phone operator refusing to return his calls come time for the renewal of his biggest cash cow; considering that it is a family affair and his missus also plays a central role in the ad campaign as well.

So it was time to embark on a charm offensive at the Olympic stadium yesterday: Mrs Totti handed the kids over to dad for the afternoon so he could carry them into the work place which just happened to have 60,000-plus people waiting to maybe voice their disappointment at their fallen hero.

He need not have been too concerned as his adoring public were never going to turn against one of their own, especially when they had been told that his only crime had been to act like a true Roman in defending the honour of the city and just as importantly the Roma colours.

In fact, local radio station Radio Roma had been encouraging fans to wear the Totti number ten shirt at the match – Mrs Totti made sure she was caught on camera displaying her figure-hugging version when the teams marched out.

The banners dotted around the stands made it clear that Totti need not search for redemption amongst the faithful – "Thank-you captain, we are all behind you for defending our Roma."

You cannot buy popularity such as this but then again maybe this stay-at-home attitude has come at a price - and we will never know if he would have become universally adored on the back of moving to Real Madrid, which apparently was once an option.

However, remaining a big fish in a small pond has enabled Totti to develop a skewed view of what is right and wrong – and in doing so exposed the flaws that seem to go hand-in-hand with a sporting genius.

There have the petulant kicks, the spitting incident at Euro 2004 and of course the constant baiting of the neighbours Lazio, which at times have offered some comic relief for one side of the River Tiber at least.

And it was along the famous old river that he found the sort of welcome that would have brought a tear to any Italian mama when it comes to forgiving an errant son.

Of course, there was a match to be won to ensure that the title would head into the final weekend – and Totti would have to play his part as a thank-you for the undying fawning showered upon him.

He did in the end but for a long time it seemed that the leading man was going to let everyone down; first by doing little but stand around in the middle of the pitch and then when a goalscoring opportunity arose somehow chipping the ball over the bar from in front of the goal.

Then just when it seemed the Giallorossi season would finally peter-out in the Spring sunshine after Cagliari – yes there was another team involved but they were only meant to be there to make up the numbers – scored; the man with the Roman gladiator tattooed on his shoulder remembered his role as heroic savour.

A smart turn in the area and an angled shot brought the equaliser and then when offered the opportunity to score the game-winning penalty he took it with the aplomb of a conquering Caesar returning from taming the hordes.

Just in case the advertisers and sponsors had not gotten the picture there was a well-choreographed lap-of-honour with various kids in tow – it was Roman theatre at its most extravagant and the sort of occasion that any ancient emperor would have revelled in.

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Unruly Totti's moment of madness unlikely to impress Lippi

2010-05-06T13:52:00Z

The Italian Cup final was shown in 3D in selected cinemas in Milan and Rome and the viewers must have felt as battered and bruised as the players at the full-time whistle.

There were Avatar moments aplenty as players fell pole-axed at the slightest touch while others went flying through the air as the studs flew and boots waded in for real.

Quite a few of the audience must have ducked during the many phlegm-filled moments when the protagonists gobbed-off to one and other - and covered their ears as one foul-mouth rant followed another.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli demonstrated sterling resilience in not brandishing the red card more than just the once but it must have been some sight in all its high-technology glory especially as the recipient was the unruly Francesco Totti.

It was brutal enough watching the game on HD and no doubt those wearing the funny glasses are receiving the appropriate counselling - much as those faint-hearted souls who first witnessed the Exorcist film were calmed down.

Yes, it was riveting at times but it was also traumatic and certainly not for lovers of the beautiful game or even the mildly-attractive for that matter.

In fact, it was pretty much a horror show all round and it was Totti who had heads spinning with his snarling and down-right shocking foul on Mario Balotelli who he then booted in the head when the young lad was face down on the turf.

For such a mean-spirited act the Roma man should be banned from selection for the World Cup, although his lumbering performance as a second-half substitute will probably not have Marcello Lippi reaching to make the phone call anyway.

Luca Toni is another old crock who should be putting his feet up this summer after his grappling match with Marco Materazzi was only brought to an end when Walter Samuel came on and sorted the two old bean-poles out – removing his team-mate from the fray to go and stand in the middle of the penalty area while he put lame Luca in his place.

NEWS: Inter lift Italian Cup

Every few of those involved left the field of conflict with their good name intact: Nicolas Burdisso could easily have been sent-off in the first-half and his first challenge of the evening after less than sixty second left Wesley Sneijder unable to walk.

The Dutchman hobbled off soon after, leaving the only real touch of class to come from Diego Milito whose crisp strike at the end of a quick break was enough to seal stage one of ‘The Treble’ quest.

No doubt the events of Sunday in the same Olympic Stadium effected the ‘home side’ – surely it is time to move the game to a neutral venue if the Roman clubs reach the final again – and there was a poisonous atmosphere hanging around the stadium.

What we can take from the game is that Jose Mourinho will probably employ the same game-plan in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, which he will no doubt defend as 'the ends justify the means'.

Once they had gone a goal ahead, Inter looked to kill the contest off and there was still another half to play.

When the ball went out - even when it was thrown back quickly - it still took an age for the sphere to find its way out of the thrower’s hands and back onto the pitch.

Free-kicks were also treated as an opportunity for an extended discussion on how far away the wall was while other blatant time-wasting tactics became the order of the day.

Then when everyone was just about to scream in exasperation ìget on with itî, suddenly the Nerazzurri midfield would spring into life and Milito, Samuel Eto’o along with the very impressive Balotelli would scurrying off into the danger-zone to create mayhem in the opposition defence.

After spending the first 45 minutes lofting the ball towards the inert Toni, Roma returned for the second-half attempting to move the ball forward quickly along the ground - but just like Barcelona they floundered in a sea of black and blue shirts in the final third of the pitch.

There was half-chance here and there but as the clock ticked down so Roman frustration turned to hysteria which made for utterly unpleasant viewing no matter if it was in 3D or not.

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Rafa needs to be a gentleman and not keep the Old Lady waiting

2010-05-05T11:10:00Z

While Rafa Benitez agonises over whether he should leave Liverpool, the new Old Lady in his life is getting a little anxious.

As it stands, Juventus - like any hopeful new flame - will wait a little longer for the Spaniard to make the break and set up home in Turin.

However, she is not going to openly beg him to walk hand-in-hand together into a bright new future – and in the role of the ‘other woman’ she has to protect herself.

If Benitez is not going to make the first move then she is not going to look a fool and tell the world that she has been doing all the chasing.

Better to drop a hint or two that others suitors could be allowed to flirt around the front door – and would fit the bill just as well – such as Cesare Prandelli and Luciano Spalletti.

Neither party are up to much at the moment – Prandelli is kicking his heels at Fiorentina where all the signs are that the club are ready to offload the backbone of the team, while Spalletti is marking time in Russia only because he cannot coach in Serie A for a season after walking out on AS Roma.

So, just to focus Benitez on what he would be missing, Juve media outlet Tuttosport have been flashing the aforementioned names across their pages for the last couple of days, but there will be tears and tantrums if she doesn’t get her man.

NEWS: Benitez fails to shed light on future

There is plenty to incite someone who has become used to the finer things in life – the tax-free salary which is set to be something in the region of Ä12 million over three years and the Ä80 million transfer kitty which could well be increased if new president Andrea Agnelli can wring a few more million out of his cousin John Elkann.

The wage bill is also set to be cut with Gigi Buffon leading the charge for the exit door followed by David Trezeguet, Mauro Camoranesi and Momo Sissoko who will be out the back door anyway if Benitez is walking up the path.

Buffon has already made his pitch for the Premier League, so he will sit back and wait and see if Manchester or London coming calling.

Trezeguet would like nothing better than to be granted membership to the AC Milan country club, Camoranesi fancies the south of France and Marseille and Sissoko’s gangly frame could find favour in France or back in the Premier League.

The door is open for new man; all he needs to do is ask for a divorce and start a new life – he can even bring his best mates with him so he doesn’t feel lonely out on the training pitch and on the bench.

The chosen son has also given his blessing: Alex Del Piero has already been ear-marked for future elevation to the board of directors so he will be hiring and firing coaches someday soon anyway.

All and all there is plenty to woo Rafa to the charms along the banks of the River Po, so now he needs to the gentlemanly thing – and not keep the lady waiting.

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De Rossi pleas ignored as Lazio fans get their way against Inter

2010-05-04T14:22:00Z

The sight of AS Roma players encouraging their Lazio counterparts to show a little city solidarity against Inter was akin to the banking fraternity joining the Proles in the May Day parades.

The way the economy is heading that may just happen in the future, but hearing Daniele De Rossi plead with his bitter rivals to at least put up a good show against his side's title rivals wasn't something anybody would ever have predicted - but that's the bizarre world of Italian football.

It was a bit twitchy in the Capital at the weekend and conspiracy theorist were lurking at every corner along with those caught in two minds on how to approach a game where it would be the players not those in the stands who would decide the outcome – or would they?

There were those who felt very strongly that you should nail your colours to the flag and never concede one iota to the enemy - who would have their own agenda anyway - and then those in the opposing camp whose feelings were that “my enemy’s enemy is my friend.”

The Lazio fans on the whole fell into the latter grouping although in the Serie Aaaaargh! straw poll when faced with the conundrum of whether they would rather scupper Roma’s title chances than stay up they had to admit that it was a close call – a season in Serie B wouldn’t be the end of the world.

At that moment they were waiting to see how results would pan out on Sunday afternoon and as it turned out events could not have gone any better.

Certainly Roma felt that they needed to lecture their neighbours on how to behave, citing Parma’s full-bloodied efforts against them on Saturday as the correct manner in which to face the encounter.

It was not as if Parma had nothing to play for, as they were not mathematically safe from the drop, although a twelve-point advantage over third-bottom Atalanta would not have had them quaking in their boots too much.

Lazio’s six-point gap from the drop zone was a little more perilous, but then the Bergamo bunglers eased the conscience of any Laziale grabbling with thoughts of becoming a turncoat for the day.

Atalanta could only draw at home to Bologna, leaving the Romans needing to find a point from their remaining three games to stay up: if not Inter there was always Livorno or Udinese.

Of course, Lazio spoiled Inter’s title party back in 2002 when they defeated Hector Cuper’s men 4-2 on the last day to leave Karel Poborsky bemused at the abuse he received from his own fans after scoring twice on an afternoon of high-drama.

NEWS: Inter beat Lazio to return to summit

Marco Materazzi was so taken aback by Lazio’s cheek at not rolling over that his bottom lip was all aquiver as he beseeched his opponents to stop attacking when the score was at 3-2, only for Simone Inzaghi to score the fourth.

For once the pizzerias festooned in Roma memorabilia had their television sets tuned into a Lazio game although they were ready to switch channels to the nearest game show at the first sign of capitulation.

There were even claims of aiding and abetting when the team-sheets were produced and Tommaso Rocchi and player most likely – in Romanisiti eyes anyway – to provide the means to a goal was left on the bench.

And there was never going to be a repeat of those Ronaldo tears eight years ago this time around as this Inter model under Jose Mourinho were superior in every area to their hosts although it must be the first time a team putting in such a dismal showing have been applauded off the pitch.

There was a surreal atmosphere inside the Olympic stadium indeed – the Inter line-up garlanded more cheers than the home team and in the Curva Nord banners were unfurled informing Roma that their title hopes were nigh at an end.

The pressure on the Lazio players was intense especially when the chants off “If you win we’ll have more than a word with you” started emanating from certain sections of the ground which then rose as one to celebrate Walter Samuel’s opening goal.

“OH NOOO ...” read the banner and a former Roma player receiving the gratitude of the sworn enemy was all too much for any Giallorossi fan watching although there will be enough enmity stored up to fuel derby encounters for decades to come.

The Lazio players acted accordingly from then on and even Mourinho must have been embarrassed to have witnessed the “spectacle” as he no doubt would have been with another banner claiming he was “the only true person in a sham sport.”

In reality, the whole evening was a farce, but then when Lazio and Roma are involved fear and loathing runs deep in the Capital.

NEWS: Roma spice up final by slamming Inter

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A Special night for every Interista

2010-04-29T10:44:00Z

“It is not me; it is us,” claimed the very Special One – and how right Jose Mourinho was in lauding his men at the end of a pulsating, drama-filled evening in the Nou Camp.

However, he couldn’t resist stealing the photo opportunity at the final whistle when he gave his conqueror salute to the away fans high in the gods, well aware that the Barcelona players were at his neck snarling the last breath of the vanquished.

NEWS Ten-man Inter reach final

It took water-sprinklers to get Mou’s players off a pitch they had already soaked with blood and sweat. They were down to 10 men for more than an hour after Thiago Motta's red card but they had been outnumbered and exposed for a long time beforehand.

Drowned but not out: Lucio celebrates MORE PICS HERE

A hostile atmosphere, constant noise and exploding firecrackers outside the team hotel the night before – it was back to the good old days of the 1970s and nightmare European Cup trips. And on foreign fields the locals can be quite sensitive when someone strokes their face, as Sergio Busquets can no doubt explain.

The Barcelona players had promised to play out of their skins, not jump out of them at the slightest contact, but being decimated so early on did little to change Inter's game-plan – which was efficiently designed to ensure that the home side created very little danger in and around the area.

FEATURE Master planner Mourinho ready to silence the Nou Camp

Inter condensed the play into the centre of the pitch, thanks in part to the late introduction of Christian Chivu for Goran Pandev. The Macedonian's muscle problem had been well-documented by Mourinho in the days leading up to the match, but it wasn't a massive surprise that it should “flare up” during the warm-up, after the Barça team-sheet had been handed in.

With Samuel Eto’o dropping back to cover the right flank and Chivu closing up the left, the balance was perfect for Wesley Sneijder and Motta to remain tucked in leaving Esteban Cambiasso to patrol the area just ahead of the backline where Leo Messi was waiting to wind up for those darting runs into the penalty-box.

So when Motta finally left the pitch (with a few choice words for one and all and a proper little nip at Busquets), all Cambiasso had to do was step out five metres or so – and of course double his work-rate. And as for expending every drop of energy, let us not forget the efforts of Diego Milito in chasing every pass – no matter how misplaced it was.

"Wherever you go, We Will Follow You" MORE PICS HERE

All this running and concentrating on opponents who are marvelled at for their quick movement and interchanging of positions is easier said than done but in reality Inter never looked under pressure – it was catenaccio without an Italian in sight and with little of the darker elements of the art.

Lucio and Walter Samuel were hardly drawn out of their fortress in the heart of the defence – and when they were their challenges were crisp and clean – while it is difficult to recall a time when Douglas Maicon or the peerless Javier Zanetti allowed an opponent to get to the by-line.

Julio Cesar was beaten once but followed up his first-leg heroics with another sterling performance, although Ivan Cordoba must have had flashbacks to 2003 – when he failed to close down Andriy Shevchenko for the decisive goal in the derby – when this time Gerard Pique turned inside his despairing challenge.

GALLERY Action and interest from the game

All over the pitch there were performances that merited a place in Madrid. For many it may well be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and as the contest wore on it was a prospect they seemed determined not to pass up.

But how could they fail when their coach was frequently almost encroaching onto the pitch to man the barricades? It was one of those nights where everyone was special.

Around 2,000 fans welcomed the weary warriors back home at 2.30am, and it seemed as if the majority of the Nerazzurri half of the city had taken over the cafes first thing in the morning - making it an extraordinarily festive start to the day in stuffy old Milan.

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Master planner Mourinho ready to silence the Nou Camp

2010-04-28T10:16:00Z

Jose Mourinho could never be described as impulsive, planning as he does every move well ahead of its final execution.

He probably mulls over how to dress for each occasion, to shave or not to ahead of a Champions League press conference – usually sporting a few days stubble – and then immaculately turned on the day of the big game.

Nothing is ever left to chance, so that may explain why he has decided to boycott speaking to the Italian press unless forced to under UEFA orders - well aware that he has met his match in Machiavellian cunning when it comes to dissecting every word.

It is therefore no surprise that Inter’s build-up to the game of the season - or any other in the last seven years when they last made this far - at Barcelona should come shrouded in half-truths.

Was Wesley Sniejder really so badly injured that he may be out for the rest of the season and not only the clash at the Nou Camp as was initially reported on Italian radio?

"Tell them I'm not talking to them..."

It seems that the 'Calculating One' has been taking a leaf out of the old master of spin Sir Alex Ferguson’s handbook on leading the opposition down a blind alley - and as with Wayne Rooney turning up on the team-sheet against Bayern Munich, so the dashing little Dutchman was always going to be fit and ready.

It is one of those subplots that the Portuguese schemer throws out there now to make for even greater drama when we get back to the main story, which is of course Inter attempting to emerge victorious and finally sate their own obsession which has been going on since 1965.

Even the fact that Barcelona’s players have had to turn cheerleaders to encourage their own fans to believe they can overcome a 3-1 deficit will be used as evidence that the opposition are running scared in their own back-yard.

Barca not only has to find at least two goals, but also unravel the Mourinho maze when it comes to which formation he will field.

Against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge it was daring in the extreme as he employed three players in more advanced positions but only Diego Milito in the out-and-out front-man role as Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev employed pace and alertness to cover back along the flanks.

Sniejder was free to roam, with Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta forming the solid base in front of the back-four.

There was less surprise when the formula was repeated in the first leg against the defending champions, but while guile outdid the English and speed caught the Catalans out, it will probably need a more traditional Ital-Argentine approach this time around.

Cambiasso will be looking to kick Lionel Messi into touch...

The Italian Cup semi-final second leg at Fiorentina may have offered a better indication of how Inter will go about defending their lead regardless of declarations about taking the game to the home side.

In the domestic Cup tie, Inter were defending a slender one-goal lead but a striker – Milito - was sacrificed for a defender – Ivan Cordoba – and Douglas Maicon was pushed on to the right side of a four-man midfield.

The Brazilian revelled at the opportunity to surge forward but without neglecting to cover Cordoba at full-back.

Tellingly, Mario Balotelli was employed on the left of midfield but Javier Zanetti was sweeping in front of the backline with Sulley Muntari just in front alongside Motta for added protection.

Eto’o was left to keep the opposition defence occupied and was rewarded with the only goal of the game.

A slight tinkering of personnel could produce a similar outcome: with Zanetti at left-back; Cambiasso anchoring the midfield behind Motta and Sneijder further ahead and Pandev on the left.

That would leave either Eto’o or Milito to start in attack, but then what about the former handed the role of keeping Dani Alves on the back-foot along the left flank and at the same adding support to the Argentine?

No doubt the master planner has it all worked out in his head. And like his dress sense on European nights, it should be spot on.

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Balotelli could learn a thing or two from maturing Cassano

2010-04-26T10:46:00Z

Wearing a hoodie and jeans, Mario Balotelli looked little different from the group of huddled youths gathered outside Inter’s Appiano Gentile training ground.

The only difference, apart from the lean and imposing frame, was the fact that he leapt into a sports car, which would not have been out of place in a Batman movie, and scattered the civvies to the four winds as he swept through the exit.

Welcome to another day in the hum-drum life of Italy’s newest bad-boy who only last Tuesday threw his shirt on the San Siro pitch not in celebration but in disgust before stomping off to the dressing room – this after his side had just downed Barcelona.

Inter owner Massimo Moratti called the act of petulance “public suicide” although the teenager’s reaction to a few well-placed boos and whistles could have led to an act of homicide if reports of Marco Materazzi’s forceful manhandling of the youngster are to be believed.

Balotelli has been in the limelight ever since breaking into the first team under Roberto Mancini at the age of 17 and controversy has never been far away from someone who has just about alienated everyone apart from AC Milan supporters, in equal measure.

However, the forced excuses for donning a Milan shirt – the team he supported as a child – and for flinging away the shirt of the club that pays his wages have a hollow ring now.

“Clear off, Balotelli” was the spray-painted-greeting on the fence of the training ground on Friday, which the club have yet to remove.

Jose Mourinho could have easily scrawled the ‘advice’ and most of the senior players would not miss him so in an attempt to calm any discord in the dressing room Massimo Moratti was forced to sit the seriously-flawed upstart down to impart a few home truths.

The upshot was that the surly teen would be better off watching Saturday’s game even further away from the pitch than his usual perch on the substitutes’ bench.

There is no doubt that all the lectures and moralising from above will fall on a deaf ear if the youngster feels an outsider.

There was certainly that idea of soap opera villain surrounding the cocksure young fella as he drifted off to his home town to watch Brescia in Serie B whilst his team-mates went about the routine business of defeating Atalanta in the more salubrious surroundings of the San Siro.

And all the grins and waves to a few selected friends at the Rigamonti stadium could not hide the fact that he will be a side-show in Inter’s main event come Wednesday just as he was against Chelsea.

However, Balotelli certainly has a long way to go to out-sin the original case of arrested development: Antonio Cassano

The Bari Bawler has gone from prodigious talent to massive irritant to comic purveyor of third-person one-liners such as “only puppets play for Italy and Cassano is no puppet.”

An outsized ego has overshadowed what he has actually achieved in the game: a destructive streak scuppered a stellar career at AS Roma, sweet talking a move to Real Madrid only led to a cake binge and most recently there has been the massively delusional belief that he would ever play in this summer’s World Cup.

For all his cockiness and strutting, at 27 he has never really turned it on against the top sides since returning to Italy – until Sunday evening that was.

As it is with those of volatile nature, redemption can usually be found in more benign surroundings and so it has proved for Cassano at Sampdoria where in the less challenging environment anything he does stands out.

And this proved to be the case when he provided the perfect outlet along with the equally-impressive Giampaolo Pazzini for his hard-working team-mates against his old club Roma - and in doing so all but ended the Giallorossi’s title hopes.

Fit and focused and with the ball at his feet, he stood up to some hefty challenges without a word of complain before delivering the killer cross from the left for Pazzini’s close-range header to cancel out Francesco Totti’s opener.

His endeavours ended in him cramping up but even off the pitch he had a say in the outcome as Claudio Ranieri sacrificed right-back Marco Cassetti for Luca Toni thus leaving a gaping hole from which substitute Daniele Mannini could sweep in a cross for Pazzini’s winner.

The heartfelt hug for Totti at the final whistle (above) demonstrated Cassano’s new-found maturity. It has been a long time arriving so let’s hope it doesn’t take Balotelli a decade or so to grow up.

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Time for Berlusconi to allow Milan's next generation to blossom

2010-04-23T15:06:00Z

It may be difficult to believe but AC Milan recently asked Paolo Maldini if he would like to don his boots again.

After 25 years in the top-flight and countless trophies, the legendary defender of course called it a day at the end of last season and walked away from the game with almost universal praise ringing in his ears.

So, it came as no surprise that the 41-year-old turned down the opportunity to help out his old club when Adriano Galliani and Leonardo apparently put in the emergency call a few weeks ago.

The situation had become critical in the heart of the defence where a spate of injuries has decimated the backline – the most serious has been the absence of Alessandro Nesta who has been missing since mid-March after undergoing knee surgery.

Milan were still very much in the hunt for the title when Maldini was sounded out on whether he would like to return as cover and be part of what could potentially be an historic title triumph, as Galliani no doubt tried to sell it

The former captain did have the good grace discuss the proposal with his father – former Milan defender Cesare – or maybe have a good laugh, but he decided that nearly ten months into his well-earned retirement it was more prudent to leave the playing well in the past.

It is true that he had spent plenty of the intervening period playing five-a-side football and had taken up kick-boxing to stay in shape - but making a return to the world of professional football was a completely different matter.

Having asked for 24 hours to mull it over, Maldini returned with a firm “no” and so ended fevered speculation of a sensational return for the season run-in.

This Raiders of the Lost Ark moment typifies the desperate search for old relics to somehow revive an ailing club where Silvio Berlusconi is looking more mummified every time he appears in public.

With his political opponents plotting to dethrone him from his day job, the aging prime minister has little time or energy to turn his attention to his ‘family’.

And there lies the problem: as long as there is a breath of life in his body, the perma-grinning one will not allow the club to slip from his grasp.

After all, the Berlusconi era which is about to outlast Maldini’s playing career, was for the most part the golden age of enlightenment and how could he allow someone else to build a dynasty to match his unprecedented number of trophies.

Now in his 74th year, the glint has not dimmed in the outsized ego, so even if there will be no money for new signings and no matter that he becomes less of a presence around Milanello and in the stands of the San Siro the iron-grip will not be released in the near future.

It is no wonder that Leonardo wants out, especially if the Brazil job is waiting and the thought of losing his ‘little nephew’ Alexandre Pato whom he incited across the Atlantic and nurtured through his early days at the club hangs heavily over him.

Leo never wanted the daily grind of the tracksuit anyway and must be one of the most reluctant coaches of all time – unlike Mauro Tassotti or Filippo Galli who would jump at the chance to organise five-a-sides every day.

There will be a new man welcoming the likes of Mario Yepes to pre-season training in July and let us hope it is not Marcello ‘Lucky’ Lippi whose arrival would lead to all-out revolt from the veterans (okay just about the whole squad).

Better still to give Massimiliano Allegri the opportunity to start a new era and promote a number of those youth players who only recently lifted the Italian Youth Cup.

That prestigious trophy had last found its way into the club’s trophy cabinet back in 1985 when Fabio Capello was in charge of the likes of Maldini and Billy Costacurta who were making their first steps towards glittering careers.

Yes, it is time for out with the old and in with the new but will dear old Silvio recognise the passing of time?

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A special night for the Special One as Inter brush off Messi and co

2010-04-21T10:24:00Z

Having experienced those final twenty minutes or so of intense Barcelona pressure should come in handy for Inter at the Nou Camp next week, as it is exactly the kind of bombardment they are likely to endure in the second leg.

Jose Mourinho’s well-moulded men now stand on the cusp of history-making and will go into the return leg of their Champions League semi-final with an aim of doing what they do best: grinding out a result but now with a newly acquired fluency.

The two-goal cushion fits perfectly with Mourinho’s approach where the air will be suffocated out of the Barca attack, much as it was at the San Siro, but at the same time as we saw at Stamford Bridge and then in Moscow the opportunity to attack quickly will not be spurned.

The Italian press had been certain that Mou would play a lone striker and flood the midfield but once again the Portuguese confounded those supposedly in the know and although he went with one up front support arrived from a fast-breaking midfield and full-backs with winged feet.

We all know their names, but Diego Milito, Samuel Eto’o, Goran Pandev and Wesley Sneijder stretched the much-vaunted visitors to breaking point while Douglas Maicon and the ageless Javier Zanetti were tireless in their impulse to get forward.

Tucked in behind, Esteban Cambiasso and Thiago Motta were uncompromising whenever Leo Messi and co. ventured anywhere near the penalty area, and when they did manage to breach the first line of defence, Lucio and Walter Samuel were all flailing boots when it was needed while Julio Cesar was back to his imperious best.

There was only once that this compact group was drawn out of position on Mou’s chessboard and they paid for it with a goal.

However, taking the game to the road travellers was the perfect riposte and even a goal down there was a belief that opportunities would be created at the other end.

There was no need to chase down Messi as the little Argentine drifted out of the game more times than he drifted inside from the left wing.

There was something of the street urchin about him as Zanetti and Cambiasso brushed him off like busy businessmen on their way to an important meeting [Madrid anyone] although he did demonstrate his street-fighting instincts when he laid Maicon out with a clattering shoulder charge, accidental or not.

It was dazzling evening for Inter and the only one casting dark looks and muttered curses was the unfortunate Mario Balotelli whose error-ridden appearance as a late substitute after Milito cramped up was greeted with a chorus of whistles.

The teenager’s huffy reaction shows how far he has to go to develop in the world of football and how little he seemed to understand the significance of the occasion for the Inter fans who were last in the final of Europe’s premier competition before a good number of the crowd were born – 1972 by the way - and eighteen years before the player saw the light of day.

There is little doubt that the poor mite will be looking on from the outside come next week if not for the rest of the season – in the ongoing struggle to win over the Nerazzurri masses there is now only one clear victor – and it was Jose’s name that was being chanted well into the night.

However, Balotelli’s moody moment was a mere sub-plot in what now will be a return leg where Barca will be hoping that the referee is a little more eagle-eyed when it comes to their players going down under challenges inside the area as was the case with Sneijder’s tackle on Dani Alves.

No doubt Mourinho will be putting equal pressure on the official not to be influenced by the surroundings just as he will be cajoling his players towards taking that final step on the road to achieving legendary status.

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Derby tinkering keeps Ranieri's Roma one step ahead of Mourinho

2010-04-19T10:11:00Z

There is always someone out there who is courageous enough to do or say what everyone else is thinking – and Claudio Ranieri was that person on Sunday evening.

It came during the interval of a Rome Derby where it looked as if Roma’s dreams of taking the title race into the final four games of the season were about to come crashing down in the most mundane matter possible, to Lazio of all teams.

With the Giallorossi trailing and having generally been played off the park by their more relaxed rivals, drastic action was needed and that would mean taking two local sons out of the fray.

Neither Francesco Totti or Daniele De Rossi had covered themselves in the glory, picking up a yellow card apiece and playing in such a reckless way that they were in danger of leaving their team-mates a man or two short long before the final whistle.

As the players returned to the pitch for the second forty-five minutes, Jeremy Menez and Rodrigo Taddei limbered up on the touchline as the captain and vice-captain forlornly took their seats on the bench.

However, for sixty seconds it looked as if Ranieri’s brave decision was set to have the veteran hounded out of his own city on the charge of high treason instead of being putting forward for instant sainthood.

Lazio were already one-nil up and a penalty-kick away from doubling their lead, but Sergio Floccari’s weak effort and Julio Sergio’s knees energised Ranieri’s men who then found faith once more in their ability to dictate the pace of game before hitting the opposition on the quick counter-attack.

Totti in particular had been having one of those derbies where he was living the occasion rather than playing the match; his immobility in the centre of the pitch doing little to lift the team’s general malaise, leaving Luca Toni and Mirko Vucinic as marginal figures.

Conveying the same distain as a Caesar at the Coliseum, the thumbs down gesture at the neighbour’s perilous position just above the relegation trapdoor demonstrated how churlish Er Pupone can still be.

He attempted to justify the gesture by claiming it was a reaction to Roberto Baronio calling him a “has-been” in the previous derby.

What should be a more lingering talking point is the fact that Totti’s absence was not felt and with Menez and Taddei keeping wing-backs Stephan Lichsteiner and Aleksandar Kolarov in check, the encounter was swinging in Roma’s favour.

And so it proved as Taddei drew a foul from Kolarov for the penalty that man-of-the-match Vucinic stroked away and then Menez enticed another rash challenge for the Montenegrin to hit a free-kick of such explosive power that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was almost knocked over by the back-draft.

If Totti had still been on the pitch then it is doubtful Vucinic would have been anywhere near the ball when either of those pivotal moments arose – and if there is a talismanic figure in Roma’s amazing charge to the top of the table then it is not difficult to see whom it really is.

The capital’s central Piazza Venezia’s was jammed-packed with celebrating fans well into the wee hours of Sunday night for what they hope is a dress-rehearsal in less than a month’s time as the title heads down to the wire.

In theory, Inter have the easier run-in, but they will come up against an Atalanta side next week who will be battling for their lives while Roma take on Sampdoria who now have their sights on maybe just overtaking Milan who they downed on Sunday.

No matter how Jose Mourinho’s team perform, Roma are a point ahead and if they win their last four games then they will be champions.

With their courageous coach’s not tip-toeing around when it comes to making the bold decisions then a Capital celebration could well become a stunning reality.

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Derby weekend takes limelight away from Moggi's day in court

2010-04-16T10:45:00Z

It is time to get ready for the rivalries that gave birth to match-fixing allegations, anti-Semitic banners and the odd moment brilliance on the pitch.

Yes, it is the Derby of Italy – a grandiose title well past its sell-by-date – and the Derby of the Capital – an event that defines a city – and all on the same weekend.

In fact, the weekend starts early this week, with Inter and Juventus locking horns on Friday evening and ends on Sunday evening with the Roman rumble.

There have been drab encounters through the years - especially in the Eternal City where those in the stands have provided the colour and passion - there have been plenty of one-sided meetings, and then there have been enthralling matches that have made for captivating viewing.

Whatever the ultimate outcome, these are two matches that can never be ignored and while the Romans bring a city to a standstill when the northern rivals meet the nation just about comes grinding to a halt.

When we talk about defining moments of the season then this weekend will be definitely be one of them.

Inter are no longer top of the pile and for the first time since Claudio Ranieri starting playing down his side’s chances of winning the title, the Giallorossi have the Scudetto fate in their own hands.

And lo and behold it is Lazio who can derail their cousins’ dreams of having the mother of all parties at the end of May.

Come Monday morning, it will be banishment to the dark corners of bars and cafes for the vanquished and a table in the sunniest part of the piazza for the conquering heroes – and for Roma victory will have even more significance in the grand scheme of things.

In the meantime, by Roman standards, the week has been rather benign. This should be cause for concern – the calm before the storm so to speak.

On the contrary, it has been a fraught week up north in the cities of Turin and Milan.

Both clubs have been refusing to speak to the press so it has been left to events away from the game to take centre stage – and those have been played out back down south in Naples.

Luciano Moggi is having is day or days in court to prove that he was not the great puppet-master in the grand scheme of Calciopoli but just one of many who were pulling the strings to influence the outcome of games.

[Un]lucky Luciano’s defence team have got their hands on a few wiretaps which did not see the light back in 2006, and on one of them then Inter president Giacinto Facchetti is heard chatting to the referee’s designator Paolo Bergamo.

Old Bergamo gives him the rundown of officials available to referee Inter games and Facchetti apparently demands that Pierluigi Collina – and who would not, the bald one was the best man around at the time – takes charge of a game.

There is also some discussion about dropping around for ‘a little gift’ which proves nothing considering it was coming up to the Christmas period and no doubt ‘little presents’ were being wrapped at many a club’s front desk.

We may never know what was behind the Facchetti-Bergamo chin-wag as the latter is no longer with us to give his side of the story.

The question is; why has it taken four years for this new ‘evidence’ to see the light of day?

Moggi has promised more wire-taps next week and Carlo Ancelotti has been called to give evidence on Tuesday.

It is now a case of ‘wait and see’ if new ‘explosive evidence’ is brought to light and the case is reopened but in the meantime at least there is some intrigue on the pitch to keep us all occupied.

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Why Mourinho must fuse two-faced mentality

2010-04-13T14:00:00Z

There are only two teams in Europe who can still claim the treble this season – and Bayern Munich happens to be the other one.

Inter could still finish the campaign with the domestic title and Italian Cup tucked away before lifting the Champions League – or if one was to listen to the harbingers of doom then they could end up with nothing.

Round one of 'will they or won’t they blow it' commences this evening in Florence when the Nerazzurri return to the Artemio Franchi stadium for the second leg of their Italian Cup semi-final, holding a 1-0 advantage.

The conspiracy theorists – or those with plenty of time on their hands – had predicted Fiorentina would throw the league game at the weekend in return for a win in the Cup, but why would Jose Mourinho want to be any part of such a pact when he has already allured to dark goings on in the Italian game?

The now silent one has once again bitten his tongue and refused to shed any light on why he feels there is a conspiracy against his side and why in the meantime they have made such hard work of bringing early closure to the title race.

However, the way he marched off the pitch on Saturday suggested that vengeance will be in the air in the Renaissance city on Tuesday.

Just as in the Italo Calvino novel, The Cloven Viscount, where a nobleman is split in two on the battle-fight to become separate individuals possessing one quality a piece, so we have witnessed a good and nasty Mourinho.

The good Mou comes out in the Champions League, cheery and care-free with the press, smiles for one and all; the nasty rears up when his mouth twists into a half sneer to tell everyone he is sick and tired of Italy and Italian life.

In Calvino’s fable, the villagers end up disliking both halves of the nobleman until they are rejoined to balance each other out – and this seems to be the case with our Portuguese interloper.

What he needs to do is become whole once more: we can put up with him being charming and then bristling with anger at the flick of his cashmere scarf, but one or the other is just a bore.

And in truth he needs to get down to business again which means getting the best out of his players over the next five weeks or so.

In Europe, the team have played with confidence and determination, taking command of matches and holding on to their advantage; at home it is almost the inverse.

There are patches of dominant play but then an inability to defend a lead such as at the weekend and Palermo before that.

Too many points have been dropped against sides they should be rolling over and it is that balance in endeavour that has been missing recently.

At this high-risk stage of the campaign no one is asking them to play with open enjoyment but the players are not getting the chance to enjoy the moment – in the league anyway.

A little spring-cleaning may not go amiss in the Cup, with Mario Balotelli and MacDonald Margia worth a run-out to rest Diego Milito and Esteban Cambiasso for example.

After all, the strength in depth of the squad was meant to have been the trump card, but Mou seems attached to a core of players who will no doubt be in action against Juventus on Friday and then Barcelona the following week.

Of course as in Calvino’s ending it may all come together again with Inter and their coach living happily ever after, but then again that may well not be the case if the treble suddenly becomes the double.

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Mourinho ready-made to cut Messi down to size

2010-04-07T10:30:00Z

Inter could have played with a plastic ball on that plastic pitch and would have still strolled to victory in Moscow.

It fact, the way Wesley Sneijder’s free-kick swerved in the opposite direction to the way the Dutchman struck the sphere suggested that it was in fact a larger version of a table tennis ball.

Six minutes had gone on the clock and the pre-dinner crowd in one of Milan’s city centre watering-holes returned to their cocktails and chit-chat on how they had spent the Easter break.

Jose Mourinho had obviously spent the same period over the long weekend further cementing the Inter team building exercise: in London it was a stroll around the streets near the hotel, in Moscow a visit to the Red Square.

Taking a leaf out of the KGB handbook on discrediting the enemy, he then cast doubts over the home side’s claims that they had to postpone their weekend fixture due to a shortage of security personnel.

It even gave the snide one a chance to have a little dig at those back home when he compared the situation to a stunt Adriano Galliani had pulled when AC Milan had an Italian Cup tie re-arranged early in the year.

It may have been in poor taste considering the events that only recently occurred in Moscow, but then Mourinho’s world never seems to orbit far from the put-down and the “them against us” paranoia - such as his latest assertion that Inter will have to defeat opponents off as well as on the pitch to reclaim the title.

How he will relish getting his claws into Barcelona once again just as he did against Chelsea.

The last time the sides met was back in November when the Catalans dominated sans Lionel Messi, even though Mourinho was defiant after the 2-0 defeat in the Nou Camp.

He may have been full of praise for the opposition, but at the same time questioned why his side could not defeat the defending champions later in the competition.

He now has the chance and no doubt there will be flattery aplenty, but it will come wrapped in the knowledge that there is nothing the mischievous one would like more than to defeat his old employer in their own backyard.

There is no getting away from it; this will be the Mou-Messi match-up.

There is no reason why Inter cannot cheer the whole of Spain if not Italy and make it a Madrid date in May, especially if they can come away from the first leg at the San Siro on level terms – goalless would do nicely although of course that may be asking too much.

Everyone knows how Barca play, it is just trying to stop them that becomes the difficult part – and this is where Inter in Mourinho’s image are now masters of pressure and organisation.

The two holding midfielders – be it Esteban Cambassio or one from Dejan Stankovic and Thiago Motta – are the key to breaking up moves and launching quick counter-attacks for any one of four players breaking forward.

They will not have to keep hold of the ball for too long, but instead force the opposition on to the back foot and thinking about Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o lurking over their shoulder.

The midfielders, including Sneijder, will also play their part in attempting to shackle Messi by closing down the supply routes to the cheeky-faced little fella and then closing down the space in and around the area where the opposition thrive on playing the quick one-twos.

It has all the making of an absolutely enthralling semi-final between two schools of the game - and no doubt Europe’s most well-known tour guide is already planning his route down Las Ramblas.

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Still no clues as to who will go fourth and conquer in Serie A

2010-04-06T15:09:00Z

The Easter weekend fixtures only reinforced the realisation that the title race will go down to the wire this season.

It was as you were for Inter, AS Roma and AC Milan, with all three picking up maximum points but it is the chase for fourth place where the jitters are really setting in.

Inter’s continued progress in the Champions League should ensure that Serie A still has a fourth representative for another season when the competition gets underway with the preliminary round in August.

And four teams have a realistic chance of taking fourth spot – Palermo, Sampdoria, Napoli and believe or not Juventus while Fiorentina and Genoa are outside hopes.

However, it seems that none of the pretenders can actually grab the opportunity to open up a gap heading into the last six rounds.

Palermo looked odds-on favourites to pull away from the pack a couple of weeks ago but lost the Sicilian derby to Catania, in what was their worst performance since the Valentine’s Day massacre at Roma.

On Saturday evening, a desire to play from the back was punished by their eager hosts who took advantage of shoddy, dawdling on the ball to enable Maxi Lopez to nip in for two quick-fire goals.

Quick-draw McLopez celebrates v Palermo

However, Palermo’s remaining away games are more than winnable – at Cagliari, Siena and Atalanta - with the latter two probably already doomed to relegation when those encounters come around.

Delio Rossi’s side can draw encouragement from their excellent home form; they have not lost at the Barbera Stadium so far and have only failed to win there once since the turn of the year – drawing with Inter.

Pivotal to the final push will be Fabrizio Miccoli: the diminutive striker was quiet for once at the weekend but the Romario of Salento is undisputed king-pin of the side.

His seven goals in the last three weeks demonstrate he can be the little man for the big occasion. Up in Genoa another mercurial showman could also have a major say in the European outcome.

Indiscipline, erratic form and general sloth seemed to have put an end to Antonio Cassano’s season, but the errant striker has found himself back in demand thanks in part to injury to Nicola Pozzi.

The gamble has paid off with the Bari Bawler now the Bari Buddha - such has been his on-field calmness that he has now become the decisive factor in why Samp are equal with Palermo on 51 points.

Napoli have also had a brief flirtation with fourth but after drawing at Milan and downing Juventus, the Partenopei have been off-song in the last two games despite picking up a narrow win over Catania and a draw at Lazio.

Cassano didn't wash his hands after eating his Wotsits

Once again, however, there can be few real complaints in terms of the fixtures ahead, with the likes of Parma, Bari and Chievo coming up – and Walter Mazzarri’s hopes may come down to the final game at his old club Sampdoria.

By that time Juventus may not even be in the running for a Europa League spot and it would be too easily taking a cheap shot at the Old Lady but really she needs a complete makeover from top to bottom.

The humiliation at Udinese at the weekend was another public insult to their long-suffering followers just when they thought that the team could not find new depths in which to plummet.

Despite all the shortcomings, Juve are still just three points off the pace for fourth but then again the vacant looks that accompanied the performance at Udine the question has to be asked, is there any life left in the team?

Things are so bad that they are even unrecognisable from Ciro Ferrara’s tame time in charge – and not in a positive way either.

Alberto Zaccheroni cannot even inspire the substitutes to warm up anymore as he tinkers with formations and systems to make even the more ardent Claudio Ranieri detractor long for last season.

In the meantime, the club have taken a vow of silence until further notice which is fine because no one was making any sense anyway.

The run-in does not give much hope of a late revival: of the bottom nine teams Juve have only beaten Bologna and Atalanta in the second half of the season.

With that in mind, they will probably have to take something from trips to their two trips to the San Siro over the next month, which would be something worth talking about.

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Milito goal the perfect first step on march to Moscow

2010-04-01T15:52:00Z

It was the one, two or maybe even three goals that got away at the San Siro on Wednesday evening.

Inter should be heading to Moscow with progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League all but ensured.

Instead of which, all they have to show for their numerous chances is a single strike from Diego Milito against a physical but bland-looking CSKA Moscow – much like the eastern-European hitmen in the Bourne movies they never threatened to deliver the killer blow.

It was the occasion rather than the opposition that drew an almost full house which was in full voice as the home side swept forward - no doubt on the back of Jose Mourinho’s plea for affection after claiming that no one in Italy likes him.

Internazionale, as the name suggests, has never been concerned where their coach, players or even fans come from so as chances fell and were then squandered by an Argentine, a Serb, a Dutchman and a Macedonian those in the stands were united in feeling that it was going to be one of those evenings.

When the breakthrough finally arrived, it was once again the ‘Prince’ who made his bow with a goal that was equal if not better than the precise finish against Chelsea – further out and with no time to hit the ball with any back-lift.

Milito has arrived on Europe’s big stage as something of a late bloomer but the South American is making up for lost time much in the same manner he has on the domestic front.

Each of the 30-year-old’s three goals have helped shape Inter’s progress in the competition: the first in Kiev came when the Nerazzurri were in danger of elimination at the group stage and of course the early goal against Chelsea set the team on their way to conquering the English side over two legs.

The latest goal was not a prelude to a Russian capitulation, coming as it did shortly after the hour-mark, although goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has to take plenty of the credit for keeping CSKA hopes alive – and a few Serie A sides should be keeping close tabs on him.

However, there were enough positives from an Inter side, playing at a much higher tempo than we ever see on the weekends, to suggest that the long march to Moscow will have its ultimate reward of a semi-final berth.

Dejan Stankovic was back to his muscular best, snuffing out any opposition threat before it could gain momentum - and the injury-prone midfielder can now rest up for next Tuesday.

Wesley Sneijder regained his composure on the ball after a hot and bothered performance in Rome while Samuel Eto’o and Goran Pandev dovetailed perfectly with the majestic Milito.

CSKA will obviously be a much more dangerous side going forward on their artificial surface at the Luzhniki Stadium but Mourinho demonstrated at Stamford Bridge that his men can form a resistance movement to ambush any opponent that strays too far into Nerazzurri territory.

There is no reason to head East and settle on defending a one-goal lead – not with the personnel available and a striker like Milito to inflict a decisive away goal.

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Milan ain't big enough for both Mourinho and Balotelli

2010-03-31T15:39:00Z

Pride comes before the fall and Inter are in danger of tumbling over the precipice thanks to an ever-deepening rift between Jose Mourinho and Mario Balotelli.

It seems more than likely that one or the other will depart the club at the end of the season.

Apparently the Portuguese apologised for snapping the youngster’s necklace in the wake of a heated discussion when the player refused to take in a few laps of the pitch at the end of a training session when ordered by one of the coach’s assistances.

However, there has been no act of contrition coming in the other direction and there lies the problem.

What usually happens in Italy when an argument gets out of hand is that it may seem as if all-out war has been declared but by the time you arrive on the scene the respective parties are acting like long-lost family members.

"What have I told you about wearing the same scarf as me?"

Both will have admitted their guilt and everyone would have moved on for a cup of coffee.

This is plainly not the case between little dictator and troubled teen hence the former’s exile which has now extended to six games following the latest snub for tonight’s Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow.

If Mario would just issue a statement along the lines that he has been acting like a big kid and all that business about donning a Milan shirt for the television cameras was just a bit of fun, but of course not in keeping with a serious professional, which of course he will strive to be now, then with remorse comes forgiveness.

That is the Italian way, but unfortunately, that does not seem likely especially now that Dutch-based uber-agent Carmine “Mino” Raiola has taken over the player’s affairs.

The little Mr Percentage seems to be reportedly inflaming the situation even more by encouraging his client to demand that Mourinho make a public stand-down.

The lippy lad did just that when he called a chat show where Giovanni Trapattoni was appearing to state that he was not for turning after the Ireland coach had voiced concerns that the player could become another “lost talent” of Italian football much like Antonio Cassano.

"What the fu....actually, you're quite a big fella, never mind..."

Massimo Moratti has so far kept a haughty distance for the whole affair, but with the title race no longer a foregone conclusion, the president dispatched sporting director Marco Branca to mediate and finally bring an end of the ever-widening impasse.

Of course, Moratti may have to step into the line of fire and send a decree calling for a halt to all hostilities coupled with a carefully-worded peace-document that saves face for everyone.

The Portuguese would probably prefer to sing the Fado wearing a Milan shirt in front of Duomo than ever admit he was in some way at fault.

After all, one of his central pillars is the team before the individual, so how will this saga play out?

Well, it would seem that Raiola will be the one to benefit – either he negotiates a massively-improved contract for his charge at Inter or peddle the lad around Europe’s elite clubs.

After all, that was the reason Zlatan Ibrahimovic employed him and the Swede is doing nicely on €15 million a year at Barcelona.

Balotelli’s current deal runs until 2013 and there is a two-year extension waiting to be signed with €2.5 million salary on the table.

Not bad for a 20-year-old but apparently Raiola has already sounded out Manchester City - where of course the man who gave the player is big break, Roberto Mancini currently resides – and Arsenal – with whom Inter would like to do business so they can get their hands on Cesc Fabregas.

Of course, another plausible scenario is that if Mourinho lands the Champions League he will make a grand exit, leaving everyone’s honour intact.

In the meantime, the team have a crucial week ahead but that seems the mere mundane day-to-day life compared with the intrigue at Court of Inter.

Ranieri's relaxed Romans reap rewards

2010-03-29T10:00:00Z

When in Rome... there was little option but to sit back and accept the traffic jam snaking away from the Olympic Stadium, breathing in the sweet smell of success mingled with the exhaust fumes.

It had all the makings of a long Saturday evening, no matter what the outcome of AS Roma’s top-of-the-table clash with Inter.
And considering that not one of the 70,000 inside the stadium could dare leave before the drama subsided, the trip back into the centre of the city was always going to be a laboured experience.

Of course, Roma now feel they are in the fast lane after such a pulsating win over the leaders and – never known to keep their feet firmly on the ground when flights of fancy beckon – the locals now believe that come May they will be dancing around the Circus Maximus, just as they did in 2001.

Back then, those festivities went on for months but unfortunately the revelries turned into one long hangover that has continued ever since.

So, when everyone is finally seated at the pizzeria some two hours later, the chatter takes on an ever greater air of exuberance. Even the slice of luck of Diego Milito hitting the woodwork in the dying moments is considered an omen that Roma will be champions, making it a fruitless gesture to urge caution.

It would have fallen on deaf ears anyway, or dismissed with a theatrical Roman wave of the hand – and rightly so; after all, who can argue against a team that hasn't lost a league game since October? The momentum certainly seems to be with the racy Romans and the priceless win over Jose Mourinho’s men was a test of nerve more than anything else.

While expectations are sky-high amongst the fans, tellingly the players seem as unflappable as their coach Claudio Ranieri.

Even Francesco Totti hasn't forced his comeback too soon – and he could well be the decisive factor in the run-in as Roma look to match the champions stride for stride. If one player can change a team’s fortunes for the better in an instant, then it's il capitano when he has something to play for – even if it is on one leg.

Totti and Toni: tip-top

Inter may have greater strength in depth overall, but apart from having the Champions League to occupy their thoughts, they seem to have run through their repertoire of formations, line-ups and personnel changes.

Mourinho may have played his hand once too often and there is very little else he can bring to the table – especially if he continues to leave Mario Balotelli out of the squad.

Their fractious relationship hit an all-time low just before the Champions League return leg at Chelsea when the temperamental teen apparently spoke out of turn to one of Mourinho’s assistants.

It was Gucci handbags by all accounts but when Jose got involved it became slightly feistier. The upshot was that the youngster’s prized necklace was snapped and – of greater concern – his relationship with the Portuguese rendered irreparable.

There is a touchy environment of a different kind at AC Milan where Leonardo has become increasingly peeved by Silvio Berlusconi, whose sly little digs at the team’s dip in form aren't matched by a willingness to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to reinforcements.

The first signing for next season will be Mario Yepes, the poster-boy signing for the club: a free transfer in his mid-30s who already lives in Milan.

Back in the here and now, shorn of the inventive Ronaldinho and Andrea Pirlo against Lazio the Rossoneri looked no nearer to becoming champions than Juventus – and you would have to say that Palermo, Napoli and Sampdoria are playing much more pleasing football deserving of a Champions League spot.

The title race will still come down to the current top three and Milan’s task looks the toughest over the next seven games, with Palermo, Fiorentina, Genoa and Juventus all to play.

Inter and Roma have similar run-ins, with the leaders facing Juventus on the same weekend as the Roman derby, but the Nerazzurri’s trip to Fiorentina will be crucial to their hopes.

However, no matter the opposition, this title could well come down to which side feels more composed – and for once it is the capital that looks the calmest place to be.

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Ranieri's resilient Roma ready for Inter invasion

2010-03-26T09:49:00Z

For once Roman hyperbole is not overstepping the mark and Saturday’s encounter with Inter is indeed “the game of the year.”

The phrase has been on the lips of the ever-talkative Roma fans since witnessing their heroes come away from Bologna with victory in midweek to leave them just four points off the leaders.

It's good to see the capital abuzz after throwing off its winter coat and the first rays of warming sunshine have brought the locals flocking out to populate the squares.

Even the paving stones in the Testaccio area - where the club played their formative games - have been given a fresh lick of yellow and red paint whilst banners and flags have started to festoon balconies and window ledges.

Where else would anyone want to be than in the Eternal City on the weekend when the title race could finally come alive for real? Any excuse for a party at which Bacchus would have slurred, so there was little need for Claudio Ranieri to turn into a club promoter to incite the locals into the Olympic Stadium – which already had the sold-out signs up first thing Thursday morning.

House Full (well, it will be)

It has been a long time coming but slowly, steadily and almost stealth-like - in fact the complete antitheses of Roman thought – La Roma have clawed back a deficit that stood at 14 points when the teams last met back in November.

Ranieri has lived by his code of humility rather than humiliation and those qualities have rubbed off on the players.

Fabio Capello once complained that during his time in charge if the team went unbeaten for two or three games he had to watch them like a hawk in case they started treating life as an excuse to kick back and enjoy the trappings of success. Now after a 20-game unbeaten run, the height of excess has been a group evening out for a pizza and home to bed before 10.

Some of the more exuberant club followers long for the old days when garishly-clothed players would saunter up to various restaurants, bars and clubs to while away the night. The downside of that came at the weekend when they had to put with the self-same players turning it on for 20 minutes or so before wandering around in a trance.

Luciano Spalletti’s final months in charge were a bit like that: everyone, including the fans, had become comfortable, accepting that the team was never going to be a force to compete with Inter. The champagne football had lost its fizz. Ranieri has arrested that drift into lethargy and in doing so has put a solid work-ethic in place. But there have been signs that he will let the players off the leash now and then.

The last two games have seen him employ a three-man attack. Jeremy Menez and Mirko Vucinic responded with swaggering performances, while Luca Toni has been a more than willing battering ram amongst the dandies.

There were signs that the game at Bologna was a dry-run for Inter: Rodrigo Taddei hardly ventured into the opposition’s third, while David Pizarro was so withdrawn the little Chilean was almost a sweeper in front of the back four. Full-backs John Arne Riise and Marco Cassetti held their line and were only allowed to tiptoe forward on special occasions.

Let's work together: Toni and De Rossi

The tactic of building solid foundations worked against a home side that possess a similar physicality to Jose Mourinho’s men – albeit minus the class, skill and know-how of world-class players – and that should be the approach again. Apart from Juan returning in the heart of the defence and maybe Simone Perrotta replacing Menez or possibly Taddei if he feels punchy, Ranieri should stick with the starting XI from midweek.

With Mourinho set to show his “Chelsea hand” again, maybe for once Ranieri won't come, see and tinker – leading to a night of revelry in the Eternal City.

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Pato: The new Michael Owen, or Alessandro Nesta?

2010-03-24T14:15:00Z

Well, that's torn it: Alexandre Pato's out of action for another three weeks or so.

The young Brazilian was meant to be the catalyst to AC Milan’s assault on the Champions League and domestic title. Instead, he has hardly stepped on the pitch since the turn of the year and one objective has already disappeared over the horizon.

The sight of the once turbo-charged young fellow limping off the pitch on Sunday was an improvement on just three weeks ago when he was stretchered off with the same problem: a tear to the femoral bicep (part of the hamstring muscle group, to the layman).

Pato is only 20 so the worrying aspect of ‘The Duck’ hobbling away from the club’s Milanello training ground brings to mind the case of Michael Owen who became all too familiar to quacks – this time of the white-coated variety.

The Englishman was another precocious talent who, since sprinting through the Argentina defence at France 98, has spent the majority of his subsequent career getting to know the medical team rather than the playing staff.

This latest setback raises concerns that the South American is going to end up as the Serie A sick-note. He's certainly had his fair share of injuries for one so young.

There was a twisted ankle back in 2008, in his first season in Italy, although he bounced back like a spring lamb and it seemed nothing more than a minor inconvenience on what would be a stellar rise to fame for a boy being mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi.

He had a setback towards the end of the campaign but this latest problem has been going on since before the winter break and seems no nearer clearing up.

The Milan Lab – the club’s very own Area 51 where secret tests are carried out, presumably on how to reserve the ageing process on footballers – was established after the club bought the crocked Fernando Redondo, who played something in the region of four games per season in four years.

The lesser-spotted Redondo

That costly oversight on the fitness of a player was to be eradicated and, shrouded in mystery, the Lab was established.

Those with clipboards should know a thing or two about aches and pains - and according to most sports physios a hamstring injury can take up to two months to heal properly.

Milan don't have the luxury of time, so maybe that is why the player has pulled up three times in that exact period of time.

Adriano Galliani’s comments that he was hoping to have the wunderkind back in action for the Napoli game must have sent the club’s physios into a right old panic. What were they to do – defy the orders of Silvio Berlusconi’s right-hand man or get the lad out there and hope that it all worked out for the best?

Well the second option failed miserably and now the problem seems to have been exacerbated. However, there have been some sly suggestions slipping into the public domain – possibly emanating from Area 51 – that it's all in Pato’s head.

The same assertion was made about Alessandro Nesta and his bad back when he disappeared off the radar for 18 months and pitched up in Miami.

Nesta had been under the knife one time too many times for his own liking and hightailed it to the States in the search of some good old-fashioned long-term rest, which got him back playing again.

That didn’t go down too well back at the Lab, where they claimed they could have solved the problem a lot sooner and when the 33-year-old did listen to their advice: another trip to the surgeon had him back in action again.

Unfortunately, the Roman has reclaimed his sicknote crown after picking up a knee injury a few weeks ago which may keep out for the rest of the season.

It will be interesting to see if Pato attempts to board a flight for Brazil for some alternative treatment back home or whether he is bundled into a blacked-out SUV to “disappear” for a while and then sold off to Cheslea.

Either way the mysteries of what really goes in the Milan Lab are not likely to become any clearer in the meantime.

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Milan's dream becomes a nightmare as Roma close the gap

2010-03-22T13:02:00Z

A familiar name still resides at the top of the table and even though the AC Milan fans unfurled “We have a dream” banners on Sunday, the reality is that Inter are still a point ahead of their city rivals.

There is little time to become too acquainted with the current table – what with Serie A back in action on Wednesday evening.

As has become something of the norm, Jose Mourinho was left the winner once again even if the champions have forgotten how to be winners themselves on the domestic front.

One victory in seven outings is not title-winning form but while the Portuguese left balmy Palermo for frigid Moscow to watch CSKA, Milan were getting ready to fall over themselves to catch a cold at the San Siro.

Hugo Campagnaro slots into the empty net to put Napoli ahead

In fairness, Napoli were well worth their draw in a game that never lived up to expectations especially when Alexandre Pato limped off once again with a reoccurrence of his thigh strain a mere fifteen minutes into the encounter.

Without the speedy Brazilian, the momentum going forward was always going to be severely lacking - and that just about sums up the Rossoneri title challenge really.

The physiological lift of taking over top spot would have been immense, but instead Leonardo’s men could find themselves further off the pace by midweek: they are at Parma while Inter have what must be a home-banker against Livorno.

That points-difference must seem like a mountain to climb on this damp Monday morning out at Milanello and the impetus could now be found back in the Capital.

"This is how far offside I was, muthaf***ers!"

AS Roma’s thoughts of pushing the Milanese sides all the way looked to have vanished in the Spring mists, following three consecutive draws and a seemingly chronic inability to hold on to a lead.

The sight of Francesco Totti’s name on the Roma team sheet is as illusive as a fully fit Pato, although the Giallorossi captain could be set to play some part against Inter next weekend.

However, in his absence Mirko Vucinic has stepped up his game and sporting garish lavender boots netted a hat-trick on Saturday evening against Udinese.

The mercurial Montegrin was ably assisted by the hard-working Luca Toni who netted a goal for himself and if the beanpole striker keeps knocking them over then he must be a fair bet for South Africa.

The pair have only played a full game twice together but have a pretty impressive return of seven goals – the first occasion was against Genoa where Toni scored twice and Vucinic chipped in with one.

Vucinic scores the second of his three goals against Udinese from the spot

The question now is should Totti’s return be held back? He certainly will not be risked at Bologna on Wednesday and it may well be a case of sticking with those in form.

Jeremy Menez produced his best performance for the club at the weekend – jinking past defenders and even tracking back to make challenges in the middle third of the pitch, which probably more than anything earned the languid Frenchman a fatherly hug from Claudio Ranieri.

The crafty-old Roman has maintained in public anyway that the title is only Inter’s to lose but when he gets his players together in private the conservation is bound to be somewhat different.

These next two games over a four-day period could well be decisive in keeping dreams alive or ensuring that harsh reality prevails.

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Juventus' Fulham shame bodes ill for Italy

2010-03-19T08:56:00Z

There was quite a little Italy reunion in the stands at Craven Cottage last night.

Carlo Ancelotti was there, laughing away with Gianluca Vialli; it's something cuddly Carlo would never dream of doing back home if he had just been knocked out of the Champions League – turning up at a match 48 hours later, not to mention laughing.

FEATURE: The two players with whom Mourinho destroyed Chelsea

Seated nearby and a lot more po-faced were Roberto Mancini and former Juventus midfielder Marco Tardelli. Gianfranco Zola wasn't on view, although the little fella may have been lurking in the shadows.

Definitely absent was Marcello Lippi, which was just as well because it would have made disturbing viewing for the Azzurri chief. Out there in the fading London dusk were three of his regulars for South Africa, playing like pale shadows of their former magnificent selves.

Fabio Cannavaro’s fall from grace perfectly mirrors that of the Turin club: a big name with a glittering past.

The way the Italy captain was swatted off the ball by Bobby Zamora was embarrassment enough, but getting on the wrong side of Zoltan Gera – which led to his early dismissal – was the final humiliation for the one-time colossus in the heart of the defence.

Maybe he looked across the line and felt that Fabio Grosso was too equally leaden-footed to cover across, but it doesn't bode well for the defence of the World Cup if the team’s focal point can't play two games in a row without imploding physically and mentally.

Another famous reputation to be cast aside was Mauro Camoranesi – who at least wasn’t sent off on this visit to London, as he was a few years ago against Arsenal. That said, Jonathan Zebina made it an unwelcome double with his late dismissal.

All fall down: Juve's defence collapses

By that time it didn’t really matter as Juve had been dispatched in a manner becoming all too regular for Italian teams in England, AS Roma and AC Milan at Manchester United being two other recent occasions on which Serie A defences have been torn apart by the Premier League.

We should have seen it coming really after the way the Old Lady crumpled to her knees against Siena at the weekend, when the a team leading 3-0 could only draw 3-3.

Even when David Trezeguet scored early on you just felt that a second would be needed, especially when Zamora starting spreading uncertainty amongst the makeshift and creaking defence where Zebina was employed alongside Cannavaro.

The French striker’s goal – his only contribution to the game – was the sum of the Bianconeri’s efforts going forward. And even before the fourth goal floated over Antonio Chimenti’s head it had already been one of the club’s most dreadful nights in Europe – up there with the capitulation to Bayern Munich.

Alberto Zaccheroni has been attempting to impose his favoured three-man defence on the players but naturally he would like to put the system into practice with a full complement of players on the pitch.

Being a man down for the bulk of the tie should have seen Momo Sissoko and Felipe Melo cover back and reinforce the backline; after all, there was an aggregate advantage to protect. Instead the pair ran around in their usual Mad Hatter manner, making nonsensical dashes into no-man’s land and appearing a riddle to one and all who share the same pitch with the indecisive duo.

In all honesty, has anything changed since Ciro Ferrara was sacked? Well, no, apart from the fact the team are even more unwatchable than before. The blame lies beyond Zaccheroni, who can only work with what he is given – and there isn’t much out there to please the eye.

Zaccheroni: "What's THAT?!!!"

Tardelli rightly pointed out earlier in the week that the club’s hierarchy “know nothing about football”, but in laying scathing blame at the door of those at the top he is only joining a long queue populated by just about anyone who ever played, coached or holds the team dear to their hearts.

The only hope now is that Cesare Prandelli puts club before country and can be incited away from Florence to take over next season and start a rebuilding programme.

There's already enough talent at the current Fiorentina boss’s disposal - and the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio, Antonio Candreva and Paolo de Ceglie would all benefit from his tutelage and ability to turn even the most rudderless careers around. Who knows, he might even get the best out of Diego just as he did with Adrian Mutu.

But in the meantime these are dark times for the old dear. And like the colours of the famous old shirt, everything is in stark black and white.

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The two players with whom Mourinho destroyed Chelsea

2010-03-17T11:36:00Z

Inter’s impressive Champions League performance at Chelsea was signed, sealed and ready for delivery on Sunday morning on the club’s training pitch.

It was there that Jose Mourinho outlined his tactics to stifle and frustrate his old team – and he pulled two players out from the huddle to explain his modus operandi in the clearest manner possible.

The first player was Goran Pandev; the second, much more reluctant participant was Mario Balotelli.

Pandev had of course spent the first four months of the season kicking his heels at home as his contract dispute with Lazio stole away his career while Balotelli spent his time warming the bench doing little to further his own CV.

Mourinho informed his charges that Pandev would be in the team at Stamford Bridge while Balotelli, for his part, need not even dig out his passport.

Apparently the unruly teenager had turned up at the dressing room whistling the AC Milan club anthem, which obviously did not go down too well with his team-mates – and especially those battle-hardened warriors Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso.

Cambiasso & Zanetti, right for the fight last night

Mourinho had said little on the return trip from Catania so the players knew that the final session would be pivotal to how the team would approach their most important game of the season.

Not many would have been surprised to see Inter sitting back and holding out for a draw, but once again the Portuguese was ready to confound the norm.

The knowledge that Pandev and Samuel Eto’o would become the first line of defence, thus giving those further back time to hold their ground and protect the penalty area, would have raised spirits within the party.

The fact that Mourinho then tore a strip off a chastened Balotelli was another defining moment. The squad was united behind their leader and the subsequent press furore over the youngster’s banishment would deflect coverage away from London.

Massimo Moratti wasn't even informed beforehand that the player he believes is the “future of the club” would be left at home. However, the owner had to side with his authority figure in light of the teen’s teasing of his team-mates – and must then have green-lighted the leak that Balotelli’s agent had visited Milan’s offices for a chat on Monday morning.

Throwing everyone off the scent enabled Mourinho to get on with plotting his own course: once safely in London he basked in the glory of being back on the King’s Road and even paraded the players on the morning of the game.

Usually Italian teams are huddled in the hotel, concentrating on the task at hand, wrapped in a blanket of tension that can only be thrown off when they cross the white line. Instead, we had the sight of a thoroughly-relaxed bunch enjoying the spring sunshine like any other group of tourists.

The fact that the Mister was in his element to a greater extent than during his time in Italy probably made the players forget for a moment that they had a game that evening.

Even at Stamford Bridge, he took over the tunnel entrance as if it was his own private VIP area, meeting and greeting old friends along the way. It was as if he had never been away. Carlo Ancelotti even had to wait in line to have a quick word before shuffling off into the gloom.

Spot the ball: Jose takes his restricted-view seat

It was pure theatre until the players lined up; from there on it was substance that counted rather than glamour - and Inter had it in abundance. In all honesty Chelsea never really created a clear-cut chance while the Nerazzurri could have finished two or three goals up.

It wasn’t even one of those evenings where an Italian side was hanging on for dear life. Everyone looked relaxed and composed, very few passes went astray – and when they did, an eager team-mate was there to regain possession.

For Inter this can only be the starting point and maybe the players will look back to Sunday and say this is where Inter finally became Mourinho’s Inter.

Let’s hope they get Arsenal in the quarter-finals...

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Inter self-destruct as Jose is put back in his box

2010-03-15T11:14:00Z

We all know that Jose Mourinho loves to play the role of the great communicator, so you can imagine how he felt being imprisoned inside a windowed broom cupboard this weekend.

With the Inter Milan coach having flaunted the rule during the match against Genoa that a suspended coach cannot converse with his staff or players, Catania made sure that the bellowing Portuguese was left to brood in silence in the least hospitable of hospitality boxes on Friday.

He would have been well aware that there was a camera trained on him for the full 90 minutes just in case he leapt up to rap the window like an irate householder after kids had kicked a ball into his garden.

Scowling at the neighbours was about the extent of his annoyance but it must have taken supreme self-restraint not to lob the television set through the window after Sulley Muntari’s 85-second cameo appearance as the village idiot.

In that time, the knuckled-headed midfielder trotted onto the pitch as a substitute, committed a foul and was booked – and then handled the ball in the wall from the subsequent free-kick to receive a second yellow card.

The fact that he was standing inside the area – actually, make that 'jumping inside the area with arm waving over his head like someone in the throes of a nightmare where they are being attacked by a swarm of bees' – added further ignominy to the brief but never to be forgotten appearance.

"Coo-eee!!" Muntari mugs himself

Giuseppe Mascara, executing the penalty-kick in the manner of the fabled but risky cucchiaio (spoon), heaped even more embarrassment on the self-destructing league leaders.

NEWS Muntari hands Catania win over Inter

With AC Milan defeating Chievo (despite looking as one-paced as they were in Manchester), the lead at the top is now down to just one point.

David Beckham’s injury has of course stolen the headlines away from Inter for today anyway, which may allow the squad to head to London in relative peace and quiet.

NEWS Injured Beckham faces World Cup KO

At least Mourinho will be back in the thick of the action tomorrow evening, which is just as well but because his players have looked a little lost without a constant stream of advice from the touchline. In fact, the Special One could be the special factor the Nerazzurri need to unsettle Chelsea, who may end up playing against the occasion more than the visitors.

The grim display in Sicily should have little bearing on a glitzy European night, but it will be up to Mou to instil belief in his players that they can play the game in the English side’s third of the pitch.

It will take supreme confidence and work-rate to accomplish this all-important foothold, but from there it will be possible to work on the home team’s weaknesses along the flanks and then provide service in and around the area.

Much will depend on Esteban Cambiasso’s role at the base of a midfield diamond – and the Argentine’s smothering role needs to halt Chelsea high up the pitch to release Wesley Sneijder while Javier Zanetti and Dejan Stankovic work the flanks with an intensity as never before.

Cambiasso: Key man for Inter in London

Diego Milito will show for the ball all night, no matter how closely he is being marked, but Samuel Eto’o needs to break free of his recent malaise and demonstrate he is still the big-game player.

It's going to have to be one of those nights where all those elements must come together, or else Italy will be looking at another barren year of no representation in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Looking at the bigger picture, it would take Serie A one step closer to losing its fourth place in the competition, depending how well the German clubs perform in Europe this season. But no one, including Inter, will be thinking that the champions are carrying a nation’s hopes. It's only the national team that the whole country rallies around - and even that is not as pronounced as it once was.

So Inter will go into their date with destiny very much on their own... which is just the way Jose likes it.

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Humiliated Milan can't even save wrinkly face

2010-03-11T09:46:00Z

AC Milan were obviously getting their excuses in early, knowing that Alessandro Nesta was travelling to Manchester with little or no chance of playing and Alexandre Pato was along as a mere smokescreen to kid the folks back home that the team was actually going to make a game of it.

It was pretty clear that they weren’t pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes when Daniele Bonera failed to come out for the second half and Massimo Ambrosini was lumped with the role of fall-guy.

How grave Bonera’s injury is will become clear this weekend when the squad is named ahead of the Chievo game, but with Nesta looking set for another extended period on the sidelines and the only viable cover not 100% fit, maybe Leonardo thought it better to cut his losses there and then at half-time.

If that was the case then it backfired spectacularly, but questions have to be asked about the way a group of seasoned professionals approached such a high-profile game.

REPORT Rooney double dumps out feeble Milan

The calculation seemed to be that after Ronaldinho headed wide early on, that was it: “We’ve done our bit and when we get knocked out we can always claim the outcome would have been different if we had scored from that chance.”

And true to form, that was the line trotted out in the post-game yawn-bites: it was all about concentrating on the league and moving on and blah, blah, blah. Obviously the tie had been given up for dead before the team even boarded the plane on Tuesday morning.

Fading shadow Dinho blinded by Rooney's bright future

It's very rarely you can accuse an Italian side of not at least producing some evidence of the fabled bella figura – putting on a good impression whatever the circumstances. Isn’t this the country in the thrall of narcissism? The obsession with strutting one’s youthfulness? So where does this leave Milan?

The seeds of the humiliation in the Theatre of Dreams were sown well before – like four or five years ago – when the old guard who have become the decrepit guard should have been shooed off the premises.

Instead of which, last night was like a faded snapshot of 2003 at Old Trafford with added wrinkles, as a procession of has-beens lined up to make their bow like a gathering of ageing soap stars who had suddenly found themselves in the limelight again.

That’s where Filippo Inzaghi ended up – in his one-man offside show. And there’s Clarence Seedorf performing his own one-paced cabaret, with special guest roly-poly Ronaldinho lampooning someone who can run. And oh look, there’s an emotional David Beckham collecting a lifetime achievement award for once being a Manchester United player.

Exhausted, extinguished and expelled

Just as the Oscars are a parody of sincerity, so Milan were a travesty of a football team and the only reason they couldn’t get off the pitch quickly enough was because their muscles were seizing up.

It's just a pity no can afford tomatoes anymore or they could have been put to good use on the team’s return home – but then again the creaking targets would be too easy to hit. More fittingly, the haggard-looking party returned to Malpensa airport in the early hours of the morning to be ignored by the service workers cleaning the concourses.

But it's the club’s hierarchy that should be taken to the cleaners for allowing the situation to get this far. Instead of which, Adriano Galliani could only glaze longingly back to those hazy, glory days, getting all misty-eyed about the Milan side that turned United over three years ago.

The names on the teamsheets haven't changed that much; the difference then was that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were a work in progress whilst Milan were the finished article – and not just, as they are now, finished.

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Robbed Fiorentina should have locked their back door

2010-03-10T13:47:00Z

"Ladri, ladri, ladri" ["Thieves, thieves, thieves"], the Fiorentina fans forlornly chanted as the Bayern Munich players took their bow in front of their travelling support.

Of course, the Florentine faithful were venting their frustrations at the pivotal moment in the first leg in Germany - and Miroslav Klose’s second goal, which was never in need of technology to demonstrate that it was offside. Their anger stemmed from witnessing their Champions League quarter-finals dreams taken away in what they believed to be criminal fashion.

That preposterous Klose goal - click to watch

But this time around it was the Viola who were guilty of leaving their defence unlocked and allowing Arjen Robben to tiptoe through to fire home a stunning shot for turned out to be the decisive second goal. At that stage, with the score 3-2 in Fiorentina’s favour, another home goal would in theory have sealed their passage into the next round, just as it had been when it was 1-0 and 3-1.

However, even with just over 25 minutes or so to play, the feeling – even watching the game on television hundreds of kilometres from frigid Florence – was that the temperature had dropped so much on the pitch that there was little sign of life left for a rousing finale.

Bayern celebrate, much to local annoyance

It's not that Cesare Prandelli’s men can really feel hard done by on this occasion even if they did hold on to win, which was of course was no consolation whatsoever. The harsh reality was that they could not preserve to their overall advantage, but then it was always going to be a big ask for a team that had lost its focus since the turn of the year and Adrian Mutu’s positive drugs test.

The heroes of the past such as Roberto Baggio and Gabriel Batistuta had been evoked on banners around the Artemio Franchi stadium before kick-off. However, the weight of expectation was too much for less experienced shoulders on show - and in a way it was an end of another era in the up-and-down history of the club.

Prandelli will be on his way in the summer, with his most likely destination just up the road to Coverciano to become national team coach.

Stevan Jovetic’s brace on the night, coupled with his match-winning performance against Liverpool in the groups, will have Europe’s top teams beating a way to his door this summer - and with the prospect of no European football next season the club will have no option but to sell their major asset.

Jovetic and Prandelli look away

Sebastien Frey is also likely to be allowed to move on as the club look to regain some financial stability and rebuild once more from the rubble of a mid-table position.

Mutu is all but finished and even if his ban only extends until the end of the season the Romanian’s stock has fallen so far that he will probably be playing out his days in desert climes.

But for now, there is an ill wind blowing through the Renaissance city and it is being wafted on more than grievances over refereeing decisions.

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Zero goals means zero titles

2010-03-08T11:30:00Z

RESULTS Sat Mar 6 Fiorentina 1-2 Juventus, Roma 0-0 Milan Sun Mar 7 Atalanta 0-0 Udinese, Bari 1-0 Chievo, Bologna 2-1 Napoli, Cagliari 2-2 Catania, Palermo 1-0 Livorno, Sampdoria 2-1 Lazio, Siena 1-1 Parma
Serie A results, fixtures & table here

It was around this time last year that Jose Mourinho uttered those two little words “Zero titles” as he mocked the pretenders to Inter’s crown.

The old T-shirts emblazoned with Zeru Tituli were set to be on special offer again after AS Roma and AC Milan failed to deliver a credible positive answer to that question hanging over the league – is there a genuine challenger out there?

It had all the makings of Groundhog Day – last season a 3-3 draw with Roma at this stage of the campaign sent the Romans reeling and the only difference now was that Mourinho could sit back and let his two closest rivals trip up.

On a welcomed but very rare occasion when the Olympic Stadium was actually full, Milan came to win the match while Roma played the percentages and chanted “the end justifies the means.”

In the end, the home side almost sneaked off with all three points when John Arne Riise trundled forward to unleash a powerful shot which Christian Abbiati turned over the bar. Juan then headed over from the subsequent corner in the action of the game.

NEWS: Saturday games round-up

It's worth highlighting these two efforts, because that was about it in terms of chances for Claudio Ranieri’s men.

Milan, on the other hand, will be kicking themselves, if not each other, for missing three golden opportunities that would have sealed the game in their favour and put some much-needed pressure on their league-leading neighbours.

Marco Borriello, Ronaldinho and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar should all hang their heads in shame and in the former’s case ask himself why he didn’t accept a bruise or two to those rosy cheeks when he ducked away from Nicolas Burdisso’s flying boot.

Boriello: "Not the face!"

Even the selection of the Dutchman had the taste of defence about it, as he seemed to be on the pitch more as a tactic to discourage Riise from charging forward.

Then there was David Beckham’s introduction. the former golden boy is becoming, to use American Football parlance, something of a special-team player. His only role is to stand out on the flank and deliver a decent cross – which he did when he came on late on, only for Ronaldinho to miss from close range.

This is the reason why Leonardo’s team will come up short this season, both at home and in Europe: that inability to turn chances into goals when it really matters.

Their possession against Roma almost clipped 70%. Racking up that sort of statistic should make the ball cross the line at least once.

Rossoneri chief Adriano Galliani had claimed in the build-up that Roma and Milan were the most entertaining sides in Serie A.

In Italy, entertainment doesn't mean putting the ball in the net but revelling in the tactics on show and the movement of the players in various roles – such as employing a target-man to stifle a full-back or bringing on a player to perform one basic task.

Such intricacies of the game send the Italian mind swirling with feverous delight – and in theory the perfect ending to the encounter would have been Roma scoring with the last attack. It would have the rational outcome after Milan had been so profligate when presented with their opportunity to finish off the game.

On Sunday evening at the San Siro the only logical outcome would have been Inter defeating Genoa, whom they had hammered 5-0 earlier in the season. But the visitors had to exorcise that humiliation in some manner, and what better way than to put safety first and match Inter’s will to win with an equal desire not to lose?

NEWS: Sunday games round-up

In the end, it was another much-loved Italian scoreline: the goalless draw.

The upshot is that we are where we were last week except with one fewer game to play – but at least those Zeru Tituli T-shirts can remain boxed up for a bit longer.

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Balotelli banished as Lippi chooses team men

2010-03-03T11:30:00Z

Marcello Lippi’s final squad before having to decide on the 23 players who will carry the hopes of a nation to South Africa has garlanded more coverage of those missing from the party to face Cameroon than those actually called up.

Such games are generally an opportunity to verify if a player’s club form can morph into that of an international in the space of 48 hours or so.

No easy task, but the past has often demonstrated that a rough diamond can shine through: Antonio Cabrini in 1978, Paolo Rossi in 1982, Salvatore Schillaci in 1990 and Fabio Grosso in 2006.

Lippi has gone for a goalkeeper, a central defender and attacking midfielder to cover just about all bases.

Salvatore Sirigu has the best chance of claiming the third keeper’s shirt while Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Cossu will have to prove something very special to force their way into the reckoning.

Such pivotal positions as central defender, where Bonucci plays, and the midfield fulcrum in which Cossu operates demand lightning-rod performances.

This was why Lippi was somewhat put out when Alessandro Nesta snubbed him after initially seeming to be open to a return to the fold. It's almost as if when push came to shove, AC Milan reminded the veteran who stood by him when the rumours were circulating that his career was over following a lengthy spell away from the game with a chronic back problem.

But considering that the Roman went to the last three World Cups and was crippled by injury before the knockout stages, maybe it's for the best that Lippi looks somewhere else.

From the past to the future and the thorny issue of Mario Balotelli: the 19-year-old’s omission means that he will not make his debut on Lippi’s watch. The clamour to include the Inter youngster has been growing amongst the country’s 60 million or so coaches.

But as with Antonio Cassano, the populist vote will not sway the man in charge – who can always, if cornered by a would-be Mister on his selection decisions, pull out his World Cup winner’s medal.

Hang on, is that Jimmy Hill?

If you accept that each of the players heading to the World Cup is technically proficient and in some cases sublimely gifted, then it's team tactics that win the big prize.

Lippi demonstrated that perfectly last time in Germany, where he used his outfield squad to the full and where Francesco Totti played no greater part in the grand scheme of things than, say, Alessandro del Piero.

The players at the coach’s disposal were all experienced, athletic and above all, team men. In the semi-final, Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta were kept on the bench until extra-time.

Strikers they may be but if you look back at the game you will see that they tracked back to cover along the flank - and of course, being fresh, they were able to burst forward on the counter-attack, which happened when Del Piero scored the second goal, having been set up by fellow substitute Alberto Gilardino.

It's such pragmatism that Lippi will instil once again within the ranks of the defending champions and for all Balotelli’s raw talent his tactical awareness is still at the kindergarten stage.

Jose Mourinho has spent most of the campaign scolding his young charge for not covering back, for drifting out wide when he was told to come inside – for not following team orders.

There has been evidence of late, against Chelsea and on Sunday at Udinese, that it's slowly sinking in that football is a team game – but not to the extent that it can be condensed into a high-stakes month where each player must be ready to adapt to any eventuality.

With little or no hype surrounding the Azzurri, Lippi can plot away in peace, and (injuries notwithstanding) with the following squad at his disposal:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: F.Cannavaro, Grosso, Chiellini, Legrottaglie (Juventus), Bonera, Zambrotta (AC Milan), Criscito (Genoa), Cassani (Palermo)
Midfielders: Pirlo, Gattuso (AC Milan), De Rossi (AS Roma), Camoranesi, Marchisio (Juventus), Palombo (Sampdoria), Peppe (Udinese)
Forwards: Iaquinta (Juventus), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Di Natale (Udinese), Borriello (AC Milan), Pazzini (Sampdoria).

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Conspiracy and silence (sometimes) in Italy

2010-03-01T13:00:00Z

RESULTS Sat Feb 27 Catania 4-0 Bari, Lazio 1-1 Fiorentina Sun Feb 28 Chievo 2-1 Cagliari, Genoa 3-4 Bologna, Juventus 0-2 Palermo, Livorno 1-2 Siena, Milan 3-1 Atalanta, Napoli 2-2 Roma, Parma 1-0 Sampdoria, Udinese 2-3 Inter Milan

After the faux bliss of the Champions League and Europa League in midweek, Italian football could get back to doing at what it does best: trawling up conspiracy theories. There hasn’t been a week go by recently without some club or other questioning the core values of the game. Are there dark forces still pulling the strings behind the scenes?

It is almost four years since Italy woke up to a reality to which many had turned a blind eye: that the game was as crooked as a mountain pass through the Dolomites. The stink from those pungent days of backhanders and one-eyed referees has never really gone away and you still get a whiff whenever a club feels hard done by.

The sistema (system) – that hidden mechanism that keeps the country turning over, for someone’s gain – would still seem to be well-oiled within the nation’s game, if one gives credence to some recent statements.

Of course, we have come to expect nothing less but a right old battering of Serie A from Jose Mourinho, who is still smarting from all those suspensions, fines and the general ticking-off administrated to the huffy one and his charges for their behaviour during the Sampdoria game.

Then, not content with accepting that his side had defeated one of the favourites for the Champions League, the Portuguese rounded on those who had called on him to abbassare i toni (which basically means “cool it a bit”) with all the criticism.

Rather than lighten up, he raised the spectre of Calciopoli to scare everyone and then stuck the boot in by uttering two words that are certain to turn any Italian pale: shame and family.

Everyone was expecting some fable from Mou’s lips, or least to settle down for a 10-minute diatribe, at the press conference after the Chelsea game when he started off with “Once upon a time..." followed by "...Italian football had the Calciopoli saga.”

Are you sitting comfortably?

From there on, he drew the battle lines and there was no doubting where he stood on Italy’s shady questionable activities: “From a Portuguese point of view, it was a shame for me and my family. I let my family eat with the money earned from football. I came to Italy an honest man and I will leave Italy as one.”

Bye then! And no doubt the English and Spanish press will be enquiring when to expect him and where: Madrid? Liverpool? Manchester?

Of course, our man was also alluding to a favoured recurring theme: that some unseen force does not want Inter to win the title. Fiorentina’s complaints that they should have been awarded a penalty against Milan, a game which of course the Nerazzurri’s closest rivals went on to win, also played some part in Jose’s sour attitude.

Although Inter have promised that they will do everything in their power not to cross swords with authority from now on, the siege mentality has been cemented for some time now.

Mourinho further reinforced the “them-against-us” attitude by taking all his suspended players along with the rest of the squad to Udine for Sunday’s game.

NEWS, Sun Feb 28: Suspension-hit Inter beat Udinese

It was certainly a useful motivational tool, as the coach and his banned players huddled up in the main stand at the Friuli stadium peering down on events on the pitch like a group of sullen judges – albeit judges attired in matching brown puffa-jackets.

The fact that most of the defence was either suspended or injured meant that Mourinho was forced to play a more attack-minded side that he'd normally choose.

After the initial shock of seeing Thiago Motta in the centre of defence and Inter going a goal down within the first two minutes had subsided, the visitors were actually quite entertaining to watch.

Well, they had to be to ensure the ball was kept as far away as possible from their backline. And to carry out that agreeable task they had Diego Milito, Wesley Sneijder, Goran Pandev and Mario Balotelli, who just gets better with every game.

Unlike wasteful AS Roma at Napoli, Inter managed to sustain their advantage until the final whistle and leave the north east a more contented bunch that we have seen for some time.

Of course at the full-time whistle Mourinho couldn't resist a provocative finger to his lips – which is how Inter should approach the rest of the campaign.

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Big bird soars as Inter rise to Chelsea challenge

2010-02-25T10:45:00Z

Lucio is the only central defender available to Jose Mourinho this weekend – but by the way the Brazilian took on the Chelsea front line and anyone else who ventured near Inter’s penalty area, he can perform the job alone at Udinese.

We may not have reached the final bell in the Lucio-Drogba bout but there's no doubt which of these heavyweights is winning on points.

Lucio is a funny bird; he has the look of some exotic creature, what with that long jutting neck, tapered head and heavy-set eyes. Or maybe that's a caricature of the player in the warped imagination of Serie Aaaaargh!

But the lanky defender undoubtedly soars all over the pitch and can seem to be everywhere at once – as was the case last night.

NEWS, Wed Feb 24: Inter edge Chelsea in last-16 opener

One moment he was making last-ditch challenges, then surging out of defence to distribute the ball upfield and most importantly thwarting Chelsea’s attack at every turn – although he would have been pleased to have seen Nicolas Anelka a mere pedestrian.

So he took on the forceful Drogba, who was muscled out of possession on just about every occasion – and when Lucio got his body between the ball and his opponent he was not averse to falling over for a free kick.

"Out, sir!" – Lucio does his job

Such minor gamesmanship and physicality was carried out with little regard for picking up a yellow card which would have ruled him out of the Stamford Bridge showdown.

Arriving at a club full of Spanish-speaking South Americans, the Big Bird soon found out where he stood in the pecking order.

Being an athlete of God, he was all set to lead a prayer meeting in the centre of the pitch after the first derby, but il comandante Javier Zanetti and his lieutenant Esteban Cambiasso broke up any evangelistic fervour before it could take hold within the Catholic confines of the dressing room.

Since then the 31-year-old has kept his personal beliefs away from the action and, apart from a couple of headless-chicken runs, has been a solid rock on the big occasions.

And it's a finally a pleasure, if not a relief, to report on an Italian side lifting their game in Europe once again. It was Inter's first win in the knock-out stages since they defeated Villarreal back in March 2006 – and it was good to see Mourinho taking a bold approach when Cambiasso put them back in the lead.

Away from the over-familiarity of Serie A’s rough and tumble, the players revelled in facing opponents whose prime mission was to keep the ball moving and not to break up play at every turn.

Samuel and Kalou come together

Mario Balotelli came on for the last 30 minutes and it was probably the teenager’s most positive outing of the season as he was allowed to remain on his feet and never felt the need to go looking for a foul.

Chelsea’s refreshingly open approach has to be applauded and their stoic reaction to what seemed a stonewall penalty on Salomon Kalou left everyone just as stunned – as if a Martian spaceship had suddenly landed in the centre-circle at the San Siro.

NEWS, Wed Feb 24: Ancelotti – Chelsea should have had penalty

However, the only thing out of this world was that gangly being at the back – and given the right environment such as last night, Italian football can express itself just as well as the rest of Europe.

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Cesar's ice-cream prang leaves Mourinho cold

2010-02-24T11:30:00Z

Jose Mourinho's charm offensive yesterday may have impressed the foreign press but cut little ice with the locals.

He was hardly recognisable from the snarling figure of the weekend, now working the room like the seasoned seducer – or should that be manipulator – he so likes to portray himself to those outside these shores.

NEWS, Tue Feb 23: Knowing Chelsea makes job harder – Mourinho

Those ready smiles and badge-kissing for the assorted Brits, French and Portuguese hacks at the press conference suggested a man without a care in the world – although at least he could momentarily forget about his three-game suspension for his behaviour during the game against Sampdoria and the numerous other bans handed out to his team.

NEWS, Mon Feb 22: Inter quintet handed bans

However, if he fails to take Inter past Chelsea the whole of the Italian press will queue to dance on his grave.

The Portuguese needs to get his starting line-up right on the button for this first leg and of course someone had to go and heap some extra pressure on what is becoming an anxiety-ridden club.

That someone was Julio Cesar, who pranged his Lamborghini off a central reservation barrier in the underpass outside the San Siro stadium on Sunday night.

The goalkeeper turned up to training with an ugly-looking bruise and some heavy swelling under both eyes.

The has been plenty of speculation on why the Brazilian was whizzing around in his sports car on a Sunday night, but thankfully his wife was on hand to clear up what could have been a messy outcome.

Writing on her blog, Susanna Werner explained that hubby had dropped off some guests he'd had round to the house when she was in Brazil – and had then decided to indulge himself with an ice-cream.

Cesar's car, yesterday

For anyone puzzled at why buying a lolly should lead to the state the player ended up in, Ronaldo’s ex then let the cat out of the bag by revealing that her man wanted to “enjoy the car.”

There must be better ways to prepare for the biggest game of the season than jumping in your sports car when it's almost time for bed, but how the incident will affect the player will become clear this evening.

Cesar hasn’t been in the best of form of late anyway and if it wasn’t for the fact that there is no decent option as back-up he might have been “rested” on a couple of occasions.

Francesco Toldo’s howler against Juventus in the recent Italian Cup tie makes it imperative that the club bring in a keeper capable of putting the current custodian under some pressure.

In the short term, the current No.1 will be carrying a heavy load this evening (if he makes it) - and in an encounter where one goal could be enough for either side, the ice-cream loving keeper cannot afford to slip up again.

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Cross Mourinho makes a silent protest noisy

2010-02-22T12:00:00Z

RESULTS Sat Feb 20 Genoa 3-0 Udinese, Internazionale 0-0 Sampdoria Sun Feb 21 Atalanta 0-1 Chievo, Bari 0-2 Milan, Bologna 1-2 Juventus, Cagliari 2-0 Parma, Fiorentina 2-1 Livorno, Palermo 3-1 Lazio, Roma 1-0 Catania, Siena 0-0 Napoli

Only Jose Mourinho could grab the headlines without having to open his mouth.

The press have been having a field day in the wake of the Special One’s ‘handcuffs’ gesture during Saturday evening’s game against Sampdoria.

It came after Inter had been reduced to nine men a mere 39 minutes into the game – and has been widely perceived as a sign from the Portuguese that he understands that there will be no escape to victory in the league.

It could also be seen as a “come and spring me” plea to Real Madrid or whichever English Premiership club are seeking an upturn in their fortunes.

Mourinho: You wouldn't want to cross him

No one wants a see a return to the days when the referee could either be a twelfth man or twelfth opponent depending on one’s influence, but Mourinho has alluded to such goings-on with heightened fervour of late.

There was last weekend's spot-kick for Juventus against Genoa, which had him musing why the penalty area was extended to 25 metres for one team; the penalty against his side at Bari; the penalty appeal turned down at Napoli; the Wesley Sneijder red card in the derby.

The list of grievances goes on and on, but it's a two-way street: Mourinho’s motives will always be questioned here in Italy and many observers would like nothing more than for Carlo Ancelotti to put the acid-tongued one in his place for once and for all.

NEWS, Sat Feb 20: Inter staff shun press after controversial game

Even if Chelsea do overcome Serie A’s best team it seems highly unlikely that Mourinho will stop sniping at his adopted country of employment, but he must be careful that his backbiting at all things Italian will not be his undoing.

There's no doubt that Wednesday’s game is weighing heavily on Inter minds and the players who took the pitch against Sampdoria did so with enough pent-up aggression to suggest that maybe the pressure is actually getting to them.

The fact that Walter Samuel swung an arm towards Nicola Pozzi is neither here or there, but the reality that the home defence was scattered to the four winds on the counter-attack suggested that minds were not totally focused on the task in hand.

Ivan Cordoba was culpable for his own demise when he floored Pozzi minutes after being booked. From there on, what should have been an intriguing encounter was nothing short of farce at times – and another less than brilliant advert for the Italian game.

Culpable Cordoba takes the long walk

When Inter did deem to return for the second half some five minutes late, they had the look of hounds scenting blood. Any sympathy for their plight soon disappeared, so long and vociferous were the protests that followed every decision taken by referee Paolo Tagliavento.

Gamesmanship won out over sportsmanship and Sampdoria were never going to turn their numerical advantage into three points. That's not to suggest that the visitors eased off, more the fact that unlike say Juventus or Roma they did not have that built-in assurance and confidence to take what was rightfully theirs.

NEWS, Sat Feb 20: Nine-man Inter draw with Sampdoria

Mourinho played his part, once more whipping the home fans into frenzy with his guffaws and the pointed finger that for the first time in Italian football history produced a ‘panolada’ of white handkerchiefs or – in keeping with the lowbrow nature of the event – tissues from the fans to wave down scorn (or the flu bug) on the official.

Tagliavento lost all semblance of control as he failed to reduce Inter to eight men when Diego Milito deserved his marching orders for flailing at Angelo Palombo, but in a plea for mercy he then sent Giampoalo Pazzini packing for a more innocuous challenge.

The upshot is that Mourinho’s unbeaten home run has now reached 130 games during spells at Porto, Chelsea and Inter, but that feat is becoming ever more preserved in bile and rage.

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Fiore must take positives from Bayern performance

2010-02-18T11:30:00Z

On any other day Fiorentina would have headed home satisfied with a 2-1 defeat at the Alliance Arena. However, Miroslav Klose’s winner for Bayern Munich was so blatantly offside that the Viola’s confidence could well be shaken to the core even more.

NEWS: Klose goal gives Bayern advantage

The last thing Cesare Prandelli and his men can afford is another period of extended navel-gazing entering into this crucial period of the season. The club has been extremely fragile since Adrian Mutu's crash diet.

And last night in Germany, conspiracy theories concerning the officiating were trotted out from the moment anyone involved with the club could get in front of a microphone.

Klose-range winner from offside position

But in the sober light of day, the team should take the positives home from Munich.

The home side did not look like Europe’s form team – something that had been trumpeted in the build-up to the tie – and certainly not like prospective European champions.

In short, Bayern are there for the taking in the second leg. The Viola, after all, have that all-important goal in their back pocket and can call on those evenings earlier in the competition when they outplayed both Liverpool and Lyon at the Artemio Franchi.

On the other hand, exiting the competition at this stage could well send the team into free-fall.

Prandelli, tipped to replace Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup, needs to concentrate on club rather than country. For the first time in his five-year tenure there have been rumblings of discontent towards the saintly Cesare after the team picked up just one point in the last five games.

However, he has taken measures to arrest the slide and away from home we should expect a more pragmatic approach.

Prandelli: "No, try going just there"

With the inexperienced Stevan Jovetic unable to provide requisite consistency in the creative department, the 4-1-4-1 formation which nullified Bayern will now be the norm.

Alberto Gilardino may have been going through a barren spell in front of goal but his work-rate and willingness to create space for others has not been blunted.

Riccardo Montolivo was handed the captain’s armband when Dario Dainelli and Martin Jorgensen left the club in the winter break, and despite his inexperience wearing the armband he has demonstrated leadership qualities.

Once again Prandelli must be applauded for reinventing a player, much as he did with Juan Vargas – who has been transformed from an ordinary left-back into a dynamic all-rounder along the flank.

This time it was the labouring Montolivo who received the make-over treatment and he is much more comfortable playing in a withdrawn role where his wide range of passing can be better exploited.

Rather than lament on what has gone before Fiorentina should concentrate on using this adversity and turning it into an opportunity to re-ignite their season.

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Old legs and young Mister taught lesson by Man U

2010-02-17T10:00:00Z

AC Milan have been offered a glimpse into the future.

The way things are going, the Rossoneri will not be playing much of a role in it.

A 19-year-old almost completely marked a near 30-year-old out of the game.

A 24-year-old scored twice against a defence including a 33, 36- and 38-year-old.

And towards the end of this study in what happens when you fail to evolve, a 36-year-old was trying to outpace a 22-year-old.

Milan could have ended the game on level terms with Manchester United, but it would have been like the aging beauty covering up the worry lines that will be growing ever deeper ahead of the return leg in two weeks time.

It was as expected: the first 30 minutes or so when Milan could have scored two or three and then the creeping sensation that it is all about to cave in.

SERIE AAAAARGH, Mon Feb 15: Milan hobble by creaking limbs and dodgy Becks

Paul Scholes may never score a more fortunate goal than his equaliser, but as the ball trickled beyond the bumbling Dida the Rossoneri knees began to wobble – literally, in Luca Antonini’s case: the full-back was off the pitch when the cross was sent in.

"I want a cocoa"

Leonardo is still a small fish in the big pond of domestic and European football and twice this season he has been torn apart by game’s most ruthless predators; first Jose Mourinho and now Sir Alex Ferguson.

While the visiting coach used half-time to galvanise his side - no doubt in his tried and trusted manner - what was the greenhorn Brazilian up to?

Certainly not sorting out his tactics.

And although his boldness at playing three up front has been applauded all season, there is little point in a front three when there is no interchange of movement between them.

In the ever more static world of Serie A you can get away with it but in the razor-sharp environment of the Champions League it's like playing with a man down.

Ronaldinho hugged the left flank and Rafael – once he worked out that he didn’t need to dive into every challenge – had the measure of his compatriot, which should be a source of major embarrassment for the former world player of the year.

"That way, old fella"

Pato was equally wedged to the other wing while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar very rarely strayed from the straight and narrow through the middle.

With David Beckham completely wasted, playing neither as a right-sided midfielder or a deep-lying playmaker, why not throw Clarence Seedorf on after the break for Huntelaar?

Pato could have encouraged to play through the middle and direct his pace straight at the opposition penalty area, with Becks given the wide role to start doing what he does best: delivering telling crosses.

His presence on the right would have reinforced an area of the pitch in which neither Andrea Pirlo or Massimo Ambrosini could get to grips with the modern photofit midfielder: young, obscenely fit and neat on the ball.

Hope hasn't been extinguished completely, but unlike the giant banner unfurled in the Curva Sud which read “fighting for glory for 100 years,” it looks like a case of fighting for their lives at Old Trafford.

The Italian press this morning only had doe-eyes for one man and of course that was Wayne Rooney.

The headlines were fawning in their praise: “Rooney KOs Milan,” “Super Rooney,” “Rooney destroys” and so on.

However, it is the pagella and voti (player ratings) that reflect the true depth of admiration for the striker.

Generally, a score of eight out of 10 pops up as many times as the winning line in the Italian lottery, but each of the major sports daily awarded Rooney the equivalent of a gold star in a school report.

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Milan hobbled by creaking limbs and a dodgy Becks

2010-02-15T11:30:00Z

Sir Alex Ferguson was up off his seat and halfway down into the depths of the San Siro car park before the majority of the players had left the pitch after AC Milan’s win over Udinese on Friday evening.

His Manchester United side will have to be equally quick-footed on Tuesday night to weather what promises to be a Milan maelstrom that Leonardo’s men can whip up for about half an hour.

After that it usually blows over pretty quickly and it is the opposition who then have the wind in their sails.

As we saw against Udinese – in a game that ultimately saw a welcomed return to winning ways – Milan like to dart out of the blocks quickly and grab an early goal.

The problems arise when they have to hold on to a lead or when the initial flurry abates with no breakthrough being made – then all passing and movement goes out the window as ageing and not-so-ageing limbs start to seize up.

This was the case on Friday.

Udinese's docile start played into Rossoneri hands, but when they became willing to throw players forward they stretched Milan’s defence to breaking point – especially down the flanks.

Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva dovetail perfectly in the centre of the defence until the latter was forced off injured, but there could be trouble ahead unless Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini temper their habit of haring down the wings without leaving gaps at the back.

In Abate’s case, the only way to ram that home will be for Pato to have “STOP NOW!” pinned to the back of his shirt, much in the same way fans of Forrest Gump’s school football team held up placards reminding him not to keep running out of the stadium when he scored a touchdown.

"So I get to you and stop. Righto"

Ronaldinho needs little reminding that much more is expected of him at this crucial stage of the campaign.

Apparently Silvio Berlusconi had been on the phone to the toothy one for a little motivational talk and no doubt repeated the mantra “new contract, new contract.”

Of more significance is the return of Dinho’s muse - Alexandre Pato - to inspire his compatriot to produce those raking diagonal passes, knowing that the fleet-footed youngster will be tip-toeing into their path.

However, it may be a good idea for Pato to camouflage those yellow boots, which are a dead giveaway that he is sneaking forward and ready to strike.

Udinese full-back Giovanni Pasquale worked out that sighting a flash of yellow necessitated a flaying boot in that direction.

Unfortunately for him, that realisation only came after the whippet-like Brazilian had already struck once.

"Get 'im!!"

But tactical considerations aside, Milan’s first-leg undoing could be simple knocks and strains.

Thiago Silva limped out of Friday’s game after 40 minutes - with a tightening hamstring making his progress down the tunnel a laboured effort.

Tellingly, Udinese scored five minutes later so the medical staff have been on double shifts to get the Brazilian fit, although no amount of kneading can make Gianluca Zambrotta - whose aches and pains will not go away - whole again.

In midfield, Clarence Seedorf also seems a lost cause for this game despite the Dutchman’s personal physio working around the clock on his dodgy hip.

And striker Marco Borriello has been making slow progress from a lower back problem, but at least there is a ready-made replacement in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who scored twice on Friday.

And what of Filippo Inzaghi, the veteran goal-grabber described by Ferguson as "born offside" who has produced many a memorable moment on a crucial European night?

It'll be the bench at best for old Super Pippo if Borriello is ruled out, but it has long been the case that the ancient poacher does not figure in Leonardo’s plans and is seeing out the rest of the season before weighing up his options, as they say.

Meanwhile, what of the man in the middle of the media maelstrom, David Beckham?

Much has been made of his first ever game against Manchester United, but he has simply not been making the sort of impact he was this time last year.

"Ready when you are, gaffer"

Indeed, when he did come on late on against Udinese, the World Cup hopeful almost set up Antonio di Natale with a wayward backpass.

Seedorf’s absence could well save Beckham from the bench - edging out Rino Gattuso in the starting XI - as Leonardo needs Pato’s pace and presence to inspire Ronaldinho to ensure Milan are still in the tie heading to Old Trafford.

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Lazio's Lotito: A study in stubbornness

2010-02-12T09:00:00Z

Round here, they would call Lazio owner Claudio Lotito testa dura: hard-headed.

At times he has been applauded, especially for standing up to imitation from elements within the club’s Ultras.

But in other cases his attitude has been more one of downright obstinacy seemingly just for the sake of it.

However, earlier in the week, the Latin-quoting president had to finally accept that his team were heading nowhere apart from down to Serie B as long as Davide Ballardini was in charge.

Edy Reja has been installed and will have to bring every ounce of his experience to bear: Lazio, like their 110th year celebratory kit, have been a pale shadow of the side that lifted the Italian Cup last year under Delio Rossi.

The club has felt embattled all season and a good part of that atmospheric poisoning is down to Lotito’s pig-headedness.

Rossi was well-respected and felt he deserved an improved deal after taking the Biancoceleste to their first trophy in five years.

But in a precursor of things to come Lotito had other ideas, claiming that no one was indispensable – and that included the coach.

After seeing Rossi snubbed, just about everyone wanted out: up and coming full-back Lorenzo de Silvestre jumped ship to Fiorentina, while Goran Pandev had made it clear he would be heading for the exit door as well Lazio didn't increase his annual salary of €450,000.

(Yes, the goal-every-three-games striker earned as much money in a year as John Terry has banked in the last two and half rather interesting weeks).

However, when Zenit St Petersburg tabled a €13 million offer, the striker wouldn't budge.

Christian Ledesma followed suit and refused to sign a new contract extension in the region of €1.5m a year.

Lotito would have gladly sold either player to ensure the club remained on a solid financial footing, but being used to doing things on his own terms the fiery Roman threw a massive moody and banished the “rebels” from the first-team squad when the season got underway.

Pandev demonstrated his resilience over the months and finally won his case to have his contract rescinded at the end of the year, but Ledesma lacked the same fortitude and staying power.

The Argentine’s undoing had been to backtrack and declare he would sign a new deal after it became clear that no one was interested in him.

Lotito, gleefully wringing his hands like a Medici merchant, withdrew the offer.

He had the legal upper hand when the case came to court; claiming that by saying he would accept an extension Ledesma was making himself available for selection but subsequently the coach decided not to not select him ‘on tactical grounds’.

Maybe a stronger-willed coach would have voiced his concerns over what the owner’s single-mindedness was doing to team morale, as the issue certainly seemed to have created resentment within the dressing room.

Ballardini’s acceptance of the status quo did little to protect his job security in the long run; once again it was Lotito’s stubbornness – in sticking by his man – that only exacerbated the situation.

Last weekend’s home defeat to Catania sent the team into the bottom three.

Lotito had to be escorted out of the Olympic Stadium while the fans made their feelings known by attempting to storm the training ground when the players returned for training on Tuesday.

The first-team squad was left to kick a few balls around with no one in charge as Lotito persuaded Reja to extract himself from his contract at Hajduk Split and Ballardini packed his bags.

‘Steady Edy’ will be expected to live up to his name as a stabilising influence, having demonstrated the patience of Job when working for Aurelio de Laurentiis at Napoli.

Oh, and to start with at least a point at Parma this weekend.

Lotito, for his part, will have another day in court and once again it's over a contract wrangle - this time surrounding the case of Eyal Golasa.

Lazio thought they had signed the Israeli midfielder on his first professional contract but the 18-year-old’s club Maccabi Haifa claimed they had the player’s signature on a three-year deal.

There had been unfounded reports that Golasa made a quick U-turn when he found out that Lazio’s more far-right fans had not take too kindly to his arrival.

However, the youngster may still find himself in the Eternal City – although playing in Serie A next season may be not be guaranteed unless Lotito allows Lazio to lighten up a bit.

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Mourinho looks to lock up title and possessions

2010-02-10T11:00:00Z

Jose Mourinho will be looking to lock up the title race as securely as his home this evening.

Police have arrested four Macedonians who were in possession of details of the Inter coach’s abodes in Milan and out at Lake Como.

Reportedly they also had photographs of one of the most-well known faces in Italy, just in case they mixed up which luxury villa they were burgling and ended up in George Clooney’s pile instead.

No doubt Jose has already beefed up the alarms at home whilst a win at Parma will provide the added security of an 11-point gap at the top of the table.

No other team in Europe’s major leagues have such an iron grip on a title race - even Barcelona are only five points clear.

Needless to say, the Nerazzurri have the most potent attack and meanest defence, which is either a blessing or a potential weakness heading into the most important couple of weeks of the season.

Any prize fighter knows that a punchbag is all well and fine, but to hone the competitive edge ahead of a big bout you need a couple of quality sparring partners.

Two years ago, Roberto Mancini’s side were 11 points clear after 23 games but the coach’s public meltdown after defeat to Liverpool saw the side shamble home in the end by a mere three points.

Would a setback against Chelsea lead to a similar collapse this time around?

Mourinho’s new model is a lot sturdier than the one that exited tamely to Manchester United at the same stage of the competition last year.

Samuel Eto’o and Wesley Sneijder have added that bit of flair that previously only Zlatan Ibrahimovic could produce.

But it is the most recent arrival that has taken the team to another level on the home front anyway.

Goran Pandev spent the first half of the season embroiled in a contract dispute with Lazio, but the Macedonian stood up to the hard-nosed Claudio Lotito and won his case to become a free agent.

No sooner than he was back at the club that first brought him to Italy than the striker was making up for lost time – and made light of Eto’o being at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He set up Milito for the first goal in the derby before grabbing the second with a curling free-kick - and since then has added a further two goals.

However, it was on Sunday that the 26-year-old came into his own when he took over the Sneijder role behind Eto’o and Milito.

He scored again as well as setting up Eto’o at the end of slick passing move on the edge of the area.

The Dutchman will be thinking twice about his previously untouchable position - although if Inter do climb into double digits clear then Mourinho will be able to play all four knowing that the title is as safe as houses.

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Thanks to God for a traditional Italian Sunday

2010-02-08T15:00:00Z

RESULTS Sat Feb 6 Livorno 1-1 Juventus, Palermo 2-1 Parma Sun Feb 7 Atalanta 1-0 Bari, Bologna 0-0 Milan, Fiorentina 0-1 Roma, Genoa 1-0 Chievo, Internazionale 3-0 Cagliari, Lazio 0-1 Catania, Siena 1-2 Sampdoria, Udinese 3-1 Napoli

NEWS, Sun Feb 7: Inter juggernaut rolls on

Sunday in Italy used to be so simple: church in the morning, football in the afternoon and then off to savour mamma’s home cooking.

Times have changed: only the aged listen to the pulpit and matches are spread throughout the weekend - and this coming week on a Friday - leaving the fabric of Italian life held together only by pasta.

Maybe Nicola Legrottaglie and Edinson Cavani were attempting to spread the word on Saturday evening when, after scoring vital goals in their respective matches, they whipped up their shirts to reveal their allegiance to Jesus.

Legrottaglie may have saved Juve from possible defeat at Livorno but nothing much has changed under Alberto Zaccheroni except that the Old Lady now plays three at the back and has all the makings of a solid, upper mid-table side.

Cavani’s act for the Almighty certainly helped Palermo remain in the hunt for a European spot in what was a surreal evening in Sicily against Parma.

It started with visiting coach Francesco Guidolin bursting into tears after receiving a rousing welcome back – the fans no doubt remembering his four years of on and off penance at the priory of Maurizio Zamparini.

The game ended in a similar over-emotional manner, with Palermo midfielder Fabio Simplicio welling up after scoring the winner.

The Brazilian has already informed his employers that he is off at the end of the season – so whenever he takes the pitch at home he receives a chorus of boos.

If it wasn’t bad enough that he scored the winner against the club that launched his career in Italy, more than anything it was the rare show of adulation that led to the weeping and the wailing.

For everyone else, they had long been bored to tears with what had gone before – the only respite from the tedium was whenever Javier Pastore got on the ball.

If you haven’t seen the young Argentine in action, think of a cross between Ricky Kaka (minus the blistering pace) and Zinedine Zidane (minus the menacing physique).

Yes, he is that good apart those two significant factors – the speed and that little bit of 'devil' that all the true world-class midfielders have.

He still has time to develop the latter but more than anything the lanky lad is a joy to watch when he drags the sole of his foot over the ball before a sway of the hips takes him away from two or three markers.

Let us hope that the Hand of God will have a look at the 20-year-old ahead of the World Cup.

Antonio di Natale should definitely be heading to South Africa this summer.

He has been called the “Neapolitan Maradona” but is such an unassuming sort that he prefers to see out his career in the footballing backwater of Udine, having turned down offers from AS Roma, Napoli and Fiorentina in the past.

At 32, he can now use age as an excuse to remain in his comfort zone, but maybe not having to deal with the pressure of playing for a big club makes him so consistent in front of goal.

His hat-trick against his hometown club took Toto’s tally to 16 for the season – two ahead of Inter’s Diego Milito – and the celebrations didn't require recourse to a T-shirt message or any show of emotion apart from a beaming smile.

No doubt there was a wry little grin from Jose Mourinho after putting Massimiliano Allegri in his place for daring to accept the coach of the year award.

Inter are still lording it over the rest as AC Milan’s “lucky” red shorts – last hauled on at Bologna 11 years ago when they started an unlikely run to win the league – failed to inspire them to anything more than a draw this time around.

However, AS Roma produced a performance at Fiorentina that conjured up Sundays of a bygone era when an away team would soak up the pressure before delivering the sucker punch late on.

Just like mamma’s tasty dishes, it left the traditionalists of the Italian Sabbath with a warm glow inside and prayers answered that the title is not a foregone conclusion just yet.

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Romans eye the end of Inter's empire

2010-02-05T11:30:00Z

The Romans know a thing or two about the fall of an empire – and they also recognise that it does not collapse overnight.

Regal rule is chipped away over time and that is why AS Roma have not been making any great proclamations that they are serious title contenders in the second half of the season.

Inter may hold an eight-point lead at the top, but it's the Giallorossi who are showing the form of real champions.

The run now stands at 18 games undefeated in all competitions going all the way back to October 28 when they lost at Udinese – a team they dispatched with some ease in last night’s Italian Cup semi-final first leg.

NEWS, Thu Feb 4: Rampant Roma take upper hand

Claudius once saved the Eternal City from ruin but now it's Claudio who is keeping the flame burning – and it's burning ever more brightly with each passing week.

The reversal under Ranieri has certainly been impressive considering it's the same group of players who started the season with Luciano Spalletti in charge, which would suggest that they knew that their Mister had one foot out the door and were thus less inclined to do his bidding.

There has to be a pretender to Inter's crown out there and why not an uprising born out of the capital, where the steady climb from 19th to second has come despite the fact that Francesco Totti has not been fully fit?

Ranieri: Pioneer of the "knee shoes"

You just never know how events could pan out towards the end of March, when Roma are scheduled to meet Jose Mourinho’s men at the Stadio Olimpico.

Inter are at home on Sunday to Cagliari, whose coach Massimiliano Allegri knocked Mourinho’s nose out of joint earlier this week when he was awarded the Panchina d'Oro (Golden Bench) by his peers.

They then travel to Parma in midweek for their rearranged fixture before what will be a pivotal encounter down in Naples, where the home side haven't lost a night game in 41 outings.

After that it's Sampdoria and then the first tilt against Chelsea - and that could be make-or-break time for Roma.

If they can gain something this weekend at Fiorentina, who are still coming to terms with losing Adrian Mutu to a positive doping test, then there are two relatively benign home games against Palermo and Catania, with a Europa League tie at Panathinaikos sandwiched in between.

BLOG, Wed Feb 3: How Cassano almost replaced "Slim Shady" Mutu

It's the last weekend in February and the first weekend in March that things will get really tasty, with a trip to Napoli followed by AC Milan at home.

It may have all the makings of an unlikely comeback – Inter are the Empire now, with its endless resources and feeling of invincibility – but the canny Ranieri will have steeled his men to take advantage of any imperial wavering.

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How Cassano nearly replaced "Slim Shady" Mutu

2010-02-03T11:30:00Z

Transfer deadline day has come and gone and probably the biggest story was the non-transfer of Antonio Cassano.

They say that one person’s misfortune is another person’s gain, and that looked to be the case for the Bari Bawler, who seemed set to up sticks from his coastal retreat and head to the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Fiorentina were absolutely beside themselves that Adrian Mutu was tested positive not once but twice for a banned substance sibutramine, which he claimed had been present in a herbal dietary pill he had been scoffing since his Christmas binge back in Romania.

On the face of it the claims have all the makings of the most far-fetched story to have come out of the Carpathians since the one about the Count with fangs who turned into a bat.

But anyway, as “Slim Shady” Mutu continued to ask the mirror if he looked fat in those purple shorts, Cesare Prandelli was tearing his hair out at how he could get through the rest of the season without his Slim-Fast superstar.

Meanwhile over in Genoa, Cassano was kicking his heels pretending that Manchester City wanted him after Luigi del Neri finally decided it was time to reap revenge for all those nasty things the little prince of mayhem had said about him in the kiss-and-tell exposé "My Life Of Sex And Food."

Mutu can always go one better if he ever feels the need to bare his soul in print – and he may have plenty of time on his hands if he can't throw up a valid reason for his latest discretion.

Fiorentina obviously think there's fat chance of that, considering the way they chased Cassano as the transfer deadline loomed.

But despite their hunger, the move blew up when player and vendor seemed to decide it wasn't to their taste.

Mutu: "Purple's a fruit..."

The Viola were ready to take Cassano on loan to the end of the season and pay his €1.2 million salary, but doubts started to surface at Samp as soon as the news became public.

Probably something along the lines of: what happens if Cassano starts turning it on, what happens when we start losing again? The fans are going to turn against us once again – much as they had done only a couple of months previously.

Cassano, for his part, knew that Fiorentina would never make the move permanent.

Being the sort who reacts to base instincts, he claimed he was swayed by an outpouring of “love” from his team-mates and a group of like-minded fans.

So that was it: no Champions League, no battling for a top-four spot, no working with Cesare Prandelli – but maybe Cassano was just finding a way to fill up another idle weekend until Del Neri makes his own U-turn.

Over in Milan, Silvio Berlusconi would have liked to have put the brakes on the Rossoneri’s mad dash to land Amantino Mancini, who had been dumped outside the Appiano Gentile training ground for collection after Inter had long given up ever offloading the Brazilian.

NEWS, Mon Feb 1: Mancini swaps Inter for Milan

For once one would have to be in agreement with il Cavaliere, who questioned the point of signing another wide player when finishing off moves at one end and keeping them out at the other are more pressing concerns.

Many a player has made the switch between the two Milanese clubs – Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf being two who reignited their careers in doing so – but this current cross-town switch seems more of a wrong turn.

Apart from that, the last few hours saw the usual suspects pack their bags to swap one bench for another, although McDonald Mariga looks another astute piece of business on Inter’s part to add to the Goran Pandev signing at the turn to the year.

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Mourinho moan means more Milan misery

2010-02-01T11:30:00Z

RESULTS Sat Jan 30 Bari 4-2 Palermo, Napoli 0-0 Genoa Sun Jan 31 Cagliari 2-2 Fiorentina, Catania 1-1 Udinese, Chievo 1-1 Bologna, Juventus 1-1 Lazio, Milan 1-1 Livorno, Roma 2-1 Siena, Sampdoria 2-0 Atalanta

Inter didn’t even need to take the pitch this weekend to still come out winners.

Closest rivals – and we use the description loosely – AC Milan failed to close the gap as the Nerazzurri had the day off following a snow blizzard of The Day After Tomorrow proportions postponed their game at Parma.

The storm clouds have yet to disperse from last weekend’s derby either and Jose Mourinho has been getting under his neighbours' skin in a not-too-sublime manner ever since the final whistle.

NEWS, Tue Jan 26: Mourinho charged over derby outburst

The latest taunt came just before the weekend when he reiterated an assertion made after the derby that maybe Milan were getting too many soft penalties – before holding up his hands and acting all innocent by claiming that “it’s just my opinion.”

Of course come late Sunday afternoon those words were bouncing around the airwaves and within the city bars as replay after replay showed Milan players falling to the ground inside the area against Livorno - only for play to be waved on.

Leonardo, yesterday: "Ref, that's twice!"

“Bravo Mourinho, you got what you wanted,” complained a group of disgruntled Rossoneri fans in a city-centre watering hole.

“We won’t get a penalty now for another four months.”

NEWS, Sun Jan 31: Milan held at home

When it comes to the mocking game there can only be one winner and now Mother Nature seems to have fallen in line with Mourinho’s view of how planet football should rotate – around his smug axis.

Putting their feet up at the weekend gives his men extra rest ahead of the first leg of their Italian Cup semi-final against Fiorentina on Wednesday.

The Parma game has been rescheduled for February 10, which should have been the date for the second leg of the cup – something the Nerarruzzi were attempting to get changed anyway due to the fact that AS Roma weren't playing their corresponding tie until April.

Inter have now got their way without any recourse to arguing it out with the league, who are no doubt breathing a huge sight of relief at not having to go head-to-head with the confrontational Milanese.

So Jose can ready his self-satisfied self for another week of verbal jousting.

What next will he be brewing up? Whirlwinds, cyclones, a plague of locusts on the House of Berlusconi?

"My work here is done"

It's no wonder Milan just want to crawl under a rock and forget the outside world.

Battered and bruised from their derby experience and then knocked out of the cup, they didn’t take much persuading to run blindly into the wall marked “two lost points”.

NEWS, Wed Jan 27: Milan second string exit cup

“It’s been a tough week,” lamented Leonardo – but then any number of coaches could have said that.

Take Livorno's Serse Cosmi, who last Sunday had attempted to escape out the back door, only to be nabbed at the garden gate and told to get back to work.

He must have been mightily pleased to come up against a Milan side bled of all confidence and reduced to clutching at straws by attempting to win a couple of late penalty reprieves.

AS Roma had a similar encounter with Siena, but in the end found that moment of magic when Stefano Okaka produced a Guti-esque back-heel for the winner.

It's that ability to manufacture the unexpected that has been snuffed out of Milan’s game.

Ronaldinho has lost his mojo again – no doubt it was a quiet night in for the Samba-boy on Sunday – and Milan’s problems stem from the fact that the majority of their attacking thrusts come through Dinho down the left flank.

Livorno were wise to that - as each opponent will be from now on - and crowded that area of the pitch, leaving David Beckham totally isolated out on the right.

"Why's everybody gone?"

His recourse was to drift into the middle, overpopulating one-third of the pitch and leaving no outlet on the wing: tellingly Milan's goal came from a Beckham cross from the right, but it was one of the few times he found himself in that position to deliver.

Once Clarence Seedorf gets a few more games under his belt and Alexandre Pato is fit again, the balance within the team should return.

But they need to get their shape back soon or it could turn into a winter of discontent for one half of Milan.

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South will rise again as Napoli get excited

2010-01-29T12:30:00Z

It doesn’t take much to get Neapolitans excited, but even those exuberant types can be justifiably thrilled with Napoli’s current 14-game unbeaten run in the league.

Such is the buzz around the city that 50,000 tickets had already been sold by Tuesday for Saturday evening’s home game against Genoa.

Just for the record, Napoli are fourth in the table and a win will take them into joint-second place – even if it only until late Sunday afternoon.

Still, they haven’t been in such an elevated position since the days of Diego Maradona back in the late 80s.

It's been a long and torturous transformation from fallen giants to reborn hopefuls but they certainly deserve more than a brief moment in the sun.

Where once the Partenopei were considered a rag-tag group, now under the wily ways of Walter Mazzarri they've forced the rest of Serie A to change their opinion.

Of course, Aurelio de Laurentiis and his almost manic belief that he could turn the club from bankrupts to profit-makers - even if it meant taking time off producing slap-stick comedies for a popcorn-eating, multiplex-going domestic audience – has been just one factor.

After jettisoning Edy Reja when he hadn’t actually done anything wrong, De Laurentiis was man enough to accept that he made a major mistake in hiring Roberto Donadoni.

At least now with Mazzarri he has made the right decision and has been equally quick to be garlanded with praise for that move.

Donadoni: "It's just not working..."

Under Donadoni, Napoli played like a bunch of individuals who had just been thrown together on a blind date and were trying a little too hard to impress.

Now the former Sampdoria coach has put the team before the individual, which was perfectly highlighted last weekend during a potential banana-skin at Livorno.

Minus their two star turns - Ezequiel Lavezzi and Fabio Quagliarella – the victory was built-around solid teamwork and a goal from Christian Maggio that many compared to Marco van Basten’s stunning volley in the Euro 88 final – albeit from a more central position.

Mazzarri has certainly brought the best out of those who had felt the weight of expectation when they first arrived in the shadow of Vesuvius – such as Luca Cigarini, who scored the second, and the aforementioned Maggio.

His secret has been to instil in a disparate group of Italians, South Americans and central Europeans a sense of team spirit but at the same time the belief that you can still express yourself.

Walter Mazzarri: "All together now..."

No longer do the Italians run around like over-worked waiters on a Saturday evening whilst the South Americans demand the ball on a plate – now everyone can enjoy the feast.

On top of that, it is the coach’s word that is final: previously the players were faced with a list of fines for stepping out of line and that included speaking out of turn.

Now, they can voice their opinions as long as it is directed to the Mister and stays within the confines of the dressing room.

It is a southern uprising that's also finding converts down in Palermo and Bari - and it is one that will hopefully rebalance the north-south divide in Italian football.

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Shuffling zombie Juve seeks fresh blood

2010-01-27T12:30:00Z

Let’s play a game.

It’s not too taxing – just think of the first coach’s name that comes into your head and let’s see if he has been linked with the Juventus job.

Guus Hiddink springs to mind and if reports are to be believed the Dutchman has been holed up in a Turin hotel since the turn of the year.

Then there's Gianluca Vialli, Antonio Cabrini, Massimo Carrera and Michael Laudrup.

Or if they don’t take your fancy Claudio Gentile, Arrigo Sacchi, Alberto Zaccheroni, Dino Zoff or Giovanni Trapattoni.

What about Sven-Göran Eriksson?

Some will just be happy to have their names mentioned in the same breath as the Old Lady, while others like Zoff and Trap will have chuckled and settled back into their quiet, uncomplicated lives.

The latest to be linked with what is becoming the most poisoned of chalices is Rafael Benitez.

The Spaniard would have been Juve’s first choice when they returned to Serie A, but at the time he was flying high at Liverpool.

Of course, events have moved on since then – and the Turin club are hoping to take advantage of what Tuttosport describes as the “growing financial constraints” at Anfield.

But then, it's not as if Juventus are flush at the moment, and they're unlikely to turn into a cash cow in the foreseeable future.

The new stadium is eating up a lot of funds and the cloud of Calciopoli still hangs over the club, leaving marquee sponsors hesitant to have their name associated just yet.

Then, as with Liverpool, there's the lost revenue from failing to reaching the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League.

And, again as at Anfield, there's genuine concern that the team will fail to qualify for next year’s competition: they lie fifth domestically but well off the title-chasers' pace.

"It doesn't look any better over there"

The three wise men – Jean Claude Blanc, Alessio Blanc and Roberto Bettega – have been coveting Hiddink since before the winter break.

However, more than seeing their reaction to his demands for a €5 million salary until the end of the season and €6 million thereafter, there was the creeping sensation that Hiddink felt that the club’s hierarchy had no clear strategy for the future – apart from building a new stadium.

He alluded to that in an interview with a Dutch newspaper, and the way the club have been stumbling around in the dark over whether to jettison Ciro Ferrara or not would seem to bear that out.

Hiddink eyes problems

In the meantime, Ferrara will drift on like a dead man walking until he is finally put out of his misery.

On Thursday he and Juve will shuffle to the San Siro for an Italian Cup quarter-final with Inter – an event that should heighten expectations and get the Juve dander up.

Now, it’s being treated with the Monday-morning trepidation of an unhappy employee facing another week of examining their very existence.

It's just something to endure, except if you're Alessandro del Piero or Diego, in which case you go down with a flu bug and clamber back under the duvet.

Ferrara is probably relieved the ordeal is almost over – he's only 42 but his nerves have been so frayed that he looks 10 years older; the bald patch is growing, the worry-lines have been deepening and that previously ready smile is now a frown.

It only reinforces the old adage that nice guys finish last – just take a look at Inter.

Who knows, the way things are going Ferrara’s agony could be prolonged into facing Lazio at the weekend.

But for Juve fans it's set to continue for much longer – what with Zaccheroni the new favourite to take over until the end of the season.

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Maestro Mourinho makes sweet music in Milan derby

2010-01-25T11:00:00Z

The Milan derby is like opening night at La Scala: the performers can enter to a rapturous welcome but by evening’s end they may be showered in flowers or boos.

The San Siro is the Milanese fan’s equivalent to the famous opera house in the centre of the city – both venues can get particularly rowdy with the loggionisti and ultras voicing displeasure in equal measure at a missed note or misplaced pass.

They can also inspire soloists to greatness, but it was the nine-man Inter orchestra that drew the standing ovation and swooning praise as the mist descended over the towering edifice on a frigid evening.

NEWS, Sun Jan 24: Inter triumph in Milan derby

That said, it was really the conductor who should take a bow after a virtuoso performance.

You knew that Maestro Mourinho was up to something when he started praising Leonardo on the eve of the game – and even had time to give his opposite number a little hug before kick-off.

"Da da-da-da diddle DAAA!!!"

However, once the action commenced, the Portuguese was imposing his vision on how the evening should progress – the tempo high, the beat relentless, which unsettled the opposition from the first minute.

Touts had been asking up to 200 Euros for tickets behind either goal, and were getting it from the Japanese and Dutch (a lot more relaxed than their compatriot Wesley Sneijder would turn out to be) who had joined the locals to fill the grand stadium.

The encounter was worth the price – with both teams demonstrating that Italian football can still produce a passionate showpiece when the world is watching.

David Beckham booked inside two minutes, Sneijder on his way before the half-hour mark; it would be those with the cool heads of the Milan derby experience who would profit.

"Was it something I said?" "Yes."

There's no doubt that Mourinho had his players primed as never before and even after Sneijder’s tirade at the referee drew a red card, you'd never have known that they were a man down unless you took a head count.

His leads filled the stage – from Lucio to Javier Zanetti, a cool and collected Esteban Cambiasso, a revitalised Goran Pandev and a princely Diego Milito.

Milan, on the contrary, were flat and lacked the fluid rhythm of late.

Maybe some of them had started to believe the hype surrounding a side that could never stand alongside some of its predecessors.

Certainly Leonardo lacked the settling presence of Alessandro Nesta more than Mourinho mourned Samuel Eto’o or Dejan Stankovic.

When Ronaldinho needed to shine and show the folks back home that he's worth his place in the Seleção he was the one to drop the baton.

And as the Brazilian saw his compatriot Julio Cesar save his penalty, it was Mourinho waving his arms maniacally who held the crowd in a final sing-along before Marco Materazzi produced his own party piece, donning a Silvio Berlusconi face-mask in celebration.

After a pulsating night, the black and blue dawn brings the sobering realisation that the title has all the makings of a waltz for Inter and their majestic maestro.

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Inter fearful of Milan’s X-Factor

2010-01-22T10:00:00Z

The Milan derby is in danger of losing its good-will status, and about time too.

The fact that Inter are feeling a bit rattled and punchy in the build-up suggests they are once again worried about losing face to their neighbours (or should that be flatmates...?).

In the last few years, even if the Nerazzurri did not come out on top they were strolling away with the title anyway, so it wasn’t so much of a blow to let their rivals enjoy some succour. Defeat on Sunday would not be one of those occasions.

Tthe 4-0 thrashing at the start of the season is a distant memory now and Leonardo’s free-flowing approach has taken his team to eight points off the champions with a game in hand.

Inter celebrate 4-0 win on enemy territory - for that week at least...

So it was no surprise Milan instigated the mind games by demanding that their Italian Cup match against Udinese, scheduled for Wednesday past, should be postponed as Inter were not in action until the following week against Juventus.

Adriano Galliani levered pressure on the Football League who moved the game to next week - the day before Inter’s tie.

The fact that both teams are at home only raised Inter’s ire - they initially refused to play on a San Siro pitch which would have been churned up 24-hours previously.

It took Jose Mourinho to highlight the absurdity of this petty squabble by calling for the match to be played in April because he had too many players injured and Samuel Eto’o was at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Could Ronnie be getting back to his brilliant best?

Milan fans have taken it onboard as another sign that the other half of the city are feeling the pressure somewhat. Their team come into the game on the back of a 3-0 thumping of Juventus and the Ronaldinho show against Siena, while Inter had to scrap for their win over the Tuscans and dig deep to draw at Bari.

It neatly sums up the contrasting philosophies that drive the two clubs: Milan with their swagger and showbiz style; Inter the solid artisans.

Friday morning in the city-centre bars and there is only one topic of conversation: the Rossoneri faithful feel that there is no better time to play a derby while the Nerazzurri followers are getting their excuses in early claiming that if the city cousins cannot win this one then they never will.

They will be hoping that Milan are just a little too cocky for their own good, but weighing everything up you would have to go for the red and blacks.

"Sure, you've got the X-Factor, but can you sing Unchained Melody?"

Unlike say the Rome or Turin derbies, the Milanese version is very rarely a war of attrition and, although there is no denying that Inter have quality in Wesley Sneijder, Diego Milito, Mario Balotelli and Goran Pandev, Milan have that ‘X-Factor’ running right through the team.

The key will be in midfield where Inter could well be stretched, especially with David Beckham doubling up to help outnumber Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari or Dejan Stankovic – the latter pair battling to be fit in time.

A win for Milan would be just what the second half of the season needs: a genuine title race.

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Roman Ranieri relishes revenge on return to Juve

2010-01-20T11:30:00Z

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and even if he is much too polite to say so in public, on Saturday evening Claudio Ranieri will want to ram the full à la carte menu down Juventus throats.

He was unceremoniously shown the door by the Turin club just before the end of last season to be replaced by company man Ciro Ferrara in a move that has done nothing positive for the club’s fortunes.

Ranieri returned home to take charge of his beloved AS Roma and, after finally tempering his Tinkerman urges, has taken the Giallorossi on an unbeaten run through the winter months and up to third place in the table.

The Romans will descend on the other Stadio Olimpico two points ahead of the Bianconeri and in a mood to personalise this traditional heated encounter.

Ranieri cannot have forgiven his former employers for their brutal treatment and no doubt will be calculating how best to ensure that revenge is his to savour.

Ranieri at the Olimpico

But the personable Roman still has to lose the public perception that he is a choker, a perception not helped when he failed to exact his revenge on Roman Abramovich when Juventus met Chelsea in the Champions League last season.

If Ferrara is the new Rocky Balboa then this is just the sort of underdog encounter that could see him screaming “Adrian... Adrian,” over the ropes at the end of what promises to be a bruising bout.

Serie Aaaaargh!, Fri Jan 15: Punch-drunk Rocky survives another round

Juve’s battered troops resembled a M*A*S*H unit after their defeat at Chievo on Sunday: Zdenek Grygera ended up in hospital with a fracture nose, Fabio Cannavaro also had his honk broken while his replacement Jonathan Zebina was left bloodied and bandaged.

More than anything physical, the loss was another blow to the team’s fragile morale – but if ever adversity is to be turned into opportunity then this is the moment.

Juve have tumbled in the area without anyone touching them - seven defeats in the last 10 games, out of the top four, 10 points fewer than this time last year, 26 goals conceded, 41 injuries - so this weekend has to be the last of the last chances to pick themselves up.

Apparently, chief backer John Elkann - of the Agnelli family - has called on Jean Claude Blanc, Alessio Secco and Roberto Bettega to face up to their responsibilities.

They have since got their heads together and put them on the block by claiming that the problem does not lie with Ferrara.

If they truly believe this to be the case, then maybe they should be taking a closer look at their own part in the debacle.

They have been scouring the league for reinforcements but all they have come with are former Juve youth players such as Michele Paolucci who couldn’t get into the Siena side, Davide Lanzafame who turned them down to stay at Parma – and now Antonio Candreva who has been warming the bench at Livorno.

Candreva on international duty

One can see the hand of Marcello Lippi behind the apparent move for the latter.

After all, it was the Italy coach who gave the midfielder his international debut recently, so he has a vested interest in having one of his own in the Juve squad.

However, it will be the old guard that carry the club’s hopes on Saturday evening – on the weekend when everyone concerned with Juve will remember the passing of Gianni Agnelli seven years ago.

If they need any further motivation it should come from what L’Avvocato would have made of this unsightly scene.

As for Ranieri, let's hope he doesn't lose his appetite before the feast.

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Toni back, bad and boisterous

2010-01-18T13:00:00Z

He may have the most annoying goal celebrations in football, a ungainly frame and an unruly hairstyle, but it’s good to see him all smiles again.

No, not Ronaldinho – Luca Toni.

The Brazilian may have been grabbing the headlines with his hat-trick for AC Milan against Siena but big Luca’s brace for AS Roma against Genoa takes some knocking as the Moment Of The Weekend.

For some time it has been knocks of a different kind for the likeable and increasingly "former" Italy international.

Laughed out of Germany – but at least no longer forced to wear a lederhosen and drink copious amounts of beer at Bayern Munich get-togethers – Toni has found comfort back in the bosom of his homeland.

His arrival in the Eternal City in the early days of the transfer market was timely to say the least.

Claudio Ranieri was facing another spell of Francesco Totti on the sidelines and rather than contemplate having to field Julio “The Beast” Baptista (surely an nickname heavy with irony), the coach implored the chain-smoking Rosella Sensi to at least take Toni on loan.

Bayern were so glad to get rid of the big layabout in the stands that they even promised Roma that they could keep him if they wanted and pay him whatever they could.

All the Romans had to do was find a shirt big enough and they had a ready-made target-man.

They haven’t seen such a strapping sort wearing the yellow and red in the capital since another hirsute front-man – Gabriel Batistuta – was knocking them over back in the days when Roma were champions under Fabio Capello.

The jury was out on whether Toni could cut it anymore, but Francesco Totti’s ongoing knee problems enabled Ranieri to throw the former Palermo and Fiorentina man straight into the fray.

The first outing was a mere 10 minutes at Cagliari – in which time he seemed to have carried his heavy burden of ill-fortune back from Bavaria – as Roma contrived to throw away a 2-0 lead in the last minute to draw 2-2.

The second outing saw the team forced to play with 10 men for 80 minutes when goalkeeper Alexander Doni was sent off – and Toni was left to plough the lonely furrow with little support as Mirko Vucinic was the unfortunate attacker to make way for the reserve goalkeeper.

No such mishaps yesterday – and with Vucinic at his impish best while Simone Perrotta and Matteo Brighi made telling runs from deep, Toni thrived as the focal point of the Roman assault on the Genoa backline.

At one stage, diminutive daisycutting David Pizarro hoisted a Garryowen deep into the opposition half which the big man took down on his chest to a standing ovation from the home crowd.

Even the usually-sulky-if-he-isn’t-playing-and-sometimes-when-he-is Totti was on his feet when Toni finally found the back of the net just before half-time after missing two easy chances early on.

With the duck broken from a tap-in, it was a more typical powerful header for his second and Roma’s third to kill off the game – and give Marcello Lippi something to mull over.

Marco Borriello is in great form at AC Milan, Alessandro Matri has been on a good run with Cagliari but Toni is still the most instinct finisher there is – he just wasn’t given the chance to demonstrate that this season in the Bundesliga.

On top of that, he has been to the well once before with Lippi and no doubt the Azzurri coach will be hoping that Totti is back soon to help Toni keep hitting the back of the net.

Who knows, it could be the To-To show in South Africa...

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Punch-drunk Rocky survives another round

2010-01-15T09:00:00Z

Ciro Ferrara has been comparing himself to Rocky of late and he certainly looks more like a plucky contender than an undisputed champion.

NEWS, Tue Jan 12: Ferrara: I'm a fighter, like Rocky

He may have taken an eight-count in recent days but has managed to stay on his feet (if still on the ropes) for the time being at least, thanks to a win over Napoli in the Italian Cup.

NEWS, Wed Jan 13: Del Piero double eases Juve pain

In truth, the 3-0 scoreline flattered the home side, who having scored an early goal could count themselves fortunate that the visitors fielded a team packed with those who preferred street soccer to actually trying to find the back of the net.

The way the rocky horror picture show is going, any win is welcomed although the natives were as restless as ever.

The plastic seats may not have been melted this time out, but there were the first hot blasts of discontent directed towards the lonesome figure in the technical area.

By the end of the game they were chanting “Rocky Balboa... Rocky Balboa...” which for many would be an insult in itself.

"Waddaya mean, 'insult'?"

There are signs, however, that Ciro is toughing up.

Having obviously had enough of being a punchbag, he came out swinging when asked where the team could go from here.

Ignoring the fact that finances are a little tight - what with so much investment being ploughed into what will hopefully be a revenue-injecting new stadium - and the fact that the coffers are €50 million or so lighter following the signings of Diego and Felipe Melo, the coach got all punch-drunk on calling for new signings.

NEWS, Thu Jan 14: Ferrara calls for reinforcements

The team does need beefing up.

Considering the number of injuries the squad has had, evidently Rocky hasn't so much been chasing chickens as crucifying black cats.

The total injury count is now north of 40 – granted, David Trezeguet has hogged most of the ailments to himself, but now vying for room on the treatment table are Christian Poulsen (who has a compound fracture) and Juan Martin Caceres (out for a fortnight with a relatively benign thigh strain).

NEWS, Mon Jan 11: Injured Poulsen deepens Juventus misery

"Not again!"

Out in the January marketplace reinforcements are thin on the ground, leaving Roberto Bettega and Alessio Secco scratching in the snow for succour.

Suddenly, Hernan Crespo, Davide Lanzafame and Cristian Ledesma are all deemed worthy of wearing the famous shirt.

In truth, the first is well past it, the second had previously been set adrift by the club and the last has not played all season.

None of these names have gone down well with the fans – and maybe that is why Guus Hiddink has been so reluctant to completely commit himself, despite reportedly being treated by the club hierarchy to a mouth-watering dinner with all the trimmings on Monday.

Maybe it's the reported €5 million salary the Dutchman would like paid into his bank account that is holding the Old Lady back from finally inflicting the knockout blow.

Or maybe they're watching events in Liverpool.

In the meantime, our “Juve Rocky” will have to drag himself off the stool again.

He may yet go the distance, but the odds are stacked against him ever becoming the champ.

NEWS, Tue Jan 12: Ferrara: I'm a fighter, like Rocky
NEWS, Wed Jan 13: Del Piero double eases Juve pain
NEWS, Thu Jan 14: Ferrara calls for reinforcements
BLOG, Mon Jan 11: The bonfire of Juventus vanities
NEWS, Mon Jan 11: Injured Poulsen deepens Juventus misery

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Ronaldinho party-night shock: It's his first in ages

2010-01-13T11:30:00Z

Ronaldinho having scored twice in Turin on Sunday, you'd expect him to have a night out to celebrate.

Of course, that is what the Brazilian party boy did and few should have been surprised – and if an(other) excuse was needed it was also his brother’s birthday.

NEWS, Sun Jan 10: Milan maul toothless Juventus

While the rest of the AC Milan squad headed back home and the prospect of a day off on Monday, Dinho remained in Turin for a night of South American revelry.

BLOG, Mon Jan 11: The bonfire of Juventus vanities

First stop was a Brazilian restaurant and then top nightclub Copa Rio to take to the stage for a session on the drums.

Plenty of Red Bulls were apparently swigged back as the beat went on and a bevy of beauties writhed away to that Samba hit Cem Por Cem.

By all reports a fine old time was had by all and for once Ronnie deserved to indulge himself in his favourite extracurricular activities.

The Italian press were at the their most pious, having secured some grainy mobile phone snaps from the festivities – or a normal Sunday night for the party-loving Brazilians marooned in the chilly north-east of Italy – as our man finally called it a day at 3.30am.

"For you, bro"

Of course, the sight of that toothy grin surrounded by beautiful women in the wee hours would have brought out the green-eyed monster in any red-blooded male – and especially those members of the press who were no doubt tucked up in bed.

It's the proverbial “storm in a coffee cup” considering that we haven’t heard a peep about his new early-to-bed, hard-training regime.

Being a footballer in Italy is akin to being in a religious order, but Ronaldinho never took those vows: when has he ever claimed to possess the self-denial of a monk?

A couple of times in the past he would have benefited from an early night, such as before the Champions League game at Zurich when he was certainly looking a little off colour.

Ron did vow to concentrate on football after that, as he enters the most important phase of his career.

There's a title to win in Italy and a Champions League to chase around the continent – and either (or both) of those prizes would have to put him back in the frame for the World Cup finals.

South Africa would be his third Mondiale finals, and he'll want more of a 2002 re-run than a 2006 repeat – especially as he turns 30 in March.

It seems so long ago...

It has been performances on the pitch rather than the dance floor which have caught the headlines of late, and it's doubtful that he'll receive a ferocious rebuke, as happened last season under Carlo Ancelotti.

Leonardo may not be a kindred spirit but he at least has some empathy with his compatriot and will have seen the change in character and improved fitness first hand over the last few months.

The women, clubs and dancing will always be there but no one should begrudge our frizzy-haired favourite a few boogie nights now and again.

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The bonfire of Juventus vanities

2010-01-11T12:00:00Z

The first fires caught light after the second goal and by the time AC Milan’s third had gone in the bonfires of the Juventus vanities were in full blaze.

It's not as if many saw Ronaldinho round off the humiliation, what with the home penalty area shrouded in a smokescreen as if to hide the embarrassment taking place.

Besides, apart from those keeping the home fires burning, most of the home support had long disappeared into the night.

NEWS, Sun Jan 10: Milan maul toothless Juventus

The burning issue is where does the Old Lady go from here?

Will she drop the dead donkey before meeting the Flying Donkeys next Sunday, or even before taking on Napoli in the Italian Cup on Wednesday?

The problem is that Ciro Ferrara is such a nice guy.

While Leonardo is also a pleasant fellow, he at least has a game-plan and the fortitude to stick by it even through the bad times.

Ferrara has neither a game-plan nor the courage of his convictions to shake things up when he needs to get the best out of his underachieving side.

Which is most of the time.

NEWS, Sun Jan 10: Ferrara refuses to quit Juventus

A case in point was when Alessandro del Piero was thrown into the fray early in the second half.

That made obvious sense, but rather than push Diego up front alongside the isolated Amauri and play the nimble-footed veteran in support, the team only became even further stretched than before.

Diego was exiled to the right wing and ended up more of a bystander than David Beckham had been up until then.

Where previously Juve’s best route back into the game had been Diego’s curling free-kicks into the area, now it was Del Piero hogging the dead ball – and sending his efforts in all directions apart from the goal.

Juventus knocked down by Milan

However, well before Del Piero’s entry the Bianconeri’s play had been littered with flying tackles, long aimless punts and misplaced passes.

Felipe Melo and Christian Poulsen may have won their fair share of possession, but once on the ball there was little in the way of creativity going forward.

You only have to study Amauri’s lack of movement - if compared to Marco Borriello’s willingness to create space - to understand that the whole team is in the grip of a crippling malaise.

Players who should have been darting forward to put the opposition on the back foot were stuck rigid in the middle third of the pitch – not to mention statues when it came to marking at each of the three goals; two of which were from corners where no one had been placed on either front or back posts.

There would have been more movement and quickness of thought from lifeless mannequins, and that's what Juventus currently resemble.

And they desperately need a dresser to give them some semblance of life.

The club initially claimed it wouldn't allow this result to influence its thinking over the short term, but they need to salvage something before it's too late.

That might just mean Roberto Bettega hitting speed-dial to entice a man who just happens to have got back from his holidays in Kenya: Guus Hiddink.

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Is Juve-Milan already a second-place play-off?

2010-01-08T16:00:00Z

It's hard for Juventus and AC Milan to accept having been second best to Inter for such a long period of time.

So acute is the risk of an inferiority complex, it would come as no surprise if the Bianconeri and Rossoneri turned up to this weekend's face-off toting their security blankets.

More than likely a relaxed Jose Mourinho will be sitting with his feet up and 11 points clear at the top (Inter having played bottom-placed Siena earlier in the afternoon) when his two closest title rivals walk out at the grandly-named, but Serie B-sized, Olympic Stadium in Turin.

It may be only January, but time is running out to make the title chase interesting before the last of the snow has melted away Scudetto dreams for another season.

A draw, as they say, does neither side any favours so hopefully both teams will adopt a have-to-win attitude instead of their usual must-not-lose position, which produces nothing more than a war of attrition.

THE MIDWEEK GAMES: BECKS AND (CAT)CALLS

The midweek round got the New Year off to a typically cantankerous start, Inter slipping out of Verona with the boos of the Chievo fans ringing in their ears after the referee missed Ricardo Quaresma punching the ball away in his own area in the dying seconds.

NEWS, Wed Jan 6: Battling Inter win at Chievo

There were boos of a different kind aimed at Mario Balotelli and it doesn’t take much imagination to decipher their nature and intent.

The youngster scored the only goal of the game and apart from kicking the ball away to earn a yellow card, demonstrated resilience under the physical onslaught from the home players and the mental torment from the home fans.

Ironic applause aimed at his tormentors on his substitution earned the teenager a 7,000 Euro fine from the Italian FA for “provoking the crowd.”

NEWS, Fri Jan 8: Inter to appeal Balotelli fine

This one-eyed approach should deter future generations from carrying on the age-old chants and taunts aimed at a player because of his colour - and then hide behind the claim that he brought it on himself with his attitude.

No danger, though, of David Beckham receiving anything but the white noise of endless fawning.

Leonardo pretended to play him on the right of a three-man attack against Genoa, but in reality Becks occupied the role we have all become accustomed to seeing him in – on the right of midfield – doing what we have all become accustomed to seeing him do – crossing the ball.

BLOG, Wed Jan 6: How Becks might struggle to get in Milan's team

Genoa played their part of course with their usual lambs-to-the-slaughter performance away from home – six defeats on the road so far.

Only Udinese and Siena have suffered more from travel sickness.

It was an entertaining 5-2 in the end, but goodness knows what the score would have been if Clarence Seedorf and Alexandre Pato had been playing.

NEWS, Thu Jan 7: Becks shines on Milan return

Milan have claimed that Seedorf will not be fit to face Juve, but they should be doing everything to ensure the speedy Pato starts to keep Fabio Grosso pinned back.

If Beckham does get the nod in that pretend attacking role he could well end up spending more time having to track back and mark the opposing left-back. Milan's young Brazilian would produce the opposite effect.

NEWS, Fri Jan 8: Previews - Beckham likely to keep his place

Juve are of course not soft-centred Genoa and Ciro Ferrara would like nothing better to be going toe-to-toe with the likes of Massimo Ambrosini and Rino Gattuso, knowing that Christian Poulsen and Felipe Melo are their equals when it comes to the physical dust-up.

Both sides may have the appetite for the battle but are they hungry enough to win?

If not, then a certain Portuguese will be a very contented man on Sunday evening.

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Becks is back – but can't get in Milan's team

2010-01-06T13:30:00Z

It's so good to have David Beckham back to sweep away the January blues.

There he is, smiling away in a manner only the recession-proofed or the simple-minded can get away with – bringing cheer to one and all during his week or so back in Italy.

Unfortunately his bid to win over Fabio Capello could well be scuppered – by AC Milan.

Well, Leonardo anyway.

Having seemingly won his gamble to revamp Carlo Ancelotti’s tired, old system, the Brazilian can now phase out a few of the old guard in January and get on with rebuilding the team in his own image.

Clearly Beckham does not come into the long-term thinking – or, it seems, the short term either.

Even if Silvio Berlusconi is currently keeping his mouth shut for once – not through choice, it has to be said – he no doubt expects such a star name to be playing regularly.

The question is: Where?

There have been suggestions that he could be the answer to the Rossoneri’s troublesome right-back position.

Whatever one thinks about Becks, popping up at right-back does not immediately spring to mind.

"Where d'you want me, y'know?"

Certainly occupying such a role at club level would harm his chances of heading off to South Africa in the summer.

Leonardo might try to side-step the issue by claiming he's well stocked at full-back, but with Massimo Oddo currently out injured there is only one natural right-back in the squad – Gianluca Zambrotta, who has spent more time on the left of late.

Switching Beckham into an unfamiliar role just to ensure that his name is on the team-sheet is a recipe for disaster and could well undo the progress made by the team up until now.

Ignazio Abate has been converted from a wide midfielder into that position, but what he lacks in relevant experience he makes up for in blistering pace – which has been crucial on the rare occasions when Alessandro Nesta has been caught on the hop.

There may be other berths for Becks.

It seems that the club have decided that the best course of action is to "rest" either Clarence Seedorf or Andrea Pirlo as a precaution against aggravating “niggling” injuries.

"Oh, hello, here he comes"

Even then the Englishman doesn't seem a ready-made replacement for either.

He certainly doesn't have the smoothness going forward that is such a feature of Seedorf’s game, or the ability to remain in front of the back four to allow play to be built around him, which is Pirlo’s forte.

That leaves the most natural option as doing the donkey work alongside Pirlo, although it would leave club captain Massimo Ambrosini and vice-captain Rino Gattuso feeling more than slightly miffed if they were left out.

"Is he behind me, Rino?"

True, Gattuso has been marginalised of late – partly through injury and partly through Leonardo flexing his managerial muscle in a show of strength after Rino lost the plot in the derby – but there is no doubting his commitment if given a chance.

Ambrosini, meanwhile, is having probably the best run of form in his career – thanks in part to his acknowledgement that he can't pass the ball like Pirlo, so all he needs to do is win it and lay it off.

Will Becks be able to handle that role? And if not, will it unbalance Milan at such a crucial stage of the season?

The answer to what happened against Genoa is already out there (or will be if you are reading late on Wednesday), but there is still Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina coming up to test Leonardo’s resolve and how best to integrate Italy’s favourite Englishman.

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Juve's return to dark ages deserves to fail

2010-01-04T10:30:00Z

The last decade was dominated by Calciopoli and as a new decade starts, a central figure of the match-fixing scandal is back in the game.

Along with “Lucky” Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo, Roberto Bettega was part of the all-powerful, all-scheming triad that held sway over Italian football for many years.

Bettega may have been cleared of being a naughty boy, but the old silver fox will forever be associated with the grubby side of the game.

Juve sneaked the slippery customer in through the back door when the whole of the country was still digesting Christmas lunch, and his irony-free statement that the “true” Juventus would soon return has sent a icy chill down the spines of all football followers.

The “true” Juventus? So much for turning over a new leaf by ushering in a new clean-cut organisation.

(L to R) Bettega, Moggi and Giraudo, cornered in a lift

There have been reports that Bettega has already apparently been on the phone to Uzbekistan to check on Luiz Felipe Scolari’s availability.

If that drew a blank then there is always that other rent-a-coach Guus Hiddink, who may even be holed up in Turin at this very moment – and deepening the intrigue is the case of reported transfer target Rafinha going AWOL from Schalke at the turn of the new year.

Poor old Ciro Ferrara has already had his confidence shot to pieces even before a dismal year ended with a home defeat to bottom side Catania.

The dreaded vote of confidence from the suave Jean-Claude Blanc, who has been paving the way for Bettega’s return since the start of the season, will have done little to calm Ciro, who looks like the proverbial 'dead man walking'.

It should be a short walk as well.

With defeat at Parma on Wednesday bringing the axe down on the loyal club servant’s time at the top table, word has it he will probably be offered a role back with the youth set-up.

However, it's thought that he will choose to leave the club altogether, instead returning to Marcello Lippi’s Italy set-up for the World Cup.

So not all bad then for Ciro, but even with Bettega back and apparently already attempting to pull the strings, the world has moved on and the Old Lady will not be receiving any favours in 2010.

Back in third place and now nine points off Inter, the Bianconeri may be less concerned with catching the champions than holding off the chasing pack; there are certainly enough sides beginning to run into form.

Heading the pursuers are AS Roma – who of course just happen to be under the tutelage of Claudio Ranieri, unceremoniously dumped last season by Blanc and his cohorts.

The likes of Napoli, Fiorentina, Palermo and even Genoa also now look well-equipped to mount a challenge – and here's hoping so, because Juve’s decision to delve into their murky past does not deserve to succeed.

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The Serie A team of the decade

2009-12-31T11:30:00Z

Serie Aaaaargh! casts a rose-tinted look back over a decade for the ultimate team that would do Serie A proud: The Noughties XI.

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon has maintained his high standards throughout the decade, overcoming troublesome injuries along the way and staying loyal to Juventus to boot.

Right-back: Marcos Cafu kept the pendolino on track after winning the title with AS Roma by extending his career through to 2008 with AC Milan, lifting another title and the Champions League.

Central defender: Alessandro Nesta's cool exterior always belied a steely resolve in the best traditions of the Italian defender. In his prime the Roman’s speed and astute reading of the game left many of the best attacking talents impotent.

Central defender: Fabio Cannavaro was a one-man defensive colossus both for club and country who hardly ever lost an aerial challenge or was out-witted in a one-on-one situation. May have left Italy in the wake of Calciopoli but had already given his best years to his homeland.

Left-back: Paolo Maldini may have ended his career in the centre of defence but it is the marauding runs and cool flick along the flank which will forever live in the memory of a man who is simply The Legend. Team captain, of course.

Right midfield: Javier Zanetti could cover the whole right side without ever getting a hair out of place. Still keeping the Inter engine room stoked without missing a game in the last three years.

Holding midfielder: Andrea Pirlo is one of the most complete players of his generation, combining pinpoint passing and deadly accuracy at set-pieces with limpet-like control.

Left midfield: Pavel Nedved was the heartbeat of Juventus throughout the decade – and how the Old Lady could do with his invention and non-stop running now.

Attacking midfielder: Ricky Kaka arrived at AC Milan with the air of an engineering student and left as the epitome of the attacking midfielder – speed, grace and an unerring eye for goal.

Forward: Francesco Totti led AS Roma to the title at the start of the decade and then remained in the capital to carry his aching limbs through the next 10 years and still has that X factor – the ability to score his fair share of goals.

Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have only been around for half a decade and went missing in Europe, but on the domestic front the big Swede stood head and shoulders over the rest.

Substitutes: Sebastien Frey, Lilian Thuram, Emerson, Alex Del Piero, Andriy Shevchenko

Coach: Anyone who could turn AS Roma into champions deserves to lead the team, so the honour goes to Fabio Capello.

Of course there are many others for whom an argument can be made to be included so feel free to post your own starting XI...

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Man City's Mancini the latest Italian import

2009-12-21T09:30:00Z

As exiles go it was beginning to take on Napoleonic proportions, but after 18 months sailing around the Mediterranean and healing the scars inflicted at Inter, Roberto Mancini is back.

Unfortunately, we won't see him in Italy reaping revenge on his old club – and how Juventus could use his fiery passion now.

But instead his equally suave ways are following the brain drain to England.

Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti, Gianfranco Zola and now Mancio: the English have truly been blessed, and if things are not going well on the pitch at least Italian style is in vogue on the management front.

It's not just sartorial sense that Manchester City are buying into but the whole bespoke package that not only made Mancini a flamboyant character on the pitch, but also garnered three Italian league titles as a coach.

Along the way he dragged Inter out of the long shadow cast by city neighbours AC Milan – something he will attempt to repeat in Manchester - and in the process got the best out of the temperamental Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"Nice work, son"

Not that the king of the back-heel has been immune from the odd public meltdown himself.

No doubt he has relived the outburst after the Champions League exit to Liverpool that enabled Massimo Moratti to seal his fate in favour of Jose Mourinho, and compared it to the way Mark Hughes looks to have taken the behind-the-back moves to oust him.

Hopefully our man will have learnt from the past that clothes alone do not make the man, but certainly his experience at turning around useless causes will be invaluable.

Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter were perfect proving grounds on what it's like to work under pressure.

He learnt a lot from Sven-Göran Eriksson, who promoted him from player to assistant at Lazio in what Italians would call predestinato – a double-edged word meaning either destined for greatness or someone who is taken care of and never has to want for anything.

The latter will certainly be true at City, but the Mancini of today is definitely his own man or more pointedly willing to listen to a select few within a close and guarded inner circle.

"One day, son, Manchester City will be yours"

He will have his closest confidants Fausto Salsano and Andrea Carminati alongside him – the latter his tactical sounding board, the former a fitness specialist who worked with Eriksson during the Swede’s spell in charge of England.

Brian Kidd must attempt to exert some influence over this tight-knit triumvirate, who will no doubt be carrying out their most meticulous plans in their native tongue.

City may continue to entertain and play slick football but the devil will be in the detail as Mancini follows the old Italian coaching dictum that it is the result that counts.

Every player from Fernando Torres to Franck Ribery has been linked with City now, but people here are wondering if Mancini will not make a cheeky bid for Mario Balotelli – at least on a loan deal to the end of the season.

Then again, maybe not – Italian football cannot afford to start losing its brightest young playing talent, as well as the coaching faculty.

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Downbeat Italians fear Champions League foes

2009-12-18T16:00:00Z

Now we know what Silvio Berlusconi felt like when he was walloped with a model of Milan cathedral.

No doubt Jose Mourinho and Leonardo had a similar look of utter shock and disbelief when the names of Chelsea and Manchester United were drawn out by Emile Butragueno.

On the face of it, it looks likes another bloodied nose for Serie A in the Champions League, and the groans around the city of Milan all but spoilt Friday lunchtime.

A quick straw-poll found the fans of both teams staring gloomily into their plates of pasta, with the general consensus being: “We’re out.”

Well, what do you expect if you don’t finish top of your group – but then again look at Fiorentina’s opponents: Bayern Munich qualified with a 4-1 away win. Against Juventus.

Maybe the only ones smiling were Juve – consigned to the Europa League (and facing Ajax), they can concentrate on their domestic form, although the reaction to the main draw suggested that Inter, Milan and Fiorentina can do likewise.

There's no use getting our noses out of joint, but Italian football has become conditioned to fearing the worst after last year’s debacle in the Champions League.

Evoking the romance - if we can use such a term - of the encounters facing the Milanese clubs did little to lighten the mood around the lunch table.

David Beckham back at Old Trafford... “So what? He’s only at Milan for a few months.”

What about Jose Mourinho striding out at Stamford Bridge, then? “Would have been better at Seville or Bordeaux.”

Suddenly, everyone has lost their appetite for the battle ahead just because the little balls didn’t pop out the way they should have.

However, like the dear prime minister, it may be best to lie low for a while and take stock of what's ahead come February and March – at least Inter, Milan and Fiorentina know what lies in wait.

It will be interesting to see if Massimo Moratti will now loosen the purse strings and allow Mourinho to bring in a few new signings to ensure that the Nerazzurri have cover through the early part of the year - what with Samuel Eto’o and Sulley Muntari heading to the African Cup of Nations.

AC Milan have maintained that Beckham will be their only addition in January, and although they creaked like an old door last time out at Zurich, Leonardo can still draw heart from a vintage Rossoneri performance in Madrid.

Fiorentina could have expected something a little kinder than the Bundesliga giants who seem to be running into form, but at least Cesare Prandelli has seen his side produce excellent performances at home to Liverpool and Lyon in the competition so far.

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Christmas tiff but Jose won't be storming out

2009-12-16T11:30:00Z

Christmas came early for Jose Mourinho on Tuesday when he finally got what he always wanted: a press conference without the press.

Well, almost.

There was a sparse gathering for what was the pre-game media gathering ahead of tonight’s Italian Cup tie with Livorno – not that anyone was interested in the game.

The majority of journalists had boycotted the Special One in protest at a reported fracas with one of their own after Sunday’s draw at Atalanta – and they sent one attack dog to tear into the defendant.

A bit of back story: Mourinho had just boarded the team coach for the trip back to Milan when he spotted journalist Andrea Ramazzotti hanging about nearby.

Believing that the Corriere dello Sport writer shouldn't be anywhere near his players, he got off the bus and fired off a volley of industrial language – something he does not deny.

Then, according to Ramazotti, Mourinho man-handled him – something the manager does deny.

Of course, it was just what the media and especially the dailies were waiting for: Mourinho Attacks Poor Defenceless Journo.

The problem was that Ramazzotti was doing nothing wrong, having been invited by Inter’s own press office to grab a few quotes off the players to then hand out to his colleagues.

A little more communication within the club could have averted what was by all reports an ugly incident, especially to those of a sensitive disposition.

The club have since apologised, although our fiery little fellow has refused to offer any glad tidings of great joy but claimed he would be happy to speak to Ramazzotti in private – although hopefully with a few witnesses present.

In the meantime, there's little chance of Mourinho jumping off the bus, despite studied editorials that he is trying to “manufacture” an escape from Italy.

This seems highly unlikely as long as Inter have a chance of winning the Champions League.

The domestic title looks on the cards again, what with AC Milan and Juventus contriving to lose whenever Inter slip up, as was the case at the weekend.

And, of course, he's the highest-paid coach in the world – and with Massimo Moratti having been forced into extending his deal to ward off Real Madrid, he would like some sort of return on his investment.

There's little or no chance that relations between Mourinho and the local press will ever be anything other than frosty, but if our man did up sticks and leave, they would be the first to miss him.

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Old Lady set to sleep with the enemy

2009-12-14T11:00:00Z

We all know the ancient proverb, my enemy’s enemy is my friend – and of course the old sporting favourite: stranger things have happened in football.

So, uniting such words of wisdom we come up with the unlikely name of Roberto Mancini as the next Juventus coach.

The rumours have been flying around the press rooms of all the major dailies in the country that the former Inter man is set to end his exile from the game.

Juve’s de facto PR broadsheet Tuttosport have ventured to 'speculate' that contact has been made with the man who, on the face of it, the Old Lady would least likely to be seen in public with.

Whatever has gone on between the pair in the past can be put to one side as the club finally attempts to crawl out of the long shadow cast by Luciano Moggi.

If the current freefall continues against Catania next weekend, then the winter-break presents the ideal opportunity to part with the lurid past completely.

Not only will Ciro Ferrara be swept out the door, but also just about anyone else associated with the dark days of calciopoli

This would include Moggi protégé Alessio Secco, who has been taking the flak for the catastrophic transfer campaign.

Of course, if Mancini were to replace Ferrara then that would also close off any route for Marcello Lippi to return to the cushy number of director of football he has been angling for after the World Cup.

Depending on how things pan out in South Africa – such as reaching the semi-finals – then Lippi may decide to remain for a tilt at Euro 2012 or leave Cesare Prandelli to step into the top job - hence the reason Luciano Spalletti decided to chase the rouble with Zenit.

Plenty of speculation and intrigue then, but it is back at Juventus where the ever-evolving crisis needs to be tackled head on.

Would the arrival of such a nemesis in Mancini be the smart move?

Well, he is a title winner and a man who speaks his mind so already is well ahead of the present incumbent.

Apparently, Mancio would jump at the chance if there was not a speck of the messy past lying around, and he had a clean slate to rebuild the club’s fortunes over a two-year period.

If such a hypothesis was to reach fruition, then the remainder of this season would be spent ensuring Champions League football, possibly a trophy – be it the Italian Cup or Europa League – but more than anything else bringing about a period of much-needed stability.

Head of operations Jean Claude Blanc appears to be tired of the smell of the old regime hanging around, and would welcome nothing more than to get on with overseeing the finishing touches to the new stadium, inciting sponsors back and generally concentrating on the commercial side of the operation.

Transfer affairs and general player relations would fall to Giuseppe Marotta, who has been overseeing business at Sampdoria.

And who has been his biggest signing? Yes, Antonio Cassano. And who is a big fan of the Bari Bawler?

Just imagine it, Mancini and Cassano in bed with the Old Lady - now that’s something the late Gianni Agnelli would have really got a kick out of.

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Third-rate Italy must reject past to improve future

2009-12-10T11:00:00Z

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS involving Italian teams: Juventus 1-4 Bayern Munich, Inter Milan 2-0 Rubin Kazan, Liverpool 1-2 Fiorentina, FC Zurich 1-1 AC Milan

Italy has finally found its place in Europe: providing possible finalists for the Europa League.

Last season’s debacle in the Champions League – the first time in seven years the country hasn't had a representative in the quarter-finals – was only the beginning of a crisis in Italian football that is set to get a lot worse.

There are no green shoots of recovery on the horizon – and what’s the betting there will only be three Italian representatives in a few year’s time?

Three out of four may have made it through to the knock-out stages but they don’t look equipped for the long haul to Madrid – even if Fiorentina were well worth their victory at Liverpool, which probably says more about the poor state of the English team.

The Viola’s progress has been something of a miracle considering their limited squad, and they deserve to be the last side standing for Serie A even if their top-spot finish hasn't done Inter and AC Milan any favours in the draw.

Juventus, for their part, are on their knees – losing 4-1 at home to Bayern Munich when a draw would have seen them through says everything that needs to be said about the state of the game in Italy.

NEWS: Ferrara frets after Bayern bashing

No leadership on or off the pitch, an approach so edgy that it would leave the Dalai Lama uptight and purported big names failing to live up to their hype.

There's never any middle ground in Italy: things are either bella or bruta – the good or bad if you like, but more and more so, just the ugly.

Legrottaglie and Marchisio: Good? Bad? Ugly?

Juve were competitive for the first 10 minutes and even took the lead – only to capitulate in spectacular fashion, with Ciro Ferrara watching on without making one tactical change when the Germans started flexing their considerable muscles.

Maybe he felt obliged to keep around €50 million worth of wasted transfer money on the pitch – but how Felipe Melo or Diego were not withdrawn from the fray earlier beggars belief, as the Brazilian pair lost possession just about every time they received the ball.

Of course, the blame doesn't lie solely with the two new arrivals, but the failure to escape the group will have devastating repercussions on the club finances.

Still reeling from the Calciopoli scandal - with sponsors slow to be associated with a game still seen as grubby - the club were pinning their hopes on a good run in Europe to raise not only their profile but the share price, which on Wednesday morning was at a four-month low.

AC Milan may be having a positive run but it’s a creaking ship with the only youngster in the team – Ignazio Abate – a world away from some of the luminaries who have played along the Rossoneri's right flank.

NEWS: Ronaldinho spot on as Milan qualify

Come January, David Beckham will provide some glamour and fill some San Siro seats, but it is only a sideways move on the pitch.

For the do-or-die encounter with the mediocre Rubin Kazan, Inter didn’t even bother trying to fill the ground – in an attempt to generate some atmosphere closer to the pitch, they closed the third tier.

At least Jose Mourinho gave Mario Balotelli a start and the youngster netted the second goal.

NEWS: Inter beat Rubin to reach knockouts

However, the irritable Portuguese summed up how he feels about Italian football when he dismissed what club legend Sandro Mazzola had ventured in the build-up: exit from the Champions League would make the coach’s position untenable.

“What does Mazzola do at Inter?” sneered the ever so touchy Jose.

Maybe he was right to belittle what went before because Italian football needs to find a new way to face the future.

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Italian football loses face behind the ugly mask

2009-12-07T15:00:00Z

RESULTS: Sun Dec 6 Bologna 2 v 1 Udinese Fiorentina 2 v 0 Atalanta Genoa 2 v 2 Parma Livorno 0 v 2 Chievo Napoli 3 v 2 Bari Palermo 2 v 1 Cagliari Roma 1 v 0 Lazio Siena 3 v 2 Catania Sat Dec 5 Juventus 2 v 1 Internazionale Milan 3 v 0 Sampdoria

For a country where it's enormously enormous to put on a good face on all occasions - no matter how inappropriate it may be - football was wearing the ugly mask at the weekend.

No one came out of what passed for a football match in Turin on Saturday evening with much credit - the only shining moment during a grey contest coming from Claudio Marchisio’s quick feet and sublime finish for the winner.

We were back in the dark ages of the Italian game as Juventus and Inter kicked, dived, headed-butted and generally scuffled their way around the pitch.

We even had the unsavoury sight of Gigi Buffon losing his renowned Ital-cool – surely the first time a man wearing hairclips has been involved in an on-pitch melée.

Mario Balotelli isn't even out of his teens but is already a master of the dark arts of faking an elbow to the face: Felipe Melo had clearly caught the youngster in the chest with the sort of power that would hardly knock the breath from a gnat.

To cap it all, Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands for applauding the referee – he should really understand by now that irony and Italian officials do not make good bedfellows.

Our man now has the look of someone who knows he'll win the war but has lost the will for the never-ending battle of all things Italian.

He will have everyone on his back again for refusing to attend the post-game media interrogation – but then he has brought it upon himself with what seems an ever-diminishing fund of enthusiasm.

And it had all started in typical Italian manner – the bella figura of everyone hugging each other before the kick-off, although that was probably to check out if there were any daggers hidden up the backs of shirts and inside pockets.

On the whole, Juve deserved victory for dominating the midfield in a manner that we have not witnessed all season.

Too many Inter players were too busy becoming involved in niggling little personal spats while Marchisio, in particular, went about his game with a calm assurance that should make the 23-year-old a mainstay for club and country for years to come.

Down in the capital, on-pitch thuggery in the derby is more commonplace – but at least the Romans make no bones about the fact that their Roma-Lazio dust-up is the modern equivalent of a day out at the Coliseum.

However, for a while it looked as if the fervour associated with such occasions was as prevalent as the Roman Empire itself.

The only fireworks were in the stands which led to the game being suspended for around five minutes.

An appeal to those mischief-makers never materialised as the PA system in the Olympic Stadium packed in - so after much discussion on the sidelines play continued as if nothing had happened.

The incident did little to disrupt the languid flow of the game, but at least those on the pitch had the good grace to wait until the final whistle to starting pushing and shoving.

The matchwinner came from the most unlikely of sources: substitute Marco Cassetti, whose season up until then had been remembered for making Diego look good, back in the second game of the campaign.

Roma also had goalkeeper Julio Sergio to thank for a stunning reflex save from Stefano Mauri’s close-range effort when the result was still goalless.

The upshot is that the Giallorossi are in striking distance of the top four while their neighbours are a point above the relegation zone, with coach Davide Ballardini surely only hours away from the chop.

The Italian interpretation of what constitutes “Fair Play” was nicely highlighted in a Serie B game this weekend, which is worth watching.

Ascoli were at home to Reggina and a visiting defender attempted to kick the ball out so he could receive treatment, only for the opposition to ignore the appeal and score.

All hell, of course, broke loose and the home side were “shamed” into allowing Reggina to equalise – this after Reggina had set about a few of the opposing players like a pack of wild dogs.

Dignity in Italian sport has long disappeared – but now, it seems, is putting on a “good face.”

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Old Lady must play mother of all games to beat Inter

2009-12-04T14:00:00Z

Juventus are loved and loathed in equal measure throughout Italy.

But the fear is that if they do not take something from Inter at the weekend then the fat, rather than the old, Signora can start tuning up her voice.

Anyone without an interest in Inter will be hoping that Old Lady luck will favour Juve’s, but the manner in which the old dear has been approaching the encounter suggests she will be happy to escape with her dignity intact.

Two consecutive defeats and doubts over whether Ciro Ferrara will last much longer, it is no wonder the club have withdrawn the players and management from the media glare, leaving Jose Mourinho to call the shots.

However, even our man from Setubal has had the good grace to hold his own counsel until the pre-game press conference at least.

It is hard to believe that there is a World Cup finals draw today and a Rome derby on Sunday, such has been the hype surrounding the build-up to the ‘Derby of Italy’.

But don’t believe the hype. This game has all the makings of a winter’s night in northern Italy – damp and uninspiring – unless Juve can finally find a way out of the tactical maze they have become lost in.

There was a time when you knew where you were with the old black and whites: they had four men in midfield and two up-front - even Claudio Ranieri felt no need to tinker with the tired and tested.

Now under Ferrara we have all manner of formations – and all to facilitate Diego so that the Brazilian can have the freedom to do whatever he is meant to do, which is what exactly?

The time has now come to forget building the team around the new man and instead get him to construct his game around the team.

Mourinho seems unlikely to risk Wesley Sneijder breaking down again, so it will be one of those hit-and-run operations that have certainly brought Inter plenty of success on the domestic front.

However, they have been susceptible to pacy and mobile attackers so Ferrara has to go with two strikers: Amauri and Alessandro Del Piero.

Suddenly you have some names out there who can cause Lucio and Walter Samuel a few problems.

Diego can play in behind the front-two, with Claudio Marchisio and Mohamed Sissoko in the holding roles, leaving Mauro Camoranesi to patrol the right-flank.

There is enough talent going forward to cause the visitors problems and there must be no fear in taking the game to the old enemy.

Having said that the home side must be wary of the sucker punch, and Fabio Cannavaro needs to ensure there is no slackness in his game as well as that of his fellow defenders.

No doubt Inter will be content to stifle, but if Diego - playing at the tip of the diamond - can link up with Del Piero then maybe the Old Lady can breathe new life back into the championship race.

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Why Balotelli would welcome a move to Arsenal

2009-12-02T11:00:00Z

No man is received as a prophet in his own land, so the homily goes.

The way events are supposedly unfolding, Mario Balotelli is set to be dismissed in Italy as someone frittering away their talent only to be hailed as a star turn in England.

For someone who cannot hold down a regular place for his team and seems unlikely to figure from the start when Inter face Juventus at the weekend, the 19-year-old still has a knack of making headlines.

Most of them he would prefer not to be plastered over the front pages.

Like “Anti-Balotelli chants will see Olimpico closed” in reference to the chorus of abuse Juventus fans have aimed at the player in recent games - with racist undertones.

Or like “Balotelli booted out” – the suggestion that the youngster was dropped from the squad for last weekend’s game against Fiorentina because he turned up late for training after a night at a Brescia nightclub.

It seems the young fellow can do no right whether he's playing or not – and now it seems that he cannot wait to escape the goldfish bowl of his homeland.

Where better to fit in and become one of the crowd than in London, and where better to launch a new career than under the guidance of a coach famous for nurturing young talent?

This is, of course, where Arsenal and Arsene Wenger come in.

It is the sort of two-and-two any football fan would put together, so it's no surprise that Juventus mouthpiece Tuttosport went with the flier in the build-up to the most emotionally-charged weekend of the season.

The Turin-based daily must be dancing with glee that their mischief-making not only had everyone taking a nibble but swallowing it hook, line and sinker, especially the bit about the 20 million euro offer price and Cesc Fabregas thrown in for good measure.

As any Londoner may or not say: “Are you having a laugh?”

Certainly Inter would love to have Fabregas in their side – but then so would Barcelona and Real Madrid, along with any club in Europe.

The genuinely worrying aspect is that all the speculation surrounding Balotelli could well become a self-fulfilling prophecy and he will walk away from Italian football as a snub to its ingratitude.

You couldn’t blame him for holding a grudge, what with even some of his own fans claiming they wouldn’t even mind if he moved to AC Milan – the team he apparently supported as a youngster.

He'd certainly have no qualms telling Jose Mourinho he was off: the pair have a relationship more in keeping with the evil step-father and an unwanted adolescent hanging around the house from the previous marriage.

There may be few tears if the prodigy left for pastures new, but in the long run Italian football would probably end up sobbing if the best player of his generation makes the most of his talent far from these shores.

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Genoa slap Samp into submission in derby

2009-11-30T14:00:00Z

The city of Genoa hasn't witnessed such carnage since the G8 summit back in 2001.

On a night of high emotion at the Marassi stadium, Genoa slapped Sampdoria into submission in one of the most one-sided derbies of all time.

You just knew that there was only going to be one winner after a couple of minutes, when Antonio Cassano was left on his posterior for the third time and looked forlornly to the Samp bench.

“I can’t play like this,” he pleaded.

“Welcome to our house,” was the collective reply from the Rossoblu contingent, who have always considered their neighbours a bunch of whiners.

Genoa had the edge and won the war even before the battle had really begun, but it wasn’t just a case of kicking anyone in blue: victory was also built around the astute tactics of Gian Pier Gasperini.

Rather than field an out-and-out striker like Hernan Crespo or Sergio Flocarri, Gasperini caught his opposite number Luigi Del Neri completely on the hop by fielding three attacking midfielders in more advanced positions.

He then ensured that each component of the team – the defence, midfield and attack – was never more than 10 metres apart.

There was no room for Cassano to turn and run at goal while Raffaele Palladino, Giuseppe Sculli and Rodrigo Palacio popped up all over the front line.

The Samp defence was stretched to breaking point and it was no surprise that the latter pair combined to set up the opener when Palacio was fouled in the area.

Even going a man down just before the break, when Giuseppe Biava received a second yellow card, failed to dampened their ardour for the scrap.

We've all heard the joke about going to a fight and a ice-hockey match breaking out, and for a time it seemed we were set for the football equivalent.

But Genoa came out for the second half and started playing the ball around as if the previous 45 minutes of battering had never occurred.

Penalty scorer Omar Milanetto set up Marco Rossi and suddenly it was 2-0 and a real humiliation was on the cards for softened-up Samp.

Milanetto may not be a name familiar to many: at 33, he has spent most of his career kicking about in the provinces and doesn't possess the physique of the modern-day footballing Dionysus.

But there cannot be a better deep-lying playmaker in Italian football at the moment.

Like an over-zealous defence lawyer he was there pleading leniency whenever the opposition demanded a card for a foul by one of his team-mates.

Along with Ivan Juric and captain Rossi, the hirsute midfielder kept the heart of the team pumping - and throughout the 90 minutes the rate never dropped below rapid.

The game was summed perfectly in the final moments: with the score 3-0 and Samp down to nine men after frustration had got the better of Marco Rossi and Fabrizio Cacciatore, one would have thought that the fires of fervour would have finally been extinguished.

The Genoa bench were either baiting Cassano or hugging each other, but Gasperini was screaming at his players on the pitch: “Don’t concede a goal, don’t concede a goal…”

Was ever a derby rival so sweetly and so brutally conquered?

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Ill winds blow no good for Juventus or Inter

2009-11-27T14:00:00Z

The first of the winter winds are sweeping down from the mountains and a chilly blast can be felt in the centre of Milan, in the halls of Inter’s headquarters.

Reporters from the local media outlets have been hanging around the splendid Via Durini palazzo in the hope of cornering Massimo Moratti and leading him down the path of dropping some hint that Jose Mourinho’s time in charge is coming to an end.

Moratti’s gruff utterances suggest that although all is not well in the house of Inter, it would seem that the Portuguese is safe as long as the Champions League dream remains alive.

However, he couldn't resist a dig at his not-so-special No.1 and indicated that the team’s mindset needed to be little more on the task at hand – implying that Mourinho had been at fault in his preparation for the trip to Barcelona.

As we have seen, apart from Fiorentina’s stirring efforts, the road to the Bernabeu could yet be littered with Italian wrecks before the end of the year, so better to turn to the comforts of home – and the return to Serie A action.

As the fates would have it, it is the Viola who arrive at the San Siro this weekend and no doubt Mourinho has had his assorted South Americans and Europeans on a diet of blood-dripping, red meat after they lost their appetite for the fight at the Nou Camp.

The schoolyard bullying tactics should be enough to regain their battered self-esteem, although there seems little to fear from the supposed title contenders.

Neither Juventus nor AC Milan are equipped for the long haul, and the latter look on the brink of a meltdown to mimic the one which derailed their chances of mounting a title challenge last season.

Ciro Ferrara is on a steep and taxing learning curve.

He has to find a system to bring the best out of Diego – but did we see the Brazilian's best in the Bundesliga last year?

Could it be that he is not the €25 million he's cracked up to be?

Let’s hope that's not the case, but certainly there is a noticeable straining of relations between the player and coach with each passing week.

After the dismal outing at Bordeaux, Diego committed the sin (in Italy anyway) of questioning the “mister’s” tactics.

It may be a valid point, even if the club would have preferred if it had been said in private.

Ferrara has not helped his cause by proclaiming that his Juve would play in a style more akin to Spain – making the ball do the work and dragging the opposition all over the pitch before delivering the coup de grace.

In fact, it is possession that the team have been unable to master.

Momo Sissoko has never been considered a great passer; that is Felipe Melo’s stock in trade, but the Brazilian has been well off the pace - neither a deep-lying playmaker nor a ball-winner.

The talent is there and in Ferrara’s defence, injuries to key personnel such as Alex Del Piero and Claudio Marchisio have hindered the development of his 4-2-3-1 formation.

A further setback at Cagliari this weekend will leave Ferrara with little option but to re-examine his approach to Inter the following week.

Maybe he will have to ditch flair for force, or face self-destruction.

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Fighting Fiorentina flourish, arrogant Inter fail

2009-11-25T10:00:00Z

While one team rose to the occasion, the other fell well short of great expectations. That just about sums up Fiorentina and Inter’s Champions League performances.

The Nerazzurri will point out that defeat at the Nou Camp wasn't fatal to their chances of progress, but it was another lacklustre showing against a high-profile European rival who even left their two star performers out of the starting line-up.

Where Inter fall down is that they don't have anyone to step in when a potential matchwinner is unavailable, as was the case with Wesley Sneijder last night.

Maybe Jose Mourinho would have risked the playmaker if qualification was on the line – as it now is against Rubin Kazan in a fortnight – but in terms of individual quality, man-for-man Inter are well behind the Catalans.

The likes of Thiago Motta, Maicon, Julio Cesar et al may impress in Italy but outside the confines of Serie A they are left wanting.

Domestic success seems to have taken away the edge that even Roberto Mancini’s team had when they made their fruitless tilts at European glory.

Fiorentina, for their part, proved on an emotionally draining evening against Lyon that the sum of the whole is greater than its parts.

Cesare Prandelli was shorn of Adrian Mutu and Stevan Jovetic for the game of his managerial career, but what his chosen 11 lacked in individual skill they more than made up for in unstinting team-work and a desire to see the job done rather than risk a final stand-off with Liverpool.

It is the first time in a decade that the Tuscans have reached the knockout stage, and the breakthrough can only increase the feeling within the club that they can become the a genuine fourth power in Italy.

No one deserves this moment more than Prandelli, whose man-management has transformed the careers of the likes of Alberto Gilardino, Riccardo Montolivo and Juan Vargas – not to mention giving Mutu the chance to resurrect his fading fortunes.

Would Prandelli have produced a better performance from Mourinho’s charges last night?

Well, they may not wear purple but Inter believe they are aristocracy. However, sometimes a more humbling approach can pay off.

It's doubtful that an Inter team managed by Prandelli would have strutted on to the pitch expecting to be handed the keys to the castle.

He knows that they have to be earned – and all of Italy should be proud that the representative least expected to make the last 16 are across the line first.

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Nervous midweek for Italian teams in Europe

2009-11-23T14:00:00Z

RESULTS: Sun Nov 22 Juventus 1-0 Udinese, Livorno 2-1 Genoa, Sampdoria 2-1 Chievo, Napoli 0-0 Lazio, Siena 0-2 Atalanta, AS Roma 3-1 Bari, Palermo 1-1 Catania, AC Milan 4-3 Cagliari. Sat Nov 21 Fiorentina 2-3 Parma, Bologna 1-3 Internazionale

Italy’s four representatives are handily placed to ensure that Serie A will have their full complement of teams through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

However, at a crucial stage with two games remaining, all four need to hold their nerve – and that may be the undoing of Fiorentina.

The Viola were taught a lesson at home to Parma at the weekend: sometimes it's better to settle for what you have rather than go hell for leather for the winner.

Having gone ahead twice through the impressive Alberto Gilardino – surely the new Filippo Inzaghi, minus the diving and put-upon expression – they were pegged back on both occasions before being drawn into the visitors' defensive web to be hit on the counter-attack.

Expectations are high in Florence, with the city decked out in purple for the game against Lyon – who are the past masters of pouring cold water on any celebration.

It will be the biggest test of Cesare Prandelli’s managerial career so far; without possibly Stevan Jovetic and definitely Adrian Mutu, the coach needs the less well-known players to remain composed against dangerous opponents.

No such stage fright should befall Inter - and ‘Bring on Barcelona’ would have been the chant on the team coach on the way back from Bologna on Saturday evening.

Jose Mourinho’s men had just the sort of run-out they would have desired before the more demanding surroundings of the Nou Camp.

The Portuguese knows those surroundings very well and he will have to ensure the mental attitude of his players is iron-set on not conceding any advantage to the Catalans.

Maicon is the weak link when it comes to psychological preparation, as witnessed by his needless sending-off at Bologna for a foul-mouthed rant at the referee’s assistant in injury-time.

The Brazilian’s phlegm-filled outburst may land him with a two or three-game ban; even a two-gamer would rule the full-back out of the Juventus showdown on Saturday December 5.

Mario Balotelli is another player of questionable temperament.

Although he had a decent outing at Bologna, the teenager couldn't last more than 45 minutes before picking up a booking for a petulant trip.

As usual, his coach had the last word and the youngster did not return after the break as the Nerazzurri ran amok through a Bologna side that typifies the dearth of talent in the lower reaches of the league table.

However, Inter on the whole seem to have found some measure of a state of grace and will be further buoyed by reports of swine flu in the Barca camp, along with an ailing Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

AC Milan have been playing mind games with themselves: Leonardo has highlighted how much he admires Tele Santana’s Brazil side of 1982 – all that attacking flair and sun on their backs.

Certainly, Leo’s Rossoneri of 2009 are playing pleasing football going forward – but possess similar failings to Brazil ’82 at the back.

When there's no Alessandro Nesta marshalling the defence - as was the case yesterday - then the cover, in the shape of Kakha Kaladze, leaves something to be desired.

With Cagliari scoring three and remembering what happened against FC Zurich, Milan will no doubt be more guarded in their approach to Marseille.

Juventus will also be calling on their European experience to close out their qualification at Bordeaux.

Juve haven't conceded a goal since playing the French side on Matchday 1 and a 1-0 to the Old Lady would be just the ticket – like on Sunday night, in fact.

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Italians gleefully gloat about French farce

2009-11-20T11:00:00Z

It doesn’t take much for Italians to get into a pickle over the French.

And so it was no surprise to find the old rivals demonised at every turn following Thierry Henry’s helping hand.

You would have thought that Italian honour had been scorned - maybe it had in part, what with Giovanni Trapattoni in charge of the hard done-by Irish.

It is pretty easy to paint a picture of what would have happened if Italy had been in Ireland’s position: match abandoned.

Of course, it has been headline news ever since the final whistle in Paris and each of the three main sports papers – La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport - have given ample page coverage to la mano di Dio (the hand of God).

A few wags in pro-Inter cafes in Milan couldn’t resist asking: “What do you expect from someone who played for Juventus?”

It has also been an excuse - if one is ever needed - for TV channels to air the Zinedine Zidane head-butt on Marco Mattezari again, and then follow it up with Fabio Cannavaro lifting the World Cup in Berlin.

Cannavaro was soon on hand to take up an old and bitter theme on this side of the Alps: the constant French criticism of Italian football.

“They have always been giving us lessons on how football should be played,” gloated the Azzurri captain.

“Unfortunately, there wasn’t much fair play from them on Wednesday and they are no longer in a position to lecture us.”

Corriere dello Sport dug up an old Raymond Domenech interview on the FIFA website where Italy’s bête noir claimed that “winning was not the only thing that counted.”

“Yes, Monsieur Domenech do you still have the same opinion?” was the pay-off in their editorial.

Borrowing a misquote from Casablanca, Gazzetta’s Friday headline ran: “Let’s play it again.”

The non-sporting dailies also got in on the act as the morale high-ground was reclaimed for the Italian nation on behalf of all the downtrodden and exploited.

The vilifying of the French seems a bit rich coming from a press corps that has been on Marcello Lippi’s back for the last few months, despite Italy qualifying for South Africa with a game to spare.

Whipping up the pro-Cassano lobby and treating the World Cup-winning coach like a lame-duck president; speculating on who will be the new man in charge come next September is no way to treat Lippi.

He was jeered at Cesena – a club he coached back in the late ‘80s – during the friendly with Sweden and apparently there were those in the stands ‘encouraging’ spectators to chant “Cassano for Italy.”

The Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa even got in on the act; demanding that the Samp star return to the international setup.

As they say, Italy is a country of 60 million football coaches.

However, this new low in relations between the la Nazionale and il popolo could just be the incentive for a repeat of 2006.

What the whole of Italy will be hoping for is that they meet the old enemy along the way.

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Italian talent taught to play the Arsenal way

2009-11-18T09:00:00Z

Whether it be in the biggest city or the tiniest hamlet, Italy is the home to the football school.

It is there that the tradition of ensuring children have the correct grounding in the national sport, as well as getting them out of the house in the afternoon, is carried on - rather than within the institutional education system where there are no after-school activities.

For what are privately-run schools, especially in around major cities such as Rome and Milan, it is a constant battle to retain the best young talent who are inevitably drawn to the glamour of the big clubs.

And maybe for their parents the reflected glory of seeing little Giuseppe kitted out in an AC Milan or AS Roma kit.

Villaguardia is small municipality just outside Como, and they have come up with a novel approach of reversing the trend of local players trotting off to a professional club school throughout the Lombardy region – they have joined up with Arsenal.

Yes, the North London club have opened their very own 'Arsenal Soccer School in George Clooney country where Arsene Wenger may some day unearth a new Theo Walcott or Aaron Ramsey'.

“Play the Arsenal way” is the name of the project, and the locals are more than content to welcome a foreign club into their own back yard.

The Gunners are well respected in Italy among football aficionados: willing as they are to blood young players; something that Serie A clubs have failed miserably to promote.

No doubt it is an astute piece of marketing behind the venture, with little eight-year-olds upwards decked out in the famous red and white kit.

Another school will apparently be operational in Juventus territory from March, but for now Villaguardia is the centre of the early English invasion.

The president of football development in the area, Mario Turconi, came upon the Arsenal Soccer Schools when surfing the net to find ways to raise the profile of Villaguardia.

Twenty local coaches have been trained by Arsenal and teams from eight to 15-years-old have travelled to England to take part in tournaments against other schools within the scheme.

Of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch and the would-be coaches have to pay tuition fees to participate in the courses, as do the parents for their children’s privilege to attend sessions.

Then, it goes without saying that if a little star in the making is unearthed the Gunners will have first refusal.

However, it is not difficult for the Italians to embrace the Arsenal methods as Turconi pointed out.

“The sessions are very intense but also very creative,” he said. “The kids always have the ball at their feet.”

It may only be a small inroad into local grassroots football, but Italian clubs will no doubt be monitoring Arsenal’s plans for further expansion.

After all, they won’t want too many youngsters reaching for the stars at the Emirates rather than the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico.

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Buffon celebrates century in sink or swim spell for understudies

2009-11-16T15:00:00Z

Gigi Buffon could not have wished for a more relaxing way to celebrate his 100th international appearance for Italy in what was the most benign of friendlies with Holland.

The country’s attention had turned to the oval game earlier on Saturday, with 80,000 packing the San Siro for the rugby team’s emotionally-charged test match with the All-Blacks.

So the 14,000 or so who parked up in Pescara provided a much-more homely feel to the round-ball encounter.

There was the now obligatory pro-Cassano chants and a young man taking to the pitch wearing a "Cassano for the national team" T-shirt, but overall there was very little to hold anyone’s attention for long.

With neither side forcing the issue, Buffon had little to do apart from wave to the fans, and was only really called into action to deny Alberto Gilardino from scoring an own-goal late on.

A shut-out will always please any goalkeeper, but Buffon will have probably thanked Juventus team-mates Fabio Cannavaro and Giorgio Chiellini for ensuring a generally quiet evening.

Chiellini, in particular, is beginning to show some self control, although there is little danger of him ever becoming totally passive in his manner.

The thumping challenge on Robin van Persie was fair but more in keeping with a last-minute tackle in a World Cup semi-final than the nature of this match.

Wesley Sneijder missed the game through injury and had claimed that Jose Mourinho warned him that the Juve contingent would be out to get him.

Maybe Chiellini is a closet Spurs fan.

While the centre of the defence is firming up in the best traditions of the Azzurri, the full-back positions continue to be what they are:

Two aging stars, in Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso, incapable of getting forward – whose laboured efforts only reinforce the calls for Domenico Criscito to start at left-back.

With Mauro Camoranesi in excellent form on the right flank there is less need of adventure from the right-back berth.

And we will have to wait and see if Davide Santon discovers a more relaxed state of mind, which can only come from playing regularly at club level, to force his way back into the reckoning for South Africa.

Of the new and fringe players, Andrea Candreva demonstrated the correct temperament and, as with Raffaele Palladino, showed a willingness to get forward to support what was basically a lone striker in Alberto Gilardino as the team morphed into a banal 4-5-1 formation.

Davide Biondini was only given 20 minutes, while Giampaolo Pazzini had less than 15 to impress and did more in that time than Giuseppe Rossi to suggest that the Sampdoria man is winning the race as back-up to Gilardino.

Marcello Lippi has released Buffon, Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Zambrotta ahead of Wednesday’s game with Sweden, so the absence of such authoritative figures should give a better indication of whether the 'hopefuls' will sink or swim at international level.

If not, we may yet see Lippi turn to the old guard of Francesco Totti or Alex Del Piero once again when it comes to the real crunch.

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Dealing with depression – or not

2009-11-12T11:30:00Z

Rich, famous and in some cases good-looking, no one would ever think that a professional footballer would suffer from depression.

However, even the profession that just about every school-boy dreams about one day joining is not immune to dark moments, as we have unfortunately witnessed with the German goalkeeper Robert Enke’s suicide.

The Italian department of health has been studying the mental health of the Italian population and has come up with a figure of one in 10 who are suffering from depression.

Footballers suffer from the same problems the rest of the population face in everyday life – loss of job, lack of esteem and in the end what does it all mean?

One of those footballers is Mohamed Sissoko, who revealed to La Gazzetta dello Sport that he had fallen into depression very recently after picking up a serious foot injury, which kept him sidelined for seven months.

The midfielder’s Juventus team-mate Gianluigi Buffon is another who has felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, as he revealed in his autobiography.

“I wasn't satisfied with my life and football, which is my job. My legs would start shaking all of a sudden,” he wrote.

“It was a dark period because I am a sunny and optimistic person. I was thinking how can rich and normal people suffer from depression?”

LEFT TO SINK OR SWIM

Adriano turned to alcohol after the death of his father and Christian Vieri admitted that his mental well-being declined when injury kept him out of the 2006 World Cup.

At present, only Siena employ a full-time psychologist, although Genoa offer support to their players through a consultant while AC Milan, AS Roma and Udinese are in the process of hiring an expert in the field of behavioural interaction.

However, in general, footballers are left to sink or swim with their own thoughts.

Look at Davide Santon – just 18 but weighed down with a ‘new Maldini’ tag, the youngster was left weeping on the pitch during Inter’s recent league game with Palermo.

The teenager had come on at the start of the second half with the champions leading 4-0 only to be at fault with defensive slips as the visitors pulled the scoreline back to 4-2 at one stage.

Inter ran out 5-3 winners in the end, but it was all too much for Santon.

Having been berated by his team-mates, he broke-down in tears and was inconsolable as he wandered back to the dressing room at the final whistle.

He has not appeared in the Inter squad since, and after looking odds-on to make the final Italy 23 for South Africa he is now back in the U21s.

STRESS IS ON THE RISE

Santon’s team-mate Mario Balotelli is also suffering under his own weight of expectation – some of it his own making - and his surly attitude may hide a crisis of confidence as it dawns on him, at 19 years old, that the world of football is a cruel place indeed.

Doctor Maria Madalena Ferrari of the Italian Olympic Institute of Science claims that stress amongst athletes in general was on the rise.

“The goals are higher than ever before and this adds more pressure,” she told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Just as the body must be trained to perform to its best so must the mind. Sportsmen and women need to prepare for the lows as well as coping with the highs.”

Footballers in Serie A can find some solace in decent wages and secure contracts to lessen the blow of a loss of form – but if it persists, just like long-term injuries, it finally wears even the toughest character down.

Ciro Capuano does not play for a big club but has spent his career at the likes of Empoli, Bologna and currently Catania.

At 28, the full-back has been down that dark tunnel of despair when he lost all confidence: so much so he actually found it difficult to take the pitch.

Thankfully, his family and friends rallied round and helped him come through to rebuild his career.

Some have taken to employing their own life coaches – the most well-known being Vittorio Tognazzi, who has 100 Serie A and B clients on his books.

His greatest success came in 2006, when Fabio Grosso stepped up to take the winning penalty in the World Cup final.

“I knew Fabio would score,” recalled Tognazzi of that heady evening in Berlin.

“A few months earlier he didn’t even think he would be in the Italy squad but we worked together and I even sent him text messages when he was in Germany. When it came to the big moment I could see he was ready to be a world champion.”

SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE

It's just about every boy’s dream in Italy to become a footballer; such was the case with Fabrizio Miccoli, who at 12 years old was shipped off during the holidays from the deep south near Lecce to AC Milan.

However, without the comfort of family around, the tears became too much and he soon found a team nearer home.

Since then the Italian Football Association have taken measures to ensure that all youth teams have staff on hand to offer support and guidance to their young charges: on their education, dealing with homesickness, settling into a new region of the country and so forth.

Football is a way of life and even for the most talented the sacrifices are not to everyone’s liking, but any youngsters entering the sport can at least take heart that in the future help will be at hand on those first tentative steps.

It is when they enter the world of the professional game that they might soon get the blues.

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Did Cassano get too Lippi?

2009-11-11T15:36:00Z

Another international call-up and once again no Antonio Cassano amongst Marcello Lippi’s hopefuls for South Africa.

Speculation has been rife throughout the peninsula on why the Italy coach continues to ignore the Sampdoria star.

Cassano’s club owner Riccardo Garrone muddied the waters even more by claiming there was something more “sinister” behind the omission.

Having almost broken the omerta, Garrone found reverse as quickly as a Roman driver caught on a one-way street, insisting he had made an error and even trying to blame former Samp coach Walter Mazzarri for dissuading Lippi from bringing the Bari Bawler back into the international set-up.

Football is a tight-knit community and with each of the parties refusing to shed any further light on this “ugly story” behind the exclusion of the country’s most naturally-talented player, it has been left to the press to fill in the blanks as best as they can.

Apparently, this sorry tale dates back to a dark time indeed – the broiling summer of the 2006 Calciopoli scandal – and Lippi’s son Davide, who worked for GEA World sports agency, Italy’s biggest and most influential firm of agents.

Keen students of history may remember that Calciopoli was kick-started when Naples prosecutors investigated GEA, Italy's biggest and most influential agency.

Well, according to La Stampa, Lippi Jr approached Cassano with an offer to represent the player’s interests.

Unfortunately, according to voices amongst the Italian press corp, Lippi picked a moment at an Italian holiday resort when Cassano was somewhat tired and emotional, and the discussion allegedly turned a little heated.

Apparently Lippi was left with more than his pride bruised – and that sealed Cassano’s exile from the Italy squad as the Lippi clan closed ranks.

His subsequent return for Euro 2008 under Roberto Donadoni ended in disappointment – which made Lippi’s job that much easier when he resumed his position as national team supremo.

There are plenty of stories floating around concerning Cassano's more eccentric off-the-pitch activities, but when it comes to his on-field behaviour this season he would walk into any other national side.

If the story does have any truth - and if it is what Garrone was alluring to - then it says more about Lippi than Cassano, who has always been what could be described as a ‘warts and all character’.

However, Lippi has called on an embargo on any future mention of il Talentino who will now probably remembered as “Italy’s great lost hope”.

Lippi says he will now work with around 33 players and whittle that number down as the finals approach before settling on the 23 who will carry the nation’s hopes.

It might not take much whittling. The squad to face Holland has a very prosaic look to it: there's no Sebastian Giovinco, Davide Santon or Mario Balotelli (the latter two called-up for the under-21s), while the previously unheralded Daniele Galloppa, Mattia Cassani, Antonio Candreva and Davide Biondini have never been considered genuine international class.

It may be a wonderful experience for all four players to involved in such a high-profile encounter, but their chances of boarding the flight to South Africa must rank up there alongside Cassano’s long-faded hopes.

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Trez magnifique but Balotelli below par

2009-11-09T11:00:00Z

RESULTS Sun Nov 8: Bari 1-0 Livorno Bologna 3-1 Palermo Cagliari 2-0 Sampdoria Genoa 4-2 Siena Internazionale 1-1 Roma Lazio 1-2 Milan Parma 2-0 Chievo Udinese 0-1 Fiorentina Sat Nov 7: Atalanta 2-5 Juventus Catania 0-0 Napoli

David Trezeguet was all set to pack up and leave Juventus at the end of the season and head back across the border to Monaco, where he had started his European career.

The billionaire haven may be calling, but the striker may well have second thoughts after scoring his 167th goal for Juve on Saturday evening - to move equal-fourth in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts alongside the great Omar Sivori.

Lapping up the good life in the south of France is all very well, but the veteran’s goal at Atalanta certainly had special significance for the player.

Although born in France, Trezeguet spent his formative years in Argentina and his well aware of the awe in which Sivori is held in his home country.

In fact, the Trez-Alex Del Piero partnership at its height drew comparisons with Juve's late-'50s, early-'60s pairing of Sivori and John Charles.

Sivori fell out with the 'Iron Sergeant' Heriberto Herrera and left the club under a cloud, and it has seemed that the same fate would befall his contemporary equivalent.

Last season, Claudio Ranieri banished Trezeguet to the bench - and on a few occasions the stands - to add further ignominy for the frontman in the wake of being cast aside by Raymond Domenech at international level.

No olive branches have been extended since – and the player was quick to savour revenge when the spotlight fell up on him.

Ranieri is gone and if he sticks around under Ciro Ferrara, Trezeguet is within sight of Roberto Bettega (178 Juve goals) and Giampiero Boniperti (182) in the pantheon of the club’s all-time greats. (He won't catch Del Piero, who's miles clear at the top having bagged 262 in his 16-year Juve career).

While certain coaches and commentators have never warmed to Trezeguet's style outside the opposition penalty-area, his record where it counts cannot be denied and he is well worth his place amongst the best of modern goalpoachers.

He is now Juve’s top goalscorer for the season – on six goals – and suddenly it’s all looking Trez magnifique.

Still, there was probably cup of good cheer lifted to his old nemesis Ranieri after Roma held Inter to a draw on Sunday evening.

Going into the international break, the champions have had their lead cut at the top to five points – but considering the quality of play on show everyone will be happy for a rest from the rigours of club football.

There was little to excite anyone watching two teams that have produced some of the most thrilling encounters in recent seasons.

With Francesco Totti in the stands, the Romans were hamstrung by their lack of depth, while the Nerazzurri’s tired legs were paying for their European exploits.

On top of that, Mario Balotelli produced another non-performance that begs the question, what is all the fuss about?

While the likes of Trezeguet and Filippo Inzaghi still have the fire in their stomachs as they reach their twilight years, the younger generation are not shining brightly.

Balotelli may take to the pitch conveying star-quality arrogance, but scratch the surface and what is exposed is a normal, confused teenager who is in real need of some guidance.

If he's not getting it at his club or from those around him in Milan, maybe he should make a phone call to an old head down the road in Turin.

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Capital crises for Roma and Lazio

2009-11-06T12:26:00Z

It has been a season of woe in Rome and there seems no end in sight. It has got so bad that AS Roma and Lazio ultras can't even bring themselves to laugh at the plight of the other.

As Fabio Capello pointed out, Italy’s hardcore fans are still a negative influence and their actions do little to promote a family-atmosphere on match days.

However, this is Italy and protest is a part of everyday life – and with both teams in such dire straits the ultras have had to come up with ever more imaginative ways to get their point across.

So, there have been the obligatory ‘paper-bombs’ lobbed into the training ground – both at Roma’s Trigoria centre and out at Lazio’s Formello base; invading the training ground to confront the players (a particular favourite amongst the Biancocelesti); and of course the usual banners and chants in the stadium.

Roman humour can very dark: last week, ahead of the Bologna game, a Giallorossi delegation presented the players with a wreath – tied up in yellow and red ribbons – to offer their condolences for the “death of the team.”

Scary stuff but nothing to frighten that old Roman Claudio Ranieri. Invited to a midweek event organised by the various Roma supporters’ clubs, he took to the stage and berated those who had booed Mirko Vucinic for actually scoring a goal – as happened last weekend.

Ranieri is battled-hardened by years of disappointment but there's little to cheer for a club who have taken two season to go from Manchester United in the Champions League to Fulham in the Europa League.

NEWS, Thu Nov 5: Nine-man Fulham lose at Roma

Little pleasure was taken from Thursday's win over the Londoners, because that's not where the club or its fans want to be – but they'd better get used to it.

Five points off relegation and no money to reinforce the squad, Ranieri will have to make do with what he has got. A full and fit starting XI could play any side off the park but the bench looks bare so all it takes are a couple of injuries and suspensions.

Francesco Totti’s dodgy knees are a weighty issue and so is his bank account. The veteran has been demanding one last pot of king’s riches - and next week the announcement will be made that the captain has signed a deal to 2014.

The 33-year-old will earn 5million Euros a year to take him through to the end of his career. There is also a clause ensuring he is given a role within the club no matter who the owner may be in the future.

Franco Sensi had promised “his son” that he would be looked after, and when the owner passed away his daughter Rosella remained true to her father’s word.

However, it's a major outlay for what will be an ever-diminishing return and will not only raise the ire of the ultras but also not find favour in the dressing room: going into the current campaign the players had apparently not been paid since April.

The supporters want Sensi out. The banks want her out. If Inter turn the team over at the weekend, don’t be surprised to see her make a tearful exit.

It's a long way from the days when Luciano Spalletti and Totti were the conquering heroes over the Nerazzurri at the San Siro.

It's just as embattled at Lazio, where not even the Europa League can offer any respite. A 4-1 defeat at Villarreal on Thursday left coach Davide Ballardini’s future hanging on getting a result against AC Milan – in part two of the unequal showdown between Milan and Rome.

Ballardini can point to the fact that his two best players Goran Pandev and Cristian Ledesma have banished from the squad, having refused to accept new contracts.

Pandev is not for turning and is set for Inter in January, but Ledesma has since said he will sign a new deal. Unfortunately, club owner Claudio Lotito is such a cantankerous sort that he has refused to acknowledge the Argentine’s existence.

Like Ranieri, Ballardini has a starting line-up that should guarantee a better league position – but little in reserve.

Now more than ever, the Romans need to show that the capital has not crumbled completely.

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Inter breathe again as Mourinho comes up trumps

2009-11-05T12:00:00Z

If a week is a long time in politics, 90 minutes can be a lifetime in football.

Jose Mourinho must have lived through a few of them against Dynamo Kyiv but in the end Inter Milan are alive and kicking in the Champions League.

NEWS, Wed Nov 4: Inter squeak through

For so long it looked like it was going to be one of those evenings, behind to an early goal from an old enemy and squandering chances – until Diego Milito scuffed home an equaliser and Wesley Sneijder’s whippet-like reactions saved the Nerazzurri's season.

More than anything, those late goals from the two big summer signings have ensured that Mourinho has defied those critics waiting to bewail another European failure.

The Portuguese had wrapped up anyone capable of putting one foot in front of the other for the big chill-down in Ukraine – and the medical staff had worked long and hard on repairing Sneijder’s damaged hamstring.

As an extra precaution against the midfielder breaking down, he was supplied with a heat-inducing pair of fetching black tights that would have done Nureyev proud.

With the little Dutch dancer in the middle of the park there was no sign that Inter were going to take a siege mentality to the east.

In fact, until Andriy Shevchenko’s deflected goal, the visitors had enjoyed more possession – but then of course the old doubts started to creep in as passes went astray, tackles were missed and the locals could sense an Italian collapse.

All credit then to Jose for taking the game to the hosts at the start of the second half by sending on Thiago Motta, who hadn't played for three weeks, and the unpredictable Mario Balotelli.

If ever Mourinho’s changes needed to work then it had to be on this occasion.

Uncharacteristically, experienced European performer Samuel Eto’o wasted two glorious chances; equally unexpectedly, sub Sulley Muntari helped set up the winner with a speculative shot which the aptly-named Bogush fumbled for the Dutchman to lash in a late winner.

The result: Inter’s first win in the competition since October 2008 and from bottom of the group to top in five short minutes.

It's the kind of night to foster the self-belief that this side can finally carry home the Holy Grail.

Now Mourinho has to maintain the buoyant mood.

Tellingly, he has become less inclined to get involved in petty arguments with his peers and media – and dominating the domestic league has certainly left his critics with little opportunity to snipe at him.

The job's not done yet: any of the four teams can still qualify.

But just as city cousins AC Milan had a glamorous night out in Spain, Inter travel to face Barcelona at the end of the month.

A win would send out a clear message that Inter are genuine contenders (and, coupled with a Rubin Kazan draw, would send the holders out).

For sheer pressure-free entertainment then Florence is the place to be.

Another big European scoreline and Fiorentina are almost in touching distance of the knockout stages.

Lyon will be a mighty challenge, but the Viola do not know how to play for a draw.

So if they do make the two-legged affairs then they could be one of those fan-favourites capable of scoring five or conceding five.

Italian football may not be back at numero uno just yet, but the European exploits this week suggest it is getting there.

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Kaka quietened as Milan and Madrid share spoils

2009-11-04T12:00:00Z

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS, Tue Nov 3: AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid, Apoel Nicosia 0-1 FC Porto, Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea, Bayern Munich 0-2 Bordeaux, Besiktas 0-3 Wolfsburg, Maccabi Haifa 0-1 Juventus, Manchester United 3-3 CSKA Moscow, Marseille 6 (six) -1 FC Zurich

We all thought that Ricky Kaka’s re-acquaintance with AC Milan had arrived too soon, and that the club would come off worse than the player.

As it turned out, the Brazilian is too much of a nice guy to run his old side through, and he must be glad that he doesn't have to face his former team-mates for the foreseeable future.

Or to deal with genuine feelings of warmth from the San Siro faithful.

Massimo Ambrosini was given the job of looking after the old boy and he made sure that any friendship was left firmly off the pitch.

The evening was all too much for Kaka, who hardly got into his stride.

When he did, Ambro was all over him like a rash. Ditto Andrea Pirlo and, of all people, Clarence Seedorf.

Leonardo’s game-plan was to stop his former pupil and thus to stop Real Madrid, which turned out to be the case.

Unfortunately, another Brazilian failed to take up the mantle of star turn either, and apart from the sweetly-taken penalty and a couple of backheels and flicks, Ronaldinho hugged the touchline – where Sergio Ramos did an Ambrosini on him.

A first half of raw intensity brought a goal apiece plus Pato’s disallowed effort for... well, answers on a postcard please.

It couldn't be sustained after the break as the evening's adrenaline soon ran out - unlike in the dramatic encounter at the Bernabeu.

Neither side were willing to risk throwing away a valuable point.

And on the face of it, why should the Rossoneri undo all the good work they have put in to get them back to some semblance of a team capable of competing for honours?

A home win against Marseille will see Milan through to the last 16 – and that would do very nicely with one game to go.

Juventus also eased any nerves they may have had that their season was about to be derailed before December.

The Bianconeri did enough to ease past Maccabi Haifa, but had Gigi Buffon’s lightning reflexes to thank, including an incredible hand-behind-the-head swat when prostrate on the ground.

Ciro Ferrara’s side know a victory at already-qualified Bordeaux will ensure Juve also go through, although it may still come down to the final home game against Bayern Munich.

As long as Inter don't catch a chill in Kyiv this evening and Fiorentina don’t slip up against Debrecen, Italy could be set fair for four in the knockouts – which would be a result in itself.

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Topless models, bombs & eating s***

2009-11-02T11:00:00Z

WEEKEND RESULTS Saturday Oct 31: Juventus 2-3 Napoli, AC Milan 2-0 Parma. Sunday Nov 1: Cagliari 3-0 Atalanta, Chievo 1-1 Udinese, Fiorentina 3-1 Catania, Livorno 0-2 Inter Milan, Roma 2-1 Bologna, Sampdoria 0-0 Bari, Siena 1-1 Lazio, Palermo 0-0 Genoa. Details here

Marco Borriello has the easy-going smile and good looks more suited to the catwalk than walking line with the toughest of Serie A defenders.

Only a nick of a scar above his eye gives it away that he does anything more taxing than checking out his look in the mirror.

In fact for a while the AC Milan striker was dragged into the D-list hell of going out with a topless model turned actress of sorts – Belen Rodriguez.

The Argentine lovely was will to take the rap for her man when he failed a drugs test, claiming that the cortisone detected in his system came from a cream she rubbed into him before an intimate moment.

It was a match made in tabloid heaven, but after her alleged dalliance with a fellow cast member on the Castaway reality show, the big Neapolitan did what any of his fellow southern citizens would have done - and dumped her.

It looked for a while that Marco’s professional life would go the same way as his personal adventures – down the tube.

There was a stage when it seemed that at the age of 26 he may have to limp away from the game as a routine tendon injury developed into something more chronic.

This all came after a 19-goal season at Genoa, a move back to Milan, a bright future as Luca Toni’s heir in the national side, and the arrival of the master assist-man Ronaldinho.

With seemingly no end in sight on the injury front, the Rossoneri turned to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to provide the power in attack – something the Dutchman has been unable to produce so far.

So Saturday finally brought Borriello back into the spotlight as he netted both goals for Milan – the second an acrobatic scissor-kick - in the win over Parma.

There had been glimpses that he was on the way back during his, erm, positive 20-minute cameo at Real Madrid - and after the weekend’s exploits it seems likely Leonardo will start him against the Spaniards on Tuesday.

Marcello Lippi will name his squad next weekend for the high-profile friendly with Holland and hopefully Marco’s good form will be rewarded.

Also making a comeback at the weekend were Napoli.

Having somehow clawed their way back from 2-0 down against Milan in midweek to draw 2-2 with two goals in added time, the Neapolitans went one better in Turin for their first win at Juventus in 21 years.

Walter Mazzarri has certainly instilled a raw, never-say-die spirit compared to Roberto Donadoni’s more refined but soft approach.

On top of that, the new mister has ensured that all his chief operators can play in harmony by throwing four across the midfield in tight formation and giving Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik the freedom to roam further forward in support of a lone striker.

Hamsik scored twice in Turin and substitute Jesus Datolo rose from the footballing dead under Donadoni to set them up and score the other.

Of course, the defence is still as creaky as an old shed door and goals are going to continue to flow at both ends – at least it makes for plenty of entertainment.

For their part, Juve may have put five past Sampdoria on Wednesday but they cannot find how to incorporate Diego into the game-plan.

The Brazilian wants the ball but in doing so he slows up play and ends up back alongside Felipe Melo - who at times looks as if he is on the Copacabana knocking the ball around with his mates.

Diego was a big-money signing, but it may be time to keep him on the bench for a few games and employ his skill as an impact substitute.

Although judging by the way the playmaker seemed to be complaining widely during training yesterday, that may not be an easy move by Ciro Ferrara.

When your most impressive player all evening has to come off after 20 minutes (Mauro Camoranesi) then you know you something isn’t functioning.

In this case - the need to get back to the physical, hard-running game of old and getting crosses into the area for two front men.

Italian football has been robust of late and Camoranesi was forced off the pitch after receiving an elbow to the side of the head from Matteo Contini.

It’s no wonder more and more players are wearing gum shields - and if the arms keep flailing, it will be head guards as well.

Jose Mourinho has headaches of his own as he prepares for Inter's game of the season (so far) in Kyiv.

Not only are Sulley Muntari, Thiago Motta and Wesley Sneijder injured, Mario Balotelli has flu (although fortunately not the swine variant which is sweeping through Ukraine).

At least the Nerazzurri have a healthy seven-point lead at home and facing a few sniffles out east is probably preferable to be awaken by the blast of a paper-bomb.

The AS Roma players were given a shock when a home-made device went off at their training ground.

Maybe it helped shake them out of their recent inertia, although it was still a laboured win over Bologna.

Just when we thought Antonio Cassano had become a little angel, up popped the devil on his shoulder to berate Sampdoria fans who had the temerity to jeer the wayward genius.

A section of the Bluerchiati crowd did not take too kindly to Fantantonio’s lacklustre display in the 5-1 mauling at Juventus, or his softly-softly approach in the goalless draw with his former club Bari on Sunday.

“If I am not welcome then I’ll go,” he warned. “Some of them have gotten used to eating chocolate but sometimes they need to nibble some ****.”

Sweetly put indeed, but bound to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Samp fans – maybe the Bari big mouth is not ready to temper his wayward ways just yet.

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Italians face another midweek slog

2009-10-27T15:00:00Z

Italy is slowly waking up to the fact that the concept of the midweek league game is not going away.

Unless it’s a European fixture or Italy are in action, football-goers have never seen the point of giving up their Wednesday night TV soap viewing for the beautiful game.

Especially at the first hint of autumnal chill in the air.

It’s already the second slog on the midweek treadmill and the powers than be are hoping that attendances hold up well from the first round in September.

And despite Fabio Capello’s carping from afar, families are slowly venturing through the gates again, although maybe not on a school night.

Pizzerias are also looking forward to a surge of business as all the games will be broadcast on television – that’s pay-per-view, of course.

As for those who have to run out onto the pitch for the second time in four days there will be varying degrees of anticipation.

Inter hold an advantage in that they will not be in action until Thursday evening when they welcome Palermo to the San Siro – and will be armed with all they need to know on how the rest of the league fared.

However, all the praise heaped upon Wesley Sneijder in the last blog has had a bad effect: the Dutchman’s thigh strain is much worse than first thought.

Already ruled out on the domestic front, the little midfield wiz could even miss the trip to Kiev next week.

At least Thiago Motta and Diego Milito are primed to return, leaving Jose with the easiest of juggling acts.

He has already been at loggerheads with his medical staff over Milito, whom he wanted on the bench for Catania at the weekend but was vetoed by the stern-faced club doctor.

No doubt a clean bill of health will be demanded this time around – and the Nerazzurri will need to be on top of their game as the Sicilians are turning into a tidy little unit under Walter Zenga, who is set to receive a hero’s welcome on his return.

Juventus meet Sampdoria and the Old Lady has seen Vincenzo Iaquinta fall to the curse of the meniscus in recent days, just like Francesco Totti.

However for a footballer it’s a bit like having a tooth out – Totti’s surgery lasted less than 10 minutes yesterday and the Giallorossi captain has already undergone his first session of physiotherapy and strength training at Trigoria.

Antonio Cassano will want to use the trip to Turin to continue tormenting Marcello Lippi’s waking hours – and we will get a genuine idea if the Blucerchiati can begin to dream of a repeat of 1991, when Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini took the rest of the league by surprise.

Of course, it will probably remain outside the realms of reality, but Doria are enjoying their time in the limelight while it lasts.

And with Ciro Ferrara’s team yet to find an identity another high-profile scalp could be on the cards.

The autumn stars will be shining brightly down in Naples and a packed San Paolo will be the place to be when Napoli host AC Milan in a game that could go either way.

Both sides have suddenly run into form – Milan on the back of wins over Roma and then in Madrid, and the home side galvanised under new coach Walter Mazzarri.

There are plenty of other fixtures to drag the fans out of their homes, although it's doubtful the followers of AS Roma will making the long trip to Udinese if they expect to sit through a repeat of Sunday’s turgid performance against Livorno.

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Inter miss their marvellous munchkin

2009-10-26T12:30:00Z

When a struggling side come visiting you want to put them to the sword before half-time and then inflict the coup de grace early on in the second half before deciding to sit back and relax.

However, when you’re forced to remove your best player with the opposition still showing signs of life, then you can run into trouble.

Serie A’s most exciting team at the moment, Sampdoria, were home and dry at half-time against Bologna, thanks in part to Antonio Cassano’s spellbinding control of the ball and ability to produce more angles than a pool hustler.

Inter have an equally sublime operator in Wesley Sneijder, but with the score at 2-0 heading into the final quarter of the game against Catania, Jose Mourinho was forced to substitute the Dutchman, who was feeling the slight pull of a warm shower (although he claimed it was a muscle).

Without the attacking midfielder’s deft touches and jack-in-the-box ability to pop up just about anywhere, Inter forgot how to keep possession and once again the San Siro had to suffer a nervy finale as Catania clawed a goal back.

With Sneijder on the pitch the Sicilians had hardly seen a sniff of the ball; no wonder Inter have won each of the seven league games in which the former Real Madrid man has played.

What Real were doing selling him in the first place is anyone’s guess but it is Spain’s loss and Italian football’s gain.

Sneijder may not have Cassano’s rapier-like dribbling ability, but like the Samp man he loves the ball at his feet and inevitably the crowd on theirs.

What else would you expect from someone who came through the Ajax academy?

He may be a munchkin in Inter’s land of the giants but size doesn’t matter when you possess flair, technique and a nasty little streak that ensures no one is going to take you for granted.

Ask Argentina’s boss.

The truth is that talent comes out on top just about every time, so while Mourinho was forced to keep the creaking Patrick Vieira and huffing-and-puffing Sulley Muntari on the pitch, earlier on Saturday evening Gigi del Neri was giving Cassano the keys to the Ferrari and telling him to let it rip.

The Bari ball-wizard could easily have come off at half-time, having set up two and played a part in another goal to leave Samp 4-0 up, but Del Neri knew that his star man would be happiest out on the pitch and not milking the adulation in the stands.

Bologna were down to 10 men and so lacking in direction it’s a wonder they found their way out of the dressing room.

However, they still had to chase Cassano all over the pitch for the full 90 minutes.

Whereas, unburdened by not having to shackle Sneijder, Catania could concentrate on passing the ball around and freeing up players to attack in numbers.

Of course, it’s always helpful to have a tractor that’s still running on a full tank after three years and Javier Zanetti is such a machine – playing his 139th consecutive match for Inter at the weekend.

Football is certainly a game for all shapes, sizes and but there is something about the slick little model that gets heads turning.

Juventus have one as well but he has been stalling of late – although at least Diego set up the winner at Siena to sort of get the Old Lady on the road again.

Fabrizio Miccoli’s jinking runs have helped Palermo up into the top four but it’s a man more accustomed to stopping attackers who has been AC Milan’s star.

Great to see Alessandro Nesta back to his majestic best and scoring goals to boot: the defender has been the Rossoneri’s best player all season and just when it looked as if it was going to be shame in Chievo after the merriment in Madrid, the Roman popped up to score twice late on.

Dida even made a save that, if it hadn’t been from Dida, would have had everyone lauding the Brazilian blunderer as one of the best keepers in the world.

Apart from Samp and Palermo being in the top four, the league is starting to take on a more familiar appearance.

And with a midweek round on Wednesday the old guard could well reinforce their positions at the top.

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Domestic bullies Inter must broaden their influence

2009-10-23T12:30:00Z

Massimo Moratti used to believe that Inter had to win the Serie A title at all costs.

Maybe lifting the Champions League trophy would be a nice diversion, but really that was secondary to domestic dominance.

All's fine on the home front now – we've given up wondering if anyone can stop the Nerazzurri from pinning the scudetto onto their shirts for the foreseeable future – but the patron has been unable to switch track and focus on Europe.

Look at AC Milan over the last few years: when they hear the first strains of the Champions League anthem they are generally a team transformed.

Wednesday was a case in point. In fact their vice-president Adriano Galliani made sure Zadok The Priest was blasting out in the dressing room just before kick-off.

The motivation was certainly there within the Rossoneri camp to delve deep and produce a stirring performance at Real Madrid, although they didn't crow about it too much as that would have openly cast them in the role of underdogs.

NEWS, Oct 21: Milan stun Madrid

Leonardo’s men strutted back to Italy with an air of “Well what did you expect? We are Milan, and this is the Champions League.”

Inter, for their part, can't seem to find that sort of impetus when it comes to European evenings – unable to burst out of the blocks for a one-off, at total odds with the approach on the domestic scene where they can wear down the opposition over a number of months.

To use a cycling analogy, it’s akin to being a one-day time-trial specialist and a Giro d’Italia winner.

Dynamo Kyiv didn’t arrive at the San Siro looking to stifle Jose Mourinho’s side, as would happened with most Serie A opposition.

And in Madrid, Milan took the game to the Spaniards (as soon as they had gathered themselves after Nelson Dida’s howler).

NEWS, Oct 20: Struggling Inter held by Kyiv

Moratti has claimed that anyone who thinks his club must win the Champions League knows nothing about football.

That type of thinking would seem to belittle Serie A somewhat: being the big shot in your own backyard only to be pushed around by the likes of Rubin Kazan and a team containing Andriy Shevchenko.

Inter have gone eight games without a win in the competition – and this under a coach who prides himself on being a conqueror of Europe.

To save this campaign, Jose Mourinho now has to wrap up his assorted artists – South Americans et al – in tights and gloves for the icy blast of Ukraine in November.

Needing to take a point in a hostile environment, who would you put your money on – Inter or Milan?

Juventus are another club who like nothing better than tallying up their league titles, but at least they could back that up with a European pedigree (six continental competitions conquered, even if the last was an unlucky 13 years ago).

Unlike the new Fiat 500, this year’s footballing model is going nowhere fast – and maybe only now is the true extent of Luciano Moggi’s influence finally being felt.

The Old Lady can't, erm, buy a win in the league, and were fortunate to escape with a completely cohesion-free victory at home to 10-man Maccabi Haifa.

NEWS, Oct 21: Chiellini header seals Juve win

Ciro Ferrara has been tying himself up in numbers – 4-2-3-1, 4-3-1-2 – but still can't work out the best combination to open the safe.

Thank goodness then for Fiorentina who have little time for the restrictions of set formations.

Cesare Prandelli’s philosophy is refreshing – attack both home and away – and the Viola could be a real danger further down the line if first they can keep Liverpool at bay in their group.

NEWS, Oct 20: Fiorentina edge seven-goal thriller

Home comforts may be all well and good for Inter but really they should have a yearning to broaden their horizons.

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Spurned lover Milan must upset odds in Madrid

2009-10-21T10:00:00Z

AC Milan are acting like the spurned lover who is about to head off to the ex's house for a party.

They are putting on a brave face, insisting that they are doing fine and aren’t at all concerned that their old flame has found someone a little more sexier and certainly a little fuller up-front, so to speak.

Ricky Kaka has been all smiles ever since he demurely pulled on that virginal all-white Real Madrid shirt.

And in between quiet little weeps the Rossoneri cannot believe the Brazilian hasn’t even popped around to collect his old CD collection.

NEWS: Kaka set to show Milan what they are missing

It will take some time for the broken heart to heal, and maybe this meeting in Madrid has come a little too early.

There may have been an ego-boosting one-night stand against AS Roma on Sunday, but there is nothing permanent on the horizon to soothe the heartache.

No doubt Kaka will be all charm and good manners before kick-off, but his new love will want to put the old model in their place - and on recent evidence it could get quite embarrassing at the Bernabeu.

Roma had four gilt-edged chances to be out of sight before half-time, but a team that has scored 21 goals in the league and eight in two Champions League group games will surely not be so profligate.

Leonardo’s men need to take at least a point from this game, having being rolled-over by the Swiss at home.

NEWS: Leonardo - Milan ready for Real

Midfield would seem to be the key as always - the Rossoneri must seal that 20 to 30-metre area to frustrate the Blancos but that will be asking a lot from Massimo Ambrosini, Andrea Pirlo and Mathieu Flamini or Clarence Seedorf.

Having said that, Adriano Galliani has lived by the mantra of “the Champions [League] is in Milan’s DNA,” and of course during past times of crisis Europe has been a welcomed escape - the 2003 triumph started out with an away goals win over Slovan Liberec.

If anything Milan need to take the game to the hosts and provide the platform for Ronaldinho and Alex Pato to test the home defence.

On a completely personal level both Brazilians will want to demonstrate to the folks back home in South America that they are still worth a look-in for South Africa.

Then, of course, there is the man for European nights, Filippo Inzaghi – one goal away from equalling Gerd Muller’s goalscoring record in European club competitions.

However, the team comes first, and escaping from this group without taking something from the back-to-back encounters with Real would seem nigh on impossible – and force the club to finally search for a new blueprint.

NEWS: Madrid and Milan depleted for match-up

Most of the team that won the competition three years ago are still knocking around providing ever-decreasing returns, while the rest of Europe’s elite including Wednesday’s opponents have continuously revamped their squads.

Then again, Silvio Berlusconi cannot afford a new wardrobe and with the laughing cavalier facing a €750 million bill over a long-running legal dispute concerning his Fininvest company, the names of Albanian tycoon Rezart Taci and Colonel Muammar Geddafi of all people have been mentioned as potential buyers.

The PM has denied he will walk away, so keep saying it ain’t so Silvio.

Better the devil you know, and at the same time let’s see a bit of that mischievous sprite and less of the moping around in Madrid.

Barcelona and Liverpool all fell to shock home defeats, while Inter were held to a draw,

So why not another surprise in what is Milan’s true love: “the Champions” as we say in these parts.

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Big Brother closes in on time-old Italian tradition

2009-10-19T10:00:00Z

A much-cherished tradition will soon pass into the annals of folklore.

The time when anyone in Italy could turn up at a ground, buy a ticket, stroll in and take your seat – unless someone else had nabbed it first.

Those were the days we will lament as we gaze at our micro-chipped ID/credit-cards and wonder what new club merchandise we can purchase.

Big Brother will have all our information, if they don’t already, on an easy to scan piece of plastic.

And without it no one will be able to attend an away game, which can only mean that sometime in the near future it will be no card, no entry home or away.

The scheme is meant to begin at the turn of the year, so with this in mind Serie Aaaaargh! could not turn down an offer from a few Roman acquaintances to join them at the San Siro on Sunday.

At present, one can still enter a ground possessing a ticket which doesn’t match the name printed thereon.

In theory you can’t, but when around 5,000 AS Roma fans are bearing down on the turnstiles, matching names to tickets becomes less of an issue.

Having driven the near 500km from the capital that morning, the Roman connections were in surprisingly upbeat mood - if somewhat overdressed in puffa jackets more suitable for a full-blown expedition to the Arctic Circle than an evening in northern Italy.

The numerous gaps in the stands did send a chill of dejection down the spine, but at least a panoply of colourful Roman flags and banners gave an almost medieval feel to the occasion in the away end.

And to reshape the line from Marcellus in Pulp Fiction into the context of a Serie A game, Roma were getting medieval on Milan’s a** out there on the wide expanses of the perfectly manicured green turf.

Milan’s wretched season looked set to get even more pitiful when after a mere three minutes Thiago Motta trod on the ball and allowed Jeremy Menez to run unhindered into the area to score.

Just in case we were not aware that the home side were all at sea, a couple of distress flares were set off as the evening settled down into a game of keep-ball.

Time enough then to mull over the issues of the day.

In past years there would have been a European Footballer of the Year nominee in one or both of the teams, but then there is no accounting for taste with France Football - who of course overlooked Paolo Maldini for the Ballon d’Or.

There was no Francesco Totti on show – it seems more than likely that the old master will undergo a meniscus operation by the end of the week – but of the Italians out there surely Daniele De Rossi’s defensive midfield abilities were worth a top 30 spot.

Back in the here and now, light relief came whenever Nelson Dida was teased into kicking the ball by his back-peddling team-mates.

But apart from that, it was boos and jeers that greeted every Milan touch – and that was from the home support.

Then Ronaldinho and Pato had their say in between some eccentric refereeing by Roberto Rosetti.

And suddenly it was as if night had to turned to glorious day as the gloom descended on the visiting fans who were left wondering how their side had lost all three points.

NEWS: Pato rescues Milan against Roma

The great thing about the San Siro is that it clears so quickly at full-time, so it was only a mere 40 minutes after the final whistle that our now deflated guests had said their farewells and were off down the road faster than you could say “It’s a long way home.”

It was an even better weekend for the black and blue half of Milan.

Inter tore Genoa apart thanks to expediency more than anything else.

With only Mario Balotelli and David Suazo available up-front to Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese played the former as a lone striker, packed the midfield and, on his command, unleashed hell.

A five-goal haul was the end result, plus a contender for goal of the season when Dejan Stankovic volleyed home Marco Amelio’s wayward clearance from the half-way line.

NEWS: Stankovic scores stunner in Inter romp
VIDEO: Watch Stankovic score from half-way line

It’s doubtful Jose will use this “happy accident” as a foundation for the future – not with Diego Milito, Samuel Eto’o and Thiago Motta waiting to return from injury.

However, given the responsibility to lead the line Balotelli can live up to his promise as one of the most exciting prospects in Italian football.

The youngster came in for some close marking and a verbal spat or two, but for once didn’t rise to the bait – that and finding the net will please his boss more than anything.

Although there is as much chance of Juventus looking like genuine title contenders than the Special One ever having a good word to say about anyone in public.

More points dropped, at home to Fiorentina, Juve still lack ideas and how to bring the best out of Diego.

The Brazilian is looking more and more like a lost soul, continually at the fringes of the action rather in the thick of things.

Much of the problem is the midfield which cannot increase their pace above the pedestrian, with Felipe Melo’s languid approach taking the sting out of any forward movement.

Ciro Ferrara has little time to pick over his team’s failings before what is a must-win game at home to Maccabi Hafia in the Champions League.

No doubt the Old Lady would not mind a slice of Milan’s good fortune to get their own season back up and running again.

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Totti talk cools Cassano campaign

2009-10-16T09:00:00Z

We all know what it feels like: you do all the hard work and then someone else comes along and steals all the credit.

A number of those trotting around the pitch at Tardini stadium on Wednesday night at the end of Italy’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign must have been asking themselves: “Is this as good as it gets?”

All that matters now is that the Azzurri either retain their world crown or reach the later stages next summer - and in a country where the aged are still tolerated if not revered, one of the heroes from 2006 could well be back for another tilt at the title.

There have been whispers coming out of Rome for some time that Francesco Totti would not be against making a trip down to South Africa.

The Roman had, of course, called it a day at international level when he reached the pinnacle of any player’s career on that never-to-be-forgotten night in Berlin.

Roberto Donadoni made a tentative approach for his return ahead of Euro 2008 but was flatly rebuffed, while Alessandro Del Piero refused to say goodbye and hasn’t had a look-in since.

They always say you should go out at the top.

But as we have seen so many times in sport those practitioners at the highest level can never simply fade away – and there have been enough cautionary stories to suggest that it will all end in tears.

However, Italy are crying out for someone to put the ball in the net, having only scored 15 goals in qualifying before meeting Cyprus when Alberto Gilardino hit a hat-trick on an evening where the Azzurri had trailed 2-0 – obviously the prosecco had been flowing on the flight back from Dublin.

Totti may have started the season with an impressive haul of 15 goals in 12 games and 23 throughout 2009 – making him the most prolific Italian around at the moment.

But this is the World Cup we are talking about, not Serie A where penalty-taking and free-kick abound, or heaven forbade the kick-around commonly known as the Europa League where he netted five goals over two legs against Belgium powerhouse Gent.

His goalscoring record at international level is not that earth-shattering: nine goals from 58 matches.

At 33 and still feeling the effects of two career-threatening injuries in the last four years, would the old master make much difference to Italy’s current state of affairs going forward?

He has certainly never been an off-the-bench impact player so would have to start, more than likely leaving Gilardino as the odd man out.

Certainly if Totti decides to make himself available then Fabio Quagliarella can plan his summer holidays, as can younger hopefuls Giampaolo Pazzini and Mario Balotelli, while Amauri’s Italian citizenship will probably be tied up in red tape until the 2014 World Cup.

The telling factor is that Lippi has not vetoed the return of one of the old guard, and he may take Totti along just to put a lid on any further discussion surrounding Antonio Cassano.

The “Cassano for Italy” campaign has certainly got under Lippi’s 'Cool Hand Luke' façade lately.

He had already warned the press not to mention the Bari Bawler again in his presence, and then hit out at the fans in the Tardini for chanting the Sampdoria man’s name.

Having been down this World Cup road once before, it looks as if Lippi - like Totti - has more to lose then gain next summer.

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NEWS: Lippi open to Totti return
NEWS: Zoff blasts 'arrogant' Lippi

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Can Italy pull off another sting?

2009-10-12T10:00:00Z

There have been enough stings around the Italy camp over the last week, so the last thing Marcello Lippi wanted was another in Dublin.

Thankfully, Alberto Gilardino soothed away any pain of having to search for a result against Cyprus in the final qualifying game.

It would have been something of an injustice if the Azzurri had lost to the Republic of Ireland.

The game was bookended with two defensive lapses to allow the Irish to score, but in between Marcello Lippi’s men commanded most of the open play – and had a Giorgio Chiellini goal disallowed for an offside that was marginal, if not non-existent.

NEWS: World Cup 2010 section

Andrea Pirlo was back to his majestic best, dancing away from markers to spread the ball wide for eager recipients Mauro Camoranesi and Antonio di Natale.

Camoranesi in particular looks to have rediscovered his zest of old and celebrated his half-century of caps with a well-taken headed equaliser.

It’s not all good news, though.

If Lippi is to go to South Africa with a lone striker – be it Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino or Amauri – supported by darting wide players, Daniele de Rossi needs a defensive partner in the centre of the pitch.

Angelo Palombo has failed to be that man of steel in front of the defence, all wayward control and a general lack of fluidity in his movement. He’s an honest Serie A player and no more.

So let’s hope that Claudio Marchisio does not turn out to be one of those promising youngsters with legs of glass.

Although he missed the trip for an op on a troublesome meniscus, the Juventus midfielder has been compared to Marco Tardelli (who didn’t hold back in his celebrations when the Irish scored what looked like the winner).

Tardelli knows what it takes to win a World Cup, and in a land where omens abound, the signs are good.

The last two times Italy qualified with a game to go were in 1982 and 2006; on both occasions they headed to the finals as outsiders and came home as winners.

The Azzurri could do some damage with a base of De Rossi and Marchisio supporting wide-men Di Natale and Camoranesi, while Pirlo roams free. But the back-up looks slightly lacking, especially through the middle.

There is, however, a case for the defence – even though the naysayers may gripe otherwise.

If Giorgio Chellini can learn to switch on from the first whistle then a season alongside Fabio Cannavaro at club level should have him primed and somewhat more composed come next summer.

As for other centre-backs, it looks as if Nicola Legrottaglie is not be jettisoned, although it’s still puzzling why Alessandro Gamberini remains on the periphery of the squad.

But other back-ups need to step up: watch out for Andrea Ranocchia who looks for all the world like the new Alessandro Nesta.

The coach will be allowed one surprise and it could well be the Genoa-owned youngster, who is on loan at Bari.

As for Cannavaro himself, it seems that he acted in what could be termed as “good faith” when he received the cortisone-laden jab to bring down the swelling after an irate wasp took out its late-summer frustrations on his exposed arm.

However, Juventus should have informed the Italian Olympic anti-doping controllers forthwith, so we can expect the club to cop a fine and some medical minion to cop the flak.

Anyway, the captain is back with the squad for Wednesday’s encounter with the Cypriots and hopefully Lippi will use the game to give Davide Santon some more experience at right-back while Salvatore Bochetti and Guiseppe Rossi need to see some time on the pitch as well.

From there on it will should be the usual harping on about the Azzurri having no chance unless Antonio Cassano is called up; but no end of Facebook campaigns or media pressure will sway Lippi on his rock-solid decision to keep the Bari ball-wizard in exile.

The Azzurri need tension to get the competitive juices going and after being cast as the elite in the group stages, Lippi will be happy to revert to type heading to South Africa: the poor put-upon underdog without a chance against the big brash world.

It’s worked before...

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De Laurentiis finds new leading man for Napoli B-movie

2009-10-08T08:00:00Z

Roberto Donadoni must feel like one of those characters who populate the Italian equivalent of the Carry On movie where Aurelio De Laurentiis made his name.

They are usually the fool wandering into all manner of cheesy situations, but this time it was even too unwatchable for the movie mogul and his leading man was consigned to the cutting room floor.

Donadoni’s fate was sealed at Rome’s Olympic Stadium on Sunday after a fourth away defeat from four – and it was only a matter of putting the final touches to a script for a new lead.

The man behind unforgettable classics such as Christmas in Love, Christmas in Miami and the follow-up Christmas in New York knows his winning formula: keep it simple, keep it cheap.

So who better to turn to than the perfectly-coiffed Walter Mazzarri.

His own credits are equally B-list, having coached the likes of Pistoiese, Livorno and Reggina before hitting pay-dirt of sorts at Sampdoria last season, only to be completely overshadowed by Genoa.

Del Rossi and intriguingly Roberto Mancini had both been linked with the job, although the latter’s name may have been thrown out there to create a bit of buzz around such a lame-duck part.

What Mazzarri can bring to the club in place of Donadoni is hard to gauge.

He can certainly get the best out of limited resources, taking Livorno up to Serie A and keeping Reggina in the top flight for three seasons.

At Sampdoria, his remit was to make sure Antonio Cassano was given free reign and that meant packing the midfield with the willing and able.

However, it is a much more complicated situation in the shadow of Vesuvius, where the team is packed with a number of 'big personalities'.

Local boy and, up until now, underperforming Fabio Quagliarella craves the spotlight in attack, but then so does the heavily tattooed Ezequiel Lavezzi.

And it is not as if there is a wall-full of shrinking violets behind the front-two.

Marek Hamsik and his scary hair can be found tussling it out with Italy’s bright one thing Luca Cigarini and the diminutive but snappy Walter Gargano for who can hog the ball most - and that includes taking charge of all dead-ball situations.

Donadoni favoured Hamsik and even handed him the penalty-taking duties much to Quagliarella’s irritation.

There is no doubt that Hamsik is the team’s brightest star - thoroughly deserving of his own dressing-room - so the new man will need to show a bit of authority and build the team around the young Slovakian, employing him in a free role behind the front-two, for example.

De Laurentiis will have his say of course, having already barged into the dressing room at half-time during the Siena game to impart his words of wisdom in front of a stunned Donadoni.

It has to be said, Napoli won that game but more out of fear one thinks rather than any amazing turnaround in the game plan.

Mazzarri has been wandering around on the small-budget landscape for many a year.

But now he’s in the De Laurentiis domain and, to use the Hollywood vernacular, is swimming with sharks.

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Mourinho merry while Ferrara frowns as season goes sterile

2009-10-05T11:00:00Z

It will be interesting to see if Wesley Sneijder’s late winner against Udinese on Saturday will finally kick-start Inter’s shilly-shallying start to the season – and in doing so draw the rest of the league into the fray.

The Dutchman’s goal certainly jolted Jose Mourinho out of his lethargy of late – the Portuguese was off down the touchline sharper than one of his cutting put-downs.

NEWS: Late Sneijder strike seals Inter success

Although not as manic as his Old Trafford celebrations back in 2004, it was good to see a glimpse of “Mour the Merrier” after so many weeks of brooding sullenness.

The little cocksure swagger was back again as he turned to the press box and then thought better of giving the occupants a salute of defiance as the seven games without a win finally came to an end.

Now with the pulses racing again, maybe the season can start to deliver the promised excitement.

With the summer weather deciding to hang around for a bit longer, Sunday afternoon’s action was on the whole equally languid.

We always knew the Devil doesn’t really wear Prada.

The sartorial elegant Leonardo is an angel and unfortunately the sacrificial lamb at the alter of aged Milan gods, who prefer to see out their mega-contracts without someone disturbing their idyll out at the Milanello country club.

Leading up to the Lombardy derby with Atalanta, reports were flittering out of the Rossoneri camp that some of the senior citizens were not too pleased with having their training methods altered.

They had been quite happy to play five-a-sides and one-touch kickabouts all morning, but now they were being forced to run around like teenagers.

Has that Brazilian no respect for his elders?

And what better way to get your own back but to go for a Sunday stroll, which they did for most of the afternoon in Bergamo.

Who would have thought then that Ronaldinho, of all people, would shake the team out of its collective inertia and save Leo from the chop for another couple of weeks at least.

NEWS: Ronaldinho goal spares Milan more misery

Roberto Donodoni’s future at Napoli now hangs by a thread – Delio Rossi or Walter Mazzarri have been lined up to take over - and once again it was a disjointed performance from his side at Roma.

Then again, the Giallorossi were nothing to write home about, but still had Francesco Totti to make the difference.

The captain scored both goals to draw level with Gabriel Batistuta in 10th spot in the all-time Serie A goalscoring charts, with 184 goals.

However, the old warrior’s knee buckled when putting every ounce of strength into driving home the winner, and we will not see him for the next month or so.

The fragile Diego Milito is also out for around a month, as is Alessandro Del Piero who cannot seem to walk on to the training pitch without being inflicted with some muscle problem or another.

It’s a pity really because the league is need of a few entertainers.

Maybe it’s the fixture list at the moment but it’s been slightly flat over the last few weeks.

At least after the international break there are three games, all in one weekend, to whet the appetite: Juventus-Fiorentina, Genoa-Inter and Milan-Roma.

Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara will lose the majority of his squad to World Cup qualifying duty and it will be his turn to brood over the troubles in Turin.

Having looked like genuine contenders after the first three games, Juve seem very ordinary indeed.

After labouring to a home win over Livorno, there followed a fortuitous draw at Genoa and then three points slipped away against Bologna, before the Old Lady was finally found out down in Palermo.

NEWS: Juve suffer first defeat of season

Swept away by the Sicilian side’s tenacity in midfield and searing pace in attack, five goals could have flown past Gigi Buffon and no one would have been that surprised.

An injury list that includes Fabio Cannavaro, Tiago Mendes, Claudio Marchisio, Hasan Salihamidzic and Momo Sissoko has not helped the cause, but it is having to adapt a game-plan around Diego that has seen Ferrara come up short.

The Brazilian has been plagued by injury all season and, lacking full fitness, was an easy target for a man-marking job from his compatriot Fabio Simplicio.

Once the fulcrum was out of the way the rest of the side was impotent to a man: the major culprits being Felipe Melo and Christian Poulsen who you would expect to match steel with steel.

The midfield breached and the defence folded like a cheap umbrella at the first sign of rain.

Giorgio Chiellini, Nicola Legrottaglie and Fabio Grosso are all in the Italy squad for the Ireland game, so Marcello Lippi will be carrying out his de facto Juve coaching duties.

Sissoko’s return to partner Melo in front of the back four is imperative: Camoranesi and Marchisio could then push along the flanks thus enabling Diego to play further forward to support a lone striker.

With Amauri a shadow of his former self and David Trezeguet marginalised after admitting he was on the way at the end of the season, Vincenzo Iaquinta’s tireless running makes him the perfect candidate to spearhead the attack.

A more balanced approach would certainly steady the ship heading into the next month or so.

Of course, as they say in these parts at this time of the year “there is still a long season to go.”

But Juve will not want to be playing catch-up even before the first winter fires are catching light.

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Headbands and headbanging for morose Milan

2009-10-01T09:00:00Z

AC Milan’s fall from grace is now complete.

The former masters of Europe suffered the worst humiliation imaginable: a giant defender in the daftest of John McEnroe headbands scored the deftest of Gianfranco Zola back-heels for the only goal of the game.

The fact that Hannu Tihinen was playing for a Swiss side – FC Zurich – made the whole Champions League evening at the San Siro even more depressing.

NEWS: September 30 Zurich beat Milan at San Siro

Last season was bad enough, having to face the same opposition in the UEFA Cup.

But it speaks volumes about what the paying public think that there were only about 30,000 dotted around the 80,000-capacity ground last night – for the continent’s premier club competition.

Catcalls and jeers assailed the players as they beat a hasty retreat down the tunnel, leaving their coach to sit forlornly in the dug-out.

At this rate, Leonardo’s sad tale will be played out for a few more weeks – but with a double-header against Real Madrid coming up, maybe the Brazilian will want to back in the boardroom by then.

It's plain to see that Leo is floundering and, worse still, perceived as a company man installed at the whim of the boss.

The senior players obviously have not been won over – last Sunday during the goalless draw with Bari, Clarence Seedorf and Ronaldinho were whispering away on the bench, and you can bet it wasn’t about how good the coach looked in a suit.

Then, last night, with at least two minutes remaining in the first-half, off down the tunnel went the benchwarming Rino Gattuso – not a man to get on the wrong side of when you may be at the mercy of a dressing-room coup.

Obviously nothing has changed since the Seedorf-substitution derby debacle and subsequent signs of discord mean that respect has been neither gained nor shown.

BLOG: September 1: Comic capers in Milanese massacre

You know what they say about where nice guys come, and the eloquent South American is certainly one of those within the rabid world of Italian football.

However, dressing-downs can only take a team so far or change an approach up to a point: what is needed is the personnel to carry out a game-plan.

If you go to the official Milan website, under Squad you'll find listed seven strikers and six midfielders.

Of the midfielders, Ignazio Abate has so far been used as a right-back and then headless chicken in the second-half against Zurich.

In reality, there are only five midfielders – and apart from Mathieu Flamini they were all around when the team won the Champions League back in 2003.

The aforementioned Seedorf and Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo plus Massimo Ambrosini have covered enough miles to have gone around the world a few times, and as a unit can no longer play the ball around crisply and with pace – once the hallmark of Carlo Ancelotti’s sides.

Now the ball is knocked forward as soon as possible for a 36-year-old who is almost permanently offside and a shy youngster who won’t say boo to a goose but only wants it played to his feet.

Filippo Inzaghi and Pato may have thrived if Ricky Kaka was still around but now there is only Dinho – who, with every passing week, looks more and more leaden in his gait.

Coming on last night for Seedorf, he immediately drifted out to the left and only showed signs of his former greatness when he wandered into the middle of the pitch to set up two goalscoring chances – one of which Pato fluffed badly.

What is to be done to climb out of this pit of despair? Well, get tough – a solid midfield platform for a start.

Flamini on the right, Gattuso alongside Pirlo in the middle and Ambrosini on the left, with Seedorf in waiting.

Up front, Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar will never adapt to Italian football sitting on the bench so he has to be given his chance alongside Pato.

The defence just about picks itself and the big Yank Oguchi Onyewu didn’t look too bad when he came on against the Swiss – at least he brought a bit of humph to proceedings.

The rest can mope on the bench if they want, but if Leonardo really wants to be a coach and a leader of men then he has got to follow the old Italian male tradition and show some... well you can guess what.

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Liverpool cut down by the long and curlies

2009-09-30T12:30:00Z

He may possess a set of dentures that would put Ronaldinho to shame and a curly mop that would shame Kevin Keegan in his heyday, but there is nothing unattractive with the way Stevan Jovetic plays football.

That’s Stevan, not Steven as in Gerrard – who was left in the shade by the wispish teenager on an evening where the cream of English football were given a lesson in rapier-like, attacking football.

Stevan heaven indeed, with a brace coming at the end of swift, slicing moves that carved their way through the Liverpool defence for Jo-Jo to provide the dagger to the heart as coolly as a Machiavellian assassin.

Adrian Mutu may give off the air of an extravagant, Renaissance dandy, but he's burdened with a debt that no man could pay, be it to Chelsea or anyone else.

So it’s the street urchin who has stepped out of the shadows to steal the show.

Still a teenager until November, the bargain buy from Red Star Belgrade has taken his chance this season, with Mutu’s mind elsewhere.

The devilishly cunning Cesare Prandelli give the Montenegrin the freedom to roam wherever he felt and then allowed the player’s natural confidence and joie de vivre to shine through.

It hasn't always done so, when players behind him haven't worked diligently enough.

But when the likes of Cristiano Zanetti and Marco Dondel put in the hard yards, the shaggy No.8 reaps the benefits.

Such was the case last night when Jovetic gave early warning of his ability by firing off two long-range shots before skipping around a number of tackles to set up another chance.

It was the second goal that demonstrated his almost flawless footwork as he artfully flicked out his right foot to divert a low cross into the far corner of the net.

In hindsight, it may have been the moment where the world fell at the rangy youth’s size eights.

No doubt Real Madrid took notice and of course, the replay would have been flashed across the screens in England.

Fiorentina have yet to tie him to an improved contract, which seems to be the way with Italian clubs who hedge their bets like a skint gambler until they are certain they are on to a sure winner.

They will need to put their shirts on the rising star now – offer him a whack of money and they will recoup it by the end of the season if the Viola decide to sell, which would seem the wise thing to do seeing as the Della Valle family are heading back to the cobblers.

In the meantime, Serie A’s newest quick-footed dribbler has got Italian fans dancing with delight again – and especially those in the fine city of Florence.

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Mourinho and Dinho lemon-lipped in limelight

2009-09-28T15:00:00Z

Jose Mourinho isn’t a man you’d usually associate with getting as far as possible from media attention. But this hasn’t been a usual week.

Tatarstan, home of Inter’s Champions league opponents Rubin Kazan, is probably as far as one can get from the centre of European football, but it’s perfect for Mourinho to escape the Italian media – and in particular television.

The Portuguese was at his most irritable following Inter’s Saturday loss at Sampdoria.

When dragged in front of the cameras to give his views on the game, he was as sour as month-old milk.

NEWS: Samp stun Inter

The barely-hidden feeling was that he was there against his will to satisfy contractual obligations – which isn’t in fact true: there is no official contract between clubs and TV for coaches to appear, although it’s expected.

Much less expected are comments so caustic that they make the whole thing an ordeal hardly worth repeating on a regular basis.

While many coaches trot out the same old clichés, Jose can never be accused of being banal, but when he is downright rude, what is he providing to the overall analysis of the game?

The questioners – or, as our man sees them, the prosecution – can press all the right buttons so when the name of Luigi del Neri was mentioned as a bete noir, having got one over Mou once again just as he had with Atalanta, the reply was as hyper-sensitive as a car alarm at 3am.

Poor old Del boy replaced Mourinho at Porto but was soon shown the door – something the Special One took great delight in pointing out.

“My bete noir?” he hissed. “He can’t be, I won the Champions League and he was sacked after two weeks.”

And with that reproach ringing around the studio, off he trotted to the Urals before you could say “Christmas card list.”

Mourinho’s mood may have been lightened somewhat with the news that Juventus could only draw at home to Bologna thus leaving Samp as the sole leaders – something that won’t concern the champions too much.

NEWS: Juve blow chance to go top

The Old Lady definitely had Munich on their minds; missing enough chances to put the game beyond doubt before the hour mark, they were then caught on the hop deep into injury time.

So that’s just one victory from the last four games for Juve and the hoots of celebration could probably be heard all the way from central Russia.

It was cantankerous weekend all round, with AS Roma and Catania duking it out like two irate motorists in rush hour.

There’s some history between the teams and when the capital-city visitors grabbed an unlikely draw with almost the last kick of the game, the scene was set for the usual pushing and shoving, heated words and the odd red card.

Loose talk was also the order of the day in Naples where the tetchy Aurelio de Laurentiis was lightening the mood by ruing the day he ever employed Roberto Donadoni.

In fact, he was lamenting the fact that his sporting director Pierpaolo Marino had ever talked him into replacing dear old Edy Reja.

On being informed just ahead of the Siena game that he was no longer the blue-eyed boy, Marino had a few choice words on the subject – so the movie mogul edited his supporting man out of the ongoing soap opera live on television.

It’s difficult to say whether De Laurentiis had been led down this confessionary route in the heat of the moment, or if he too was using the medium he understands so well, for his own means – probably the latter.

Whatever, such outbursts ensure that the television remote control was always to hand over the weekend. All the better to follow the comedy channel where AC Milan now reside.

Even watching lame Leo’s lads labour at home to Bari made for great Sunday evening entertainment: plenty of goalmouth action, some fine goalkeeping at both ends and the sight of Ronaldinho and Clarence Seedorf’s long faces when their numbers were called in.

It ensured the weekend ended just as it started – with sour-faced underachievers getting out of the media glare.

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Midweek review: start the sack race

2009-09-25T10:19:00Z

Have Italian clubs developed patience? Five rounds of the campaign have gone and so far only one coach has taken a ten-count.

Standards are certainly dropping amongst the rottweiler Serie A presidents, who generally like nothing better than chewing on the marrow of some unfortunate “Mister” following another early lacklustre performance.

Angelo Gregucci was left in tears when he was informed that his services were not required after leading Atalanta to four straight defeats.

His replacement, Antonio Conte, who some may remember as a balding midfielder for Juventus but who now possesses a luscious head of hair, has already shown much more backbone by getting himself sent-off on his debut, as well as securing the team’s first point of the season.

That came in the league’s rare midweek round of games which saw Inter climb back to the top of the table after a light work-out against Napoli, alongside Juventus who drew an absolute humdinger at Genoa last night.

The Neapolitans are coached by Roberto Donadoni, who looks odds-on to follow the humbling walk taken by Gregucci.

Donadoni has never really recovered from the battering he suffered from the Italian Football Federation during his ill-fated tenure in charge of the national team – and now the combustible Napoli chief Aurelio de Laurentiis has given the poor fellow the dreaded vote of confidence.

The movie mogul has dipped deep into his finances to hand Donadoni a talented if somewhat lightweight bunch of players and it is obvious that they are in need of the hairdryer treatment, having picked up just four points so far.

The way the Partenopei rolled over at the San Siro on Wednesday wouldn’t have happened under the craggy old Edy Reja, but all Donadoni could do was stare into space as his side crumbled within the first five minutes.

Another former Milan player pretending he isn’t feeling the hot blast of his employer’s breath on his neck, is of course, Leonardo.

The dapper Brazilian is on a hiding to nothing really – lumbered with a team well past its best and having to put up with Ronaldinho - but he is so caught up in cooperate babble that he probably believes everything he says when he claimed that his side played well at Udinese.

Apart from Antonio di Natale, Udinese are no world-beaters and the 1-0 scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story of how dire the visitors were.

The only Rossoneri player showing any steely resolve is Alessandro Nesta, who is obviously just happy to be playing again and either doesn’t notice or has decided to ignore the dearth of commitment all around him.

Inter haven’t been able to stop guffawing loudly at their neighbours’ plight and Massimo Moratti has even taken to ribbing everyone with calls for lame Leo to be given more time.

And when is a good moment to sack the ultimate fall-guy?

In Italy, that can be at any time including before the season even starts, which befell Gianni de Biasi who was shown the door at Torino on the eve of the campaign a few seasons back.

Down in the depths of Sicily, the devourer of many a tracksuit-wearing minion, Maurizio Zamperini, is already curling his lips up in rage.

However, this time he’s not pushing around timid Francesco Guidolin but tough guy Walter Zenga – and any set-to could be as explosive as Mount Etna.

While we’re at it, we might as well cast a few doubts over Davide Ballardini’s long-term chances of remaining in the capital.

In the Lazio boss’s defence, he has been hindered by a crippling injury list and just as importantly by the fact that Claudio Lotito has ostracised Cristian Ledesma and Goran Pandev for refusing to sign new minimum-wage contracts.

Livorno don’t really have a coach as Gennaro Ruotolo has not completed all his coaching qualifications so Vittorio Russo, who has been knocking around for eons, has to stand lamely on the touchline.

Gianluca Atzori has no else to blame and probably has a removals van permanently parked outside his house in Catania.

Refreshingly, it’s not always coaches who fall on their sword but also owners, with Andrea Della Valle calling time on his stint as president of Fiorentina.

Having spent years ignoring the sniggers about his brother Diego’s sartorial fashion statement (wearing a cashmere sweater as a scarf – it’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it), the shoe and leather entrepreneur took umbrage at Florence city council for dragging their heels on green-lighting a plan to build a new training facility.

Having dropped something in the region of 170million Euro into the club coffers over the last seven years – and with the fans demanding a few more big names - Andrea walked away rather than waste any more valuable time and money.

Not many coaches would follow that lead. But wait a second, didn’t Luciano Spalletti do the self-same thing recently?

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The blight on Italian football

2009-09-23T11:34:00Z

Italian football has missed out on another opportunity to face up to racist behaviour inside one of its grounds.

No surprise really, as the authorities continue to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the chanting that blights games up and down the country every weekend.

A new season and nothing has changed.

Cagliari fans berated Samuel Eto’o for most of Sunday’s match at the Sant’Elia stadium; that was of course until Mario Balotelli made his entrance as a second-half substitute to receive a barrage of what can only be described as imitations of “apes on heat”.

NEWS, Wed 23 Sep: Blackburn's Diouf claims Everton fans threw bananas at him

We’ve been down this regrettable, twisted road before with the Inter teenager, who received similar abuse at Juventus and at his own San Siro stadium from AS Roma followers.

Juve were forced to play a subsequent league game behind closed doors as a punishment of sorts – one finally enforced when they were already out of the title race - while the Roman club received a minuscule fine of eight grand.

Grabbing all the headlines instead was Jose Mourinho’s sending-off in Sardinia for complaining that an opponent should have been booked: the coach was suspended for one game and fined a hefty 15,000 Euro.

At the time of writing, no sanctions have been imposed on the Sardinian club or its fans, but there are laws in place that need to be implemented.

A referee has the power in consultation with the police to suspend play if he feels that there is any chanting of a racist nature.

It’s a heavy burden on any official and especially someone as inexperienced as Sunday’s whistler Daniele Orsato who no doubt didn’t want to become the first whistle-blower on Italian football’s open secret: racism is rife at football grounds.

Nothing will ever change if the likes of Cagliari owner Massimo Cellini launches an impassioned defence of his club’s supporters, claiming that the “jeers” were taken out of context and seeming to blame Balotelli in particular for inciting them.

Speaking from his bolt-hole in Miami, he maintained he hadn’t heard anything untoward on the television, quickly backtracking on further questioning, to add: “It was a small minority and Balotelli is a type of player who attracts attention with his actions.”

Closing stadiums for a game does nothing, but confiscating season-tickets hasn’t been mentioned as a deterrent. Fines have been hopeless, but would docking points change anything?

There are certainly no short-term answers, but there’s always education and awareness.

Both players have so far kept their counsel, although Eto’o once threatened to walk off the pitch at Zaragoza and maybe when he settles in, he will be become a little more outspoken.

In the meantime, the buck will be passed back and forth between the powers that be and match officials until someone decides to take a stand – can we hope that a “Kick it Out” campaign can even begin to find a voice?

In Italy, politics and football are wound together like grapevines on the Tuscan hills: the Prime Minister owns a football team (or a football owner is Prime Minister, depending on your opinion), fans of Livorno still evoke the hammer and sickle and too many others are proud to parade the straight-armed salute.

Only last week, former Inter coach Alberto Zaccheroni was comparing Mourinho to Benito Mussolini – all because the Portuguese took offence to one of his predecessors giving his opinion on how best to defeat Barcelona.

Then, last weekend, there was a minute’s applause at all the stadiums for the six Italian troops killed in Afghanistan – and no doubt there were many inside the Sant’Elia paying their respects, only to spit out their hate for two footballers who happen to be of a different colour.

Says it all about how far football has to travel to play its part in at least dragging the problem out into a wider public domain.

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Dinho down in the dumps

2009-09-21T10:04:00Z

The sheer folly of AC Milan’s infatuation with Ronaldinho has finally come home to roost.

Silvio Berlusconi was so attracted to the dazzling Brazilian that he ignored the stories of late nights spent on the dance floor followed by late mornings under the covers, and moved heaven and earth to incite those on-pitch Samba skills to land of la dolce vita before showering his new beau with all the attention of the smitten.

But now even the old sugar daddy seems ready to turn his back on the fading pin-up and allow Leonardo to cast him adrift.

Poor old Dinho took badly to being left out of the Champions League game at Marseille and turned up for the official club photo-call on Friday complaining of a high temperature.

Seemingly unable to raise any semblance of a smile until some wag cracked a joke about “swines” and “flu”, the sickly star was able to drag himself into the team photo – evidence at least that he was a Milan player at the start of the 2009-010 season – before jumping back into his car and off home again.

More worryingly than a few sniffles is that the patient is in terminal decline – although he was well enough to pop along to the San Siro on Sunday to watch his team-mates labour to a 1-0 win over Bologna.

How he felt about the only goal coming from the Clarence Seedorf, who covets his position, is anyone’s guess – but he didn’t look much like a man suffering from the raging fever suggested in some quarters.

In fact, he was quite chipper - sporting a Lenny Karvitz circa 2005 look replete with giant beanie and wrap-around shades.

Conveying rocker-in-repose image may be one of the reasons why Ronaldinho increasingly finds himself on the outside looking in.

He’s still only 29 and should in theory be in his prime but many observers believe he’s selling his employers short; content to scoop up the 7.5million Euro-a-year salary, he could probably pay Adrian Mutu’s 17m Euro fine in cash.

Is it also the case that he has enough money never to have to lift a finger again, and so he won’t bother lifting a leg now and then?

Have his physical powers declined that much or is it seeing Lionel Messi claim his mantle as the world’s top player that has all but extinguished his desire?

More questions than answers at the moment, but it’s hard to believe that someone who obviously loves the game, and has given every football follower so much pleasure, would suddenly lose interest when offered the chance to continue his career at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Maybe only the player himself knows the reasons but whatever is rattling around in his head there have been a number of occasions since moving to Milan when he has not acted in a professional manner.

There was the summer incident at a Milan nightclub when a group of Rossoneri followers felt obliged to tell the fun-loving late bird to head home early and get a good night’s sleep.

Then there was a little-reported training ground episode at the start of the season.

With the full squad already out and going through a stretching routine, Ronie, sporting his trademark goofy grin and wearing a nappy – in fact on closer inspection it was a pair of shorts pulled up around the top of his thighs – came strolling out of the dressing room to hoof a ball into the middle of the pitch.

If he was expecting hoots of laugher he was sorely disappointed. Leonardo informed his shame-faced compatriot that proper attire should be worn at all times and that the first-team squad was expected to start training as a group at the same time.

That’s not to say that there have not been plenty of arms around his stooped shoulder recently, but genuine affection must be tinged with disappointment that the player has lost his way so badly.

While the Ronaldinho mystery will no doubt rumble on, back on the pitch it was business as usual at the top of the table.

Juventus maintained their 100% record thanks in part to Gigi Buffon’s heroics once again; Antonio Cassano ran Siena ragged to keep Sampdoria level with the Old Lady; and Jose Mourinho was sent off for protesting as Inter sneaked past Cagliari.

Genoa’s Europa League exertions got the better of them as they found themselves 2-0 down at Chievo after just nine minutes and finally went down 3-1: an early warning that battling on two fronts with a small squad, however talented, will take its toll.

Toiling, on the other hand, are AS Roma who are in such a mess financially that apparently the players have not been paid since April.

The Ultras of the Curva Sud weren’t too happy with having to pay to watch their beloved club’s fall from grace – and boycotted the first 30 minutes of Sunday evening’s home game against Fiorentina.

They missed Francesco Totti score twice and are no doubt planning further demonstrations, citing them as a decisive factor in the Giallorossi’s improvement as Daniele de Rossi added third – although the Viola players seemed to be acting like the ones who had missed a couple of pay packets.

It’s a pity Milan hadn’t thought of paying Ronaldinho on a performance-related scheme.

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Inter-Barça clash shows gulf in quality

2009-09-17T11:00:00Z

Of course they couldn't ignore him.

Serie Aaaaargh: How do you solve a problem like Ibra?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic received the predicted chorus of whistles and jeers from the San Siro faithful, but at the end they stood to applaud the team the Swede now turns out for.

News: September 16: Ibrahimovic fails to answer sceptics

There will be no better side visiting the San Siro this season – unless the Catalans return later in the competition.

The gulf between Inter and the Champions League holders was there for all to see but at least Jose Mourinho – for once not hogging the limelight – and his men have a benchmark to set their season against.

Little could be gauged from the Ibra-Eto’o match-up, as the home side spent most of the game pinned back in their own third, leaving the Cameroonian to feed off the scraps from long clearances.

The returning anti-hero, who did the rounds of hugging his former team-mates before kick-off and smothered a kit-man in a bear-hug of what seemed genuine affection, was as wasteful in a tangerine top as he ever was in the black-and-blue shirt.

However, he seemed to be actually enjoying himself – which can't be said for the jilted Eto’o, who received no greeting other than a Carles Puyol kick on the calves.

Mourinho maintained there was very little difference between the sides.

And certainly if both teams were to merge, with Inter providing the defensive muscle – Walter Samuel and Lucio were all raw physicality – then we would have the most complete outfit on the planet.

As it stands, the Portuguese will have to use the domestic encounters as a testing ground to expand a fluid passing game – but then of course he will never have Lionel Messi to draw markers and create that extra yard of space into which the Barça midfield pour in abundance.

Wesley Sneijder, when he beds himself in, will provide an outlet of sorts, but it will still be the physical approach that defines Inter’s game.

Overall, one would have to say that the Spanish champions deserved victory but the point for Inter will be precious, with trips to Dynamo Kyiv and Rubin Kazan more likely to determine where they finish in the group.

News: September 16: Kyiv purple patch crushes Kazan
Never Mind The Bolsheviks: The Soviet Septuplets – Champions League Challengers

A satisfactory start then for the Italians in Europe, with only Fiorentina coming up short, thanks in part to Alberto Gilardino getting himself sent off against the Tuscans' bête noire Lyon.

News: September 16: Lyon leave it late to beat Fiorentina

The Viola’s season is now in danger of turning into turmoil, off the pitch at any rate, with reports that the Della Valle family are ready to walk away if Florence City Council refuse to give planning permission to build a new training complex.

A decision is set for September 21 and Fiorentina have called an extraordinary meeting on September 24 to respond to what seems likely to be the bright, red “rejected” stamp.

Now click here to read the Catalan viewpoint from La Liga Loca...

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Young coaches rely on past masters

2009-09-16T13:00:00Z

NEW: Champions League news, results and fixtures
RESULTS: Juventus 1-1 Bordeaux; Marseille 1-2 Milan

He has been written off more times than a bad debt but his goals keep piling up like the interest on an unpaid credit card.

Filippo Inzaghi may be as annoying as the recession but the way he keeps bouncing back he will be around a long time after we have all forgotten how good Ronaldinho once was.

There was no sign of Dinho making even a cameo appearance in Marseille, but the Brazilian could learn a thing or two about hanging on to the best days of your life - and for a footballer than means actually playing football.

As the years slip by, the only way to do that is to have the desire to get out there and prove you’re worth your place – and enjoy yourself along the way.

Well, at 36 and counting, Pippo is still living up to his “Super” tag.

Inzaghi Inc. – Providing goals since 1991

A brace at a soggy Velodrome leaves the old poacher supreme just one goal behind Gerd “Der Bomber” Muller’s 69-goal record in European club competitions – and leaving the rest of us shaking our heads in disbelief.

He still can’t control the ball, runs like a girl and falls over in such a comical manner that it seems as if referees award free-kicks just to play along with the joke.

And then... well, and then, suddenly he’s running off as if being pursued by a swarm of bees, leaving the ball nestling in the back of the opposition net.

The first goal last night may have been a touch offside – still his favourite starting position – but the winner was vintage Pippo.

It wasn’t as if he darted to the near post to turn the ball home in front of his marker, it was more as if he just floated into the position like some spectral presence, to leave the home defence wondering if they had been seeing things.

While one seemingly ethereal figure was restoring Italian pride on the European front in the south of France, back across the border “Superman” was saving face for Juventus against Bordeaux.

For all the talk of the Old Lady returning to her former glory, she looked pretty pitiful against a vibrant French mademoiselle who could have broken hearts in Turin but for home custodian Gigi Buffon.

Still only 31 – so still a youngster for a top-level goalkeeper – Italy’s No.1 had seemed on the wane at the tail-end of last season amid persistent reports of a chronic back problem.

Buffon Corp. – Defying strikers since 1995

However, this season he looks more than back to the sort of form that made him the best shot-stopper in the world a couple of years ago.

Just as Inzaghi provided Leonardo with some respite from the gathering harbingers of doom, so Buffon’s form last night ensures that Ciro Ferrara’s honeymoon period continues awhile.

While it’s too early in the campaign to forecast how far Milan and Juve will travel in Europe, and there will certainly be ups and downs for both young coaches, it seems that Inzaghi and Buffon will be around to help for some time to come.

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How do you solve a problem like Ibra?

2009-09-15T13:00:00Z

Inter fans are caught in quite a quandary over the most appropriate way to react to Zlatan Ibrahimovic when the big fella makes his return to the San Siro on Wednesday night.

There are those who feel that the Swede should be welcomed back with applause and a general show of good-will.

And then there are those, somewhat in the majority, who believe that studied indifference is the order of the day.

No booing or jeering: just pretend the lanky, long-haired Judas doesn’t exist and everything will be fine.

Seeing as Italians in general don’t do indifference - as witnessed by Siena fans taunting Daniele de Rossi at the weekend over the murder of his father-in-law - and Inter followers in particular find it difficult to remain impartial at the best of times, this second option seems a non-starter.

Marco Materazzi, of all people, has been calling on everyone not to rise to Ibra’s baiting that it was thanks to his good self that the Nerazzurri finally won the title again – legally, on the pitch – after 17 fruitless years.

Jose Mourinho is too worldly-wise and far too smart to fall for those sly little digs, or for that matter to let loose “The Matrix” in a man-marking role, i.e. kick and kick again, when Lucio or Walter Samuel can inflict enough pain in more subtle ways.

No doubt Ibra will be steeling himself and calling upon all his reserves of self-confidence and natural arrogance when he steps on to the pitch.

He's well overdue a headline-grabbing performance in Europe and some of the locals are concerned that it will happen against them.

That would be a real slap in the face, and although it’s doubtful he would go to the lengths of a Emmanuel Adebayor-type “celebration,” if he does find the net expect a bit of badge-kissing or the universal I-can’t-hear-you hand-to-ear gesture.

The "shush" is always an option

A mere show of ingratitude would be more than enough to end any apathy amongst the sell-out crowd.

However, having said that, there is a new hero on the scene now and rather than attempting to unsettle Ibra (or not), the fans will be getting right behind Samuel Eto’o.

Mourinho has hailed him as the “best” player he has ever worked with, but then he said the same about Ibra.

Anyway, the Cameroonian has demonstrated in the opening three league games that he could be one of the best buys of the last decade: with two goals and countless assists, he has become the focal point for the new pleasing-to-the-eye Inter.

Apparently, he gets on well with the rest of the squad and by all reports has demonstrated no prima donna tendencies at all.

And on Monday, he was even seen strolling around the city centre, stopping for a chat here and there.

What were Barça thinking about when they let him go?

Well, Ibra obviously, but Wednesday evening could well give some indication which club landed the better deal.

NEW! Champions League news section

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Genoese-y does it at top of Serie A

2009-09-14T10:00:00Z

Genoa has a glorious past as a centre of trade, and now it seems the port city is set for a glorious future on the football pitch.

It’s been 18 years since the league title found its way to Liguria. But the city known as La Superba – the Proud One – is currently living up to its moniker at the top of the Serie A table.

Genoa and Sampdoria have set off with a fair wind in their sails, with only Juventus keeping them in sight while the cities of Milan and Rome are left in the doldrums.

Weekend round-up from our Italian News section
Serie A results

We may only be three games into the campaign, but it’s a refreshing change to see the table take on such an unfamiliar look.

For football purists, the compact Luigi Ferraris stadium is the place to be - and this most English of Italian grounds was packed to the rafters for the visit of another seafaring town on Sunday evening.

Napoli brought an impressive travelling support to add a real cup-tie feel to the occasion and the referee played his part by sending off Genoa’s Domenico Criscito before the half-hour mark.

Generally this would be the signal for both teams to close ranks and wait for the official to “even” things up – but not in this new era, where entertainment has replaced good old-fashioned cynicism around the league.

The ref did bring parity to the contest just before the break when Hugo Campagnaro saw red, but it was not as if anyone had noticed that the home side were a man down and goal down.

Whatever the circumstances, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side just keep coming forward, looking to create chances and generally running the opposition ragged.

While many felt that the loss of Diego Milito and Thiago Motta would see the Rossoblu drop off the pace, that incoming Inter money has been well-invested and looking along the bench there is a enough quality and quantity to seamlessly replace tired limbs or change the tactical approach to unlock any defence.

This was the case on Sunday when the livewire Rodrigo Palacio took over from Giuseppe Sculli on the left to exploit the space created by Campagnaro’s dismissal.

Then, when Sergio Floccari had run himself into the ground, Genoa introduced the forgotten man of Serie A: Hernan Crespo.

Both subs played their part in sweeping a talented but lightweight Napoli side away, but rather than any indivudiual it is the team’s driving force that gets the job done.

With Samp, it’s the other way round – and the individual who sparks the team is of course Antonio Cassano.

What a shame that the most naturally-gifted Italian player of his generation will never grace a World Cup finals.

BLOG, September 7: Function but no fun from artless Azzurri

For Samp fans of a certain age it must be like watching Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli rolled into one, in the manner which the former “Bari Bawler” navigates his way around the pitch while the rest of the team go about their tasks in unruffled fashion.

For a man who had the ability to spark a bad thought on even the most beautiful of days, a certain calmness has now descended.

Maybe it’s the settling influence of a steady girlfriend, staying off the ice-cream and employing a full-time personal trainer to ensure that he’s still sharp in the final quarter.

And that new-found fitness told at Atalanta when he ran almost the length of the pitch to get into a position to unlock the defence with a slide-rule pass for the only goal of the game.

These are heady days indeed for the fine Genoese citizens who no doubt will be patting each other on back this morning as they cast their gaze over a very pleasing looking league table.

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Snubbed Brazilians have domestic agendas

2009-09-11T13:00:00Z

Airport arrival lounges throughout Italy have been chock-a-block with weary footballers returning from all points around the world.

Stretching hamstrings and regaling each other about World Cup exploits or laughing off defeats, they now have to turn their attention to the bread and butter of the domestic grind.

While some of the worldly travellers may appreciate a weekend kicking back on the bench, for those left alone at home for the last couple of weeks they can’t wait to get back to their day job – especially those who have been cast aside on the road to South Africa.

Diego and Alessandro Pato must have felt really forlorn while watching – if they did indeed stay up to the wee small hours, Italian time, to follow the coverage – the Samba Boys dancing around in celebration after putting Argentina to the sword.

The pair will welcome a return to parity with their Seleção team-mates this weekend when they look to drag the spotlight back onto their gleaming young faces.

Diego has been a real revelation for the ever-sceptical Italian press, who have been comparing him to that other Diego - now in the throes of distress across the Atlantic - after his two-goal blitz at Roma two weeks ago.

Slightly over the top, one feels, but with Ibra and Kaka off the scene we can all live with a bit of Diego-mania.

You can’t make a judgement on a player’s absolute quality over two games, but the signs are there that the former Werder Bremen man has all the attributes to conquer the Italian game.

It took both Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane a season to find their feet but the latest phenomenon has already created one and scored two.

No doubt at the back of his mind the player will want to make a statement to Dunga in every game he plays – and by the looks of it he will have to shine all the time to win over the national boss.

The same goes for Pato, who by all accounts is a sensitive young soul, and was particularly taken aback at being left out of the qualifiers – although from the outside looking in there doesn’t seem to be much feeling between Dunga and the youngster.

Having said that, the striker has been Milan’s sharpest operator during their docile start to the campaign, nabbing both goals at Siena and being the only Rossonero to cause Inter any problems in the derby.

It’s matters at home that now take priority and the pair will need to be in inspiring form this weekend.

Juventus are back at their “lucky ground” in Rome to face Lazio – who, like the visitors, have won both of their opening games.

Unlike Juve, the home side didn’t have to worry about the majority of their squad being called up for international duty and will be looking to exploit any fatigue amongst Ciro Ferrara’s men.

Pato will once again be handed the goalscoring duties when Milan head to Siena, but Leonardo’s counter-attacking game-plan away from home is tailored-made for the No.7’s pace.

So it’s business as usual for Serie A’s finest – but for two in particular the return to action has even more significance.

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Diamond geezers shine on to South Africa

2009-09-10T14:00:00Z

Shine on you crazy diamond all the way to South Africa – spiritual home of the sparkling rock.

Just when we thought Marcello Lippi was going all cheap on us, the Azzurri coach polished up his act and the result now is that a point in Dublin and it is party time.

If Lippi retains a midfield where Andrea Pirlo is allowed to pull the strings as a true trequartista and not called upon to cover back on every occasion, then it's definitely game on again.

As if we didn’t know that already, the importance of Daniele de Rossi cannot be underestimated. The AS Roma linchpin had a poor Confederations Cup and a below-par start to the campaign, with suggestions that the break-up of his marriage had dampened his cutting edge.

Well, personal upheaval or not, the schemer was back to his best in front of the back four in Turin, having missed out on the trip to Georgia due to suspension.

A strong foundation was also the springboard for Pirlo to produce the full array of his incisive passing, redeployed as he was that all-important 10 metres or so further up the pitch.

Popping up on the edge of the area, the twinkled-toed AC Milan star set up Fabio Grosso for the opener with a deft chip.

The second goal was equally slick and razor-sharp, with Grosso, Vincenzo Iaquinto and Alberto Gilardino all involved in the one-touch move for Iaquinta to slot home.

Juventus, sorry Italy (well, there were seven Bianconeri in the side and the game was in Turin), were out of sight at the break – and how many times in the last 12 months or so have we been able to say that?

From the scrapheap to top of the pile: unsurprisingly, the national press were fulsome in their praise just as they had been excessive in damning the team a few days ago.

“Golden Italy,” trumpeted La Gazzetta dello Sport while their peers at Corriere dello Sport obviously had one eye on their assignments next summer with a chorus of “World Cup here we come.”

Turin-based Juventus mouthpiece Tuttosport only had eyes for the Old Lady: “Grosso and Iaquinta score, Ital-Juve are flying.”

Caution will still be Lippi’s watchword, even when qualification is finally sealed.

There will be enough dangers lurking out there when the squad heads south next summer and there are still plenty of rough edges to be smoothed out.

But Lippi will want to keep his midfield diamond geezers shining and Italy may have a glimmer of hope of retaining their world crown.

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Function but no fun from artless Azzurri

2009-09-07T13:30:00Z

Marcello Lippi has been complaining that no one is interested in Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign. It's easy to see why after the turgid performance in Georgia.

From FFT.com's World Cup News section:
Sun Sep 6: Kaladze says sorry
Mon Sep 7: De Rossi returns

Sitting through performances like that veers from the uncomfortable to the unwatchable, but of course national pride dictates that a perfectly good Saturday evening must be spoiled by following the Azzurri.

Despite a 2-0 win, highlights were few and far between.

At one end, Gigi Buffon's safe hands. At the other, Kakha Kaladze’s helping hand. Well, head and feet: the unfortunate AC Milan man's double own goal means he is now Italy’s joint-top goalscorer in qualifying.

"What the juddering chuff are you doing?!"

Ah well, we can leave the fun stuff to Spain and Brazil - this is Italy: the dirty street urchin of world football, living off its wits, doing what it must to survive. Right?

At least in those heady, hazy days during the summer of 2006 there was purpose at the back and a swagger coming forward that caught the rest of the world out.

In Tbilisi it was the Italy of old: even the setting was suitably dour.

Next stop Turin, another city which has been noted for its greyness, although it has shaken off its shackles of industry to become a vibrant hub of creativity.

It’s doubtful any colour will rub off on the national team. Lippi seems to have abandoned any thoughts of playing open and expansive football, and after the debacle of the Confederations Cup it looks as if the 4-3-3 formation has been jettisoned for good.

The solid 4-4-2 has produced two consecutive shut-outs, which at least has Fabio Cannavaro beaming once again.

Ater all, the captain now has a protective buffer to cover his ever-growing frailties.

The Juve man can also take heart that finally there is some youthful exuberance in the backline, with Giorgio Chiellini – asked to do nothing more than clear his lines and kick anything and anybody that comes near him – flanked by the impressive Domenico Criscito and Davide Santon.

Maybe, finally, Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Grosso will be eased out to the retirement home for aged full-backs no longer able to cross the halfway line.

All fine and dandy then at the back, but it’s further up the pitch where a dearth of quality could well catch Lippi out eventually.

In seven qualifying games, seven strikers have taken the pitch with a return of only four goals – two from Antonio di Natale and one each from Vincenzo Iaquinta and Giampaolo Pazzini.

However, the problem does not lie exclusively with the goal-shy frontmen.

The shadow of Antonio Cassano will cast a long shadow over the rest of the campaign and beyond, but Lippi has made his decision and whatever magic the Bari Bawler can conjure will ultimately be in vain.

"Keep that Cassano away from me"

Without the Sampdoria star, where is the class? If only Diego was Italian.

In Germany three summers ago, Lippi could call upon Francesco Totti with Andrea Pirlo offering support.

But the AS Roma captain has long said goodbye to international matters, while his able sidekick has been played into the ground and unfortunately cannot get into advanced positions as he once did.

The obvious alternatives - in Alberto Aquilani and Riccardo Montolvio - haven't developed a sufficient depth to their game over the last three years to be handed such a demanding role.

Thiago Motta possesses an Italian passport, but the complications that would surely arise surrounding his previous appearances for Brazil at the Gold Cup make that option a probable non-starter.

In the meantime, the concern lies in disposing of Bulgaria on Wednesday – and then setting in place a squad that has a viable chance of defending its world crown.

If it’s built around the traditional strengths of “none shall pass” then so be it – but without the inventiveness, you can't help but feel that in South Africa there will be no "Berlin moment" to celebrate.

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And the biggest salary in Serie A goes to...

2009-09-04T09:00:00Z

The stadiums may be crumbling faster than the Coliseum, the pitches may look more like the sandy beaches of Sardinia and to top it all, as if we didn’t already know it, it’s not a level playing field when it comes to salaries.

The football rich are getting richer and the rest, well, they aren’t doing to badly either if you take into consideration that the average desk clerk in Italy takes home around €14,400 a year.

However, it’s all relative, as they say, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport there is €840.4 million finding its way into the bank accounts of those making a living from playing and coaching the game.

Of course, sitting atop the pile are Inter who hand out an impressive €150 million, plus there is another €20 million hanging out there in bonuses – and for the first time in the history of Italian football it is a coach who tops the earnings list.

Jose Mourinho’s €11 million net a year is €500,000 more than his star striker Samuel Eto’o – who is the league’s top-earning player.

In fact, the Cameroonian is well out in front, with Ronaldinho trailing back on €7.5 million for all his sterling efforts at AC Milan.

"Hmmm... I'll buy them all"

Further down the pecking order, but well capable of paying for the odd round or two, are Gigi Buffon and Patrick Vieira on €5.5 million apiece: no wonder the Frenchman wanted to stay at the Nerazzurri and “fight for his place."

And no wonder no one wants to leave the AC Milan country club when there is €125.5 million draining out of the accounts to pay the likes of Nelson Dida €4 million for another year, Clarence Seedorf the same amount well into his football dotage and so on.

Tellingly, Alexandre Pato takes home a million on the nose, so the Brazilian should be expecting a three-to four-fold pay rise within the next few months – or Chelsea here we definitely come (pending an appeal to their transfer embargo).

NEWS: Chelsea to mount "strongest appeal possible" against transfer embargo

Of course, it’s a different story among the honest proles: Chievo’s top earner Sergio Pellissier is on €600,000, which is only €200,000 more than Inter’s promising midfielder Renè Krhin squirrels away in his teenage bank account.

It should also be mentioned that Massimo Moratti is still paying Roberto Mancini €6 million a year to sit around on a yacht moored off the Italian coast.

Show me the money, indeed. And in honour of the big earners, here is the “Money Bags” XI, of course, coached by you-know-who:

Goalkeeper: Gigi Buffon, Juventus (€5.5m)
Right-back: Maicon, Inter (€4.5m)
Centre-back: Lucio, Inter (€4.5m)
Centre-back: Alessandro Nesta, AC Milan (€4m)
Left-back: Cristian Chivu, Inter (€3.5m)
Midfield: Wesley Sneijder, Inter (€4m)
Midfield: Andrea Pirlo, AC Milan (€5m)
Midfield: Patrick Vieira, Inter (€5.5m)
Striker: Francesco Totti, Roma (€5.46m)
Striker: Ronaldinho, AC MIlan (€7.5m)
Striker: Samuel Eto’o, Inter (€10.5m)

Coach: Jose Mourinho, Inter (€11m)

Total: €70.96m per year

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Spalletti escapes Roman ruin

2009-09-02T11:00:00Z

The transfer window closed with no great shakes around the Serie A clubs – the big moves had been done and dusted earlier in the summer.

There was no surprise that Fabio Grosso joined his Italy international team-mates at Juventus, and Marcello Lippi will be glad to have three of his back-four, as well as goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, in one team.

It was a bit of a shock to see Zdravko Kuzmanovic move to Stuttgart, but then Fiorentina need the money and €8 million is not bad business for a player the Tuscans picked up for a song a few year’s back.

Apart from that, the usual journeymen were packing their bags once again, although Sampdoria have landed an excellent back-up to Giampaolo Pazzini in Nicola Pozzi, who may have already been fitting snugly into the former’s boots, so to speak, if it had not been for two serious knee injuries.

While the players can rest easily for another few months, the same cannot be said for the coaches who must wish they had a transfer window of their very own.

The season is hardly up and running and already we have the first managerial casualty, even though it was a car wreck waiting to happen.

Of course, it’s in the city of fading glory where Luciano Spalletti has overseen another disastrous start to the campaign by AS Roma.

We have been down this road to Rome before, and the Giallorossi are currently propping up the rest of the league following defeats to Genoa and Juventus.

The opening fixtures may have been unkind to Spalletti, but it is Roma after all, and they are expected to beat any team on their day.

However, the writing was on the wall for the Tuscan who admitted as much that he had lost the dressing room after Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Juve, claiming that the team had “failed to follow orders” and “lacked fighting spirit.”

Spalletti had long seemed to have given up the ghost as well, once again staring at the ground for most of Sunday’s threadbare performance.

He was like a down-in-the-mouth tourist who has been pick-pocketed at the Trevi Fountain and can’t wait to get out of town.

He could have gone to Chelsea last season, was heavily linked with Juventus and a move to Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer, but his bald plate was still shining in the Roman sun come the start of the campaign – and what an easy target it was for the club’s detractors.

Of course, the coach has to take the rap, when all is said and done, for the on-field results but there are quite a few other candidates who should be wary of the fans’ ever-growing hostility.

The Sensi family – with the demure but totally ineffectual Rosella in charge – have clung on to control, racking up a massive debt while refusing to step aside when a potential buyer presents itself.

No longer a buying club, unless you count Nicolas Burdiss and Bogdan Lobont - the latter only there on a loan deal - they cashed in on Alberto Aquilani.

But the real business would have come with the sale of even bigger money-spinners in Daniele de Rossi and Philippe Mexes.

It looks as if everyone connected with Roma are deluding themselves that the club can actually be a force again under the current ownership.

Just look at the man to arrest the slide into oblivion: Claudio Ranieri. At least, Jose Mourinho will have someone to bully again.

Roberto Mancini would have been a better option, but there is no point even going there with the persona non grata of Italian football.

Ranieri may be a Roman through-and-through and adored much in the way an eccentric, old uncle would be, but when it comes to taking Roma back to anywhere near the heights they enjoyed in recent years then he’s not your man.

He is cheap – earning less than a €1 million-a-year compared to Spalletti’s €1.9m-a-year salary – but when it comes to managing star names, as witnessed at Juventus, he has little sway.

Francesco Totti will not be too pleased with a new 4-4-2 formation, because in his eyes there can only be one striker and goalscorer in the team.

Sorry to say, but the great man’s powers in that role are waning match by match as ever-physical Serie A defenders muscle him off the ball.

While opponents have long worked out that cutting off the supply to the captain nullifies the team’s sharp movement in the attacking third of the pitch.

Ranieri has further problems to iron out when it comes to defending – six goals leaked in two league games – but how much more covering can De Rossi do?

It looks as if we have seen the last of Roma’s free-wheeling approach and probably the end of Jeremy Menez, unless he can adjust to tracking back.

Spalletti is well out of the mess and you know what, giving up another two years on his contract will be no hardship.

All he has to do is sit back and wait for Zenit to come calling.

It would be interesting to see who else would jump at the chance to follow their former boss to Russia and leave Roma to head along the rocky road to ruin.

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Comic capers in Milanese massacre

2009-09-01T10:30:00Z

AC Milan fans are going to need a good sense of humour this season.

The 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Inter certainly had plenty of comic value at every turn.

After making a game of it for about 20 minutes, Milan started the circus when Ronaldinho ballooned the ball over the bar from inside the area.

Soon, Rino Gattuso fell over, got up, decided he could play on, but was looking very dodgy on one good leg.

Meanwhile, there on the bench sat Clarence Seedorf in his flip-flops and training vest, without a care in the world.

Then, just like that, 1-0 Inter, 2-0 Inter, and Gattuso booked for dragging back Samuel Eto’o inside the area.

Cue Gattuso deciding he has had enough and indicating that he is coming off, although no one on the Rossoneri bench seemed to be taking it seriously – least of all Seedorf, who was still acting as if he was lounging around at the San Siro beach club.

When Leonardo finally stopped fiddling with his hair and informed the Dutchman that maybe he should slip on a pair of boots, a thoroughly demented and wide-eyed Gattuso had already lunged after Wesley Sneijder – making a classy debut – and seen red.

The hirsute one had a few parting words for his coach and Seedorf, as if it was their fault and the only way Gattuso could get their attention was by being sent off.

Indomitable Lion trumps Irritable Rino

Mathieu Flamini and Marek Jankulovski then donned chicken suits and ran around in circles while Inter just simply ran amok. 3-0 and still another 45 minutes to go.

Up the stands, Silvio Berlusconi sat stony-faced and no doubt wishing he could enforce a media blackout on reporting the debacle unfolding in front of him.

Meanwhile the Inter fans began a rendition of “We are here to see Kaka play” - a little ditty that their rivals used to sing in happier times.

Silvio didn’t hang around for much of the second half and neither did many of the soon-to-be-long-suffering Rossoneri supporters, who must have regretted giving up the last weekend of the summer holidays to pay to be humiliated.

The only bright note is that things cannot get much worse.

It was a bitter lesson for Leonardo, who only last week was being hailed as the brightest young coach around.

It’s clear that the coach needs to put some distance between himself and his players – for example, a quick rollicking for Clarence may have got him to dress for the occasion.

But the Brazilian must know that the crux of the crisis lies with his cruise-control creative maverick.

These days, Ronaldinho can only play in fits and starts.

And as long as he is remains immobile for most of the game, Milan are going to be overrun in midfield and thus stretched to wilting point in defence – especially as both Marek Jankulovski and the previously majestic Gianluca Zambrotta have become so ineffectual in just about every aspect of their game.

"No, you get it – you're obviously nearer"

With Berlusconi demanding that his flavour of the year start on a regular basis, how to employ dithering Dinho will tax Leo’s thoughts throughout his waking hours.

No such worries for Jose, who watched in admiration as his team produced a fluid display of passing and movement.

The opener, dispatched crisply by Thiago Motta, was a succession of neat, short inter-play straight out of the Barcelona training manual.

Sneijder turned out to be key to this new effortless approach, where power and precision have made way for craft and guile.

Then, there is the ease with which Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o drop off their markers to encourage the midfielders to play that extra 10 metres or so further up the pitch – and suddenly black and blue shirts are crowding the opposition penalty area.

Against 10 men and thoroughly disorganised opposition it was too easy, but a real test looms over the horizon in Barcelona.

Mourinho has set his sights on dethroning the Catalans and on this display there would seem to be little or no gap between the two sides.

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Why Jose and Leonardo should swap jobs

2009-08-28T10:00:00Z

The motorways back into Milan will be jam-packed this weekend as weary holidaymakers drag themselves away from their summer vacations – and a good number will be hopping in their cars that bit earlier.

The Milanese face a choice: have an extra day at the beach or get back for the derby.

Of course, it will be a sell-out – eventually, as in five minutes before kick-off, but everyone will get there in the end.

It's difficult to get your head round a derby when the city is so deserted and newspaper coverage is thin.

But then the buzz around the game never reaches the hyperbole surrounding the Rome derby.

How different things could be if the Jose Mourinho and Leonardo switched roles.

Jose and Silvio Berlusconi would have them rolling in the aisles with their straight-guy, funny-guy act. while Leo and Massimo Moratti would be more than happy to play it straight.

That crazy couple - what will they do next?

On the face of it, it looks as if neither coach is suited to their owner’s perception of how football should be played.

After Milan surprised themselves by winning at Siena in the opening game, everyone was harking on about on well Ronaldinho played.

Was Mr Berlusconi leading the chorus-line in a merry dance of approval? Of course not, and the cavorting cavalier was quick to offer Leo some advice on the way he saw things.

“I would have played Clarence Seedorf as well – in the hole behind Ronaldinho, who would have supported Pato.”

NEWS, August 25: Silvio questions Milan formation

Now, that would have been some hollowed-out expanse, as both Ronie and Clarence suffer nose-bleeds if they ever have to go back across the halfway line when an attack breaks down – leaving the Rossoneri somewhat short-changed in midfield.

Across town, how the former Chelsea boss would love to be in such a position of having only two in midfield.

After Inter’s dreary 1-1 draw at home to Bari, Mr Moratti was lamenting the fact that maybe his side could have been a little more prudent after taking the lead.

Moratti’s dad conquered the world playing counter-attacking football and his son was full of praise for the way Milan employed that tactic in the latter stages down in Siena.

Not really what your coach wants to hear – or, for that matter, your chief rival across town.

Imagine if Silvio had Jose in charge. And let’s say the pair are enjoying a hearty pre-game lunch.

Silvio: “So today, what is it? Huntelaar, Inzaghi, Borriello and Pato up front; Pirlo, Ronaldinho and Seedorf in support and I suppose we'll have to have three at the back.

Jose: “You read my mind, boss. Any chance of signing Lucio? We may need an extra man up front early on in games.”

Meanwhile over at Inter, Moratti and Leo would be quietly contemplating whether to play Samuel Eto’o or Diego Milito as a lone striker, supported by no one.

"Steady on - a striker?!"

The reality, of course, will be somewhat different, especially now that Wesley Sneijder has finally given up the ghost on remaining at Real Madrid and decided that 4 million euros a year is enough compensation for having to move to Milan.

That should put a smile on Jose’s mug as the little Dutch master will form the tip of his diamond formation – ensuring that Javier Zanetti, Dejan Stankovic, Thiago Motta, Esteban Cambiasso (when he’s fit again in about a month), Sulley Muntari (when Ramadan is over) and Patrick Vieira (well, maybe not) have plenty of running to do.

Don’t be surprised to see Sneijder thrown into the fray on Saturday – and derby debutants have a history of coming up trumps: Kaka and Ronaldinho both scored in their first city derby outings.

It could be case of perfect symmetry out there on the green expanse of the San Siro and what a engaging sight that would make.

The midfield three on each side fight for possession, the full-backs attempt to tip-toe along the flanks like someone trying to avoid an over-talkative neighbour while the two trequartiste skip around looking for the space to release the front two.

It’s enough to get anyone home early from the beach.

And talking of “home,” weren’t the football gods kind in ensuring via the Champions League draw that Ibra, Kaka and Sammy can’t get away with sneaking out the back door without saying goodbye?

Who said romance is dead – odds on plenty of boos for Ibra and cheers for Ricky: just like old times really.

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Who needs Ibra and Kaka? Viva Zapater!

2009-08-26T11:00:00Z

It looked like one-way traffic out of Italy this summer.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ricky Kaka headed off to Spain, followed by thousands of Italian holidaymakers discovering that the Iberian coast is a lot more affordable than their own shores.

But there has been at least one welcome move in the opposite direction.

The opening weekend of the season was full of delightful and unexpected performances, and topping the bill was without doubt Alberto Zapater.

Zapa who? Well, quite. There had been positive pre-season reports about the former Zaragoza midfielder, but no one could have expected such an eye-catching debut for Genoa against AS Roma.

Not only did he play Daniele de Rossi off the park - not something you can say often - but the 24-year-old scored a free-kick that would have had even Ronaldinho bowing his Alice band in appreciation.

Or, earlier in the day, Michel Platini putting on his best Gallic shrug and muttering “Mon Dieu.”

With Thiago Motta leaving Genoa for Inter, former local hero Diego Milito gave his old club the heads up on the strapping Spanish international, and coach Gian Pier Gasperini got a genuine snip at 4.5million euros.

La Liga’s loss, Serie A’s gain – and cheers to that.

Zapater wasn't the only player making a sudden impact. Edgar Alvarez has been knocking around Italian football for years, passing from one club to another with hardly anyone noticing him.

In fact, Francesco Totti couldn’t place the name despite sharing a dressing room with the Honduran for a season.

He’s now pitched up at Bari and one man not likely to forget his name is Inter's Javier Zanetti, who was left trailing in the speedy winger’s wake on Sunday evening.

For the ageing Argentinian, made to feel every one of his 36 years, it must have been akin to watching Usain Bolt disappear into the distance – albeit with a football tied to his boot.

There must be something in the water in Honduras: David Suazo is another speed demon from those parts – and let’s hope the popular striker finds a new club before he goes completely to seed at Inter.

Speaking of mysteriously unused Milanese squad members, remember when the Rossoneri had all those oldies lining up in defence and everyone was wondering how a club that had produced the likes of Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini couldn't nurture another half-decent youngster to fill the gap?

Well, one of those trainees-in-vain was Marcus Diniz, who came up through Milan's youth ranks at the San Siro after arriving from Brazil in 2005, but was shipped off to Monza and then Crotone on loan deals.

Now 22 and out on loan again at Livorno, the central defender turned in the sort of assured performance in the goalless draw with Cagliari that left one wondering why Milan kept wheeling out Kakha Kaladze, Giuseppe Favalli, or for that matter Philippe Senderos, last season.

Marcus wasn't the only eye-catching loanee at the weekend. There has been talk of a goalkeeping crisis in the Italian game, but obviously no one has told Antonio Mirante.

The 26-year-old keeper started as understudy for Gigi Buffon at Juventus before becoming another of football’s diaspora: wandering off for brief spells at Crotone (a popular stop-over), Siena and Sampdoria.

Samp were impressed enough to buy half of his registration from Juve before in turn loaning him to Parma, and this weekend his three extraordinary reflex saves did more than anything to earn the Gialloblu a point at Udinese.

The dazzling diamonds may have disappeared, but if you look hard enough there are little gems shining out there in the Italian game.

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New campaign, same old Jose…

2009-08-24T11:00:00Z

If there were any lingering doubts over why Jose Mourinho feels he needs to get under everyone’s skin, then the press conference ahead of this weekend’s season opener nailed his modus operandi.

“I have heard my enemies sounding off recently and this pleases me,” he informed a hushed press room at Inter’s training camp before leaving the statement hanging in the air.

In Jose's George Bush-like world it is a case of “you are either with us or against us,” and seemingly there are “enemies” at every turn.

Ciro Ferrara – for you will become an enemy because you coach the enemy – Marcelo Lippi, Luciano Spalletti and all the rest, you have been warned.

New campaign, same old Jose then…

The champions were as sullen as the late-summer weather when they stepped out to face newly-promoted Bari at the San Siro on Sunday evening.

It took the big, bad boss man all of 25 minutes to make his first change when he withdrew Sulley Muntari, later explaining that the poor fellow had been so ineffectual because he had been fulfilling his religious obligations by fasting during the Muslim month of Ramadan.

In fact, it was only the combination of the free-falling Diego Milito, who feeling the merest breath of a defender on his neck tumbled to the ground like the first leaf of Autumn, and the incompetence of the referee for awarding the penalty, that gave Inter the lead.

The away side were too shocked to argue and Samuel Eto'o too embarrassed to celebrate after dispatching the spot-kick for his first goal in Italy.

Maybe that's why he went on to put a free effort in front of goal wide, but welcome to Serie A Sammy. There are sure to be a few more gifts on offer whenever your side are at home.

However, there is some justice in this mean old world and Vitali Kutuzov - who started his career across town at AC Milan - fired home the equaliser after Lucio and Marco Materazzi had lumbered up-field.

In fact, the visitors should have won it at the death, and the only noise at the final whistle were the pounding of feet of the Nerazzurri faithful as they quickly disappeared into the fading light while the rest of Italy chuckled heartily.

Leading those guffaws were Juventus and Milan, who overcame tricky openers to get their seasons off to winning starts.

Solid rather than spectacular was the order of the day, which is not a surprise as the opposition was Chievo and Siena respectively, two sides not noted for open football.

Diego certainly looked the real deal, but it would be unfair to jump to the conclusion that the Brazilian will be the 'New Zidane' as has been suggested in some pro-Juve quarters.

One thing is certain though, Amauri will be flicking his tangled mop in anticipation of the service from his compatriot if he can get on the end of the sort of free-kick that Vincenzo Iaquinta headed home for the only goal of the game.

And what about Milan's Thiago? From persona non grata last season to the man set to keep the midfield ticking over in an unruffled manner.

Maybe Ronaldinho will be another fallen star set for a renaissance – well he certainly will be if the opposition decide not to mark him.

Siena gave the former golden boy of world football all the room he could ever have dreamt of to weave a bit of the old magic.

And he duly did so, having a hand in both goals with Pato popping up in perfect Pippo Inzaghi mode to find the net on each occasion.

But really Milan should be wiping the floor with teams such as Siena, whose players are like those summer waiters scurrying around resort restaurants, ferrying food to the masses.

You only need to be able-bodied to do it.

Serving up more of a treat were Palermo, Napoli, Genoa and Roma.

Palermo coach Walter Zenga is already claiming his side can be within touching distance of the title after the Sicilians overcame Napoli, who it has to be said could have grabbed all three points themselves if it hadn’t been for some disastrous defending.

The same goes for Roma, who were forced to play Nicolas Burdisso after the defender made a mad dash from Milan to Genoa a mere 24 hours earlier to sign a loan deal.

He may not have been that familiar with his new team-mates, but at least the Argentine knew the man he was marking... former Inter team-mate Hernan Crespo.

Little good it did him as the “hardest working side” in the league scored three and in doing so unearthed two more gems: midfielder and scorer of a wonderful free-kick Alberto Zapater and the man with a strange braid monstrosity growing out of the side his head, Rodrigo Palacio.

All in all, a positive start and the signs are that Ibra and Ricky will not be missed, especially if Antonio Cassano and Mauro Zarate keep tying defenders up in knots.

It’s the Milan derby next weekend and Jose is already in combative mood, claiming the media will be building his city neighbours up while dismissing his own side.

He can carp away as usual – and entertaining, in part, it may be - but the feeling is that the real talking and entertainment will be done on the pitch this season.

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Serie Aaaaargh's 2009/10 predictions

2009-08-21T09:00:00Z

The start to the new season is warming up nicely, with Jose Mourinho jumping on Marcello Lippi’s belief that Juventus will win the title like an Italian tourist sighting a free sun lounger.

Generally, when faced with such a question an Italy coach will diplomatically sidestep the issue by naming three or four of the frontrunners.

But Lippi went for his old club to end the Nerazzurri’s domestic dominance.

Obviously, Jose has been pacing the villa in Como plotting a way to get under Juve’s skin ahead of the campaign.

With old nemesis Claudio Ranieri no longer around and Ciro Ferrara’s lack of experience protecting him from any attack, he had to grab at something to raise his ire and get the fires burning ahead of the real action this weekend.

Predictions are there to be shot down, and in keeping with Mr Lippi’s honest appraisal of what is in store, Serie Aaaaargh! will follow suit. So here we go:

League champions

Juventus – only kidding Jose – no, it’s got to be Inter.

Juve will push their old enemy close but when you look through both squads, it’s the defending champions who have the greater strength in depth, especially in defence and through the midfield area where the Bianconeri may pay for allowing Cristiano Zanetti to leave for Fiorentina.

Inter have lifted the last four titles and that winning feeling is an important factor.

The top four

Inter
Juventus
Fiorentina
Napoli

Yes, Napoli to oust Milan, Roma and Genoa from the final Champions League spot.

Owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has answered his coach Roberto Donadoni’s calls to invest in some big-name signings and the light blues look like genuine contenders.

There is a new goalkeeper in Italy international Morgan De Sanctis, two South American defenders Hugo Campagnaro and Juan Camilo Zuniga, and the star of the Italy U21 side Luca Cigarini.

But the real eye-catching arrival has been striker Fabio Quagliarella from Udinese, whose goals could well fire Napoli to glory after the disappointment of last year.

Flops

It has to be Milan and Roma who have failed to find the spark in the transfer market.

It was always going to be a period of transition for the Rossoneri under new coach Leonardo, who needs to win over his experienced players or risk a dressing room revolt if the team makes a poor start to the campaign.

The Giallorossi, for their part, are always going to be reliant on Francesco Totti, and if the talismanic figure breaks down who do they turn to?

After losing Diego Milito and Thiago Motta, Genoa may end up doing an Udinese and pay at home for their European exploits.

Surprise of the year

Apart from Napoli, look out for Palermo forcing themselves into contention for a top-six finish.

The Sicilians ended last season in fine form and Maurizio Zamperini may have met his match in the cantankerous stakes in Walter Zenga.

If the owner and coach can channel all that aggression into team affairs, then who knows what delights the season will bring.

Going down

The three promoted sides are usually everyone’s favourites to be relegated, but Bari, Parma and Livorno have spent wisely with the former two well-equipped to stay up.

No doubt all three will struggle, but it is not too encouraging for Bologna who dodged the drop on the last day, while Siena have lost the heart of the side that claimed a mid-table spot.

Player of the year

It was Zlatan Ibrahimovic last year and two Inter players in Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito will be vying for the honour this time around.

However, Amauri could well be the man to spoil the party.

The Juventus striker has plenty to prove this year, not only at club level but internationally where he has the pick of either Italy or his homeland Brazil.

Plenty of service from Diego could well see the big striker finish the season as the league’s top scorer as well.

Breakthrough player of the year

In a World Cup year it would be great to see a young Italian catch the eye, and Luca Cigarini has what it takes to win over Marcello Lippi.

Having cut his teeth at Parma and Atalanta, the 23-year-old will be in the spotlight at Napoli and if he is allowed to command the middle of the pitch then Italy have a ready-made replacement for Andrea Pirlo heading towards South Africa.

There you have it, and if you are in Jose Mourinho mood, feel free to air your disproval.

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Inter & Juve fired up at end of phoney summer war

2009-08-18T11:00:00Z

Pescara is pretty bleak at the best of times, but Friday evening on the eve of Ferragosto – Italy’s most public of holidays when only the lonely, infirmed or dirt poor are left at home - is particularly drab.

The coastal city’s unpretentious but thoroughly functional Stadio Adriatico was the venue for the penultimate stopover in the pre-season phoney war between Inter, Juventus and AC Milan before the real business kicks off next weekend.

Like the surroundings, the TIM Trophy has the desperate air of the tail-end of summer about it – the last bit of messing about before the return to the seriousness of day-to-day life.

The teams were paired for three 45-minute encounters in this triangular kick-about– just enough time for the players to perspire gently and maybe set up a chance or two.

But generally speaking these encounters end goalless and are decided on penalties.

"Is it time for spot-kicks yet?"

Of course, whenever Inter and Juve cross paths there is little time for larking around, and thus was the case on this balmy Friday by the sea.

'Cheery' Ciro Ferrara’s lot lifted the trophy after a 2-0 win over Milan, which says it all about the dismal current state of the Rossoneri: conceding both goals on the cusp of 30 minutes while creating next to nothing going forward.

That was the final match-up of the evening, and by then weariness had set in among one and all.

But the real excitement had been reserved for earlier on, with the event getting off to a cracking start when the old arch-rivals met.

Thiago Motta’s goal looked to have sealed victory for the champions until Marco Materazzi made the slightest contact with Amauri inside the area and the referee invoked the standard 'controversial decision' and pointed for a penalty

Materazzi took the verdict with the all good grace we have come to expect from the tattooed terror through the years, and disgorged a tirade of expletives at the cowing official.

When finally spent of all emotion, the inevitable outcome was that the veteran defender continued his travelling odyssey of collecting red cards at just about every ground in the country.

Jose Mourinho was all restraint as usual: firing off his own haranguing on the ref’s shortcomings.

Why he bothered we will never know, because Julio Cesar made a stunning save from Vincenzo Iaquinta’s spot-kick.

"I'll get it..."

Unfortunately, or fortunately for Juve, in the dying embers of the encounter Nelson Rivas set-up Amauri with a back-pass, and the Brazilian - not known for looking a gift horse in the mouth - netted the equaliser.

Penalties it was then, and the Bianconeri drew first blood thanks to Walter Samuel’s ballooning effort and Davide Santon’s choker.

However, the vanquished did have the opportunity to get all that malice out of their system against Milan in the next game.

Inter had already beaten their city cousins once this summer - in a bashing in Boston - and Leonardo’s lollers rolled over again.

Marco Balotelli scored the only goal of the game, and the teenager also came close with a free-kick which came back off the bar.

Klass-Jan Huntelaar made his debut for Milan, but the Dutch striker received little or no support from Pato or roly-poly Ronaldinho.

Mourinho stormed off at the final whistle, refusing to attend the post-tournament press conference and preferring to sulk on the team coach – a harbinger of things to come one feels.

"Sorry, I'm washing my hair"

So as Juve danced around with the trophy at an hour when most right-minded souls would have gladly swapped the plastic seats for a firm mattress, what can be gleaned on where the title will be heading this year?

Juve still have a lot of work to do if they are to wrest domestic dominance out of Inter’s hands.

Both will be heavyweights going toe-to-toe for the crown, but Mourinho still has that extra clout in every department.

As for Milan, well it is of course too early to consign them to the also-rans.

But for all of Leo’s defiance that he “needs time,” there is such an obvious collective loss of confidence throughout the squad that even a trip to Siena on the first day will fill them with trepidation.

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Record-breaking Cannavaro showing no signs of slowing

2009-08-17T08:00:00Z

What better way for Fabio Cannavaro to celebrate becoming Italy’s all-time leading appearance holder than with a goalless draw.

The perfect result to top a perfect evening in Switzerland for the Azzurri captain and now proud holder of 127 caps – overtaking his former long-term defensive partner Paolo Maldini.

At almost 36, and newly returned to Juventus where he received the sort of welcome from a sizable section of the fans which suggested that one should stick to the old adage “never go back,” the veteran will be puffing out his chest for one last moment of glory come next summer.

Italy should have booked their passage to South Africa before they face the Republic of Ireland in October, and certainly the display against the Swiss was much-more in the style of the Italy of old than the debacle of the Confederations Cup.

Domenico Criscito and Claudio Marchisio were assured in their debuts, and Marcello Lippi’s quiet revolution at dipping into the U21 set-up will hopefully pay dividends over the next nine months or so.

However, one thing is certain, Cannavaro has as much chance of missing – injuries aside of course – next summer’s World Cup jamboree than Antonio Cassano receiving a dinner invite from Lippi.

There have been whispered grumblings that the likeable Neapolitan should maybe do the right thing and step down from the international stage before his powers wane completely.

But we may as well forget any notions of retirement for now.

The reason is that few men can lay claim to greatness: they are set apart by their drive and ambition to see them through any challenge.

They lead where others follow and history ensures that their glory will always remain undiminished.

OK, we are only talking about a footballer not a statesman or military leader, but Italian’s will never forget Cannavaro’s never-say-die, backs-to-the-wall spirit in Germany in 2006.

And of course that crowning moment when he hoisted the World Cup trophy high into the Berlin night.

A nation will not deny one of their most favoured sons a chance at sporting immortality, even if history dictates otherwise against back-to-back success.

Why is he once more in the Juve fold, if not to hone a defensive partnership with Giorgio Chiellini? Mr. Lippi demanded it and so it has come to pass.

Cannavaro has always been something of a favoured child in the international set-up since making his debut against Northern Ireland back in 1997.

He was once part of the most handsome, flop-haired defensive triumvirate alongside Maldini and Alessandro Nesta from World Cup 1998 through to 2002, before being handed the captain’s armband for the nazionale.

On-field disappointments – including the Euro 2000 final defeat to France and basically being dumped by Inter - went hand-in-hand with what seemed an off-field campaign to discredit il capitano.

A video of him shot the day before the 1999 UEFA Cup final hooked up to a drip being fed Neoton – an unbanned integrator of vitamins used to relieve tiredness after a cardiac arrest, but used by Italian teams through the 90s – somehow found its way on to a RAI broadcast in 2005.

There were calls from some sections for him to stand-down, and then a year later Cannavaro was lifting the league title in a Juventus shirt as the Luciano Moggi scandal was about to break.

Once again questions were raised – even finding their way into a parliamentary discussion – over whether he was fit to lead the country in Germany.

So, as with recent trials and tribulations, a steely resolve has lurked behind that angelic smile, leaving the naysayers long-faced.

And no doubt that trademark chest will be pushed out even further over the next year or so.

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Parma make welcome return to Italy's top table

2009-08-12T09:00:00Z

It is hard to imagine that Parma were once the cream of Serie A - hamming it up as part of the 'seven sisters' of top-flight Italian football and serving-up a veritable feast of exciting action across Europe.

Fabio Cannavaro, Lillian Thuram, Gigi Buffon, Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron were just some of the star names to wear the shirt in the mid-90s and early noughties.

It all turned sour when it became clear that diary giant and club backer Parmalat was nothing more than an empty vat of hot air.

And like another shooting star of the era, the Spice Girls, it seemed that the Gialloblu’s 15 minutes of fame were up despite the presence of Adrian Mutu and Adriano in their ranks.

Inter claimed the 2008 title on the last day of the season at the compact Ennio Tardini stadium, and in doing so sent the sad-looking home team – now renamed FC instead of AC - down to Serie B.

In keeping with what is a perfectly-laid out and welcoming city, Parma went back to being the quiet back-water famed for its cheese and ham.

However, there have stirrings on the football front once again in Emilia-Romagna after the team’s return to the top flight along with another blast from the past, Bari, and yo-yo boys Livorno.

It may be a long way from the salad days of cutting a swath through the UEFA Cup and pushing Juventus and Luciano Moggi to the brink of hypertension, but at least they are back on solid ground.

Fresh-faced owner Tommaso Ghirardi has put a bit of the wham back into Parma, settling on experienced coach Francesco Guidolin who was finally released from his “get me out of trouble and then I’ll dump you again” clause by Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini.

Guidolin, who at 53 likes nothing more than taking off to the Italian Alps for a 100-km bike ride during his down time, has been there and seen it all before, but retains an enthusiasm more in keeping with a man starting out on a career free of hard knocks.

The homely environment surrounding the team and the city is illustrated perfectly by the decision to hold recent pre-season training sessions in a local park.

OK, it is not any old piece of greenery but the marvellously-kept and stunning Cittadella Park.

An inciting venue for anyone visiting the city, and made even more welcoming for the Parma players by the number of bikini-clad females enjoying the summer sun.

The players sweated away in the August heat and then took time to sign autographs and chat to the fans in shade of the tree-lined avenues.

All very relaxing, but the level-headed Guidolin and his men are going to need all the good will they can muster for the campaign ahead.

The only 'big-name' signings have been Christian Panucci, who at 36 has promised that his days of stirring dressing-room discord are behind him, and forgotten man Valeri Bojinov - on loan from Manchester City - having only kicked a ball about three times in two years following a series of nasty ligament snaps.

Apart from that, there is a journeyman feel to the rest of the squad, in the likes of captain Stefano Morrone, defender Alessandro Lucarelli and former Genoa free-roaming dribbler Leòn.

One to look out for is 19-year-old Alberto Paloschi, on a co-ownership deal with AC Milan, where he scored some 18 seconds into his debut a few years back.

The young striker netted 12 goals last season and, having played for Italy at very level up to U21, is being touted as a future full international much in the Giuseppe Rossi mould – who of course started out at Tardini.

Parma may not be living off the fat of the land, but with a little luck and plenty of hard work they can survive at the top table.

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Mourinho yet to find his fantasista

2009-08-11T08:00:00Z

Jose Mourinho had plenty of time during the long-haul trip back from China to mull over his current predicament going into the new season: where to find that spark of inspiration.

Inter may have dominated Lazio for long periods of the Super Cup, but there was little to really whet the appetite that Jose’s second season in charge is going serve up a feast of exciting football.

Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito look a potent strike-force, but what is lacking is that flash of panache to unlock the blanket defences the Nerazzurri will face throughout the campaign ahead.

Ah yes, the fantasista – the name says it all: fleet of foot, already playing two passes ahead of anyone else, the lone maverick in a sea of hard-running athletes who seem to dominate the modern game.

Jose prays for final piece of his puzzle

The regista – the deep-lying half-brother to the fantasista – is forever tugging at the heartstrings of Italian football fans.

But while the latter has flourished over the last decade, the former has become more and more of a hazy memory since Roberto Baggio hung up his pony-tail.

Suddenly the search for the perfect 10 is back in vogue.

Juventus bought Diego and AC Milan are relying on Ronaldinho, who was made aware that being a professional footballer in Italy cannot be taken lightly when he was whistled out of a Milanese nightclub last week by a group of Rossoneri revellers unhappy with the Brazilian’s nocturnal wanderings.

Fiorentina have been experimenting with Adrian Mutu playing behind Alberto Gilardino and flanked by two eager workers along the flanks, and Francesco Totti could well drop into a deeper role if AS Roma can capture a commanding target-man to operate alongside Mirko Vucinic.

Even Lazio are getting in on the act, with Francelino Matuzalem handed the ‘free-roaming role’ at the weekend, duly finding the back of the net albeit not in true fantasista fashion as the ball cannoned-off his face – but at least he was in an advanced position.

Mourinho employed Dejan Stankovic behind the front-two in Beijing, but the Serbian’s talents lie in work-rate rather then in sublime individualism, which leaves the Portuguese in something of a quandary less than two weeks before the big kick-off.

Ciro Ferrara, Leonardo, Cesare Prandelli and Luciano Spalletti have all been honing their combinations … be it 4-3-1-2, 4-2-3-1 and so forth.

So who is the number one for Mourinho?

In his mind’s eye Deco would be the dream ticket, but there is no way Carlo Ancelotti is going to make life that easy for a Champions League rival.

Deco: No-go

So with little chance of acquiring an Art-Deco, the Portuguese has turned his attention to the Dutch impressionists.

Rafael Van de Vaart and Wesley Sneijder will be the two names in the frame in the coming weeks, although the former seems to have been priced out of the running at 25 million euro.

However, it is not as if anyone is going to come cheap for Massimo Moratti, especially when you are searching the market for a work of art.

So unless the Inter owner is ready to open the piggy-bank again, the pretenders to the crown may have an early jump on the champions.

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Little Prince ups sticks for shiny lights of Liverpool

2009-08-07T09:00:00Z

Alberto Aquilani has done something neither Francesco Totti or Daniele De Rossi would ever do... up sticks and bid a fond farewell to his home town.

All three may be Roman born-and-bred and have red and yellow running through their veins, but while Totti and De Rossi have always been hailed as kings in the city – in Totti’s case imperatorial status - Aquilani holds mere minor royalty ranking.

Another home-grown talent, Giuseppe Giannini, was known as The Prince, but Aquilani only got as far as being crowned The Little Prince.

If Roma had to sacrifice one of their own then it was always going to be Aquilani: Totti may have expressed his bitterness at allowing a local boy to leave but for the majority of Giallorossi followers there is little regret.

Never adored in the manner of Totti and De Rossi – or for that matter de facto Roman Rodrigo Taddei – the €20 million transfer fee plus three-and-half million bonus is manna from heaven for a cash-starved and debt-ridden club.

Aquilani’s injury problems are now Liverpool’s concern – an ankle injury limited him to just 14 Serie A appearances last season, and before that there was ongoing thigh trouble that sidelined him for most the previous campaign.

Having said, at 25, he now has a new challenge ahead, not to mention a doubling of his salary to €4 million a year, so it would be churlish not to wish him a heartfelt in bucca al lupo.

If he remains fit then his style and physical attributes are well-suited to English football: excellent short and mid-range passing, sure first touch and an eye for goal from long range as well as well-timed runs into the opposition area.

Marcello Lippi has welcomed the switch and will no doubt be a regular observer alongside Fabio Capello at Anfield in the months to come.

Meanwhile, back in the Eternal City, Aquilani’s departure is just the beginning of an August clear-out, which may put the club on a more solid footing heading into the new season.

Two of last summer’s ill-judged signings, Julio Baptista and Jeremy Menez, should be on their way although the French winger may receive a reprieve after impressing in pre-season training.

It now seems that it will take a major offer – something around €15-18 million - to prise Mirko Vucinic away from the capital, so suddenly things are looking more positive for coach Luciano Spalletti.

The 7-1 drubbing of Genk in the Europa League - where Totti grabbed a hat-trick and De Rossi a brace - is a well-timed morale-boost with just over a fortnight to the new season.

The Sensi family can sleep a little easier as well, although if that is a good thing is open to debate.

An investigation by the financial regulators into movement in the club’s share price seems to have petered out and for now the takeover bid from a Swiss conglomerate fronted by Vinicio Fioranelli has been repelled.

Whether the current owners will see out the end of the year remains uncertain, but in the short-term there is at least an opportunity to delve into the transfer market.

Real Madrid striker Alvaro Negredo heads the list of targets to fill the big-strapping central, striking role, while Dusan Duric of FC Zurich is seen as a potential replacement for Aquilani.

The Eternal City may have said arrivederci to one its own, but the pay-off will dry any tears of regret.

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NEWS: Aquilani - I will always be Roma fan
NEWS: Liverpool agree fee for Aquilani
NEWS: Giannini - Aquilani perfect for Liverpool

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Has Serie A seen the last of marooned mariner Mancini?

2009-08-06T09:00:00Z

Few of us would ever feel unfulfilled at the thought of sailing around the Mediterranean, safe in the knowledge that we would be picking up a guaranteed 500,000 euro a month for the next three years.

A dream come true you would say, but for Roberto Mancini that pot of gold has become an albatross around his neck - a not-so-ancient mariner floating on the high seas for too long.

As Inter prepare for the Italian Super Cup in China, so their former coach is moored off the coast of Sardinia left to wonder if he will ever find a Serie A port again.

It is incredible to think that a coach who has three league titles to his name, along with four Italian Cups and two Italian Super Cups, is left to wile away the days far from the game.

At present, heading into the new season there is just one of the 20 coaches in the top-flight who has a Serie A title under his belt. Yes, Jose Mourinho.

The man from Jesi can rightly feel hard done by as he contemplates a second year in exile, but how does he find himself in this gilded prison?

No doubt the six-million-a-year contract he is still under with Inter is a major stumbling block in enabling Mancio to move on.

Apparently, he has spoken to Massimo Moratti twice in an attempt to extract himself from the deal through a pay-off, but negotiations have hit a dead-end.

He can point to the fact that he deserves his continued remuneration. After all, before he took over the only trophy Inter had won was the UEFA Cup in 1998.

There is no doubt that he has made a rod for his own back with his outspoken comments, but wasn’t he the one who stood up to Juventus and became the symbol of the anti-Luciano Moggi lobby?

Surely the hand of Lucky Luciano cannot still be at work, ensuring his old nemesis is black-balled at every turn?

Has Serie A seen the last of Mancini?

Well, his Inter past would certainly exclude him from ever taking over at Juventus.

And the same goes for AC Milan, whose chief executive Adriano Galliani he never got on with, although Silvio Berlusconi remains a big admirer.

His association with the financial mismanagement of Sergio Cragnotti at Lazio and Vittoro Cecchi Gori at Fiorentina ensures that those avenues will stay closed.

Rome remains his favoured city, and taking charge of AS Roma would suit to him down to the ground.

He is friendly with Francesco Totti. However, that successful Lazio stint - both as player and coach - hangs over any eventuality of the pair working together in the near future, even if Sven Goran Eriksson and Zdenek Zeman made the switch between both clubs in the past.

His old friend and former Lazio managing director, Giuseppe De Mita, has been working on a deal to buy Bologna.

But talks have collapsed, and even if a return to the club where he started his career may tug on the heartstrings, a certain battle against relegation would offer little motivation to abandon the yacht.

So, it is abroad then, with Russia and Zenit St. Petersburg a possible port of call.

However, England would seem a more preferred destination.

He has admitted to spending time in London, working on improving his English, and after his post-Liverpool meltdown - which led to his demise at Inter - he revealed he would love to coach in the Premier League.

Then again, what if things don’t go Mourinho’s way in his second season in charge, might we yet see Moratti making his old number one work for that six million a year?

Stranger things have happened in Italian football, and our marooned mariner may not want to up anchor and set sail for foreign shores just yet.

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Milan tread water in sadly shallow summer

2009-08-04T09:00:00Z

Summer in Italy has been akin to the opening scene in Sexy Beast – the one in which Ray Winstone is lying in the pool, turning as red as a lobster, only for his idyllic life to be interrupted by a falling boulder.

Well, Serie Aaaaargh! has been doing the floating-in-the-pool bit for a while, waiting for the inevitable big splash that shatters the pre-season lethargy – only to be left bobbing and bored.

As the gentle breezes of July give way to the broiling furnace of August, there has been little to encourage even the most passionate of football followers to lift a weary head from the sun-lounger.

"Where is everybody?"

OK, Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed the chance to kiss another club badge and continue his Swede dreams of finally gaining some respect in the Champions League, but there has been little more than a shrug at his departure.

There had been some scurrilous suggestions that the player had bombarded Massimo Moratti with a SMS campaign to hurry through his transfer to Barcelona. “Release me…” and “I’ll rebel…” were among the reported ditties coming from Ibra’s overused wrist.

However, according to Moratti, it’s all complete rubbish, as was an alleged Jose Mourinho one-word text to his striker: “Traitor.”

Incoming Ibra swappee Samuel Eto’o looks to have settled into life at Inter in fine style, and his partnership with Diego Milito promises a pasta-truck load of goals.

The latter was on the mark against Monaco on Friday and the pair should be in tandem in the Super Cup against Lazio on Saturday.

And when Inter return from their Chinese jaunt, Wesley Sneijder might just be wearing the black and blue if the Real Madrid midfielder agrees to a year-long loan deal.

With the Deco move seeming dead in the water, there’s a distinct lack of creativity behind the front two; the Dutchman could provide that spark, playing either in the space between the midfield and attack or on the right of a three-man attack.

The press have tried to drum up interest in Antonio Cassano joining the champions but by all accounts Mourinho is not too keen on the ‘Bari Bawler’ and his comic pants.

"Er, no thanks"

But anything is possible in the stultifying summer. Just ask Juventus, who were c**k-a-hoop at beating Real Madrid at the weekend and equally unconcerned at drawing with Aston Villa despite missing a hatful of chances.

New coach Ciro Ferrara has really got his charges fired up and the coach will want to keep that momentum going into the Serie A campaign, which sees the Old Lady travel to AS Roma on the second weekend.

While Juve and Inter are looking forward to getting down to the serious business at the end of the month, AC Milan must be dreading the new season in the manner of most kids at the thought of the first day at school.

New boy Leonardo has had a torrid time of it of late, having been forced to criss-cross the USA, losing along the way to Chelsea and Inter, and then having hardly any time to pack a fresh pair of socks before facing Bayern Munich in their own back yard.

The players have spent more time in airport departure lounges than out on the training pitch – and it shows: four defeats and two draws has been a poor return and a major morale mauler.

The Rossoneri will be gathering their bags once again when they take on Benfica in Lisbon at the weekend and there’s another money-spinner to be played in Madrid against Real on the 25th – a nice little warm-up before facing Inter in the derby four days later.

"Taxi!"

It seems as if the Milan hierarchy are milking the brand for all it is worth – and to reinvest in what? Luis Fabiano? Klaas Jan Huntelaar?

No wonder season-ticket sales have barely topped the 20,000 mark, while Inter have already broken the 40,000 barrier.

Down the years, Milan fans have become accustomed to Silvio Berlusconi pulling a crowd-pleaser out of the hat: Ronaldinho last summer, David Beckham in January.

However, for once the aging lothario seems unwilling to dish the dosh, and instead Andrea Pirlo will be the latest prime asset to be sold off as soon as Chelsea come back with a half-decent offer.

Berlusconi claims he now prefers to be surrounded by the younger generation in all facets of his life and has told Leo to muster up some youthful vigour before he is tempted back to the San Siro.

For some unfortunate souls the summer has just got even hotter.

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Italian Super Cup set for TV blackout at home

2009-07-21T07:00:00Z

The Italian Super Cup has always been a must-see for the Italian public.

The perfect curtain-raiser to the new season, played on a warm August evening just as the dinner course is being served and the second bottle of wine is chilling nicely.

The last three years have seen Inter - the champs - come up against AS Roma - the cup kings - drawing crowds well in excess of 40,000.

Not this year: the San Siro and Stadio Olimpico will remain empty as the game is being played halfway round the world... in Beijing.

Beijing's beaming Bird's Nest

The Super Cup has ventured outside Italian borders in the past – to America and Libya – but the kick-off times were set to appeal to the audience back home.

However, when Inter and Lazio line up at 2pm in the afternoon Italian time on Saturday, August 8 most of the population will be lounging on the beach or seeking out the cooling breezes of the mountains: not perched on the edge of their sofas watching the the television.

In fact, the Football League’s decision to move the game to China has not only penalised the genuine Inter and Lazio fans, but also taken the game out of the realm of an Italian sporting event.

The League may see their coffers swell by something in the region of 2.5million euro for the pleasure of Inter and Lazio having to trek across a few time zones to feather the Bird’s Nest stadium.

However, the spectacle will be played in front of a crowd that, in all honesty, will not be too concerned who they support as long as they get full value for their 21 euro entrance fee.

“We are exporting the ‘brand’,” pleaded the League in their defence, before demonstrating a total disregard for their core followers back home by pithily adding: “fans who are interested will find a way to watch the game.”

Will they now? Italian television, for its part, has taken no interest in acquiring the exclusive rights: 600,000 euro if you please.

At the moment, state broadcaster RAI feels obliged to air the game - out of national pride - but only at a reduced outlay on their part.

Apart from that, Silvio Berlusconi’s Mediaset has no interest, neither do Sportitalia or Sky, which leaves little-known pay-per-view channels Conto TV and Dahla as the only other alternatives.

These latter pair have claimed they could stretch their budgets to 200,000 euro, but that is a definite non-starter.

"Thanks, but no thanks"

Anyway, who will be tuning in to a minor subscription channel whose main output is targeted towards the lonely late-night viewer?

The League are already gearing themselves up for the 2010/11 season when collective TV rights for the whole of Serie A will see games kicking-off at 12.30, 9pm and maybe even Monday night.

The Super Cup ‘experiment’ looks like the first step in Italy’s most popular sport moving further way from its fan base in search of the far-flung, fast buck.

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Ferrara following in footsteps of famous namesake

2009-07-17T07:00:00Z

The Persian emperor Cyrus the Great (Ciro il Grande in Italian) is considered to have paved the way for modern leadership.

And his teachings have had a profound impact on statesmen down through the ages.

“Diversity in counsel, unity in command,” he is said to have told reporters just ahead of a vital Asia-Minor Cup tie at Babylon.

Times may have changed somewhat – you see fewer sackings of cities by away fans – but Ciro’s legacy lives on, not least in his modern namesake.

Juve's man with a very different plan

Ciro Ferrara it seems was born to lead – first as captain of Napoli, Juventus and Italy, and now as coach of Juventus – and his methods are a world away from the dithering indecision of Claudio Ranieri.

The iron hand in the velvet glove – the arm around the shoulder of the likes of Thiago and David Trezeguet; two pariahs in the reign of Ranieri.

Then, surrounding himself with able generals, Alex Del Piero, Gigi Buffon (who claims that not even Manchester City’s millions could never prise him away from Juve) and Nicola Legrottaglie, to ensure his orders are carried out.

The Bianconeri’s summer training retreat high in the mountains of Trentino is running with the precision of a military camp.

Some of the rules include:

i) Players must be in the dressing room 30 minutes before training starts
ii) Any lateness will not be tolerated with fines of up to 100 Euro (proceeds going to charity)
iii) No mobile phones at training or during meals
iv) No newspapers in the dressing room and the changing room must be clean and tidy at all times
v) No use of the internet after 10pm
vi) No alcohol or smoking
vii) No agents or player managers on site

And how have the players responded? Well, like the true professionals they are.

Take the example of Christian Poulsen, who has been lined up to be shipped out, but has won the player of the day award in two consecutive sessions.

By all accounts there is a positive buzz around the camp as Juve prepare their campaign to wrest the title away from Inter.

Challenges are flying in and goals are being celebrated as if they had decided the outcome of a Champions League final.

Ferrara’s masterstroke has been to ensure that Del Piero is the centre of attention, and in doing so drawn new signing Diego into the inner circle.

It seems that the pair have hit it off immediately and their one-touch passing, flicks and overall reading of the other’s intentions during the training matches have been bringing gasps of appreciation from the packed stands.

Del Piero has been on fire in every outing, and tellingly the veteran has been up there in the leading group when it comes to the grueling hill runs.

"And for my next trick..."

The air is fresh and there is a spring in the stride. No wonder new signing from Fiorentina Felipe Melo cannot wait to get involved – and expect Pavel Nedved to join the coaching staff in the near future.

Of course, these are early days in the boot camp but all indications are that the Old Lady will be hardened for battle come August.

The ancient Ciro would have no doubt given his regal nod of approval.

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Mourinho: Back and as mean and moody as ever

2009-07-14T07:00:00Z

There was never any doubt that Jose Mourinho would be any less controversial in his second season in Italy than he was in his first – and for that we must be thankful.

Arriving back in Milan having given the impression that he had let himself go somewhat over the summer holidays and looking as if he had just stepped off a transatlantic flight, which in fact he had, any signs that his mental capacity to get under everyone’s skin had been dimmed were soon dispelled.

"Did you miss me?"

Jose has never made any secret that he would probably prefer to sit through dinner with Claudio Ranieri than have to attend press conferences, and was his usual querulous self on the first day back.

There was a disparaging dismissal of Carlo “Prince Charles” Ancelotti, reference to Harry Potter and “gay” comments – and then of course there was football.

Inter are expected to stroll through the league campaign with little difficulty again, so it is the Champions League that is occupying thoughts, even in July.

The Portuguese was not holding out much hope of European domination and it is really eating away at him.

“I am not Merlin or Harry Potter. I can’t produce miracles,” he sniffed although he no doubt wishes he could conjure up a way to make a few members of his squad disappear.

In fact, four to be precise: Amantino Mancini, Patrick Vieira, Victor Obinna and Nicolas Burdisso... please back your bags.

Unfortunately, they don’t seem inclined to give up their cushy numbers and seek gainful employment somewhere else.

All four have no doubt received the obligatory frosty reception and hopefully will take the hint.

There are areas that need to be strengthened.

First and foremost in central defence, which lacked a commanding presence last season: someone with the ability to carry the ball forward to allow the midfield to launch attacks from further up the pitch instead of hitting long balls towards the Zlatan of Swing.

A firm Mourinho favourite, Ricardo Carvalho, fits the bill perfectly but as yet there has been no progress on the transfer front with Chelsea, and the same goes for another of his Porto darlings... Deco.

"Pleeeeeeease release me... let me go"

What everyone wanted to know was whether Pavel Nedved would prolong his career at Inter – surely the eccentric hand of Moratti at work there – but couldn’t bring themselves to ask outright.

Instead, we had the coded: “Do you like blonde players,” in reference to the Czech’s flowing golden locks, which brought a withering look and a response worthy of Bruno.

“That sounds a bit gay. I don’t care if he is dark or blonde as long as he can help the team.”

And there lies the problem: it is not the squad that our man expected to be limbering up for pre-season training.

As it stands, with the arrival of Diego Milito and Thiago Motta – which not even Mourinho at his most grouchy could argue against – the line-up going into the new season is: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Samuel, Chivu, Santon; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Thaigo Motta; Stankovic; Milito, Ibrahimovic.

Not that different from last season and a starting XI that most teams in Europe would be more than satisfied with.

But it is still lacking that magical spark of creativity, not to mention youth, that say a Hamsik or Sneijder could produce.

After his dippy spell at Chelsea, the jury is still out on whether Deco can produce those golden flourishes of old.

But Mr. Mourinho is going to have to be patient. Negotiations with the Blues will probably go on deep into August – and Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks likely to come into the equation.

In the meantime, it’s back to the grind for the boys in black and blue: Ibra has grabbed the 10shirt vacated by Adriano in the hope that he will somehow convince the whole of Europe that he is the perfect 10.

Ricardo Quaresma has been given a second chance and, of course, made the perfect impression on the first morning by turning up two hours late.

"Do you think anyone will notice?"

Moratti was lurking in the shadows and wasn’t looking for miracles: just the league title again, the Italian Cup and, wait a minute, the Champions League... or else!

It has all the makings of a long, craggy old summer for Jose and his merry men before the real action starts, but it is good to have the old Grinch back.

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Time for Milan fans to face facts & rally the troops

2009-07-08T09:00:00Z

Silvio Berlusconi believes that AC Milan are as strong as champions Inter, although the Rossoneri faithful seem less inclined to agree.

A few hundred of the usual suspects 'welcomed' the squad back from their summer idyll with a chorus of “disgrace, disgrace, disgrace” chants - and they weren’t voicing their disgust at Ronaldinho’s extra baggage around the waist.

In fact, the players were the fall-guys for the fans’ real target: Mr Three Percent, as Sir Bob Geldof coined Premier Berlusconi recently.

Vattene (clear-off) read one banner greeting the bemused players as they huddled on the sidelines ahead of the first day of training.

There was no Paolo Maldini to lead them out to face their tormentors, and even the bullish Rino Gattuso seemed unwilling to eyeball the Ultras once they got into their protesting, flare-lighting stride.

Miffed Milan fans gather

The fans will just have to get used to it: Maldini has gone, so has Ricky Kaka and Carlo Ancelotti.

The party is over and it’s time to face up to the fact that the club’s rebuilding programme is going to be slow and somewhat on the frugal side.

In fact, the shindig has been over for some time (when did Milan last offer a competitive challenge even with Kaka in the side?)

An era has ended, and even with Real Madrid’s millions there still isn’t even enough in the coffers to pay the debt collector when he comes knocking for his estimated 60million euro a year.

Berlusconi has been going on about outrageous transfer fees, but he seems to have overlooked the fact that it was his free-spending in the 80s and early 90s that helped to contribute to where we are now.

However, instead of harking back, those dissenters hanging around the training ground should look forward - a young coach, a few new faces including, lo and behold, an American. No, not Giuseppe Rossi, but Oguchi Onyewu.

Now that one slipped under the radar – and on a free transfer as well.

"Never fear, Gooch is here..."

Following in the footsteps of Alexi Lalas, the 27-year-old arrives in Italy on the back of an impressive Confederations Cup and gives the central defence a more imposing feel alongside another heavyweight, Thiago Silva.

The pairing will come in handy when either Alessandro Nesta or Kakha Kaladze succumb to the inevitable of some ailment or other and, praise be, it also means we should never have to witness Giuseppe Favalli at centre-back again.

In true self-help Californian fashion we are already finding something to be positive about and now it is up to those disgruntled Milan followers to move on and get behind their team.

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Star-studded la Liga leaves Serie A sulking

2009-07-02T07:30:00Z

Do you ever get the feeling that the good times have gone and that they aren't coming back anytime soon?

Well, watching Ricky Kaka’s unveiling at the Santiago Bernabeu reinforced the thought that while La Liga is the new Hollywood, Italian football has become decidedly B-list.

They say that no man is bigger than a club, or a league for that matter.

But watching the Brazilian shine brightly in front of the adoring thousands in Madrid, this side of the Med the feeling is that of a spurned lover.

Kaka laps up his new lovers' adulation

Amid all the hysteria in Spain – they even courted the Brazilian with Giacomo Puccini’s Nessun dorma – there seems little that can be done to incite another beauty to fancy Serie A.

Last summer, Jose Mourinho wooed everyone when he strolled into his first Inter Milan press conference and started nattering away in Italian.

While Ronaldinho drew 45,000 to the San Siro as AC Milan finally got their man – probably two or three years too late.

David Beckham injected a bit of glamour and razzmatazz to banish some of the January blues, but ended up relatively unmolested by one and all.

And now, when traditionally the transfer market should spark into life, there is little to make the heart race that bit quicker or at least persuade fans that they should be first in the queue for a season ticket.

Ronaldinho’s arrival saw Milan’s season-ticket sales leap from a relatively benign 28,000 to something in the region of 45,000.

It's doubtful that the names of Edin Dzeko, Emmanuel Adebayor or Luis Fabiano are going to create anything more than a ripple of mild interest.

Silvio Berlusconi has already revealed that, after going through the club’s budget sheet, he is not a happy man.

So there may be further bad news for the Rossoneri faithful by the end of the month when Alexandre Pato poses alongside former Milan alumnus Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge.

Champions Inter have been equally low key, concerned more about those seemingly desperate to leave rather than those knocking on the door to arrive.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has priced himself out of the market and will have to make do with achieving the respect he craves throughout Europe by turning it on for the Nerazzurri, while Maicon has been told to shut up and sign up.

Tuttosport summed up the tired feel perfectly with their half-page headline claiming Xabi Alonso was back on Juventus' radar – again too late, one feels.

AS Roma are the first club back in pre-season training, and the Romans don’t have two shiny cents to rub together to motivate even a pauper to come to the Eternal City.

Such is the uncertainly surrounding whether the Sensi family will relinquish their majority holding that talks concerning Francesco Totti’s contract extension have even been put on hold indefinitely.

"So... about that contract"

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more dire, who raises his ugly mug once again?

Yes, the Lord of Darkness himself, Luciano Moggi, is back.

Banned from the game for five years but still apparently spinning his web in the shadows, any conspiracy theorists wondering how Bologna somehow beat the drop are in for a field day.

“Old Lucky” has been chumming it up with Bologna owner Renzo Meriarini and along the way has certainly not lost any of his brashness, claiming: “I was helping him out finding new capital. It was just a bit of free consultancy work.”

That must have sent a shudder down the spines of all Bologna fans, who believe that it was Moggi and his corrupting system that helped condemn their team to relegation last time round.

In these dog days of summer, we may have lost a glittering star, and we will live with that, but the last thing Italian football needs is a bad stain reappearing.

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New-look Napoli ready to rise again

2009-06-30T08:00:00Z

The first day of pre-season training is always the same.

Plenty of the handshakes and introductions along with the requisite slaps on the back and hugs for the old guard.

It is a ritual that will be played out up and down the country over the next few weeks as the Serie A clubs return for a month of gruelling training.

Down in Naples it might be a good idea if everyone turns up that bit earlier as Napoli have been the busiest club in the transfer market so far.

As it stands, there are already six new faces costing something in the region of 50million Euro, but further new recruits are in the pipeline if Roberto Donadoni can persuade his hard-working sporting director Pierpaolo Marino to step up the chase for Juventus left-back Paolo De Ceglie.

Owner Aurelio De Laurentis is bank-rolling the new-look Napoli and it is certainly something that is needed if the club are going to fulfil their potential as a major player this coming season.

De Laurentis has seen how a more modestly-supported, but just as passion outfit, such as Genoa were able to make a dent in the fortress occupied by the usual big hitters – and, rightly, he believes Napoli can also be pushing for a top five finish.

Man with a plan: De Laurentis parades January capture Jesus Datolo

Donadoni arrived in March and had to make do with what was available before beginning the revamp in earnest once the campaign came to a close.

The first major coup was tempting Fabio Quagliarella back home despite Inter’s interest in the Italy international. The 18.7m paid could be the best piece of business of the close-season for an off-the-cuff striker who will revel in the atmosphere of the San Paolo.

Italy U21 midfielder Luca Cigarini will be knocking on the door of Marcello Lippi’s full squad very soon, and at 12m is an absolute snip.

However, what is equally impressive about Napoli’s dealings is the fact that they haven’t thrown their money around needlessly.

Morgan De Sanctis, for example, is third-choice Italy goalkeeper, but it only took 1.6m to prise the 32-year-old away from Galatasaray.

Juan Camilo Zuniga had an impressive first season in Italy at Siena and, at only 23, the right-back is well worth the 8.5m outlay, while at 7m the experienced Hugo Campagnaro is the no-nonsense defender sorely missing from last season’s line-up.

So far so good, and if De Ceglie - who is another Italy U21 international - arrives then the defence will have a fine mix of youth and experience to stand them in good stead for several seasons to come.

De Ceglie: The missing piece in Napoli's puzzle

On top of that, it will also have a homespun look compared to the top-heavy, temperamental South American feel last year – nine to be exact and none of them shy when coming to voicing their opinions.

When events started going south after the winter break, it was the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi, German Denis, Mariano Bogliacino, Marcelo Zalayeta and Walter Gargano who were meant to turn things around.

Instead, they turned on coach Edy Reja and split the dressing room. That power has now been diluted, leaving Donadoni with plenty of alternatives and, on paper, Napoli certainly look like contenders.

However, most importantly of all, they look different. And after two so-so seasons now is the time for Napoli to prove they are more than just Diego Maradona’s old team.

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Sporting director: An alternative way into the football world

2009-06-25T09:00:00Z

The training grounds may be quiet while the players and coaches laze on the beaches for a few more weeks at least.

However, there is one group of club employees still hard at work through the summer months: the sporting directors.

It is a role that has taken on a more wide-ranging significance in the modern Italian game, so much so that there is even a university Masters degree tailored to becoming a Directtore Sportivo.

Some of the brightest young names who would normally have moved into finance and marketing are now turning to a role that also brings with it the high-profile kudos of representing a professional football club.

"Hands up who wants to be a sporting director"

Once in position, their responsibilities range from dealing with transfers, setting budgets and ensuring that the club’s image is satisfactorily represented.

While the coach gets on with the everyday job of looking after on-field matters, the DS is the link between the playing side and the board – and can step in to settle any disputes that may arise concerning a member of the playing staff.

It is this latter point that attracts clubs to employ former professionals such as Marco Branca at Inter, who Jose Mourinho must go to cap in hand if he wants to sign a player, AC Milan’s Ariedo Braida and Igli Tare at Lazio.

Having said that, where in the past it was something of an old-boy network, any aspiring DS today must pass a 90-hour course regardless of who they are, held at the Italian Federation technical centre at Coverciano, where it costs 2,500 Euro to enrol.

Anyone holding a degree specialising in sports management has a slight advantage as they immediately receive 10 points on the overall marking score, while those with a degree in general are handed five points.

In an uniquely Italian twist, staying through to the end of secondary school ensures three points at least - so there is hope for everyone.

There are 577 DSs currently in circulation, with the latest 44 graduating in February, including Tare and former Juventus goalkeeper Michelangelo Rampulla.

Stopper turned sporting director: Michelangelo Rampulla

The high-flyers whom you see suited and booted, talking into their mobiles or deep in conversation in hotel lobbies generally have a sound business footing behind them.

However, in the modern game there is a steep learning curve as Juventus DS Alessio Secco found out early on when dealing with Claudio Ranieri.

Secco had previously been the press officer at the club, and even though he had cut his teeth under Luciano Moggi, the 38-year-old was unknown quantity within the football world.

Faced with whether to pursue signing Xabi Alonso from Liverpool who seemed ready to welcome a move to Turin, Secco demurred to the more experienced Ranieri who demanded Christian Poulsen instead.

The rest is history.

A lesson learned and while Ranieri failed to last the course, Secco remains and is growing in influence as his astute move for Diego pays strong testament to.

It is continuity that clubs are looking for – and someone who gets things done. A DS is never going to have aspirations to replace the coach but he will have influence in many areas.

That’s what Gianni Agnelli wanted when he poached the daddy of them all, Italo Allodi, Inter’s 'Mr Fix it' back in the sixties.

Allodi: He'll fix it for you, and you, and you...

“If there is a player out we want then we want him,” the lawyer was reported to have commanded Allodi, who set Lucky Moggi on his path to infamy.

With an ever-changing economic environment, that remit has changed to guarantee that things get done in more a transparent manner, with the bottom line now more and more on the balance sheet.

So, with the stars dodging the limelight for a while, it’s those in the sharp suits and mobiles glued to their ear who are taking centre stage at the moment.

Maybe future generations who love the game but have two left feet will be paying more attention to their studies as a way into the world of football.

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Little chance of Lippi ditching class of 2006

2009-06-22T09:00:00Z

Anyone expecting Marcello Lippi to drop the old guard in the near future is in for a big disappointment.

It just isn’t the Italian way to give youth and inexperience a chance – look at the government and lack of fresh-faced politicians, the number of young entrepreneurs breaking through in the world of business and so on.

A recent poll of graduate students had over 60 percent of them claiming they would look for a future in another European country or North America rather than waste away in a society of OAPs.

And as we have witnessed, it is no different when it comes to football.

"No Andrea, you have to puff out your chest like this"

Bright young players are whisked off to the Premier League, and when they do prove themselves then no one is interested, the only positive note from South Africa, Giuseppe Rossi, being a case in point.

When you are cheering for your team to score at least one goal so they can sneak into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup when they have been humiliated, then you know something isn’t right.

That was the case on Sunday evening as the debacle unfolded against Brazil – as pale and insipid as their shirts, the Azzurri put in such a humbling performance that you have to wonder, where do we go from here?

Lippi had no doubts where he was off to... the beach.

The coach already had his mind on a sun-lounger and a month to pick over the bones of the disaster that was the World Cup dry-run – and by the way there is still the small matter of actually qualifying for the finals to be resolved.

"I'm at the beach... I'm at the beach... I'm at the beach..."

A Serie Aaaaargh! Monday-morning straw poll had 95 percent of those questioned over their cappuccino responding with a definite “yes” to the question “should Lippi make whole-scale changes to his squad?”

The man who counts, of course, had only hours earlier reiterated his stance that you do not win major tournaments without tried and tested players.

It is the old catch-22 situation: how can the untried become polished professionals if they never get a chance to prove themselves?

Let’s remember that a decent chunk of those who lifted the World Cup in Germany were in South Africa where they: went a goal down to 10-man USA, lost to Egypt and were then played off the park by Brazil.

It certainly doesn’t inspire confidence, but at the same time the U21s are showing the sort of commitment and endeavour in Sweden that should take them through to the knock-out stages of the European Championships.

They overcame the hosts despite being reduced to 10-men thanks, once again, to the best and worst of Mario Balotelli: a stunning strike followed soon after by a stamp on an opponent and a red card.

Super Mario scores, then sees red

Unfortunately, the Inter striker falls into the same orbit as Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero: too individualistic for Lippi’s strict boot-camp mentality.

Then again, when you find yourself desperately seeking a goal to ensure you qualify for the next stage of a major finals, it is this sort of individual who can save the day with a moment of creativity.

Lippi has plenty to occupy his mind over the summer, but as he sits on the beach maybe the sounds of youngsters kicking a ball around him, pretending to be Balotelli, Rossi and Cassano, will wake the old fella up to the future.

I know, Serie Aaaaargh! doesn’t believe it either.

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Embarrassment vs Egypt sets up Samba Boys excitement

2009-06-19T11:00:00Z

The telling thing to take from Italy’s defeat to Egypt is that Marcello Lippi’s current squad lack the required personality to be considered genuine candidates to retain their World Cup crown this time next summer.

After going a goal down thanks to some school-boy defending at a corner-kick – there were nine Italians in the area against four of the opposition – and no one to command the situation and ensure there was cover on the back-post.

Italy had spent the first-half more concerned with containing Egypt’s midfield than constructing anything positive themselves – and only when the situation became more desperate did they throw caution to the wind.

"Huh? Where did he spring from?"

Even then, there wasn’t a player to take the game by the scruff of the neck and turn things around - much as Roberto Baggio and Francesco Totti had done at various times in the past.

Giuseppe Rossi created the spark against the USA, but the Egyptians are a much more wily and technically proficient outfit than the Americans, and once ahead defended intelligently and in depth.

Their man-to-man marking and blanket midfield smothered the Azzurri that such was the frustration the only tactic seemed to be floating the ball towards the lofty but immobile figure of Luca Toni.

Just as worrying was the performance at the heart of the defence where the returning Fabio Cannavaro and his new club team-mate Giorgio Chiellini wilted under the slightest pressure from lone striker Zidan.

Of course, it is just the way Italy like it going into Sunday’s final group game: all to play for and nobody giving them a prayer.

If there is one country in the world that woos Italians more than their own then it's Brazil.

The laidback lifestyle, the climate, the coffee, the stunning beauties seemingly unburdened with Catholic guilt and, of course, there is the shared passion for football.

The feeling seems mutual when it comes to the beautiful game, and what truly great Brazilian has not played in Serie A in the last 20-odd years?

When Italy plays Brazil it is more than just a game, it is an event that every fan wants to be part off.

And that is why on Sunday evening, with summer finally upon us, televisions will either be blaring out of apartments, dragged into piazzas and set up on the pavements outside restaurants to take in the spectacle.

Even the droning of the vuvuzelas from the stadium will not drown out the buzz around the peninsula.

Every generation of Italian has their Brazil story – from the drubbing in 1970 to the miracle of 1982 through to the heartbreak of 1994, and no doubt they will be regaled again.

OK, seeing as you asked...

Serie Aaaaargh! was in a packed piazza in front of a giant screen when Baggio lost his Zen in Pasadena and witnessed one tifoso so overcome with grief that he took out his despair on his beautiful Vespa moped, leaving it lying broken on the cobbles as he wandered off despondently into the night.

Baggio blows it in '94

No such acts of violence against inanimate objects should occur this time around, but it is the first time the sides have met in a competitive tournament since producing a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Tournoi de France in 1997.

February’s friendly in freezing London was the wrong place at the wrong time to glean anything of significance on the state of the two teams, but Sunday’s Confederations Cup encounter is more of the real deal.

Whether Italy can find their the character to overcome the Samba Boys is another matter.

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Why the national blues are black and white

2009-06-17T11:00:00Z

The Old Lady has always stood by her man.

When the nation is in need, Juventus will answer the call.

Thirty years ago, the Azzuri was basically Juve: eight of their players started against France at Argentina 78, and the 1982 World Cup winners had six starters.

When Italy were short of a left-back in the wake of 2002 World Cup exit, Juve switched Gianluca Zambrotta from right-back to accommodate the request.

Then of course, the backbone of the 2006 world champions had black and white running through it – from Gigi Buffon, Zambrotta and Fabio Cannavaro, through Mauro Camoranesi to Alex del Piero.

"Shall we share a cab back to Turin?"

It’s no surprise that Juve will ensure that Marcello Lippi has his men for South Africa playing regularly and in the system of his choosing, marshalled by former right-hand man Ciro Ferrara.

Looking ahead to the start of next season, at least seven of those set to figure in Lippi’s squad will be lining up for the Bianconeri: Buffon, Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Nicola Legrotaglie, Camoranesi, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Amauri.

That number could easily increase to 10 or even a full team, given that Giuseppe Rossi, Gaetano D’Agostino, Andrea Dossena and Fabio Grosso are all being linked with moves to Turin.

Rossi has rightly been grabbing the headlines after his two-goal Confederations Cup blitz against the USA.

And it is certainly a heart-warming story of the son of immigrants, a Jersey boy who goes back to the old country to find fame and wealth. In a roundabout way.

Arriving at Parma in 2004 at age 13, thanks to dad contacting the club, the youngster barely had time to taste the city’s rich hams before Manchester United spirited him away – not the last time that would happen with an aspiring Italian teen.

Having failed to establish himself at Old Trafford (or on loan at Newcastle), he was loaned back to Parma in 2007 and scored nine goals in 19 – but there were no offers from Serie A’s big names.

Inter had star quality in abundance in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juve still had Alex del Piero calling the shots and Milan had invested in Alex Pato, another young man similar in style to Rossi.

In fact, the only side to show any interest were Fiorentina, but the Viola were unable or unwilling to meet the 11million Euro asking price. So off the little wanderer went again – and pitched up at Villarreal.

Now we’re talking something in the region of 40million Euro to bring Rossi back to Italy – and whatever Lippi’s hopes for club-country synergy, Juve aren’t going to shell out that amount.

Inter have no interest in the player, and the same goes for Milan – the Rossoneri are now more confident about keeping Pato and have set their sights on a big man up top – while even half that amount is too much for the likes of Fiorentina, Roma and Napoli.

If Juve cannot find a way to cut the transfer fee significantly – maybe by dangling David Trezeguet as a potential makeweight - then our little Yankee is going to remain in exile for some time to come.

"Light blue? Did they run out of ink?"

While we're on the subject of the national team, what about the new kit for the Confederations Cup?

A throwback to the 1930s but a little too pallid on the blue, although the shorts are all the rage this summer – well, brown linen is.

Not to worry, it should become something of a collector’s item as the traditional darker blue returns for the friendly with Switzerland in August.

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Lippi set to stick with tired and tested Azzurri

2009-06-15T10:00:00Z

Italy may field up to eight players who played some part in the last encounter with USA back at World Cup 2006 when the two teams meet again in the Confederations Cup.

Several of them will be back again next summer when the real action starts in South Africa, although Marcello Lippi will be looking for progress from a number of his U21 squad currently preparing for the European Championships.

Already set to make their mark are the gifted Davide Santon and Giuseppe Rossi – American-born no less – but the latter’s inclusion does draw to a close any further discussion on whether Alex Del Piero or Antonio Cassano will return to the fold.

Rossi and Santon shine vs Northern Ireland

Lippi has two obsessions: one is remaining faithful to those who pulled off the unbelievable feat of winning the competition in Germany.

Tthe other is his correctly-held adherence to his tactically astute 4-3-3 formation.

Marcello has always matched expediency with flair as borne out by the triple attack; be it Gianluca Vialli, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Del Piero during his time in charge at Juventus or Francesco Totti, Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni in 2006.

There may not be an embarrassment of riches going forward, but there are certainly plenty of options: the aforementioned Rossi, the rejuvenated Alberto Gilardino, the ever-reliable Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Di Natale once he returns from injury.

Then there is Fabio Quagliarella and Simone Pepe who are making strong claims to be in the final party; leaving Luca Toni ostensibly the only front-man in danger of being jettisoned.

But only if Robert Acquafresca can continue his progress or if Lippi can live with the fact that Amuari has no family link with the peninsula.

The key, however, to whether the Azzurri can defend their world crown centres on the platform provided by the three players operating directly behind the front-line.

Without doubt the preferred trio would be Daniele De Rossi in the holding role flanked by Andrea Pirlo and Mauro Camoranesi.

All three played in what was probably Italy’s most expansive and thrilling performance under Lippi: a 4-1 thumping of Germany ahead of the last World Cup.

De Rossi’s subsequent flailing elbow against USA curtailed any hopes of the trio building on that performance during the tournament proper, but they are still around and in form.

They are all authoritative figures, with De Rossi still only 25 and while Camoranesi needs a season free of injury, Pirlo is ageing gracefully.

Claudio Marchisio, Daniele Dessena and Luca Cigarini could all crave out a niche for themselves as able and youthful deputies.

"Eat this"

Drawing on the traditional strengths of a solid defensive base is still an acquirement, and while Santon will provide stiff competition to Gianluca Zambrotta at right-back it is hoped that Domenico Criscito builds on his successful campaign with Genoa to provide an alternative to Fabio Grosso at left-back.

Of course, central defense is a worry, with no stand-out candidate ready to stake a claim as a successor to Fabio Cannavaro.

At least the captain has a year to cement his understanding with new Juventus team-mate Giorgio Chiellini.

Only a set-back of mammoth proportions this month will force Lippi back to the drawing board, but as it stands it will be the old guard on whose shoulders Italy's hopes of retaining the world crown rest.

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Bull market in Madrid gores Italian bears

2009-06-12T09:30:00Z

Real Madrid are devouring football, claim the Italian press.

The “Real Cannibale” headlines appearing in two of the three sports dailies and quite a number of their news cousins need no translation.

Gazzetta dello Sport were also as puzzled and perplexed as everyone else: “Something doesn’t add up.”

And doing the sums it has also raised questions on whether AC Milan sold themselves short in the Ricky Kaka deal.

The answer would have to be a resounding “Yes.”

Cristiano Ronaldo heads to Madrid for something in the region of 93million Euro and Kaka pitches up for a what seems a snip at 65m. The only advantage the Portuguese has over Kaka is a three-year age gap.

Of course, papa Kaka has apparently picked up 10m Euro and the younger less-talented brother has also been reportedly thrown in there for a spare 1m and change.

It all adds up but Silvio Berlusconi and his right-hand man Adriano Galliani slipped up – and surely could have wrangled a few more million out of the deal.

Berlusconi and Galliani: "Oops"

The knock-on effect will certainly see Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his outsized ego head off to Barcelona in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses.

Zlat the Mercenary will be looking for an improvement on his paltry 12m Euro annual take-home and the general consensus this side of the Med is “Good luck and have a nice trip.”

Massimo Moratti has already marked the Swede’s card, claiming that he doesn’t really need to sell the striker but he isn't going to stand in the way of anyone who doesn’t want to play for the club.

Same goes for Maicon, who has been complaining that he has not been shown the “correct respect” – rich coming from a player who was plucked from the relative obscurity of Monaco and turned into a world-class full-back.

It now looks unlikely that Moratti is going to play ball with Samuel Eto’o, whom he believes does not merit a contract that would pay off a debt off a developing nation – something around 10m Euro over five years plus a sweetener of 15m to see him through his dotage.

If the Cameroonian finds a sugar daddy in Manchester City, Inter will then turn their time and resources to Karim Benzema.

The Lyon striker looks a better bet in the long-term: he’s only 21 and can be landed for a nice round figure of 30m, plus he’s willing to make do with 4m a year.

On the playing side, the French lad is similar to Ibra in build and style – but let’s hope he doesn’t end up being just as stroppy as the man he is replacing.

Who knows, in this crazy summer the Eto’o deal may go through as Inter look at the short-term gain of having someone in the team who has actually won a Champions League medal.

But one thing is certain: as the Spanish bull market greedily eats up Europe’s finest talent, the Italian bear equivalent can only sit and scratch itself in disbelief.

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As Kaka packs, the duckling quacks

2009-06-10T09:00:00Z

Have we all missed something here? Why does Alexandre Pato want to speak to Carlo Ancelotti before he discusses his future with AC Milan?

And why is he speaking to the Chelsea coach when he is under contract at Milan – until 2012, if he cares to read the less than fine print?

NEWS: Pato plans pow-wow

Yes, once again when a player is on international duty his head is filled with all manner of voices promising riches beyond his wildest possible dreams.

"I wish I could fly..."

For Brazilians in particular, their international get-togethers are a vibrant Aladdin’s cave of untold treasures.

And having witnessed Ricky Kaka time his exit to Madrid just when he happens to be as far away from Italy as possible, the teenager and those around him are ready to board the gravy train as well.

More Kaka from FourFourTwo:
Kaka joins Madrid from Milan
Shy-boy demeanour hides ambition
Kaka leaves Milan as best friends
Kaka's exit a fresh blow for Italian football
Kaka: the factbox
BLOG: The former republic of Real Madrid
BLOG: Madrid's "new Guti" doesn't want to be there

It now remains to be seen where they will get off – and worryingly it looks ever more likely that it will be London and not a return ticket to Milan.

Pato is only 19, and speaks as if he is still in short trousers: during a press conference at the start of the week it was “Professor” Ancelotti this, “Professor” Ancelotti that every time he opened his mouth.

“Before I speak to Milan I will talk to Professor Ancelotti,” he had the temerity to reveal. “He’s an extraordinary man… yada, yada, yada… it would be an honour to play for Chelsea.”

His nickname is ‘The Duck’ and he sure knows how to quack.

"Alex! Take the A4 to Malpensa Airport and a flight to Heathrow"

He even slipped into calling Brazil coach Dunga “Professor” - demonstrating that whatever the classroom, he’s the teacher’s pet.

Where does this leave the teenager and his relationship with Milan – and in particular Leonardo, who has helped the kid overcome his almost chronic shyness and settle into the hurly-burly of life in Italy?

He obviously did too good a job, but hopefully Leo has been on the phone to his protégé to inform him that he will also be a “Professor” very soon when he gains his coaching badge come early July.

BLOG: Leo settles Pato

But it’s all very unsettling; no wonder fans are becoming disillusioned with the game when many Italians cannot afford a bucket and spade for the beach this summer.

Milan will now have to either accept another star is off or use part of the Kaka fee to hand Pato an improved contract – threatening Silvio Berlusconi’s plans for a wage-cap on all new signings.

BLOG: Berlusconi plans wage-cap

Earning less than a teenager can’t be a big draw for a potential new signing – unless it happens to be Edin Dzeko.

Post-Kaka, the Rossoneri have set their sights on the strapping Wolfsburg striker who was voted best player in the Bundesliga last season.

NEWS: Galliani admits Dzeko meeting

Hardly a household name outside Lower Saxony and certainly not worth the 30m Euro asking price – especially as he is Bosnian and would thus fill the squad’s final non-EU slot, which could be better taken up by, let’s say, the Brazilian Hernanes if Andrea Pirlo also decides his future lies on the Kings Road.

However, Dzeko only (only!) earns 600,000 Euro a year in Germany and Milan will more than triple that to offer him a five-year contract at 2m Euro per season – £33,000 per week.

"Yay! I can buy some Brasso!"

It’s all relative, of course, as a Chelsea reserve player probably brings home somewhere in the region of that amount – something that Pato and his agent, Gilmar Veloz, are no doubt well aware.

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Why Inter should sell Ibra – and buy Eto'o

2009-06-08T11:30:00Z

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an Inter player in as so much that up until last week he wore the club shirt and is the holder of a 12 million Euro a year contract bestowed on him by a grateful Massimo Moratti.

Apart from that, the Swede has no qualms about wearing whatever striped shirt is thrown his way – be it black and white, black and blue or red and blue.

He threatened legal action if he wasn't allowed to leave relegated Juventus, and his moody temperament and sultry demeanour will not be missed if he packs up and runs off to Barcelona.

NEWS: Ibrahimovic open to offers from Barcelona

The loss of Ricky Kaka would certainly be a major blow to Serie A’s prestige and morale, but the sulky Swede has never won over the Italian football public.

"Bye. Love you this much"

Yes, he finished top goalscorer in the league this season and at times produced some sublime moments of skill – but you would be hard-pressed to remember him producing the goods against either Juventus or Milan.

If you need inspiration in key moments then Ibra is not your man – and of course he has been missing in action when it really matters... the Champions League.

Better then for Moratti to swap one mega-contract for another and get his hands on a proven European performer in Samuel Eto’o.

The Cameroonian is only a year older than his Inter counterpart, can score as many (if not more) astounding goals, has greater pace and seems on the whole to be more of a team player.

Ibra definitely wants to leave Italy, egged on by his agent Mino Raiola who has been letting everyone know how much his client would love to play for Barça.

It seems that Eto’o is equally keen on remaining with the Catalans but a 15m Euro signing-on fee and 12m Euro salary – the same as Ibra's current wedge – should soften the blow.

You have to say that in these crazy times it would be excellent value for money.

"Hello everybody!"

The real benefit comes on the pitch, where Eto’o’s versatility would enable Jose Mourinho to employ his favoured 4-3-3 – a formation aborted early in the season when the Portuguese noted Ibra’s unwillingness to sacrifice himself more often for the greater cause.

With the more free-moving Diego Milito arriving from Genoa on the back of a 24-goal season to augment the emergent talents of Mario Balotelli, Eto’o would be the perfect spearhead to the attack.

With that trio up-front, Inter’s strikeforce would be not only the most in Italy, but also one that would be very pleasing to the eye.

Bringing Eto’o to Serie A would definitely put a smile back on the face of Italian football – while finally getting rid of one unloved long mug.

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Money talks and Kaka walks as Silvio suffers austerity

2009-06-05T09:00:00Z

Money doesn’t talk in Milan. It screams and shouts and pushes its way to the front of any massed gathering.

The ultras who congregated in front of AC Milan’s plush city centre headquarters on Thursday were always going to have a hard time being heard over the honking of horns, the rattle of passing trams and the rumble of sharp-suited businessmen on their mopeds making their way home after keeping the wheels of Italian finance turning.

The fans did their best with their terrace chants, flag-waving and igniting the odd flare, but it was like shouting into a gale-force wind.

Ricky Kaka is leaving this time, and no end of protests from those who populate the infamous Curva Sud at the San Siro is going to change anything.

It was so different back in January when it was Kaka’s turn to scream and stamp his foot at the very thought of going to Manchester City.

In the end, he got his way – against the wishes of the club and his father/agent.

Then it was an imperial wave from the window of his downtown apartment, but this time he’s out of town – smiling into the camera at Brazil’s training camp halfway round the world.

Kaka gives Pato a leg-up

It is doubtful whether Kaka – who had thousands of Milan-supporting kids in tears at the start of the year at the thought of never seeing him in a red and black shirt again (goodness knows how their parents will pacify them this time) will return to the city to say farewell.

The magnitude of the situation has yet to sink in and this time Silvio Berlusconi will really have to face the music.

Being our leader, he has a small matter of voting in the European elections this weekend.

And even though he appeared on the country’s premier political television programme to drum up some last-minute support, he had to spend most of his time fielding questions about why he was selling his best player.

Of course, it’s all down to the economy, stupid – or should that be the stupid economy. Milan have a 70m euro black hole in their finances and suffered a 19 million euro loss last year – up some 8 percent from the previous season.

Real Madrid’s donation will ease the pressure on that debt and of course there will also be a massive wage bill wiped off the books.

Milan pay Kaka something in the region of 9m euro a year – net. If you want to see how his bank balance is faring by the second check out this sobering little site.

Of course, believe it or not, taxes do have to be paid in Italy and the club have to come up with the 43 percent demanded for the government coffers.

In Spain, the equivalent figure is 24 percent over five years so it’s obviously less of a burden for Real to pay the player the same amount.

Berlusconi explained all of this and more to the county’s rather large TV-watching public, and in doing so came across as one of the masses: a man with bills to pay at the end of the month, a man who wanted the best for his kids, a man who in these austere times had to make sacrifices.

A vote-winner? More than likely, and an electoral landslide would ease the pain of selling off his greatest asset and the best talent to have played in Italy for the last decade.

"Buddy, can you spare a Euro?"

Besides picking the team, Berlusconi can now impose a wage cap at the club, something he has been planning for some time, with rumours flying that it will be set at a maximum of 3.5m euro a year for new signings (Ed: that’s about £60,000 per week, or less than half of John Terry’s wage) – with the squad average a lot lower.

Then there are a range of changes to save a cent or two, like cutting back on the number of 'free' flights home for South American players, and the comparable perks received by their European team-mates – something that is certain to get the dressing room grumbling at how unfair the world is.

Will these new measures entice the big names to join the club? If they’re in it just for the filthy lucre, probably not.

But then again, it’s still Milan: seven-time European Cup winners, the home of classy football and all that.

Players come and go, but the club will always be there. But try telling that to a young Rossoneri supporter with a No.22 Kaka shirt on his back.

Just as well they aren’t of voting age.

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Leonardo looking to create masterpiece in Milan

2009-06-03T11:00:00Z

By painting The Last Supper for the dining room at the city's Santa Maria delle Grazie church, Leonardo da Vinci put Milan on the map.

Now another Leonardo has been asked to make something beautiful out of the city’s other ageing artefact: AC Milan.

The modern Leonardo is very much the archetypal Renaissance man: urbane, well-read, a humanitarian and a linguist to boot. The Brazilian is also young and handsome, which fits perfectly with those whom Silvio Berlusconi likes to surround himself.

"You like Calcio?"

More importantly, not only does he understand the politics of the club inside out, he has the ear of Ricky Kaka, who he encouraged to join Milan in the first place.

This may help ensure his compatriot remains with the club rather decamp to Madrid – or to Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea.

It’s a smart move by Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani, as Leonardo has an excellent relationship with the players and has been acting as surrogate big brother to Alexandre Pato through his tough period of adaptation to Italian football.

The much more settled teenager, who is set to marry, has recently demonstrated glimpses of that talent that brought him to the fore as a 16-year-old, and under further Brazilian nurturing will no doubt blossom into the real deal.

These are two important elements in Milan’s future success and the figures around which the club will be building the team.

With Paolo Maldini retired and Andriy Shevchenko and Clarence Seedorf set for summer exits, club leadership should now pass over to a much more relaxed Samba camp – and Kaka in particular.

It was important that Maldini was out of the way before the coup took place. The veteran knew there was revolution in the air long before he snubbed Leo during his so-so San Siro farewell a fortnight ago.

The way is now open for the new man to build the team around the dictums sent down from the benefactor: get back to the stylish, attacking football that once was associated with Milan.

"Hahaha, boobies"

Unlike in, say, England, the role of the coach in Italy is to deal exclusively with on-pitch matters – but Leo will maintain a firm link with the hierarchy and Carlo Ancelotti’s former No.2 Mauro Tassotti will play a central role marshalling day-to-day training.

Everyone else will fall into line under the new order with little disruption – and who knows, maybe even Ronaldinho will find some motivation again.

He will certainly be a lot fitter, as the resources of the MilanLab will be exploited to the full for the benefit of the club rather than farmed out to other sporting associations as it has occasionally been recently.

Two other Brazilians, Felipe Mattioni and Thiago Silva, are waiting in the wings but the Italian heart will still exist in the indomitable Rino Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Nesta.

The ingredients for success are definitely there and it seems that finally the Rossoneri have got the mix just right.

What would make it that much sweeter would be the arrival of Philippe Mexes, Emmanuel Adebayor and another Samba boy Hernanes – to take the place of Andrea Pirlo.

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Arrivederci Paolo, Carlo, Figo, Toro...

2009-06-01T08:30:00Z

Parting can be such sweet sorrow and there are many ways to say farewell.

The full-on emotional tears and hugs. The pat on the back. The quick handshake. The wave goodbye. And the total denial that anything is out of the ordinary when you know you will never see that person again.

Carlo Ancelotti had been faking the latter for some time, but finally broke the news that he would be leaving Milan after securing third place at Fiorentina on Sunday. No surprise there, and no surprise that he will be replaced by Leonardo.

NEWS: Ancelotti leaves, Leonardo takes over

But as we bid a fond arriverderci to another campaign, it truly is the end of an era for three of the big names on the pitch.

Paolo Maldini, Pavel Nedved and Luis Figo - a trio who have shaped the European game over the last decade and a half - all hung up their boots.

"Shall we share a taxi?"

Two Golden Ball winners and another who should have won it at least once, but each one leaving a box-set of memories and a legacy of total dedication to the game that hopefully a new generation will learn from.

But hold on, dry those tears: a rumour is gathering pace that Nedved has no intention of giving up those Christmas morning runs just yet and is considering returning to Lazio, thanks in part to the promptings of his agent.

Some people don’t know when to call it a day.

However, there's certainly no way back for Maldini, who was just relieved to be in a stadium where, instead of booing him, everyone liked him – even if it happened to be in Florence.

Anyway, all three received the sort of send-off that will live long in the memory for all the right reasons.

There are those who are saying goodbye to one set of supporters but will be saying hello to a new set very soon.

And the Udinese and Genoa fans have to be congratulated as well for their rousing expression of goodwill towards Fabio Quagliarella in Fruili, and Diego Milito and Thiago Motta at the Luigi Ferraris.

Milito gets emotional

All in all, a wonderful final day with 41 goals hitting the back of the net – quite a few of them absolute crackers in what has been a season of stunning goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who ended the campaign as the league’s top goal-scorer on 25 – and Giuseppe Mascara vie for the honour of goal of the season, with two apiece.

The Catania man has to edge it with his audacious volley from the half-way line in the Sicilian derby win at Palermo and he did it again against Udinese, albeit from slightly closer range.

Zlat’s behind-the-back ninja-backheel against Bologna stands out of course, but even more tingle-down-the-back-and-shake-your-head-with-admiration was the sublime chip from the edge of the area at home to Reggina.

If this is in fact the Swede’s swansong then his final goal in Italy was something to savour: a cheeky backheel when forced to turn away from the goal inside the six-yard area against Atalanta.

"Damn you, tattoo 'artist'!"

And down in the capital, hail the last king of Rome Francesco Totti, who drew level with Juventus legend Gianpiero Boniperti in the all-time Serie A goalscoring charts when he netted number 178 from the spot against Torino.

So it’s adieu to Toro then, who join Lecce and Reggina in Serie B.

For a season most of us could not wait to usher out the door, in the end it was a perfect send-off.

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Rudderless Milan face fourth-place shame

2009-05-29T08:00:00Z

Josep Guardiola is certainly a classy fellow.

Not only does he show the world how to play football, the Barcelona coach then dedicates the Champions League victory to Paolo Maldini.

Doing things with style was once a feature of Milan, but that panache of old has been missing for some time now.

The club has refused to publicly accept the open secret that Carlo Ancelotti is off to Chelsea, and has also failed to condemn those who booed and jeered Maldini on his farewell lap of honour last Sunday.

The club used to be transparent in its dealings, proactive rather than reactive, but the mists of indecision which have descended from the hierarchy could have very serious repercussions in the long run.

Ancelotti’s revelations that he met with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last summer and even discussed possible signings if he were to take the job presumably not only breached his contract with Milan but sowed the seeds of the sorry state we now find the club in.

"Me and my mouth..."

Where was the commitment to the Milan cause this season, if in his mind he is already in charge of the Blues?

Admitting that he has been taking English lessons is another snub to everyone at Milanello.

Rather than maintaining a lofty silence, apart from some utterances about Ancelotti’s future being decided at the end of the season, Silvio Berlusconi and his No.2 Adriano Galliani should have allowed not-so-cuddly Carlo to get on with his lessons – by buying his plane tickets.

It worked for Juventus, whose ruthlessness in sacking Claudio Ranieri ensured they ended the season as runners-up.

Instead, with the club silent while Ancelotti tweets like a bluebird, the former certainties for second spot could finish fourth if they lose by a two-goal margin at Fiorentina on Sunday.

If Milan fail – and they have conceded five goals in the last two games - there will be further damage to the Rossoneri's reputation of getting things done rather than being passive bystanders.

Fourth place also means the preliminary round of the Champions League – and after the humiliation of a year in the UEFA Cup, that's a big risk for established stars.

Will Ricky Kaka continue to resist the sirens from Real Madrid tempting him to a new life in Spain? Will Andrea Pirlo follow Ancelotti to the Kings Road?

It's a lame state of affairs. And in times of uncertainly who better to turn to than Rino Gattuso, who is always guaranteed to make sense out of the nonsensical.

“I haven’t a clue what is going on,” claimed the combative midfielder in a newspaper interview at the start of the week. “One day I read the coach is staying, the next I read he is going - I've given up wondering what will happen.”

"What's going on, gaffer?"

No doubt Rino was speaking for all the players, which suggests Milan will travel to Florence not only clueless but rudderless.

No wonder Maldini was all smiles when he revealed he was looking ahead to having a proper summer holiday for the first time in life. His team-mates would no doubt love to have that thought in mind.

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Knives out for the English angels and demons

2009-05-26T13:00:00Z

To Italians, the fixed image of the typical English football fan is beer-swilling, shaven-headed aggression.

“Hooligan” is virtually synonymous with “Englishman” – apart from poets, 19th-century writers or David Beckham, who are “gentlemen.”

Nothing will change the stereotype unless those following English clubs to the Bel Paese turn up in straw boaters and engage in polite conversation while sipping a glass of wine.

"Fragola, signor?"

Michel Platini did little to allay local fears by raising the spectre of Heysel in a recent press conference, and even before the inevitable imposition of an alcohol ban many bars and restaurants had already informed Rome City council that they would be closing their premises on the day of the match.

NEWS: Alcohol ban in Rome

If there is any intimidation then it would seem to come from the perceived threat of the Manchester United fans, but the reality is that with AS Roma long departed from the competition, their followers will be maintaining a low profile.

The only time the knives should be out is to tuck into the fine local pizzas.

But there will be those among the local population – like the ever-growing and vocal neo-fascist community - who will be out to prove themselves, even if that means attacking some defenceless fan who has wandered into the wrong place at the wrong time.

Who needs ultras when you have skinheads?

Having said that, Rome, for all its faults, is not a particularly dangerous city when it comes to serious crimes against tourists. Muggings are a very rare occurrence.

"It's round here somewhere"

However, this is a different situation and the advice to any Manchester United fan would be to dress more conservatively, remain in the centre of the city and lay off the booze a bit.

Of course, Rome itself is pulling out all the stops to provide a showcase event – and the last thing the city fathers want are stories of stabbings and images of baton-welding police “restoring” law and order flashing around the world.

No-one wants to dissuade potential visitors among those who have seen the glories of the Eternal City in the blockbuster Angels and Demons.

We cannot expect either cherubs or devils over the next few days, but somewhere in between would do. Maybe then we can start to change Italian perceptions of those alien creatures known as il Inglese.

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Boo-boys fail to mar Maldini's San Siro swansong

2009-05-25T13:00:00Z

It may not have been the perfect farewell to a perfect career, but the sun shone brightly and all in all a packed San Siro rose as one to bid a final home salute to the legend that is Paolo Maldini.

And despite the small section of the Curva Sud whose hearts will always belong to Franco Baresi, altogether it was a celebration of a glittering career.

NEWS: Maldini signs off at San Siro on sour note

NEWS: Totti free-kick ruins Maldini swansong

Fathers who would have been as young as their sons at their sides when Maldini made his debut were overcome with emotion, sensing that the years pass for everyone; even for someone as the seemingly ageless man they had come to praise.

"Cheers, pal..."

The Friuli stadium back in January 1985 must have had one of the biggest Milan followings in the club’s history judging by the number of 30 and 40-year-old’s who were claiming they had been present for the great man’s debut.

It was that sort of day – the club even unveiled its stylish new kit for next season and, of course, Paolo took it all in his majestic stride up until he ran into the massive banner saluting not him but Baresi alongside another with a moving tribute to a perceived lack of respect on Paolo’s part to those who “made him rich.”

The appearances, the trophies, the international caps are all well documented, and they all came from hard work and application to his profession – something the whistles and jeers can never drown out.

Browsing through Gazzetta dello Sport’s weekend magazine supplement, SportWeek provided an insight into how Maldini was moulded into the player we all know so well.

There in a black and white photo stands a young Paolo in his Milan kit alongside proud dad Cesare, who is neatly attired in suit and trench-coat, obligatory cigarette in one hand.

“Dad started to smoke when he was 15 and only gave up 12 years ago,” recalls Paolo who has never touched the wicked weed.

Paolo starts out in '85

Despite a weakness for nicotine, by all accounts Cesare was a severe enough parent who lived his life the way he played the game: in a very upright and correct manner.

There were never any favours granted to his son when it came to furthering his footballing career.

Cesare was not even aware of Paolo’s burgeoning talents, as he recalls: “I was always away playing at the weekend and it was only when some other people told me that your son is a decent player did I start to take notice.”

Paolo had only been playing in loosely organised games for the local parish team when he went for a trial at Milan aged 10, and even then Maldini Senior told those in charge not to pick his son just because of his name.

In fact, he didn’t know which position Paolo played and told the coach to decide – so the youngster ended up on the right wing.

However, as reported in the trial notes, “he has qualities that make him stand out.”

"For me? You shouldn't have..."

Another photo shows Paolo ages 14, in action for one of Milan’s youth sides – and the familiar stooped gait and turned-in right foot are already in evidence.

Reading the comments made by Paolo on these formative years, it is clear that dad’s influence was vital.

“He berated me for going out on a Tuesday or Wednesday with my friends,” recalls Paolo. “Monday is a footballer’s day off he would say, ‘so you can go out for a meal on a Sunday’.

“Dad came from an era when the teams went into a three-month training retreat, but I needed a bit more freedom than that.”

Only one other player from Paolo’s youth team – Francesco Zanoncelli – went on to have a career of sorts in Serie A, but few could have envisaged that the gangly lad would follow in his father’s footsteps and lift the Champions League trophy exactly 40 years after Cesare had done – and in England as well.

That moment, more than anything, cemented the Maldini legend and no doubt in private - as it has always been - son will thank father for turning him into the man he would become.

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Jose Mourinho, late-night chats and Don Johnson

2009-05-22T11:00:00Z

Jose Mourinho certainly doesn’t give off the air of a man on a fleeting visit.

The latest rumours sweeping the majority of the sporting and regular dailies is that our man is off to Real Madrid and taking Zlatan Ibrahimovic with him.

It has been less than a week since Inter stuffed another title into their back pockets, and the Special One was dancing around the San Siro without a care in the world.

Apart from Ibra walking around with a long face until he was shipped off to Dubai for a bit of much-needed R&R, the atmosphere out at the Appiano Gentile training ground has been one of a job well done and now on to winning another title.

With the hard work out of the way, Jose was able to retire to the gentlemen’s club that is the Gianluca Vialli-Paolo Rossi talk-show on Sky Sports on Thursday evening.

No chance there of spotting a fresh tattoo, as sported by Marco Materazzi, who found some small patch of space on his body for another inking, or anyone strutting around in possession of a fetching multi-coloured hairdo, such as, let’s say, Mario Balotelli.

All very benign and gentle then, as the trio settled into the highchairs of a studio mocked up to look like a study of sorts – more drawing room than boot room.

"The new Real Madrid coach? Pass"

Vialli and Rossi are of course legendary figures in the Italian game and now slipping quietly into middle age while still possessing that boyish glint in their eyes. And they like nothing better than chatting about the game.

This must have come as a bit of surprise to the guest who has spent the whole year dodging verbal assaults from the fine figures of the press, but in the inner sanctum of the Sky studio - sorry authentic-looking study - Jose could finally relax and let his guard down, even pulling the sleeves of his jacket up, Miami Vice-style.

A fine raconteur he is, when not impersonating Don Johnson, and you felt he could have gone on chatting well past the allotted hour.

A gentle probing from the pair about the Real headlines brought a smile and a “Listen, guys: I am here and I expect to be at Inter next season – well, 99.9 percent certain.”

Although when questioned who he would expect to be in charge of Real he was, for once, stumped for an answer.

So no chance of the rumours abating for the time being, then.

And the Champions League winners? “Manchester United are favourites, they are bigger and physically stronger than Barcelona but have the hunger.”

This gives an indication of the direction Mourinho wants to take his Inter side – an even more robust style to lay the opposition to waste.

No wonder he is a big admirer of Nemanja Vidic – the player he picked out as United’s main man.

"Like that, lads"

It certainly seems that his sights would be set on the Serbian, but all indications are that Bruno Alves of his former club Porto will be a more realistic target.

“I need a strong central defender who can bring the ball out at his feet,” claimed Jose, overlooking his compatriot’s back-pass which gifted United their equaliser in the Champions League.

There could also be a raid back at Chelsea for two other towers of strength: Ricardo Carvalho and John Obi Mikel.

Genoa pair Diego Milito and Thiago Motta should be confirmed signings before the end of the season, who again both combine skill with a physical presence.

Although that much-awaited dossier on how Inter can launch a credible challenge in Europe while at the same time holding on to their dominance at home is still under lock and key.

An educated stab at its contents might come up with this conclusion: build it like the Premier League – bigger, stronger and faster.

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Ranieri: Where did it all go wrong?

2009-05-19T08:30:00Z

Claudio Ranieri has been a dead man walking for some time now, but you would have thought Juventus might have allowed him to walk away a proud man.

The club likes to convey that aristocratic image even though they have long been exposed as scoundrels. In the current hierarchy, they give off the air of technocrats rather than having any passion for the game in mould of the late Gianni Agnelli.

Having publicly backed their man to the end of the season, the suits then did a complete U-turn.

He may have been doomed at the end of the campaign anyway, but now Ranieri has been pushed out of the door marked ‘failure’ - the first Juve coach to have been booted out before the end of the campaign since 1969.

So where did it all go wrong for the dear old mister?

Ranieri, before the roof fell in

The dressing room

It has been obvious for some time that a number of the old guard weren't playing for their coach anymore.

The “against” camp were clear in their attentions to undermine Ranieri: the public demonstrations of contempt from David Trezeguet when substituted was followed by reported bust-ups with Mauro Camoranesi behind closed doors.

The “for” camp were few and far between and, apart from Gigi Buffon, consisted of players who in other years would not be wearing the black and white shirt.

The “neutrals” - if such a thing exists - could never really be trusted and one wonders if Alessandro del Piero and Pavel Nedved really were sitting on the fence, as they often claimed.

Tactics

Too many scrappy wins turned into seven league games without a victory.

Probably the biggest blunder was starting Del Piero, Camoranesi and Nedved on the bench in the second leg of the Italian Cup semi-final against Lazio when the team was 2-1 down from the away leg.

Too often when performances were flat, the livewire Sebastian Giovinco was given too little time from the bench to influence the outcome.

At times Ranieri could have lived up to his ‘Tinkerman’ moniker and changed the formation to give little Giovinco more freedom – rather than isolate him out on the left flank when Nedved had finally run out of energy.

"About time, too"

Transfers

Ranieri did insist on signing Christian Poulsen when Xabi Alsono had been making all the right noises about moving to Turin.

Olof Mellberg was another dud – but then the directors did little to offload Tiago, who has hung around like a bad smell all season.

Injury problems

When they arrived, they arrived thick and fast. A few weeks ago the spine of the team was missing, with Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio and Amauri all out.

The midfield has been shorn of Mohamed Sissoko for the run-in and the influential Cristiano Zanetti up until recently.

Gigi Buffon has looked a shadow of the best goalkeeper in the world since his return from a back injury at the start of the year, while knocks and strains have highlighted the squad's lack of depth.

"How very dare you"

The future

Ciro Ferrara is in for the final two games to instil a united front and will no doubt rely on the old guard to secure third place. And after that?

Well, if it wasn’t for the pesky World Cup, then Marcello Lippi would have been welcomed back with open arms.

Still, we can expect to see the Azzurri coach making more regular visits to Vinovo under the guise of checking up on Fabio Cannavaro, but no doubt offering advice on such matters as possible new arrivals.

All indications are that Antonio Conte will be prised away from newly-promoted Bari to deal with coaching matters and, after a season bedding in, will work with the old maestro once again to finally set the Old Lady back on the road to stability.

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Mourinho wins title but not respect of media

2009-05-18T08:30:00Z

Congratulations Inter, you deserve the title. You were the best of a pretty rotten bunch.

It will not go down as a vintage year for Serie A, and at times there was more excitement witnessing Jose Mourinho single-handedly take on the media than watching the action on the pitch.

The Portuguese coach’s first season in Italian football saw him put in a brave but ultimately futile quest to change the unchangeable.

July shone brightly and full of hope as the new man arrived, tanned and relaxed, with the simple remit of retaining the domestic title and winning the Champions League.

Anything seemed possible for a man who possessed a striking command of Italian from his first day in charge, but the search for the Holy Grail in Europe would prove as torturous for Mourinho as it had for his predecessors.

"Inter, eh?"

Of course, lying in wait were not only the rest of Serie A but the notorious Italian media, ready to dissect and analyse every utterance that cometh out of the new man’s mouth.

He certainly didn’t disappoint, coming to verbal blows in his first live post-game television interview following the opening-day draw at Sampdoria.

“Wasn’t much of a start, was it Mr Mourinho?” came the question, followed by a yawn-inducing critique on what had gone wrong during his first 90 minutes.

“I don’t think I'm the type of person for this type of post-game analysis,” came the reply from a man who was just beginning to understand what he had let himself in for.

It was downhill from there on through the month of September as he fell out with Catania, AC Milan and, of course, Claudio Ranieri before trying to attempted to duck the press altogether by sending out his No.2 Beppe Baresi to face the questions.

The plan backfired, as he was then accused of showing a distinct lack of disrespect for the media and Italian football to boot.

Self-censorship - or yawn-stifling?

You can’t win, Jose, but at least his side were top of the table come the onset of the first chill in the nights.

But the relationship got icy early in 2009 as Inter lurched around like a drunken reveller.

Seemingly exasperated with one and all, our man turned his ire towards his own players following a dismal display at Atalanta in January.

“You won the first title in a court room, the second because there was no opposition and the third at the last minute. You’re s***,” he was quoted as telling his team.

He was certainly becoming a cult hero – for Juventus followers at least – and a pain in the neck for his peers.

More barbed comments about Claudio Ranieri’s inability to learn English were followed by a jibe that his Juventus nemesis, Carlo Ancelotti, and Luciano Spalletti would all end the season empty-handed.

The “zero titles” remark came during a seven-minute tirade in which he delivered the infamous line: “I don't like intellectual prostitution, I like intellectual honesty,” which could only be interpreted as an attack on the media who had sold themselves to an anti-Inter agenda.

"Find out what it means to me..."

Unfortunately, these slights were all delivered before he had actually won everything, and much was the mirth when Inter went out of the Champions League at the first knock-out stage.

Although Mou took the defeat on the chin, the storm suddenly abated.

Apart from the odd cloudburst of a comment, the run-in to the end of the season went as calm as Lake Como on a summer's day – coincidentally, the view from Mourinho’s villa retreat.

Even as Inter fans and players prepared to party long into the night to celebrate winning the league, the Special One was in muted mood – already planning a defence of the title and another tilt at Europe.

“I need a new central defender who can bring the ball out and a couple of physically strong midfielders,” he sniffed to the gathered press. “I'm not going to say who we are after just yet.”

No doubt the papers will fill in the blanks during the coming months.

In the meantime, Mourinho may not have conquered the press rooms, but he has another title to add to his four from Portugal and England, four domestic cups, a UEFA Cup and a Champions League crown – in seven full seasons of management.

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A messy Milan divorce played out in public

2009-05-14T10:00:00Z

Silvio Berlusconi has always been big on loyalty, and as long as someone is willing to show their commitment to the AC Milan cause then there will always be a place at the table for them.

Carlo Ancelotti has certainly gorged himself on the fat of the land over the years - both as a player and, for the last eight terms, as coach.

So it came as a surprise that dear old Silvio – who, love him or loathe him, is something of a sentimentalist when it comes to his club – should unceremoniously show Carlo the door with a size eight firmly planted up his ample derriere.

But then, what if his coach wasn't demonstrating the requisite devotion?

Someone who is running the country should know a thing a two about what is going on around him. And apparently the MP was none too pleased to find out his trainer had been in meetings with Chelsea officials during a flying visit to the sleepy backwater of Vicenza at the start of the week.

"Nervous? Me? Nah..."

What loyalty then from his No.1, who at various times over the last few seasons could easily have been sacked?

If Ancelotti is still humming and hawing over whether to leave for pastures blue, why not then make that decision a lot easier by laying the blame for Milan’s failure to land the league title on the coach’s broad shoulders?

Piqued that the team had failed to beat Juventus on Sunday evening after Inter had drawn earlier in the day, Berlusconi was quoted by La Repubblica newspaper as saying “If we lose the title, it’s Ancelotti’s fault”.

It’s a line the leader has trotted out before, when he blamed Dino Zoff for Italy’s failure to bring home the Euro 2000 crown.

And he has past form with Ancelotti: back in 2004 he sent an open letter to his coach reminding him that if he did not field two attackers then he may as well stay at home.

This was followed a year later with the famous “I have been picking the team for the last 18 years” quote, which was followed by another attack on Ancelotti’s failure to follow the Milan mandate of always playing “attacking football.”

This season the jibes have become more and more personal, from “the coach is incapable of getting the team to control matches” to the latest, and probably ultimate, assault.

From here there seems little way back into the inner circle for Ancelotti; even the usually reliable spin doctor Adriano Galliani couldn't come up with any damage limitation.

For such a media-savvy operator he certainly left himself open to accusations of not doing his job by claiming he couldn't comment because he hadn't read said paper on the day in question.

Happier times for Carlo, Silvio and Adriano

After all the good times, it looks like it is all set to end in tears, but they are likely to be shed in private for the time being.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, as they say, so expect Ancelotti to come knocking with the Russian millions this summer for Ricky Kaka and Andrea Pirlo.

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Cup finals, water polo and Cassano's underpants

2009-05-13T08:30:00Z

It's Lazio against Sampdoria in the Italian Cup final – which makes a pleasant change from the last four seasons, when it was Inter against AS Roma again, again and again.

In fact, Lazio were the last club to lift the trophy before that, back in 2004, and will start as slight favourites – not least because the final will be played in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

The domestic cup has always been something of a poor cousin: a two-legged final tagged on at the end of the campaign, with the rounds up to the semi-finals being populated by bench-warmers and youth players.

Last season the two-legged affair was jettisoned and the final got its very own showcase day in the capital.

Fortunately for the League, Roma reached the final (again), thus ensuring a sell-out crowd at the Olimpico. This time around it's their city rivals.

The Stadio Olimpico: in Rome

It has all the makings of a mini-classic: a rare chance of lifting a trophy, a European spot up for grabs, two sides who love to attack, a smattering of real quality (Mauro Zarate, Goran Pandev) and, of course, Antonio Cassano.

It's hard to believe, but the only piece of silverware the Bari Bawler has ever got his hands on is the Italian Super Cup – calcio’s Charity Shield.

He was part of Real Madrid’s title-winning squad in 2007, but did he play enough games to merit a medal? Do they even hand out medals in Spain to the league winners?

Cassano’s return to the arena where he played his best football adds spice to this pot-boiler.

Lazio fans will be out to wind up the former Roma player no end, in the hope that the notorious on-field stripper throws a complete wobbly – as he did in the 2003 final against Milan.

In those days Cassano had a temper hotter than a plate of penne arrabbiata but he's to give anyone indigestion on Wednesday evening with his antics of old – unless it's flashing those unsightly white underpants.

The little genius has been in genial form of late: trying to cuddle up to Jose Mourinho at the end of the semi-final – in his pants, naturally – but still very much in love with his teenage waterpolo-playing beau and, at nearly 27, knowing that time is slipping away if he is to truly make his mark on the game.

"How d'you like them apples?"

An Italian Cup medal may not have the same kudos as a Serie A title or a Champions League win, but for Fantantonio it would finally be the first step away from the road of all lost mavericks.

And you never know, maybe even Marcelo Lippi will start viewing the wayward star in a new light.

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Slipshod draw leaves Inter sleeping easy

2009-05-11T11:00:00Z

The flags and the banners can finally be dusted off and hung from apartment windows and balconies.

Come next Sunday, Inter should be celebrating their 17th Serie A title – and the party could even start on Saturday evening if AC Milan lose at Udinese.

The San Siro will be a lot more raucous than it was on Sunday evening, when the Rossoneri and Juventus slugged it out in the manner of unconvincing title contenders, with a lot of huffing and puffing but little to suggest either side will proclaimed champions at any time soon.

NEWS: Draw leaves Inter on brink

What is puzzling is why Milan felt that watering – well, flooding - the pitch just before kick-off would benefit the home side.

The robust Juventus defenders took to the slippery conditions like the proverbial ducks to water, with Giorgio Chiellini in particular throwing himself along the greasy top surface with real gusto.

"Aiiee! Oooyaa! Whoopsie!"

Needless to say, ball players like Ricky Kaka and Clarence Seedorf found such sodden conditions somewhat less to their liking – and the less said about 'Sideshow Bob' Ronaldinho the better.

You know excitement is in short measure when the two standout performers are midfield battlers Massimo Ambrosini and Cristiano Zanetti – but having said that, it was the two coaches who sent their respective teams out with the overriding remit not to lose.

Carlo Ancelotti and Claudio Ranieri both have the demeanour of men whose cases are packed – the former skipping off to double his salary at Chelsea, the latter pushed out with his pride battered and bruised once again.

"Taxi!"

The 1-1 draw just about closes the debate over the runners-up spot, although Juve will need more than a cursory glance over their shoulders at Fiorentina, who are only three points behind with three rounds remaining.

The only person left smiling was Jose Mourinho, who would have slipped off to sleep satisfied that if this is the best that the opposition can offer then Inter will be able to sleepwalk through next season’s campaign as well.

The Nerazzurri need the competition to ensure they are battle-hardened and ready for the rigours of another Champions League campaign.

But it’s doubtful their jubilant fans will be concerned about such matters when they turn the San Siro into party central next weekend.

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Maldini out, Leonardo in at new-look Milan

2009-05-08T09:00:00Z

It’s showdown time at the San Siro this weekend and the stage is set for fond farewells all round when AC Milan take on Juventus.

With all due respect to AS Roma, whom the Rossoneri meet in the penultimate round of the season, it’s the final really high-profile game for Paolo Maldini.

And that applies on and off the field, as the legendary defender has promised he won’t be getting involved in coaching when his glittering playing days are over.

There’s no chance of those flowing locks prematurely greying, Paolo preferring more relaxed pursuits than donning a suit and listening to everyone telling you they could do your job better.

You could hardly blame him for turning his back on a profession guaranteed to turn anyone into Benjamin Button within two months.

Fresh-faced ex-pros talk seriously about their intentions, but after a few months in the job they suddenly turn wrinkly and grey and start jabbering like four-year-olds.

So, if the whispers around Milan are to be believed, get ready to enjoy Leonardo’s fine features for the last time before he takes over from Carlo Ancelotti.

The club’s high hierarchy have been wining and dining cuddly Carlo for the last few weeks in what can only be described as the longest of last suppers.

Leonardo has been present as well - no doubt clutching a bottle of hair dye - along with assistant coach Mauro Tassotti, who will follow his gaffer to the ends of the earth… or the Kings Road, at least.

They even briefly allowed the television cameras in for an Obama-esque photo opportunity of the group of happy eaters staring at their plates.

So, a 40-year-old Brazilian will be sitting at the top table next season, in keeping with the club’s tradition of looking after their own – Leonardo having served as a player and currently the grandly-titled Director of Football role.

Next in line: Leonardo waits for the hotseat

It’s a pragmatic decision to ensure that Ricky Kaka remains – knowing fine well that the team will be built around his fleet-footed talents.

There’s certainly plenty of rebuilding to be carried out and the need for youthful energy to go with all that skill.

In the meantime, it will be left to the current vintage to ensure that Milan end the season as runners-up.

Victory over an Old Lady on the edge of a nervous breakdown would all but guarantee a sliver of satisfaction from the season, and three more points would postpone title celebrations on the black and blue side of the city for another week at least.

Of course, this is just the sort of game that Juve will win, if only to spite Claudio Ranieri, who can hardly move these days with the all the daggers sticking out of his back.

It was reported last weekend that cantankerous Mauro Camoranesi had a stand-up row with Ranieri at half-time, with the rest of the team beating a hasty retreat to the pitch to face their hostile fans rather than have to witness another putdown for the coach.

"Yeah yeah, whatever"

That was followed by the president of the bored, Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, muttering something about having never promised that Ranieri would be in charge next season – even though the official line from the club for the last month has been completely the opposite.

At least Juve can make a clean start, of sorts.

The proposed return of Fabio Cannavaro may have been greeted with a collective groan, but if Friday’s headlines are to be believed, a 25million Euro deal has been done with Werder Bremen for Diego.

And who would bring the best out of the tinkle-toed Brazilian: Genoa’s silver-haired Giampiero Gasperini - who is expected to be named Coach Of The Year - or the shiny-pated Roma boss Luciano Spalletti?

Answering that one would turn anyone grey.

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Milito the man to help Ibra silence San Siro boo boys

2009-05-06T07:00:00Z

There can be no other club that has such a fractious relationship with its fans than Inter.

At times, the Nerazzurri may not be much to look at on the pitch, but at least there is plenty of entertainment to be found in the unique interaction between the players and those who attend matches at the San Siro.

Serie Aaaaargh! pitched up at the “stadium of plight” for the Saturday evening dust-up. Lazio were the visitors, but the real opposition was in the stands.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become the boo-boys' favourite of late, replacing just about everyone else who trots on to the pitch in a black and blue shirt.

The Swede has never been one to endear himself to those who pay to watch him weave moments of magic from those size 13s. And his most recent comments that he needed a new challenge were guaranteed to ensure a less-than-warm welcome at the weekend.

"Silence infidels..."

Granted, the announcement of the big man’s name was - on the whole - greeted positively, although it didn’t take long before the first whistles were heard as Inter produced the usual restlessness one feels when you have thrown good money away.

The grumblings soon turned to outright hostility as the striker seemed to drift off, possibly to thoughts of playing a one-two with a Messi or Eto’o.

Misplaced pass, followed mis-control, followed downright clumsiness - and then out of the blue a rapier-like run through the Lazio defence to arrow the ball into the net.

It is doubtful many in the stands would have noticed the scorer’s reaction as he invited everyone to shush. They were too busy congratulating themselves, which demonstrates that the paying public couldn’t care less about a player’s sensitivities as long as the ball ends up in the net.

The gesture confirmed that Ibra is heading to the divorce courts as quickly as Silvio Berlusconi.

But, of course, everyone would kiss and make up if Zlat laid off touting his wares around the European interview scene and committed his future to Milan – the city not the city rivals, of course.

Inter, for their part, could also ensure their star man has less than a long face with a few choice signings - and where better to start than Diego Milito.

Milito: Top of Inter's hit-list

The Argentine has been linked with a move to the San Siro, and the hat-trick in the Genoa derby last weekend has only strengthened that buzz.

The ‘Prince’ would definitely take the burden off the big man’s shoulders of having to score the bulk of the team’s goals. At present Inter’s second top scorer is Mario Balotelli, on a mere six.

In fact, Milito could be the perfect foil to give Ibra a shot at the one prize he clearly craves... the Ballon d’Or.

Only Champions League winners usually land the European Footballer of the Year award, which is handy as Inter need that title more than anything else – then maybe the boo-boys will fall silent.

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Serie A (finally) to follow in Premier League's footsteps

2009-05-05T07:00:00Z

Most things in life move at a more relaxed pace in Italy.

So, unsurprisingly, it has taken a few decades for Serie A to finally break away from the rest of the Italian football league.

Thursday’s decision to set in motion a plan to follow the model established by the English Premier League some 17 years ago will see the top flight chase the riches at the end of the rainbow without the burden of having to drag Serie B along.

"What is this thing anyway? A bouncy castle?"

Only Lecce, who feel more at home in the lower division anyway, voted against the inevitable. But in theory everyone should benefit from a greater slice of the television rights that will be available across the board.

So, from 2010, rather than sell their rights individually - where according to La Gazzetta dello Sport the likes of Inter, Milan and Juventus rake in something in the region of 90million euro while those at the bottom end of the scale profit from around three to five million - they will all come under one collective deal.

The breakaway means that Serie B will be left to sink or swim because the 20 percent of the television revenue, which in the last deal amounted to 20million euro, will disappear forever.

It’s life-jackets all round then as those in the lower tier attempt to swim against a tidal wave of insolvencies.

While Serie A has been enjoying relatively healthy average gate attendances – around 25,000 mainly thanks to Inter and Milan – it’s a paltry 6,000 plus change in the lower division.

The feeling is that many clubs in B will overstretch themselves, especially with player salaries in the scramble to reach the promised land of the new Super Liga – no official name has been decided as yet but Super has a certain ring to it.

Then it will be the tricky matter of remaining there.

However, super is how those about to enjoy the good life will be feeling right now. Another season of hanging on in there for the likes of Chievo and Siena, and they can then start enjoying some of the spoils that for so long have been out of reach.

The big clubs will be rubbing their hands with glee as well.

"Mu ha ha ha..."

They might have to give up a few crumbs of the pie, but they will be thinking of all those prime-time match slots and sponsors they will be able to bring onboard.

And as their coffers swell, maybe they will even build their own stadiums. Goodness, the possibilities are endless.

Modern football. Who would have thought it would catch on in Italy?

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Salesman Silvio still knows how to sell a lost cause

2009-04-29T14:00:00Z

Class is ageless as they say, and at seventy-something Silvio Berlusconi still doesn’t possess it.

When he is not picking a former Miss Italy and a Big Brother contestant as candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections, he is giving it the old salesman routine of selling Inter’s title credentials short.

Despite still being seven points adrift of the Nerazzurri, the Milan owner is spinning an unlikely comeback for all it is worth.

And even if the government team fail to pull off the miracles of all miracles with six games remaining, Inter’s success will never be worthy in the eyes of the man who started out flogging vacuum cleaners.

"Together, we can do this..."

Harking back to Adriano’s handball goal in the derby, with a smirk that would have left even Jose Mourinho reeling with the insincerity of it, Berlusconi claimed that if that goal had been disallowed then the Rossoneri would only have been a point off top spot.

You have to admire Berlusconi’s front, not to mention timing: the matter would probably never have been brought up if Inter had not lost at Napoli.

The remark did have the desired effect and has planted a few seeds of doubt across town.

Gruff old Massimo Moratti was forced into a response, but lacking charisma could only come up with that old chestnut... penalties.

“We’ll count how many penalties Milan have had and then we’ll see who are champions,” he countered in the war of what ifs.

Rather than worry about engaging in a squabble with the neighbours, Moratti should be more concerned with matters back home and his coach’s laid-back attitude of late.

When not inviting persona non grata Adriano to drink the bar dry at the title-winning party and laughing off what seems a genuine desire by Zlatan Ibrahimovic to up sticks, he’s started shrugging his shoulders in response to just about every question put his way.

The dull, rudderless performance at Napoli encouraged La Gazzetta dello Sport to launch their “Crazy Idea” campaign - if Milan can catch Inter - yet all the uncommunicative one could come up with as he stifled a yawn was “well, it had 0-0 written all over it and they scored.”

What about the ref? A dodgy offside? It was too hot? Nope, not a thing to raise his ire. The dullness that engulfs everything associated with Inter has finally turned Jose into the Portuguese man of bore.

"Wake me up when it's over..."

Or maybe this is another variation of his [in]famous mind games: the game where he doesn’t mind anymore.

No doubt if he were back in the Premier League you would be selling the product for all its worth.

Berlusconi may be cheesy to some, but he knows how to maintain our interest.

Here’s hoping Jose returns from his self-imposed trading-on-cheap-shots embargo and gets back into the market of playing up the run-in to the season finale.

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Decline and fall of the Roma empire

2009-04-27T09:00:00Z

Much like the dear old Eternal City, AS Roma have seen better days. Both are in need of a major makeover.

The 4-1 thumping at Fiorentina on Saturday all but ended any hopes of grabbing fourth place and unless there is a miracle of biblical proportions, UEFA's showpiece final at the end of May will be the last Champions League football at the Stadio Olimpico for some time.

That unthinkable state of affairs has left the future of everyone – from president Rosella Sensi to the kitman – very much up in the air.

The feeling is that Luciano Spalletti is already looking for an escape route and in the Machiavellian world of Italian football, the whispers along the corridors are of the shaven-headed coach defecting to AC Milan when Carlo Ancelotti decamps to either Chelsea or Real Madrid.

"I couldn't possibly comment"

Nice work if you can get it, but what of the mess Spalletti leaves behind on the banks of the Tiber?

Of course, he can't shoulder all the blame – having had little or no say in last summer’s transfer campaign – but his handling of the team in the most delicate moments has left a lot to be desired.

The 50-year-old may or may not have snubbed Chelsea last summer, publicly committing his future to Roma through thick or thin. But for most of the season he has been a distant figure compared to his usual chirpy self.

To those outside the club that lack of real belief has transferred itself to the players and Florence was typical of recent Giallorossi performances.

La Viola broke the deadlock with their first shot, and despite dominating the first half – when chances couldn't be turned into goals – it all went pear-shaped for the visitors.

Attacks broke down, players lost their positions and there was no use in looking to the bench for help as Spalletti was either staring at the ground or shaking his head in resignation.

With no one or nothing to prop up their fragile egos, those on the pitch switched to default mode: whining and whingeing before losing all semblance of discipline.

The diminutive but very uptight David Pizarro lost his rag over nothing and squared up to France Semioli, receiving a second yellow card and his marching orders.

Pizarro gets first go with the soap

That's now a dirty dozen red cards this season, most of them for dissent. It's back to the bad habits from before Fabio Capello's reign (1999-2004) briefly brought everyone into line – when there was never a week that passed without someone or other getting sent off.

Sifting through the ruins of the season, the only similarity now with Don Fabio’s reign is that the club are still in the depths of financial woes.

Sensi has admitted that interested parties have been in touch about a possible sale, with a consortium fronted by disgustingly rich industrialists the Flick family ready to acquire a major stake in the club.

The billionaire financer George Soros could have taken over last year for a snip, but having apparently predicted the current worldwide financial crisis, he decided to keep his readies closer to home.

Where too now for the failing Romans? Well, the players have been banished to the dreaded ritiro for a week, which smacks of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

As for the rest, the Sensi family need to step away and allow the German-Swiss axis to come in and clean up the mess – ending the handouts of jumbo contracts (and that includes Francesco Totti’s hopes for one last mega-payday), selling off some of the assets (Philippe Mexes and Alberto Aquilani) then jettisoning the deadwood and starting from scratch again.

As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it hasn’t taken long for the club to crumble.

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Juventus on course to ensure Ranieri the sack

2009-04-24T11:00:00Z

If Claudio Ranieri is a man at risk of losing one of the biggest jobs in football, then he is certainly hiding any concern very well.

The coach appeared pretty sanguine after seeing Juventus booted out of the Italian Cup by a pretty nifty Lazio side – and maybe he believes the ever-more vocal assurances coming from the suits at the club that his job is safe.

However, the question has to be asked, do the players want dear old Claudio in charge in next season?

You have to doubt it after the way they went about trying to claw back a 2-1 deficit from the first leg on Wednesday.

Lazio triumph in Turin

If the coach didn’t seem to have a care in the world at the final whistle, then his players demonstrated the same attitude during the game.

With so much riding on the outcome, Ranieri would of course be expected to field his strongest side. Instead, he left Alex Del Piero, Mauro Camoranesi and Pavel Nedved on the bench.

A Lazio acquaintance of Serie Aaaaargh! claimed that after winning the derby, his side would not lose a game for the reminder of the season.

Not a bad wager and an equally tempting one would be Juventus not winning another game either.

Just looking at the bench behind Ranieri on Wednesday evening it was like one of those scenes from a World War I battlefield, where the officer goes over the top and the soldiers remain in the trenches to leave him to his fate.

The aforementioned trio may outwardly have given off a united front of 'see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil' but you just got the feeling that inwardly it was quite the opposite.

Claudio: Cool as a cucumber

A goal down at the end of the first-half and the big names still in their tracksuits, it was a no-win situation for the lonesome boss.

On came the three ‘saviours’ and off Camoranesi trudged near the end - the proud owner of two consecutive red cards.

Only Del Piero put up any half-hearted resistance and flashed home a consolation goal when the score was 2-0.

Whistles and boos once again in Turin but this time they were totally justified.

Ranieri is definitely a proud man who has had to shoulder the burden of attempting to rebuild a totally discredited Juventus from the ruins of Calciopoli, and he must know better than anyone when he is being stabbed in the back.

Meanwhile over in Milan, Jose Mourinho had the knives out for the referee after Inter failed to overcome their 3-0 deficit Sampdoria had set the league leaders from the first leg.

Samp celebrate at the San Siro

The Nerazzurri gave it their best shot – with most of them coming back off the woodwork - but in the end had only Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s stunning volley to celebrate.

Of course, the Portuguese accepted the exit gracefully, claiming that the official only blew his whistle against one side and they weren’t wearing black and blue.

So no Mourinho-Ranieri tussle in the final then, but for the neutrals Lazio on home turf against Antonio Cassano should make the showpiece a must-see... for once.

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Italian football finally facing up to its demons

2009-04-22T11:00:00Z

Italian football is finally facing up to its demons.

Although the league’s decision to not turn a deaf ear to the racial abuse rained down on Mario Balotelli still falls short of total exorcism of the evil that possesses some of those who populate football stadiums every weekend.

Juventus must play their next home game behind closed doors – but with it being against Lecce will anyone notice the difference anyway?

Fine, it is the first time this measure has been taken in Serie A, although Verona suffered a similar ban for racist abuse of Perugia player Ferdinand Coly during a Serie B game in 2005.

However, such a sanction has been a long time coming and Juventus are only paying the price for what has been an orchestrated blight on the game, not just this season but for many in the past.

Coly: Abused playing for Perugia

In the 1980s it was regional racism especially directed towards any team south of Rome, then it became anti-Semitic in nature – all greeted, as was subsequent abuse towards black players, with utter indifference.

In the same year that Verona’s fine citizens were doing their bit for multi-cultural harmony, in Messina home player Marc Zoro attempted to have a match against Inter stopped when he could not stand the monkey chants from the away section anymore.

The sight of Adriano and Obafemi Martins racing over to the Ivory Coast defender and dragging him back from the touchline to plead that he did not carry out his threat demonstrated that there was little solidarity for Zoro’s plight.

Zoro: Threatened to halt Inter encounter

At the time the ever-so pious Massimo Moratti even denied that the noises aimed at Balotelli were in fact racist in origin, although now having obviously had a road to Damascus moment, the aged white gent claimed he would have ordered his team off the pitch in Turin if he had actually been there.

He wasn’t there, so we will never know if that ultimate snub to the miscreants would have ever taken place.

The volume of reaction has swung between acceptance of the problem, which is a start, to blind ignorance.

Take former Inter coach Luigi Simoni, who is of the opinion that if Balotelli showed a bit of respect – haven’t we heard this one-eyed argument before? – then he wouldn’t be called a ‘black son of a …”

Balotelli is 18 and will some day shove the taunts of “black Italians don’t exist” back down his tormentors’ throats when he represents his country, but it seems that the likes of Simoni will always be stuck in the past.

Balotelli: "Talk to the hand..."

“I didn’t hear any chants aimed at Sulley Muntari [Balotelli’s equally black team-mate],” claimed Simoni, which makes it alright then, as if those involved got together to wage nothing more than some harmless psychological warfare to put the player off his game.

Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli may have apologised for the behaviour and derided those responsible. But when the punishment was no mere slap on the wrist of a few thousand euro, he was launching an appeal and claiming the injustice of it all.

The ante has been upped for everyone now and when, not if, it happens again the next step must be suspending matches to really drive home the message and drown the racists out once and for all.

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A weekend to forget for second-best Serie A

2009-04-20T09:00:00Z

Second best is an apt description of Serie A at the moment.

And suddenly the chase for the runners-up spot has taken on more significance that it would normally have done.

Inter did little to honour the title of “Italy’s top team” against Juventus – this being a game that is meant to be bigger for the Milanese side than their own city derby – allowing the Old Lady to somehow escape a potential mugging on Saturday evening.

And we thought Fabio Capello’s Juve side were dull.

Having been totally outplayed by the Nerazzurri, who at times seemed completely uninterested in adding to their 1-0 lead, Claudio Ranieri’s lame ducks - reduced to 10 men for the second week running – somehow contrived to find an equaliser.

It's a terrible state of affairs when a once-proud team are reduced to celebrating a home draw, and there was no surprise on Sunday when the club’s very own propaganda arm Tuttosport were calling for heads to roll.

Grygera nods home last-gasp leveller

First on the chopping block is, of course, Ranieri himself.

In the frame to take over is former midfielder Antonio Conte, who is leading Bari back into the top flight and whose name was chanted around the Olympic Stadium on Saturday – when the local Neanderthals weren’t racially abusing Mario Balotelli that is.

When are the authorities going to make a stand against such uncivilised behaviour, or is a club going to finally find the fortitude to order its players to walk off the pitch?

Anyway, on less pressing matters, Ranieri’s fate may well be sealed by Wednesday evening with failure to overcome Lazio in the Italian Cup.

The Bianconeri are trailing 2-1 from the first leg and the Romans will come into the tie fresh from putting a spanner in the works of Genoa’s Champions League hopes.

Then there is Milan to worry about. The Rossoneri are now level with Juve after sinking Turin’s other side in such a one-sided affair that watching Brazil coach Carlos Dunga asked Adriano Galliani if he could get Carlo Ancelotti to bring Ronaldinho on at the start of the second half.

It is ineptitude more than anything else that is turning the scramble for the Champions League and UEFA Cup spots into the focal point for the closing part of the campaign.

Having buried Roma last week, Genoa and Fiorentina breathed life into the ailing Giallorossi by their own inability to gather at least a point from the aforementioned Lazio and - in the Viola’s case - Udinese.

It is not as if Roma deserve to take advantage of any late nerves from the two sides above them, as they had to rely on a dodgy penalty decision to overcome doomed Lecce.

All-in-all, it was pretty much a weekend to forget all round, although Filippo Inzaghi’s failure to grow old gracefully as he celebrated another hat-trick in trademark demented manner did raise a smile or two.

Pippo pops in another three, and goes suitably insane

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Serie A laments Champions League shipwreck

2009-04-17T09:00:00Z

Italians hate to be left out of any gathering where the spotlight will be shining brightly on those in attendance.

So it must have been with a heavy heart and a sad sigh when La Gazzetta Dello Sport got down to reporting the fact that the English Premier League are once again dominating the Champions League – the “English Cup” as they have renamed it.

“Premiership party and only Barca are invited,” they forlornly lamented at the thought that each of the three conquerers of Serie A sides are one step – or two legs - from the big dance in Rome.

All roads lead to Rome... for the Premier League

After berating Manchester United for only drawing with Porto in the first leg, Il Corriere dello Sport had to concede that Sir Alex Ferguson had got it right second time around.

“Manchester went to Portugal with the mindset of dominating the opposition and they did so,” was one line from the editorial before the inevitable was asked: “Would an Italian side have done that?”

Probably not was their own take, not as long as they continue to possess the mentality of going out not to lose rather than to win.

Delving back through the European games this season, the paper could only come up with one parallel to United where an Italian side were involved, and that was Juventus against Real Madrid – the same Real who were then humiliated by Liverpool.

In fact, weren’t those two ties against the Spanish the last time Alessandro Del Piero had a decent game?

"How very dare you sir"

As the season has worn on, so Ale has become a shadow of his former self. And in turn Juve have lost their spark that even the arrival of Inter this weekend is nothing more than the chance to restore some pride for the Old Lady.

Jose Mourinho’s side have done their best to keep the title race alive – dropping points whenever the opportunity presents itself – but Juve have time and time again failed to take advantage.

10 points separate the sides ahead of the grandly-titled “Derby of Italy” but such is the gulf that the game cannot even be described as a title showdown.

A home win will change little, although it is not as if Mourinho will want to grant his nemesis Claudio Ranieri any flicker of pleasure, never mind his hand.

Ranieri has been given a vote of confidence for next season, although it has come with a warning that the runners-up spot in the league or the Italian Cup is a minimum requirement for the remainder of the campaign.

"That's close enough Jose"

It is a long way from the proclamations at the start of the season when all roads led to Rome, but those outspoken assertions have long since receded into the mists of time and now it’s a case of beggars can’t be choosers.

That goes for Italian football in general, but here's hoping that Juve and Inter take the first step towards that winning mentality in Turin.

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Meandering Milan need a new Arrigo Sacchi

2009-04-15T11:00:00Z

There is a danger that AC Milan will finish second in the league this season and continue to bury their heads in the sand and pretend that everything is fine.

Sunday’s fortuitous win at Chievo leaves the Rossoneri just two points behind Juventus. And if they overtake the Bianconeri it will only reinforce the delusory state of affairs that has clouded the club’s judgement in the last few years.

The sight of Adriano Galliani hugging Carlo Ancelotti in the stands at Verona – the coach having been sent there for “protesting” a free-kick decision too fervently – summed it all up.

Seedorf rescues Rossoneri at Chievo

It wasn’t a Champions League final, it wasn’t a Serie A title, but a 1-0 win over a run-of-the-mill side where the real hero had been Nelson Dida.

And how often do you see the name Dida and hero in the same sentence?

When you are opened up time and time again by Chievo and have to rely on someone possessing, at times, the same mental fortitude as Adriano then what hope is there of returning to the summit of the domestic and European game.

The Serie A title was there for the taking this season with no Champions League to stretch the squad.

And granted, injuries to Rino Gattuso and Ricky Kaka have hindered their challenge, but Ancelotti never grabbed the bull by the horns as he used to and instead attempted to protect fragile leads on too many occasions.

Lecce, Reggina and Genoa are three cases in point where valuable points were dropped, and what a difference wins would have made to mounting some sort of viable title bid.

Dida enjoys rare heroic moment: 2003 Champions League final

No wonder Carlo has got cuddlier as the years go by, resting on the laurels of reaching the Champions League final and winning two, all to the detriment of everything that Milan used to stand for.

Silvio Berlusconi calls his club a “family” where everyone sticks together. Wonderful sentiments they may be, but when he took over the running of Milan back in 1986 his first task was to look outside the confines of Milanello for a new coach.

Now is the time to find another Arrigo Sacchi - a man hungry for success and someone with a new mindset, ready to sweep away the overfed prima-donnas living off past glories and integrate some new faces into the first team.

Massimiliano Allegri shares a similar background to Sacchi although he actually played the game in Serie A: earning his coaching spurs in the lower leagues and this season turning Cagliari from relegation certainties into UEFA Cup candidates.

It's no wonder the Sardinian club have extended his contract for another two years, even if we all know that when it comes to employment stability a coach’s contract means little.

Massimiliano Allegri: The man to save Milan?

What it does mean is that Cagliari can expect a hefty compensation pay-off if Milan do move to take Allegri away from his island, but then it cannot be anything compared to the salaries meted out to some back on the mainland.

Dida reportedly earns 8million euro a year, Andriy Shevchenko the same, Emerson 7m, Giuseppe Favalli 4m and Zeljko Kalac 3m.

Imagine using that near 30m plus the six million freed up when Paolo Maldini retires, not to mention the four million odd Ancelotti earns as part of a rebuilding strategy, under a highly-motivated new man in the shape of Allegri.

It may be a gamble but then that’s how Berlusconi started out with Milan in the first place.

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Motta makes Juve pay while Rome derby turns ugly

2009-04-13T11:30:00Z

If you are looking for a candidate for player of the year, then look no further than Thiago Motta.

The Genoa midfielder just gets better week after week, and down in Rome - where Serie Aaaaargh! decamped for the weekend, ostensibly to watch the derby and indulge in some fine Easter fare - the locals were cooing over the Brazilian.

This was 10.35 in the evening following a raucous afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico, and after Motta had just about buried any hopes Roma had of playing in next season’s Champions League thanks - in part - to his two goals in the 3-2 win over Juventus.

Motta: Serie A's star of the season?

How the Giallorossi could do with a white-knight to ride to their rescue, instead of the peevish Philippe Mexes and Christian Panucci – both banished to the changing rooms for second yellow cards in the afternoon dust-up.

They were joined by the equally-odious Francelino Matuzalem, who in also receiving his marching orders - along with Mexes - ensured what must be the first case of two players sporting neck tattoos being sent-off in the same match.

The day had begun in such a different manner, with a perfectly observed minute’s silence at each of the Serie A stadiums up and down the country to honour those who had lost their lives in the Abruzzo earthquake.

Thankfully, that annoying habit of applauding during such occasions is beginning to recede and the absolute silence in the Olympic stadium spoke volumes of the depth of feeling towards the victims.

Tempers flare in Rome on the pitch...

Unfortunately, any hopes that a moment of solemn reflection would quell the animosity that surrounds the derby in the capital proved unfounded, as those on and off the pitch got down to the business in hand – insulting and kicking seven lumps out of each other.

While the ultras are caged at opposite ends of the stadium, the rest of the masses are free to mingle along the Tevere stand – and when Lazio raced into a 2-0 lead the tension spilled over into, maybe not running battles, but a fair amount of fist-throwing and general unsavoury behaviour.

Even in the relatively benign setting of the posh seats in the Monte Mario stand there was enough insulting language and hostility to make you wonder if the whole experience was really worth it.

A Roman acquaintance attempted to explain the local character and the city in general, describing it as “provincial.”

“When you visit places like Paris, New York and London you immediately feel you are in a city, while here it’s like a village,” he mused.

...and off it

Well, the village idiots certainly spoilt the occasion but there is one thing that can never be ruined in the capital... and that is a good pizza.

Hence we found ourselves in a fine eatery late on Saturday discussing the merits of Thiago Motta in tandem with Daniele De Rossi in a dream-midfield partnership.

It’s a pipe dream of course. Roma’s crippling debt means they need to sell half of the squad before they can even think of bringing in much-needed reinforcements.

Motta will be playing in the Champions League next season, but don’t count on it being with Genoa - place your bets on a team wearing black and blue stripes.

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Serie A set for silence to honour those lost in Abruzzo

2009-04-10T13:00:00Z

Bells have been ringing out throughout holy week in Italy.

But they have taken on extra poignancy since the earthquake in Abruzzo during the early hours of Monday morning.

The country has been doing its best to come to terms with the heart-wrenching tragedy that has befallen the mountainous region in the very heart of the peninsula.

Today is Good Friday and the tolling of church bells will be the only sound to be heard through the middle of the day as the country falls into national mourning.

There will be the same silence ahead of every Serie A fixture on Saturday to mark a minute of remembrance for the victims before everyone breaks into applause: a usual Italian gesture of mourning.

Serie A fixtures to stage minute of remembrance

Sport, football in particular, is doing what it can to assist in the appeal as the magnitude of the catastrophe begins to sink deeper into the psyche.

Napoli, Catania, Siena and Fiorentina have promised to donate their gate receipts from their next home games.

Milan want to play a benefit match against Barcelona, a visibly-emotional Ronaldinho has been thinking out loud how he can organise an all-star game, Italy are set to play their June friendly with Northern Ireland in the region... and so it goes on.

Luca Toni and Massimo Oddo wore black armbands, as all the players and officials will do on Saturday, when they took to the pitch for Bayern Munich in Barcelona on Wednesday.

Daniele De Rossi even voiced the idea that all fixtures should be postponed for the weekend.

De Rossi: Plea for postponements

“Football just doesn’t feel right,” said the midfielder who has experienced his own personal tragedy in the not too distance past when his father-in-law was found dead on the outskirts of Rome.

Serie B matches, which were to be played on Friday, have been rescheduled, but the top-flight games will go ahead - the correct response at a time when Italy needs to unite and focus its thoughts. The national game can offer some catharsis.

The Abruzzo region and the area surrounding Aquila which was so badly damaged is rugby country, rather than of the round-ball game.

However, football has lost one of its own.

Giuseppe Chiavaroli, 24, who played for Celano in a lower-division, was killed along with his girlfriend in the quake and has already been buried with his sky-blue shirt draped on top of the casket.

Luca Toni sports black armband in Barcelona

Many other sports will also be mourning losses.

Well-known local rugby player Lorenzo Sebastiani perished, a 23-year-old volleyball player Lorenzo Cini has been recovered from the rubble, as has the body of a marathon runner Michela Rossi who only on Sunday had run the Milan half-marathon.

Then there are the untold others, and with the capital just over 70-miles away, many of them were more than likely supporters of Roma or Lazio.

The derby will be the focal point of the dedication this weekend, and the bells will toll at 3pm on Saturday as the football world falls silent, attempting to contemplate the immense human suffering we have witnessed this week.

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Macheda may make more Italians switch shores

2009-04-07T13:00:00Z

Around 50 young Italian footballers have moved to the United Kingdom in the last 12 years, thanks in part to different regulations and, of course, a salary that the average youngster back home can only dream about.

The ruling in Italy is that a player cannot sign professional forms until he turns 18, although they can sign a youth deal at 16 which is not very binding.

So during those formative years, clubs from the English Premier League, Scottish Premier League or Bundesliga can whisk any potential boy-wonder off to a new life.

Macheda swivels and sinks Villa hearts

Federico Macheda is the most recent starlet to have grabbed the headlines and is following a well-torn path which has seen Gino Gattuso pitch up at Rangers rather hang around at Perugia, Giuseppe Rossi exit Parma for Manchester United, Sam Dalla Bona go from the Italy youth captain to Chelsea first teamer and Enzo Maresca - who would later play for Juventus - earn his stripes at West Bromwich Albion.

There is little sign of the exodus of the country’s brightest talent ceasing, and only last summer Manchester City swooped into Naples to spirit away 15-year-old Marcello Trotta.

Napoli probably never thought anyone would leave home at such a tender age, but when the player’s parents are sold a future much better than the one set out before them, you can see which choice they are going to take.

Macheda was a youth player with Lazio, who had not set in motion an agreement for a professional contract, even though they knew they had a real gem on their hands.

It was a Welshman living near Parma, David Williams, who put United on to the strapping 15-year-old and the Premier League club cushioned any homesickness the teenager might have felt by offering to ship the whole family over to Manchester.

So Lazio could not really complain if they weren’t taking steps to protect their prize assets, and the same could be said of AS Roma when United then nipped across town to snatch away the Giallorossi’s top youth team goal-scorer, Davide Petrucci.

Maresca: Honing his skills at the Hawthorns

Apparently, the youngster received a contract of 104,000 euro a year – a basic youth contract in Italy is just over 17,000 euro - with Roma compensated something in the region of 300,000 euro.

At the time, Il Romanista newspaper called it “a nightmare.”

“Manchester have stolen the best young player we have had in years and in a few years he will be worth a fortune,” the paper lamented in an editorial.

Perugia are probably feeling the same, having lost Italian youth goalkeeper Mirko Ranieri to Spurs where the 16-year-old is continuing his education at the Premier League club’s youth academy.

Rossi is a son of immigrant workers who moved to America to improve their lot, so he is well placed to explain why a youngster would seek a future away from Italian shores – and it appears to be down to feeling valued.

“Italian clubs are too concerned with showing off big-name signings at the expense of promising home-grown talent,” claimed the Villarreal frontman. “They make their decisions but I was free to make mine so that is why I left for Manchester United.”

Rossi: Tricks and flicks earn move to Villarreal

Macheda’s father Pasquale admitted that he had made sacrifices to ensure his son’s dream came true and told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I worked two jobs, worked nights but when Manchester [United] demonstrated how much they were willing to invest in Federico and at the same time look after my family, we could not turn them down.”

That debut goal has been re-run again and again on television in Italy, and the sight of Macheda being mobbed by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs will only fuel the dreams of other protégés to seek the similar fame and fortune for themselves.

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Adriano opts out as Inter shuffle nearer Scudetto

2009-04-06T14:00:00Z

The only way to entice Adriano out of the favelas and back across the Atlantic would be to tell the Slumdog Millionaire that Inter’s Serie A title-party celebrations are starting early.

The fun-loving, misunderstood, man-child has apparently been hanging out in the ‘hood in Rio rather than making use of that first-class plane ticket so he can get back to his day job.

He didn’t even have the good grace to tell the two most important people in his little world, his mama and his agent, of the changes to his busy social calendar.

"I'm just going over there for a bit. I won't be long"

There was plenty of hand-wringing and sitting up late by the phone back in Italy. Had the poor fellow been kidnapped? Had the dark clouds of depression closed in at the thought of having to return to the dark clouds hanging over Milan?

Anyway, it’s not has if Jose Mourinho needs to deal with any more eccentric behaviour this close to ticking off another league title to his list of achievements - and he won’t be in too much of a hurry to welcome back his wayward striker.

A comical goal at Udinese, coupled with some equally side-splitting defending by Juventus has left the good doctor’s league leaders nine points clear with eight games to play.

All 20 teams took to the pitch on Sunday in a throwback to the good old days when the Sabbath was given over to the national game.

The move was primarily to allow the South Americans - Adriano apart - to recover from their exploits in last week’s World Cup qualifiers.

However, with no Italian involvement in the Champions League, it was also an opportunity to test stadium attendance and TV viewing figures throughout the day, with staggered kick-offs from 1pm until 9pm.

There was plenty of excitement and drama from the moment Fiorentina snatched a last-minute win at Atalanta at 2.46pm.

Juve then allowed lowly Chievo to grab an even later equaliser in a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw in Turin, where former Torino youth player Sergio Pellissier grabbed a hat-trick, and hand Inter the sort of opportunity they were not likely to spurn when they took to the pitch at 7pm.

In the grand scheme of things a draw would have been just as equally welcomed until Patrick Vieira fell over in the area, and when the ball ricocheted off the Frenchman’s shin, Mauricio Isa was left free to side-foot home … unfortunately into his own net.

AC Milan were involved in the late show at 9pm against Lecce. And they kept everyone at the San Siro on tenterhooks well into injury-time before Philippe Senderos broke the deadlock with a header, which cannoned off Ronaldinho’s alice-band, and then Filippo Inzaghi brought an eventful day to the end with his 301st career goal.

Earlier, at the more traditional 3pm slot, Francesco Totti made a rare appearance for Roma and proved that there is life in the old warrior yet as he slammed home two penalties against Bologna.

In what was probably a first in acceptance speeches for the man-of-the-match award, he also dedicated the goals to himself because in Tot’s words, “I deserve it.”

"What would you do without me, eh?"

Equally deserving of praise are Genoa who are looking like genuine candidates for fourth place.

Il Grifone are two points ahead of Fiorentina and more importantly maintained their five-point gap over Roma thanks to Thiago Motta’s only goal at Reggina.

The Brazilian has been enjoying something of a renaissance of his own of late, having arrived under the radar from a treatment table somewhere in Spain, leaving many footballers followers still asking, “didn’t he used to play for Barcelona?”

If Serie A keeps entertaining us like this then we will soon be asking “didn’t he used to…” questions about Adriano.

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The stars start to jockey for summer moves

2009-04-03T15:00:00Z

It’s getting to that stage of the season where a footballer’s thoughts turn to a big-money move - or an improved contract at least.

Many of Serie A’s finest are trooping back from international duty no doubt feeling that it might be a time for a change of scenery.

Leading the list is Ricky Kaka, who, whenever back in Brazil, seems to find something to complain about concerning Italy.

This time, it was about the quality of medical treatment between the two countries. The midfielder has been hobbling around since Christmas but all it took was a few days back home and he felt as right as rain again.

Something amiss in at the much revered MilanLab then? No doubt there will be plenty of backtracking over the weekend to get back in the good books of the Milan medical staff.

It's this two-faced attitude that eventually wears everyone down, and isn’t it time he acted like a good Christian and just came out and admitted he wants to join Real Madrid or Chelsea?

Maybe Ricky thinks it won’t be a clean break after all and there waiting for him on the steps of the Bernabeu or Stamford Bridge will be apple-cheeked Carlo Ancelotti.

"You can't escape me, sunshine"

Adriano may be sporting a big grin when he regales his grim-faced Argentine team-mates about his exploits at the Brazil country club, but even he’s trying to muscle onto the getaway bandwagon.

You'd think he'd be grateful that he's being paid a king’s ransom to swan off to South America to party, but the wayward front-man has apparently gone missing and failed to board the plane back to Milan on Friday.

Even before he “disappeared” – at the time of writing: whereabouts unknown – there he was claiming he had to “reflect” on whether he should sign another deal with the club (or in other words, wait until president Massimo Moratti deposits a few more zeroes into his bank account).

Someone else with ideas above his station is Gianluigi Buffon, who must have been watching that movie with Robert Redford and Demi Moore. Why else would he put out such an indecent proposal?

Of course, it was left to Gigi’s agent to mouth that stock phrase when there's a whiff of money in the air: “Gigi is happy at Juve – but you know, if an incredible offer came along, then we would have to think about it.”

Note the word “incredible.” But what's even more incredible is that these players can get away with such utterances and end up getting their own way.

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Mourinho unleashes both barrels with a lady on his lap

2009-04-02T13:00:00Z

Italy... a country united by its love of ham and hammy TV shows.

There was an important World Cup qualifier taking place on Wednesday. But in the local watering holes of Milan all the talk was about how embarrassed Jose Mourinho looked when treated to a lap-dance of sorts by Aussie babe Dannah Matthews on the Chiambretti Night show.

The programme airs on one of the Silvio Berlusconi channels and can only be described as a bizarre mix of political satire, drag queens and lots of bottoms – something akin to Prime Minister’s Questions in parliament.

"Oh go on then, just a quick one"

Mourinho’s appearance certainly witnessed the Portuguese plummet the depths of lame jokes and the lowest form of wit: sarcasm.

On his new target of scorn, Carlo Ancelotti: “He may have won the Champions League twice but he is the only man to have lost it after holding a 3-0 lead at half-time.”

On the difference between himself and his predecessor at Inter, Roberto Mancini: “When Roberto was knocked out of Europe he went into hiding but I went out and asked questions, why?”

And the all-time classic - when describing what it was like to coach the Nerazzurri - “I feel like Robin Hood.”

Yes, robbing professional comedians of valuable air time.

It was April Fool’s Day after all, so when the discussion over whether Mourinho should have his mouth taped shut for the rest of the season had died down, most of those watching the Italy game thought it was something of a wind-up that the Azzurri had decided to play Ireland with 10 men.

State broadcaster RAI, who gave the game the full gravitas it deserved by cutting to an advertisement break whenever the ball went out of play - and on one occasion when it was in danger of leaving the field of play - just about missed Giampaolo Pazzini’s early sending off.

In fact, the commentators were initially baffled at why the forward was walking towards the touchline after laying out John O’Shea.

However, on the bright side, it was the perfect opportunity to sell some more bottled water before returning to a couple of replays to ascertain just why the Samp man had been given his marching orders.

Pazzini gets an early bath

“If you draw blood you are going to see red,” was one explanation which sounded witty enough in Italian but may lose something in translation.

After that, it was like watching one of Giovanni Trappatoni’s Azzurri sides when they had 11 men.

Defensive midfielders and defenders were rubbing their hands with glee, while little Giuseppe Rossi kissed goodbye to making anything other than a fleeting appearance.

When Italy trooped off at half-time holding a surprise 1-0 lead and Andrea Pirlo – the team’s only ball-player – failed to return, attention began to wander off to other pressing matters such as maybe getting an early night.

At that stage, RAI could have aired a whole series of ads without really disrupting proceedings.

But then, of course, just when everyone thought the thin blue line would hold on, up popped Robbie Keane to cheer all the Inter fans up.

Robbie rescues a point

At least RAI hung around for a quick word with Marcello Lippi, who for once lost his cool in front of cameras and started rambling about foreign referees.

Of course, they didn’t want the coach going on for too long as a few more ads had to be squeezed in before the late news.

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Lippi's Italy looking to put catenaccio kid in his place

2009-04-01T08:00:00Z

Italy is looking forward to Giovanni Trapattoni’s return... so the old grouch can finally be put in his place.

He may be a popular figure to the misty-eyed who remember him lording over the domestic game with Juventus when colour television was a mere dream to every household, before leading Inter to a rare title success around the time when the mullet was all the rage.

However, his old-school, ultra-defensive approach brought only heartache to the national side. Fans dreaded the side taking the lead, knowing that once in front it was only a matter of time before each and every one of the defenders on the bench was warming up.

Dumped out of the 2002 World Cup by South Korea – leaving aside some debatable refereeing, Italy should have out of sight by half-time – the cantankerous old fogey didn’t even have the good grace to stand down.

"How very dare you?!"

Only failure to progress out of the group stages at Euro 2004 led to the country waking up to the fact that Il Trap was out of touch and out of step with the modern game.

His successor Marcello Lippi brought that home very clearly when his 2006 World Cup team banished the myth that Italy could only play catenaccio, as they launched quick and fluid attacks from all areas of the pitch.

No doubt Trap will be encircling the wagons in Bari on Wednesday, where the Azzurri will have to pound away at the Irish defence for 30-odd minutes or so before making a breakthrough.

Once the boys in green, or probably white, have been breached it should be plain sailing all the way to South Africa.

There is no denying that this is the pivotal tie in the group, but at the same time it’s a group that was never going to cause any heart flutters – not with Montenegro, Bulgaria et al providing the opposition.

However, you must never underestimate the opposition, hence the game being played in the southern stronghold of Bari where a good proportion of football followers support Juventus, Inter or Milan but never get to see their heroes close up.

The venue

A near-full house is therefore expected at the San Nicola stadium and the local economy will no doubt receive a welcome boost from a rare tourist influx.

Italy played Ireland’s Celtic cousins Scotland in the same venue during qualification for Euro 2008 and that all went swimmingly on the home front, while by all accounts the visiting supporters revelled in the local hospitality.

It should be the same case on Wednesday where Italy will be too well-versed in the modern ways to fall into any old trap set out by the man from another era.

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Pirlo can make fantasista role his own

2009-03-30T11:00:00Z

Andrea Pirlo’s neatly spooned penalty against Montenegro was just the lift the country needed after such an extended period of navel-gazing that there was a danger of everyone ending up with a sore neck.

The midfielder’s cheeky execution from the spot brought back memories of Francesco Totti’s similar deft finish against Holland at Euro 2000.

Italy has been crying out for a No.10 ever since the Roman icon called it a day at international level after the last World Cup. And given that Marcello Lippi has no intention of calling on Antonio Cassano, Pirlo could be the man to answer that call.

Can Pirlo be the perfect No.10?

Pirlo has been out of sorts for most of the season but there is no doubting his quality when it comes to distribution, his flair and of course, he possesses the required long, flowing locks.

Carlo Ancelotti converted the 29-year-old from an attacking midfielder to more of a holding role, and until Saturday evening he had been employed there at international level as well.

However, Lippi is well stocked with more defensively-minded midfielders, such as the most recent pairing of Angelo Polombo and Daniele de Rossi who provided a solid platform and protection in front of the back four.

Once fit, Rino Gattuso, Alberto Aquilani and Simone Perrotta can be added to the squad. And when qualification for South Africa is ensured, expect to see Claudio Marchisio of Juventus move up from the U21 set-up.

If Lippi is determined to employ a 4-3-1-2 formation then Pirlo is ideally placed to make the fantasista role his own.

He is probably a more complete player than Totti – certainly in his range of passing – and although there may be some question marks over his pace, that's less of an issue if the ball can be worked up to him in and around the opposition area.

Pazzini: Ready to step up to the plate

Of course, there then needs to be two forwards who are tactically compatible. Although Lippi has preferred the Luca Toni-Alberto Gilardino partnership, age is catching up with Toni and it's now time to unleash the livewire Giuseppe Rossi as the perfect foil to either Gilardino or Giampaolo Pazzini.

Rossi’s pace and movement coupled with a Gilardino or Pazzini’s twists and turns inside the area are in need of the perfect pass – and of all the possible players to provide that, the outstanding candidate is Andrea Pirlo.

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Italy divided over Bari Bawler squad snub

2009-03-27T15:00:00Z

Italy is divided once more on the eve of two vital World Cup qualifiers.

In the blue corner those supporting national team coach Marcello Lippi, and seeing red in the other are those up in arms at Antonio Cassano’s continued exile from the squad.

The Cassano corner is slightly more crowded if the polls on the gazzetta.it and repubblica.it websites are anything to go by: 80 percent of the estimated 60,000-odd readers would have the 'Bari Bawler' back in a blue shirt.

Cassano: Peeved

Basically, it is the fans against the pros, with Lippi receiving support from former Italy coaches including Arrigo Sacchi and Enzo Bearzot.

Both of those old-stagers had their run-ins with ‘creative talent’ ahead of World Cup campaigns – Sacchi and Gianluca Vialli in 1994 and Bearzot with Evaristo Beccalossi before the 1982 triumph – and would be expected to side with the establishment.

Lippi won the 2006 World Cup by keeping the likes of Francesco Totti and Alex Del Piero in check, although both were so glad just to be picked in the squad for Germany that they weren’t likely to rock the boat.

Plus it was the ‘them against us’ mentality right in the eye of the Calciopoli storm that saw the Azzurri through.

In what has probably been one of the dullest selections in recent times – some of it caused by injuries – the country has been calling out for a little fantasia, or at least some colour to brighten up the monastic atmosphere hanging over the camp.

Certainly, the press conferences could do with a few Cassano-esque utterances as one bland comment follows another.

If this is any indication of the game plan, then maybe the team should run out in grey kits for the Montenegro and Ireland encounters.

Those days of the 'Cassanata' - where he would have an on-pitch meltdown - seem to have receded into the dark distance past.

The love of a good woman seems to have helped. Never the most handsome of souls, Cassano seemed to compensate for his lack of looks by trading on his fame and wealth to bed a, if to be believed, mind-blowing number of women.

Now apparently settled, he no longer has to prove himself - off the field anyway - and his on-pitch exploits no longer come wrapped up with the self-destructive tendencies which marred most of last season.

Pazzini: Propelled

Playing in a workmanlike Sampdoria side this season, you would have expected him to crumble. But instead he has dragged the team out of the depths of mediocrity.

There has been no self-pity and his flicks and deft touches have helped propel Giampaolo Pazzini into the international set-up.

Pazzini may get a game at the weekend, but he must be wishing that his club team-mate was alongside him to provide the vision of a brighter future for the national team.

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Jose attacks all the presidents' men

2009-03-25T09:00:00Z

These are touchy times in Italian football.

Jose Mourinho cannot open his mouth without bringing down a tirade of abuse from his peers, although deep down you just know that everyone hangs on every utterance from the Portuguese (Sounds like his time at Chelsea, then - Ed).

No one likes being preached to in their own backyard and Italians are no different – and doesn’t our man at Inter like to sermonise, although he always sounds so snide when he starts off on one.

"If you ask me..."

The latest dig concerned certain coaches ‘lacking dignity’ and allowing others, i.e. the club owners, to influence team selection.

He must have been hopping around “Villa Mou” in fevered anticipation at the fall-out from such an assault on the true trouser-wearers in the coach-president relationship.

There's no doubt that, of all the presidents’ men, Carlo Ancelotti was the prime target, although Cagliari coach Massimiliano Allegri obviously thought it was him and Napoli gaffer Roberto Donadoni's ears must also have been burning because he joined in the trio's chorus of mutual appreciation.

After all, all three are employed by, erm, charismatic owners: Silvio Berlusconi at Milan, Napoli’s Aurelio de Laurentiis and Massimo Cellino out in Sardinia.

Berlusconi has even ‘joked’ in the past that he picks the team and rosy-cheeked Carlo sends them out – although the way things are going at the minute, he'd probably want to keep quiet about that.

The coaching fraternity having been circling the wagons ever since, although their association president Renzo Ulivieri does have a way with words when addressing to his fellow union member.

“He has peed outside the bowl,” was Ulivieri's colourful response.

However, one has to say that Mourinho isn’t too far off the mark: what true club-owning egomaniac would sit back and allow a mere minion to make all the fun decisions?

In an interview with the Milan Channel a few years back, Berlusconi scoffed at those coaches who had bragged about having complete control over team matters.

“It makes me smile when I hear such pretensions from coaches, or when the press say that the president should hand over the money and stay out of the rest of it,” he said.

“I have never done that. I got involved with [Arrigo] Sacchi and [Fabio] Capello although I do it less with Ancelotti now,” he added, no doubt remembering he was meant to be running the country at the time.

"Look what I won!"

Italian club presidents have never been the type to hide in the shadows, and if there's a spotlight they'll make sure they're centre stage – sometimes for the wrong reasons.

If it's not employing a revolving-door system for hiring and firing (Maurizio Zamparini at Palermo, Cellino until this season, Urbano Cairo at Torino), then it's attracting the attention of the law (Roma’s King of Bubbles Giuseppe Ciarrapico, Perugia’s Saadi al-Gaddafi fielding Luciano Gaucci and Parma’s milk-spiller Stefano Tanzi, to name but three).

Claudio Lotito is currently appealing against a two-year prison sentence for market rigging in connection with his acquisition of Lazio and is doing nothing more than following in the sticky footsteps of his predecessor – the Gazza-signing Man From Del Monte, Sergio Cragnotti.

Colourful presidents – even the name conveys supreme authority – have been the fabric of Italian football for decades upon decades, cruising serenely through life employing an entrepreneurial flair for stage centre.

Picking 11 names to go out and do your bidding is just an extension of this need for the limelight and the great thing is there always someone else to take the blame.

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Juve conquer the capital & Becks learns the lingo

2009-03-23T10:00:00Z

It was one of the most brutal sackings of Rome since the Gauls came to town, but this time there was no Gallic influence.

David Trezeguet was left pouting on the bench as Sam the Eagle took flight.

Vincenzo Iaquinta does bear a passing resemblance to the American Eagle out of Sesame Street, but he is no muppet when it comes to finding the net.

While all the talk after Juventus took an under-strength - and in the end an under-age Roma side - apart was whether Pavel Nedved should play on for another season, it was big Vinny who stole the headlines with his brace.

There has always been something of the everyman about Iaquinta; going about his business in a quiet manner in such aristocratic surroundings as Turin.

Maybe that is why he never made much of a fuss when he found himself having to doff his cap to the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Trezeguet – and then this season when, another striker from a humble background, Amauri pushed him further down the pecking order.

Iaquinta: "Vēnī, vīdī, vīcī"

Now 29, the rangy front-man made something of a name for himself during Udinese’s run to the Champions League group stage in 2005, and could have been a Barcelona player if Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo had not blocked the move.

His football upbringing had been equally blue-colour with spells at Padova and Castel di Sangro before the step up to Udinese, and then Juve in 2007.

You never get the feeling that Iaquinta would ever throw an almighty Trez strop – well not in public anyway – and the Frenchman’s outspoken comments about Claudio Ranieri’s selection policy have eased the coach’s choices in attack.

In fact, it’s all very workmanlike for Juve at the moment, with Hasan Salihamadzic and Christian Poulsen putting in solid performances of late.

Apart from Trez, Ranieri is keeping everyone happy and has finally answered the calls for Sebastian Giovinco to be given an extended run in the side – which is why Nedved should turn a deaf ear to renege on his promise to call it a day at the end of the season.

After the international break, there are two matches before the title showdown in Turin and, despite Jose Mourinho’s assurances that Inter are in a relaxed mood at the top, we may still have a championship race on our hands heading into the final two months.

Mourinho: Just chilling

As for Roma, it’s certainly a case of Vae victis as their world falls apart with each passing week, but at least Saturday’s hammering give us a glimpse of a new star in the making... Marco D’Alessandro.

A month into his 18th year, he has to be as fast if not faster than Theo Walcott, and he certainly didn’t lack confidence in the eight minutes he was given on Saturday, as he outpaced Cristian Molinaro and Giorgio Chiellini before forcing Gigi Buffon into a sharp save.

He is not only a live-wire but a Roman as well, which may temper the wringing of hands in the capital over Francesco Totti’s failing body.

Overall, the weekend’s action saw a return of some of the passion missing since the Champions League debacle.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic told a journalist where to get off in the post-match interview, while down in Naples, David Beckham’s grasp of Italian - and the more industrial side of the language - is also coming on leaps and bounds.

A number of the home players were less than happy to be told where to go in their native tongue, which led the Sky Italia commentator to wonder if Becks wasn’t such a gentleman after all.

However, it was all handshakes and sweaty hugs at the final whistle, something that was not the case at Genoa.

Beckham: "Figlio di Puttana... at the end of the day"

Udinese were livid with referee Nicola Ayroldi’s decision to give Alexis Sanchez a straight red card for carping on about being fouled every time he received the ball – and then finally applauding the official from a now familiar prone position.

Genoa’s 2-0 win leaves them two points ahead of Fiorentina and five in front of Roma in the chase for fourth place – and a real belief that a Champions League place is there for the taking.

Now that would be one-up for the everyman.

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Floundering Serie A must lose two teams to live long & prosper

2009-03-20T09:00:00Z

Friday’s Champions League draw will be painful viewing in Italy.

While the sleek, expensive machines from the Premier League glide onwards to Rome, Serie A stands forlornly at the side of the road beside its clapped-out motor.

"Italy? No, sorry. Better luck next year"

Actually, scratch that about the motor: Italians would never be seen in anything but the latest model even if they can’t really afford it.

In fact, Italians are the masters of hiding the reality of any situation. As long as you're keeping up appearances, looking good and saying the right things, then the truth is of little concern.

But appearances can be deceiving and it would seem that football is finally waking up to the fact there is more to life than La Bella Figura.

Believe it or not, it's Silvio Berlusconi’s AC Milan who have been the first to admit that times are going to be as lean as a Florentine steak.

“We are set for a weak, pale summer where there will be player swaps but few money moves,” warned Berlusconi’s spokesman Adriano Galliani.

It’s not what Carlo Ancelotti wanted to hear, especially as he has set his sights on Chelsea defender Alex and Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor. Who's he going to offer up as a swap: Ricky Kaka?

Apparently, the Rossoneri wage bill is set to be slashed by around 30 percent – which casts more light on why Galliani has been calling for a salary cap right across the board.

"David, about that salary..."

Even Massimo Moratti is reluctant to dip into his piggy-bank to fund Jose Mourinho’s proposed 100million euro spending spree. And if the Nerazzurri are to compete with Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona, then the best way will be to target a few of their players.

But the question is... will they come, especially with such a grim financial picture being painted?

Moratti is in something of a bind as he needs to keep his coach sweet or the Portuguese could be off, dragging Zlatan Ibrahimovic along with him.

We could even end up with Real Madrid weighing up which of the Milanese coaches plus Kaka or Ibra to swoop for.

We can only hope that they will be repelled because Serie A cannot afford to lose its two most watchable talents.

"I know a place out West..."

Tough times ahead indeed and tough measures may be needed.

Next year will see the beginning of collective-bargaining for the television rights and, in theory, a more even-spread of cash among the top flight teams, but wouldn’t it be a perfect time to return the league to its 18-team format?

The 20-club version has never been a success, with too many teams unable to perform at any discernible level to justify their position in the top division, and thus dragging the overall standard down.

Matches this season between the likes of Lecce and Reggina, Torino and Chievo have been noteworthy only for the complete lack of quality on show and semi-deserted stands.

Juventus are currently investing in a new 40,000-capacity stadium and once that opens in 2011 everyone will want one, but the planning for a new dawn needs to begin forthwith with the clubs giving themselves something to aim for in a more competitive environment.

Now is the time for Italy to look inwards and rediscover their appetite for a more streamlined and hungry football culture.

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Balotelli, Italy and racism on a collision course

2009-03-18T09:30:00Z

Mario Balotelli has the potential to become Italian football’s next superstar, but he’s going to have to fight all the way to bag that tag.

He’s only 18 but already he has had to cope with the pressures of playing for Inter, carrying a team through the latter part of last season and then being discarded by a new coach.

This time last year, Roberto Mancini put his trust in the teenaged wonder who had cut such swathe through the youth game that he was promoted to the first team squad at the tender age of 16.

Then Jose Mourinho arrived and seemed to take an instant disliking to the youngster’s attitude – his swaggering into training, his giggling with his friends. It was a generational thing, but the Portuguese sent young Mario back to the youth team to cool his heels.

"And don't come out till you've tidied your room"

However, real talent usually shines through, and his two goals against AS Roma two weekends ago demonstrated that he has what it takes to make a real impact – and is definitely much more effective than the lumbering Adriano.

Given further opportunities there is no doubting he will out-perform Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the club’s true star – even if the Swede doesn’t head off to Spain.

However, he will need all the support he can get. His name his Italian, he was born in Palermo, he was brought up in Brescia, he speaks with the accent of that city... but Mario is black.

The vile, racist chants from a good proportion of the Roman fans at the San Siro, followed by the same chorus from Genoa and then Fiorentina followers last Sunday, clearly indicates that he is in danger of becoming more of a hate figure than an Italian icon.

Sadly, most Italians shrug at any suggestion of racism and go about their business as normal. And, disturbingly, the football authorities are no different.

Roma were fined a mere 8,000 Euro and warned about the behaviour of their fans, while Genoa and Fiorentina are still awaiting the outcome of a follow-up inquiry.

The events during the Roma game in particular throw into sharp relief just how far Italian football is from accepting that racism exists, never mind attempting to eradicate it.

Balotelli had just scored his second goal of the evening and reacted to the taunts by putting his finger to his lips to silence his tormentors, and then stuck his tongue out in the direction of Christian Panucci.

It is debatable whether the latter gesture was aimed at the defender, but at the time Panucci took such umbrage to the perceived piece of petulance you would have thought his family honour had been brought into question.

Then, there was the furore over his supposed dive to win a penalty – and even though no one could come to a clear conclusion, the reaction was a universal “The lad needs to learn respect.”

Know his place, in other words.

This being Italy, the advice has been dished out by the senior citizens, such as former Roma coach Carlo Mazzone. “I would have severely reprimanded him if he had been my player,” claimed the 71-year-old – who, as Brescia coach, once ran half the length of the pitch to berate the Atalanta fans who had been insulting his mother.

Francesco Totti even had the temerity to preach from the moral high ground of a man who once humiliated defender Igor Tudor in front of millions after Roma thrashed Juventus 4-0 – and of course was reduced to spitting at Christian Poulsen when he couldn't handle some close marking at Euro 2004.

Totti shows his class

An Italian pitchside reporter for RAI Sport even suggested that Manchester United had engaged in racist chants towards Balotelli and Patrick Vieira during the Champions League tie at Old Trafford – this as a sort of “you know, the English are as bad as us.”

However, Balotelli’s brother and agent claimed he wasn’t aware of anything untoward, apart from the usual booing that any player with a bit of class receives at away grounds.

That supposed incident has been quietly forgotten, but at least Inter official Ernesto Paolillo cut to the core of the matter when he spoke out about the unpleasant incidents at the San Siro during the Roma match. He even dared to use the r-word.

“Mario reacted to the racist chanting from the Roma fans – it was an act of defiance,” he maintained.

Given the way in which the subject has been ignored, fudged and clouded, Balotelli will have to remain defiant for some time to come.

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Mourinho exits as Madrid murmurs mount

2009-03-16T12:00:00Z

NEWS: Weekend round-up

Jose Mourinho will do just about anything to skip the post-match television interviews.

Getting sent off was a guarantee that the Portuguese was halfway home before his sidekick Beppe Baresi completed his duties as fall-guy.

There was a time – honestly, there was, maybe just before Christmas – when it seemed that Mourinho had one over the local media and even secured grudging respect from his peers.

However, that was a fleeting moment of goodwill in what has been the most stormy relationship since Carlo Ancelotti’s fractious time in charge of Juventus.

The loss to Manchester United ensured that it was open season on the Nerazzurri boss once again and, never one to go on the back foot, the Portuguese was a figure of coiled rage when he took his place on the bench for Sunday evening’s home fixture with Fiorentina.

Thunder-faced Mourinho takes the bench

It was an opportunity for the San Siro crowd to show their own appreciation for the team’s heroic efforts in Europe – by booing and whistling as the team trotted out.

All it needed was the first contentious decision for Mourinho to come racing out of the dugout to berate the person with the most unenviable job in Italy football: the referee.

Spending the next 90 minutes or so demanding that cards be meted out on a more regular basis, the moody one finally got his way when the put-upon official decided to oblige and send him scurrying down the tunnel.

A few mumbled words to the print media and then he was off in that flash car Roman Abramovich gave him, zooming up the road to his Lake Como retreat – no doubt to brood on whether it is all worth it.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice, proving once again that he has no problem producing the goods on the home front, but the big Swede’s less than straightforward reply to whether he will be up for another tilt at the Champions League next season suggested that he may not.

“We’ll see,” shrugged Ibra, no doubt eyeing his own escape route.

"Yeah yeah, whatever"

Reports on Monday claim that the pair will be decamping to Madrid – which makes a change from reading “Mourinho to Manchester City” headlines.

With owner Massimo Moratti in Miami and the players given a few days off after such tumultuous week, there will be time now for Mourinho to get down to working on that dossier for European domination he has promised.

While it remains to be seen if Jose and Ibra are still in Italian football next season, there is no doubt that Filippo Inzaghi will be hanging around penalty areas for a few more years to come.

He may have his detractors but you cannot deny that SuperPippo is still one of the game’s real showmen. Who else would have such belief in his own ability to have a shirt with 300 printed on the back waiting for the moment he hit the landmark?

Inzaghi will turn 36 soon and, amazingly, has confirmed that he expects 19-year-old Alberto Paloschi to become his heir apparent. However, the way things are going Paloschi should be around 27 when that happens.

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Clueless Italian football hits rock bottom

2009-03-12T10:30:00Z

The sun is still shining and people are going about their daily business, but the world of Italian football has come to a grinding halt.

Not one team through to the last eight of the Champions League is nothing short of an absolute disaster. And Jose Mourinho is totally off the mark: Italy is hurting and anyone who really cares for the state of the game is not crowing that Inter, Juventus and Roma are Euro also-rans.

It reflects badly on a country who for so long were the masters of a continent, but now have been left behind by the new world order.

This is truly a country for old men and nothing brought that home more clearly than seeing those young, fresh-faced Arsenal pups dancing around the Stadio Olimpico after Max Tonetto lost his nerve and attempted to launch the ball towards the Roman hills.

Francesco Totti cut a desolate figure in the centre of the pitch as he witnessed his dream of reaching the final in the same stadium die on the vine.

Roman gladiator he may be, but how many more times can he be patched up and sent out for another fruitless skirmish?

Totti and Aquilani: underachievers?

How many more times are Juve going to hope for another moment of magic from Alex Del Piero’s ageing legs, or Inter to call on one last effort from Javier Zanetti to drive them forward again?

Where is the new generation to give hope?

Sebastian Giovinco hasn’t progressed at all this season, swinging those little legs back and forth on the bench. Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani is almost 25 and still considered a promising player.

Mario Balotelli is allowed to believe his own hype and struts around the pitch oblivious to the fact that he is involved in a team game – he’s only 18 but he ended up being replaced by 36-year-old Luis Figo, who most at Old Trafford probably thought had retired years ago.

Inter put all they could into their ultimately futile visit to Manchester, and while some may harp on about Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano hitting the woodwork, when it mattered most the English could rely on their big names to step up and deliver.

For Chelsea at Juventus it was Didier Drogba; for Manchester United against Inter it was Cristiano Ronaldo.

Drogba offers Tiago cold comfort

Roma’s exit was probably the most disappointing.

Not because it was on penalties in the same stadium where they suffered spot-kick agony against Liverpool 25 years ago, but because of the three Serie A sides facing English teams, their opponents were the weakest – although that tag must now be taken in context.

It’s a long road from here to some sort of redemption, and there are few signposts to direct Serie A back to the summit of European football.

Mourinho has claimed he will present his employers with a dossier on where Inter need to go to land the holy grail.

Age and mentality are factors but conditioning is another problem area: English teams play more games per season, but their teams didn’t limp into these ties in the manner of Italy’s sicknotes.

Having hit rock bottom the only way is up, or is it? Can Italian football fall any further?

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Wednesday's Serie Aaaaargh!: Juve KO puts spotlight on Roma and Inter
Tuesday's: Italian trio plot vanquishing of England

Juventus KO puts spotlight on Roma and Inter

2009-03-11T10:00:00Z

One down, two to go...

Although with Roma and Inter facing the daunting task of having to overcome two more English sides on Wednesday, maybe “two to go out” would be a more appropriate description.

Juventus did as Claudio Ranieri asked in the opening period, playing with plenty of pace and invention as demonstrated by Vincenzo Iaquinta’s finish from David Trezeguet’s neat flick.

For half an hour, Chelsea were on the back foot. Then Didier Drogba’s free-kick took the wind out of the home side's sails – even though it wasn’t given there was a feeling that the equaliser was going to come sooner rather than later.

Pavel Nedved’s early loss certainly didn't help depriving the Bianconeri of crucial experience later in the game, while Giorgio Chiellini’s headless chicken challenge on Drogba after already being booked highlighted a lack of savvy when the outcome was still in the balance.

Del Piero watches another one get away

All in all, the Old Lady need not hang her head in shame but nor can she hold it high.

Much more was expected from Alessandro del Piero, who was given the free role he has demanded for so long, but lacked the legs to support the front two.

Maybe it was asking too much of a thirtysomething who does his best work in-and-around the penalty area to drop back and help out a very lightweight midfield.

The blue shirts were bulging to bursting point with muscle, compared to the relatively puny physiques of Tiago and Claudio Marchisio in black and white – surely Christian Poulsen would have been better suited to go mano-a-mano with Mikel or Ballack?

Or maybe not, which highlights one key difference between the teams: the quality of the imported talent.

If Juve want to compete in the latter stages of the Champions League, they need to attract better quality players from other leagues to supplement home talents such as Marchisio, Sebastian Giovinco and air-head Chiellini.

In the end, Chelsea were bigger, stronger and better organised. And, a finalist last season, they behaved like a team at home in the big-game environment.

It’s that sort of temperament that Inter and Roma need to bring to their matches.

The weight of expectation hangs heavily over both: Inter because they haven’t been in the final since TV was in black and white, and Roma because the final is in their own stadium.

Jose Mourinho has plenty of experience to call upon, but packing the midfield and leaving Zlatan Ibrahimovic isolated in attack may not be the way to nick that all-important away goal.

And given the fragility at the heart of the Inter defence, who's to say one goal would be enough anyway?

Roma need to stick together. But not that close

Roma are capable of finding the net and conceding in equal measure, but if they can focus on the fact that it's Arsenal they're playing and not themselves then it could be a night to remember in the Stadio Olimpico.

The game’s not up for the Italians just yet, but we’ll take one from three by the end of Wednesday evening.

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Italian trio plot vanquishing of English from Europe

2009-03-10T09:00:00Z

“Yes, we can.”

It has a certain ring to it. It worked for Obama, so why not for Serie A’s finest in their quest to vanquish the English from Europe.

Inter, Juventus and AS Roma head into their Champions League last 16 second leg ties nursing various aches and pains, and in Roma’s case a few psycological issues.

Juve are first up putting Italian pride on the line, with Claudio Ranieri's men emerging from the Turin derby with a morale-boosting win and, apart from the loss of Mohamed Sissoko, are in good shape physically.

Alessandro Del Piero was kept on the bench, and the little man is itching to get among those Chelsea defenders - or should we say get under their feet, considering the feverish manner in which he was practising free-kicks during Sunday's training session.

"Let me at 'em boss, I won't let you down"

David Trezeguet also sat out the weekend game, and there is plenty of optimism within the camp that the forwards can deliver on Tuesday evening.

Ranieri wants an early goal, and the key - apart from a show of strength and courage - will be the service to the front two.

Pavel Nedved’s mop-top will be expected to pop up on the left to provide the crosses.

The veteran has already announced that he will call it a day at the end of season, and having never got over missing the final back in 2003 due to suspension, he knows this is his final shot to set the record straight.

Last shot at success for the mop-topped one

Nedved came on for the final quarter at the weekend and should be full of running, although Sebastian Giovinco could well be the man to unlock the Chelsea back-line if the game is still goalless heading into the final 15 minutes.

The little dancing mite has finally been given a more regular run in the side and looks in just the sort of form to tip the balance in the Old Lady’s favour.

Sissoko’s absence is not such a major blow: the more defensively-minded Christian Poulsen is less likely to go maundering forward and can be relied upon to hold the line alongside Claudio Marchisio in the centre of midfield.

Inter are also in a pretty relaxed frame of mind, well for them away, after downing Genoa. However, Jose Mourinho will have to re-jig the centre of defence once again.

There is a strong possibility that Esteban Cambiasso will partner Walter Samuel at the back. The Titus Bramble of Italian football, Nelson Rivas, really is that unreliable.

Rivas: "Huh?"

In true Italian tradition, of course, defence will be key to Nerazzurri hopes, as will plenty of lung work in midfield.

Patrick Vieira has been grumbling that he cannot get a game, but it is hard to envisage the ailing Frenchman haring down the right-flank in pursuit of Ji-Sung Park.

Maybe Mourinho will have to bite the bullet and recall Ivan Cordoba, rather than withdrawing Cambiasso from his natural position.

Roma would be better off employing a psychologist than a physiotherapist ahead of Wednesday’s encounter with Arsenal.

It’s definitely a case of the jitters in the Eternal City, so great is the pressure to reach the final in their home town.

They need to settle into a better frame of mind or it won’t be Francesco Totti’s dodgy knee that will shatter their dreams.

However, there is still time for Inter and Roma to pull themselves together – in the meantime it’s all eyes on Juventus to get Italy off to a perfect start.

“Yes, we can.”

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Mouthy Mourinho may have sounded off too soon

2009-03-06T11:00:00Z

There's little point in Juventus, AS Roma and AC Milan taking to the pitch this weekend if we are to believe a word Jose Mourinho has to say.

During his seven-minute party-piece on Tuesday, the Portuguese pitbull dismissed his rivals as also-rans in the title race, although he have been speaking too soon.

He’s now threatened never to speak to the press again, so we can expect an almighty sulk, not only from the sanctions he faces from the football powers that be, but also if Inter’s title procession hits the buffers.

"Oh dear Lord what have I done..."

The Nerazzurri can just about kiss goodbye to the Italian Cup after Nelson Rivas played his part in handing Sampdoria a comfortable 3-0 lead to take into the second leg.

There was plenty of sniggering after that result, but that will be nothing compared to the unbridled glee throughout most of the country that will greet a pounding at Old Trafford.

Talk is cheap, as they say, and no doubt Inter need to start doing their talking on the pitch. Their problem is that, unlike Roma or Milan, they are not a flamboyant bunch – more inclined to the regimented and physical approach.

Apart from the odd moment of the unexpected from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, winning ugly has been the order of the day.

All this negativity bouncing off the walls inside the camp could well be their undoing. Generally speaking, on the home front, Serie A players do not react well to a siege mentality, preferring to be feted and adored by one and all.

Inter heads drop after stuffing at Sampdoria

The coach’s tirade certainly seemed to rattle some of the players in the cup game, and the champs, who are back in action against a Genoa side unbeaten at home this weekend, could end up looking like chumps in the Ligurian city for a second time.

All good news then for Juventus, who have the Turin derby to negotiate before they face Chelsea.

Toro coach Walter Novellino has stated that he would forego two months’ salary for a derby win, but his money looks safe.

Claudio Ranieri’s men are grinding out results much in the manner of the Juve of old, and will no longer be clutching at straws if they can close that gap at the top to within five points with 11 games to go.

For the third Champions League hopeful, Roma, each day leading up to their return leg with Arsenal will be sheer torture.

Totti: Injured again (sigh)

If only they could skip playing Udinese and mothball the whole squad until next Wednesday, so much the better.

Francesco Totti’s fragile knee will definitely be swathed in cotton wool in the hope that he will finally make headlines for his on-field exploits, rather than the all too often “Totti to miss [insert name of team] match.”

All three teams will take to the pitch on Saturday, providing a few more precious hours of rest to benefit aching limbs, but being Italians it’s not only their bodies that need to relax, it’s their minds as well.

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Jose starts swinging, leaving Serie A battered & bruised

2009-03-04T14:30:00Z

Jose Mourinho has been itching for a fight ever since the national media dismissed his Inter side as second-best to Manchester United last week.

His excuse came after two days of wall-to-wall coverage on the penalty won by Mario Balotelli, which dragged the Nerazzurri back into the game against Roma at the weekend.

The thrust had been that the league leaders were favoured by the referee, so you can imagine the little Portuguese bruiser needed little psyching up for what, in normal circumstances, would have been a pretty run-of-the-mill press conference ahead of the Italian Cup semi-final at Sampdoria on Wednesday.

The Feisty One came out swinging in all directions, and his scattergun approach landed blows on just about anyone and everyone involved with Italian football – with Claudio Ranieri naturally getting one below the belt.

"I hope you've got plenty of lead in that pencil"

Talk about burning bridges, they were raised from the ground and then tossed into the river. He was out of his corner in a flash and immediately tore into the gathered hacks for manipulating public opinion to hide the fact that Inter are running away with the title, while Juventus, Milan and Roma are going to end up empty-handed.

“It was fantastic work but it is unrelated to my world - I work in football. I don’t like intellectual prostitution - I like honesty,” he thundered.

Has anyone ever uttered the term “intellectual prostitution” in normal conversation before, never-mind a football press conference. And just what does it mean?

As the temperature in the press room dropped and Mourinho’s mood darkened further, his wrath then turned towards his favourite whipping boy.

"Talk to the hand Jose"

Ranieri had come out and supported Luciano Spalletti over his complaints about ‘that penalty’ so Juve was an easy target for a Mourinho snipe.

“Ranieri called me after the game at the weekend but I refused to take the call,” he revealed in typical dismissive manner.

Then an upper cut to Spalletti: “He’s always on television giving interviews and being everyone’s friend. I don’t like prime-time television and you couldn’t pay to go on it.

“Why aren’t people talking about Juve who have collected plenty of points due to refereeing mistakes, or the fact that Roma will end the season with nothing and Milan are 12 points behind Inter.”

"Does this look like a face that cares?"

And so it went on, one rhetorical question after another for a full seven minutes. For a man who doesn’t like prime-time television, he’s the perfect Mr Showtime.

The press of course had a field day and were suitably aghast – more on the perceived attack on their noble profession

“Prostitution?,” screamed La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Who does he mean? Name names.”

What they should have asked is, what does he mean?

No home-grown coach would have broken the omortà of publically criticising his peers, but then Jose can always pack up and head back to the Premier League whenever he feels like it.

With the make or break trip to Old Trafford just around the corner, this latest outburst could backfire spectacularly. But that probably never crossed Mourinho’s mind as he continues to revel in the storm he has caused around the Italian game.

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Big guns serve up Sunday night San Siro treat

2009-03-02T11:00:00Z

Everyone loves a tasty tiramisu. And the Italian dessert, which figuratively translated means 'pick-me-up' is the perfect complement to any heavy meal.

And Serie A had its own tasty afters on Sunday evening when Inter and AS Roma played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at the San Siro.

It was the perfect riposte to the aftertaste left by the Champions League blow-out – and both teams certainly regained their appetite for attacking football to serve up some entertaining fare.

However, as the scoreline suggests, there is a soft sorbet through the heart of the defences which both Manchester United and Arsenal will have taken good note of.

De Rossi rues late chance to snatch victory

There was plenty of bite in midfield along with energy and pace in attack. especially from the Giallorossi which makes Serie Aaaaargh! believe that Luciano Spalletti’s men are still the best equipped of the three Italians to progress in Europe.

If, man-of-the-match, Daniele De Rossi had not squandered a late chance, Juventus would have been eating into Inter’s lead at the top by three points.

As it stands, Inter lead by seven points with 12 games to go, and the race for the championship is not a foregone conclusion just yet.

Italian football has taken a right old pasting over the last week, but there is still plenty to enjoy and raise a smile to up and down the peninsula – well, unless you are Carlo Ancelotti – and, for some, the passion is still very much alive.

“You never get anything when you come to Milan, it’s the same old story,” raged De Rossi after being adjudged to have fouled Mario Balotelli for the penalty that got the Nerarruzzi back in the game.

“Balotelli dived,” was Spalletti’s considered opinion on the incident. “Looked like a penalty,” countered Jose Mourinho.

Balotelli bags his and Inter's second

Hernan Crespo, Inter's goal-hero for the equaliser against Roma, burst into tears in the post-game interview as he described his frustrations at been frozen out by his coach this season. “I just do my best,” bubbled the Argentine.

Talking of frozen, the weather has turned so spring-like that the majority of players have discarded their gloves and neck-warmers and are no longer swaddled like the cat-walk models traipsing around the streets of Milan during fashion week.

It’s women’s fashion week in the city, so at least David Beckham has something to keep him occupied.

Antonio Cassano has finally found a half-decent barber, but he's lost none of his cheek as he left Becks chasing shadows before slipping the ball between his legs to set up Giampaolo Pazzini for Sampdoria’s second in the win over the ailing Rossoneri, who are sinking faster than Venice.

Cassano wheels away as bemused Becks appeals

Goals we have had by the pasta bowl full, with Catania striker Giuseppe Mascara’s amazing 50-metre looping volley which orbited almost out of the Barbera stadium before dropping over bewildered Palermo goalkeeper Marco Amelia.

And then there was Mauro Zarate’s delightful dipping free-kick to open the scoring for Lazio against Bologna. The feisty Argentine ran to his own supporters grabbing the front of his shorts which, apparently, is what South Americans do to indicate one has what it takes!

Overall, a weekend where Italian football regained it's place at the top table again.

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Knives out in Milan after Ancelotti's old men crumble

2009-02-27T13:00:00Z

How much blame should be apportioned to a) the club and b) Carlo Ancelotti in the spectacular decline of AC Milan from kings to paupers of European football is open to debate?

But in the wake of the lame exit to Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup, the majority of Rossoneri fans have laid the blame firmly with the suits and their failure in the transfer market to inject some much-needed youthful vigour.

Pizarro plunders second to seal Werder win on away goals

In hindsight, Ancelotti should have walked away last season although - as all Italians know - it’s difficult to walk away from home comforts.

Whispers around Milanello suggest that Madrid is his likely destination, and if Leonardo had completed all his coaching badges, we could have been looking at the new man in charge of Silvio Berlusconi’s side as early as this morning.

The team lost its self-esteem against Bremen, and not even the most die-hard of Rossoneri fan would have said they deserved to be 2-0 ahead at the break.

They were played off the park in the first half, and then were left as mere spectators in the second.

Basically, the Bundesliga side had everything Milan can only long for: fluency and flair provided by dynamic, young players who work their socks off.

We’ve been here before and the disaster waiting to happen finally occurred in explosive style.

With so much riding on the outcome, there was still space for Nelson Dida whose only semblance to a goalkeeper is that he wears a keeper’s shirt.

Paolo bows out of European football on bum note

Poor old Paolo Maldini was forced to drag his middle-aged limbs into the fray once again, and who wants to remember the final days of their glorious career playing alongside Philippe Senderos?

And what a shame it was to see the legend gesture to the crowd at the final whistle to cease their very justifiable jeers.

David Beckham was busy when he brought traffic to a halt in the centre of the city during a promotional junket on the eve of the game, and we can now see where his true value lies.

He obviously left his best footwork dodging the fans out on the Milan streets, because he looked like a player more suited to the MLS than the rigours of the European game.

While Mathieu Flamini must be wondering what he has to do to get a game when he sees Massimo Ambrosini shuffle around like a zombie - bumping into team-mates and opponents alike with total disregard to where the ball is.

Ancelotti is just too close to the players who were past it when they won the Champions League two years ago, but then he hasn’t been helped by the club who are still blinded by the star factor.

Pato: The Rossoneri's one reason to be cheerful

However, there is Alexandre Pato. And maybe, tellingly, it was Leonardo who had a comforting arm around the only bright note in the side at the full-time whistle on Thursday night.

With Fiorentina and Sampdoria also eliminated, Italian hopes in the competition now rest solely with Udinese – in short, a European evening to forget all round.

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Inter hanging on after Jose gets it wrong

2009-02-25T11:00:00Z

So Jose Mourinho was proved wrong after all.

Manchester United didn't sit back and Ivan Cordoba should not be left out of the starting line-up for the big games, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic still isn’t the man for the major occasion.

In his pre-match press conference, the Portuguese was full of how United would have to change their game-plan - it was a shame Inter couldn’t change theirs.

Jose gets a little hot under the collar

They played like they usually play against the likes of Catania and Reggina when they come to the San Siro: pounding away in midfield without actually creating anything up front.

Usually the opposition give in, but this was a different ball game.

We had to wait until early on – in the second half that is - for Inter to create their first real chance, but why oh why did Ibrahimovic remain out on the left flank where even the pedestrian-like John O’Shea had little problem ensuring the striker was forced on to his weaker left foot.

A big turnip for the Swede then, who was jeered by a section of the San Siro whinge-bags who, for once, had a point.

Zlatan fails in Europe yet again

There were also groans of disbelief when the name of Nelson Rivas was announced instead of Cordoba.

Jose and the veteran are no longer on talking terms after it was made clear to the vice-captain that he was also to be handed the role of vice-central defender.

But even with Walter Samuel missing, the muscle-bound Rivas was still given the nod. And didn’t it show that he was out of his depth?

He was everywhere apart from where he was meant to be, and even Mourinho had to relent and remove the unfortunate fellow at half-time.

With Nelson lost at sea, thank goodness for a man-of-the-match display from Julio Cesar between the posts.

“Ave Julio,” sang the headline in Wednesday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, with the stopper's saves providing hope where at times there seemed to be none.

The Brazilian will no doubt be a busy man when the onslaught starts at Old Trafford.

Cesar saves Inter's bacon

The worst may be over for AS Roma, who emerged from their trip to Arsenal reasonably unscathed, although the suspended Daniele De Rossi is a major absentee for the return leg.

But with another couple of weeks for Francesco Totti and Mirko Vucinic to regain full fitness, we should see a much-more lively Giallorossi approach in Rome.

Inter are hanging in there and Roma will feel confident of progressing. Now it’s up to Juventus to give Italian football something to really cheer about.

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Serie A trio triumph ahead of Anglo Italian threesome

2009-02-24T09:00:00Z

The countdown to the biggest ties of the season started in earnest on Saturday evening as Inter, Juventus and AS Roma retreated into the night to prepare for round one of the colossal challenge with il Inglese.

And all three picked up morale-boosting wins, meaning they head into Champions League action in reasonably good health.

Cambiasso strike helps bury Bologna

Starting with Inter and Jose Mourinho - the Sonny to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Vito in The Godfather - the hot-head, as you would expect, claims that his side are ready-made to send Manchester United out of the competition.

The Portuguese firebrand has been rallying the troops all week, and even let it slip that the first goal at Bologna had come from a training ground move that could unhinge the United defence.

However, for that to come off, much will depend on whether Adriano can get away with another handball, as he did to set up Esteban Cambiasso to score from inside the six-yard box.

Let’s hope that Jose gets his players defending set-pieces, because Bologna’s equaliser was a trademark English set-play – curl the ball in and someone stoops to conquer.

Mourinho will be looking for a sit-down at the San Siro, and if he can come away with a goalless draw then a hit and run - literally, as he did with Porto - is on the cards at Old Trafford.

Similar tactics will be employed for Juve and Roma’s outings to London.

Taddei sees off Siena

Both Claudio Ranieri and Luciano Spalletti have been whinging about injuries, but don’t be surprised to see all the big names present.

And whatever bodies they put out on the pitch, their job will be to come home with a score draw at least.

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Van Basten the man to take Milan back to the future

2009-02-20T13:00:00Z

It’s been a rough old week for Silvio Berlusconi.

First his side lose the derby, then he falls out with Argentina after a “witty” remark about dictators and prisoners falling out of aeroplanes.

The centre-left opposition may have imploded in humiliation after being routed in a regional election while Gordon Brown was in Rome to cheer him up.

But really what the PM wanted was Milan to celebrate his 23rd year in charge of the club with an all-dancing, goal-filled UEFA Cup win at Werder Bremen.

It’s the only trophy he has never got his hands on. But instead, it was another insipid display and for the umpteenth time the ageing, ailing defence failed to hold on to a lead in the dying moments of a game.

No wonder the perma-tanned one was beside himself and basically handed Carlo Ancelotti the Italian equivalent of his P45 – to be picked up in June.

Diego celebrates his post-Horlicks leveller

All indications are that Carlo really, really is finished this time – and three cheers to that.

Leonardo is the hot favourite to bring back the glory days, but after witnessing Ajax’s win over Fiorentina on Thursday, Silvio need look no further than his face in the mirror and see that the future is orange.

Marco van Basten is, of course, well-versed in the ways of Milan and the manner in which the Dutch master’s young charges performed at the Artemio Franchi brought back memories of many a Rossoneri performance under Arrigo Sacchi.

Pressurising the opposition at every turn and then breaking quickly to steal an away goal, was the order of the day back then and Van Basten certainly demonstrated that he had learnt a thing or two from his time at Milanello.

That’s what his side did and, just like Sacchi’s multi-functional wonders, when they had possession they kept it.

Didn’t Milan play like that not so long ago? Yes, but then they got old and – like the '80s – will never make a comeback.

The way we were... Milan '89 (Van Basten on right)

Berlusconi claimed on Friday he can’t watch the team go on like this and, even if he doesn’t employ Van Basten, he should take the word of his best-ever purchase to heart.

“I feel this Milan side is a bit too old to dominate,” declared the Dutchman when asked on the eve of the Fiorentina game for his take on the derby defeat.

Imagine Van Basten given carte blanche to rebuild a new, young and dynamic team in his image. Then, finally, we would have something to wipe that smug grin off Jose’s face.

The only positive from a disappointing week in Europe was Udinese drawing 2-2 with Lech Poznan in Poland. Actually, maybe “positive” is overdoing it.

All eyes are now on the Champions League next week.

Inter, Juventus and AS Roma have been given a helping hand of sorts from the league with all three having their domestic chores moved to Saturday.

Let’s hope the extra rest on Sunday works out – or Italy could be facing European ruin before winter turns to spring.

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Why Juve need Cassano – and vice-versa

2009-02-18T10:00:00Z

Where is Antonio Cassano going to end up? Serie Aaaaargh! will tell you. If he doesn't leave Sampdoria this summer, Cassano will find himself:

1. Filed away in a great big box marked ‘wasted talent’

2. Not in the Italy squad – not as long as Marcello Lippi is in charge, that is.

But all that could change if the Bari Bawler secures a move to Juventus.

The Old Lady has finally come out and admitted she quite fancies the wild boy of Italian football and his match-of-the-man performance against the Turin side at the weekend suggests he would provide that joie de vivre she’s sorely lacking at the moment.

Dancing round tackles and picking out passes that his less-adroit team-mates failed to read, he was a man doing his best to keep his head above Sampdoria's sea of mediocrity.

Cass makes his mark

He'll be 27 in July, and even in youth-obsessed Italy that is considered the cusp of adulthood. To his credit, apart from the ill-advised autobiography, the pepperoni-faced one has kept his nose clean of late.

In truth, the last piece of true star quality to pass through the Juventus doors was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while that little problem of a few years ago – the one no one talks about anymore – meant that Turin was off limits for top names until the dust died down.

But hey, that’s all in the past now. And just think of the antics we'd witness if Cassano coupled up with Alex Del Piero.

As long as it didn’t descend into Whatever Happened to Baby Jane – the former child star terrorised by the fading superstar – then it might just prolong Alex’s career at the top if he can become slightly more supplicant.

Old Ale is definitely becoming slightly self-deluded if he thinks that he can still drop deep, gather the ball and take on the opposition on a mazy run.

If only he could get over himself for 10 seconds and accept that his best position is alongside Amauri in attack, then Cassano’s arrival would probably be that much more straightforward.

And what of Sebastian Giovinco, the heir-apparent to Del Piero? Well, he’s definitely a will-o’-the-wisp but it looks as if his tiny feet are much more suited to the left flank. He seems a ready-made replacement for Pavel Nedved.

"Lemme at 'im!" "Leave it, Al, he's not worf it"

The names of David Villa and Franck Ribery have been banded around as possible summer arrivals, but really the prodigal son of Italian football should be truly welcomed home.

With Cassano, Del Piero and Giovinco fluttering around the pitch, just think how much more alluring the Old Lady would be.

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Inter & Adriano (literally) have one hand on title

2009-02-16T11:00:00Z

Inter have one hand on the title, so to speak.

Adriano may not have known much about Maicon’s bullet-like cross, which nearly took his head off, but the ball was not travelling anywhere near the goal until his errant hand deflected it into the net.

The fact that the referee and his assistant missed the incident is bad enough, but how can the Milan defenders and goalkeepers call themselves Italian footballers if they can’t even muster the energy for a bit of referee bating?

Milan's galactios opt against appealing for handball

Total indignation is the usual response whenever the opposition score, and if there is a hint of any wrongdoing then it’s taken to apocalyptic levels of arm-waving, pushing and shoving coupled with all manner of unsavoury behaviour.

Not, however, the oh-so polite Milan backline. Goalkeeper Christian Abbiati raised an arm in protest, but then thought better of it after seeing Paolo Maldini strolling off in the opposite direction.

Paolo – in his final derby - was probably already thinking of Miami and retirement, while the dishevelled Kakha Kaladze was still wearing his pyjamas under his kit and, oblivious to any potential rumpus, returned to his slumbers.

That moment sums up the general malaise sweeping through the Milan camp at the moment - the only distraction provided by the David Beckham tug-of-war with LA.

Of course, Becks had to pick the derby to have his first stinker. And it must have brought back memories of the 2006 World Cup for England fans, as he made sure everyone could see that he was only coming off because he was injured.

"Look, it really hurts"

Posing elegantly at the edge of the dug-out, he continued to rub his leg just in case anyone hadn’t got the message.

Gianluca Zambrotta must have missed the script reading, with the full-back deciding he should play the role made for Beckham: making countless runs to the byline although lacking the ability to actually deliver a telling cross.

Inter, for their part, just did what it says on the tin marked: “Jose, I win matches.”

There is nothing fancy about Mourinho’s approach. And why complicate matters when you can get your players to run and pass the ball for the full 90 minutes?

Now being nine points ahead of Juventus and an ocean’s 11 in front of their city rivals has allowed the Special One to plaster on that George Clooney-esque smirk once again.

Smug George looks on

Monday morning in Milan was certainly shining brightly for the Portuguese, who is now safe in the knowledge that he can basically do and say whatever he wants.

Well, until he comes up against Manchester United at least.

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Cuddly Carlo under pressure ahead of Mourinho match-up

2009-02-13T11:00:00Z

“I don’t want to go to Chelsea,” the great man once sang. However, Carlo Ancelotti may have little choice come the summer.

Cuddly Carlo is feeling a little hot under the collar ahead of the derby, as defeat would be curtains for AC Milan's title hopes and - to add insult to injury - just about hand the league to city rivals Inter.

The last time he was under so much pressure to deliver was on the eve of the second Champions League semi-final meeting with the Nerazzurri in 2003.

Back then it was the relatively benign Hector Cuper in charge of the opposition. This time around its Jose Mourinho, not noted for his benevolent nature.

Then, waiting in the wings is the elegant Leonardo, who currently holds the rather grand title of ‘technical director’ at the club. He's young, handsome and speaks four languages - what chance does Carlo have?

Leonardo lurks behind under pressure Ancelotti

The Brazilian is not only popular among his fellow countrymen at the club and has acted as something of a confidant to Ricky Kaka and Alexandre Pato, but he also has the ear of vice president Adriano Galliani.

That may not translate to coaching excellence, but despite Ancelotti’s assurances to the world that he won’t be budging his ample frame in the near future, one gets the feeling that Milan are having other ideas.

Another added ingredient then to what is an already intriguing derby, with the good, great and a ‘genius’ in town for the San Siro showdown.

Serie Aaaaargh! has bumped into Dejan Savićević, who is currently looking more like Bill Murray from Groundhog Day than the dashing midfielder who once tore Barcelona apart.

It was Silvio Berlusconi who gave him the moniker il genio and Dejan is backing his old side to nab the city bragging rights and open up the title race.

Obviously suspecting he may be speaking to an Inter fan, he then showed a neat turn of foot and claimed the title will probably be done and dusted if the Nerazzurri win - although it didn’t really need a genius to work that one out.

Jose has also been strolling the streets of the city, although wearing a tracksuit on one of the most fashionable thoroughfares didn’t make him the most inconspicuous of shoppers.

However, Milan is not Rome on derby week and the only danger the Special One would find himself in would be the risk of being turned away at the Armani superstore for not being suitably attired.

Jose: "I was only popping out for a pint of milk"

Giorgio isn’t a big football follower and the only strip he has probably seen is David Beckham preparing for the designer’s underwear shoot.

While David will be strutting his stuff at the San Siro, another Armani clotheshorse and much better footballer, Ricky Kaka, looks set to miss out.

Footage of the Brazilian jogging around the pitch at Milanello during the week had given Rossoneri fans hope that the miracle of miracles would happen and he would recover from his foot injury in time.

However, there is to be no divine intervention. Maybe the god-fearing Ricky has used up all his help from on high praying he wouldn’t be forced to join Manchester City.

With no Kaka, Milan fans will need to get down on their knees and press their palms together as Serie Aaaaargh! is going for Mourinho's men to triumph 3-1.

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Cannavaro out! Pirlo out! Toni out! Italy need revolution

2009-02-11T11:00:00Z

What can be gleaned from the ‘Derby of the World’ is that, at present, Brazil are in better shape than Italy.

The South Americans played as one would expect them to. And so, to be fair, did Italy who were their usual sluggish selves when there is nothing on the line – and granting Marcelo Lippi the world record of going 32 games undefeated at international level clearly didn't count for much.

As Lippi pointed out recently, what good is going on an unbeaten run when you don’t win the World Cup at the end of it? The Azzurri look set for South Africa and that's still a good 16 months away.

Nevertheless, there are concerns about Lippi's over-reliance on his heroes of 2006. And top of the worry-heap is the question of whether skipper Fabio Cannavaro will last long enough to board the flight to South Africa.

Now the oldest player in the squad by quite some distance – he will be on the cusp of 37 next summer – the formerly invincible Cannavaro had to be carried by Nicola Legrottaglie (hardly the paragon of security) on a number of occasions at the Emirates.

Cannavaro would never have been described as a ball-playing defender, but where previously he could rely on his pace to get him out of trouble, that asset has deserted him once and for all.

Lippi won’t cast his hero of 2006 adrift, but it is imperative that the speedy Giorgio Chiellini is kept off the treatment table and the same goes for the cool-headed Alessandro Gamberini of Fiorentina.

Andrea Pirlo is another who seems past his use-by date and the centre of midfield should now be left in the hands of the two Romans, Daniele de Rossi and Alberto Aquilani.

Up top, Luca Toni seems to have reached the limit of his talents, so maybe it’s time that Amauri was given a push in the direction of Italy rather than Brazil.

Fabio, Andrea and Luca: Past their use-by dates?

But it’s not all doom and gloom: Giuseppe Rossi looks the real deal with each passing appearance in the blue shirt.

Quick feet, blistering acceleration and a goalscorer’s instinct, his short, compact stature brings to mind Salvatore Schillaci... and we all know what the little Sicilian did on the world stage.

The little man from Villarreal will get plenty more experience through the rest of the qualifying campaign and should finally end any argument concerning Alessandro Del Piero’s return to the fold.

In the meantime, Italy can have another go at trying to outsmart Brazil on June 21 when the sides meet in the Confederations Cup. And Lippi can spend his every waking hour trying to work out how to move on from 2006.

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Pouting, poaching Pippo the key to Kaka conundrum

2009-02-09T11:00:00Z

AS Roma-supporting friends of Serie Aaaaargh! deny they will be in front of their plasma screens next Sunday.

But even if they will never openly admit it, they will be just as engrossed in the outcome of the Milan derby as they will with tucking into their pizzas.

Although a weekend in the Eternal City was as enjoyable as ever and witnessing not one but two candidates for goal of the season was a bonus, Milan is the only place to be this week.

Eyes on the prize: Vucinic prepares to unleash wonder-volley

Even the calcio-starved Brits are getting a taste of the good life thanks to the Beeb keeping tabs on Becks, who they must hope doesn’t run into a Spanish boot and go the same way of Ricky Kaka.

The Brazilian was kicked all over the San Siro by Reggina’s ninja-like assailants, with a combination of stealth and nifty rotation system - where no player ever committed two consecutive fouls - finally saw Ricky succumb to a fatal blow 20 minutes from the end.

How the Nerazzurri fans have been laughing on this bright Monday morning at the news that the greatest danger to their title hopes will be sidelined for the game of the season on Sunday.

However, their smiles may not be as wide this time next week if Carlo Ancelotti chooses to start Filippo Inzaghi alongside Alexandre Pato in attack.

The obvious solution to Kaka’s absence is to play Ronaldinho or Clarence Seedorf (or, god-forbid, both of them) but the Rossoneri need to win and who better to turn to than Pippo.

Still as puny-looking as ever and possessing that incredulous pout whenever he is deemed to be offside, the most annoying trait of all – for the opposition anyway – is that he knows where the back of the net is.

While Pato won’t say boo to a goose, Inzaghi will get under the skin of Ivan Cordaba, Walter Samuel and especially Marco Materazzi, which may give him that extra spilt second needed when playing off the shoulder of the last defender.

The man for the big occasion. Just ask Liverpool fans...

When he replaced Ronaldinho on Saturday, he looked as sharp as a razor with Beckham enjoying whipping in some tempting crosses for the poacher-king, who twice went close to sealing a late victory.

That cameo outing should be considered a dress rehearsal, and Ancelotti doesn’t need reminding that Inzaghi has scored four times in the derby, not to mention finding the net in the Champions League final in Athens and the World Club Cup final in Yokohama.

He’s the man for the big occasion wherever it may be, and this time that just happens to be at the San Siro on Sunday.

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Genoa on track to booking Champions League ticket

2009-02-06T12:00:00Z

A common myth that needs to be laid to rest is that the trains always ran on time when Benito was in charge.

They never did and, generally, they still don’t. But when they do it’s like having your birthday and Christmas all come at once.

It’s especially true when gliding through the Italian countryside on a Friday morning at something in the region of 300km per hour in the lavish comfort of Trenitalia’s appropriately-named Red Arrow train.

It is certainly the age of the train – connecting Milan with Rome in a mere three and a half hours, cutting a good hour off the old time.

"Oi! I specifically asked for a window seat..."

The reason for an early-ish start, apart from beating the rush to escape the grey skies of the north, is to hit the capital for the Champions League qualification showdown between Roma and Genoa.

Genoa have had a good run, in fact an amazing run, but is it all set to come to an end this weekend?

Il Grifone are currently in fourth place but aren’t making the sort of noises that would suggest they are set to storm the Eternal City.

“It’s not a Champions League play-off,” whispered mild-mannered coach Gian Piero Gasperini in an interview earlier in the week.

OK, it may have been said to take the pressure of his players. However, the Romans are seeing the game entirely differently.

“It’s a Cup final,” growled Giallorossi director Bruno Conti, fresh from tearing Christian Panucci limb from limb.

Genoa: Targeting place at Europe's top table

Without being overly dramatic, this game could well make or break both side’s seasons. But if hadn’t been for a bit of match-fixing then Genoa could already be old hands at this sort of thing.

Back in 2005, two goals from Diego Milito helped secure a win at Vicenza to gain promotion to Serie A after a 10-year absence.

However, a Vicenza director was subsequently nabbed leaving one of, Genoa president, Enrico Preziosi’s toy factories with his pockets stuffed with cash rather than cuddly bears.

Naughty Genoa were banished to the third division and Milito exiled to Spain.

Certainly not very British for a club whose roots are so English and are officially Genoa Cricket and Football club, but that’s all in the past and maybe they won’t miss the train this time around.

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Quaresma coming a cropper strains Inter relations

2009-02-04T09:00:00Z

Ricardo Quaresma slipped in to Milan under the radar at the tail-end of the August transfer window and slipped out again in January with barely anyone noticing.

While the only footage covering his move to England was either the Inter dud strolling on as substitute and being substituted in between blasting a volley over the bar.

The Portuguese has been the Robbie Keane of Serie A - it would have been so fitting had he joined Spurs, but his failure to impress in Italy has been another strain on Jose Mourinho’s relationship with Massimo Moratti.

Quaresma flops on a rare outing for Inter

The owner was never that convinced by the perma-tanned winger, but being in the first throes of love with his new coach he couldn’t deny him his wishes.

A flutter of those puppy eyes was enough to make the old fella’s heart skip a beat and dislodge something in the region of 20million euro from his wallet.

Ill fortune and Quaresma seem to go hand-in-hand, he even made 13 appearances before slinking off on the well-worn route to the Premier League for Inter ‘failures’.

Who knows, maybe he will do a Dennis Bergkamp, but in the meantime Moratti and Mourinho have been left to pick up the pieces.

It’s not the first time the pair have been down this road with different partners, but back in those heady days of late summer it all seemed like a match made in heaven.

It hasn’t taken too long for the newlywed bliss to lose its sheen. Those sunny honeymoon photos have been thrown into the back of the draw and it’s all been slightly frosty of late in the Inter household.

Max hasn’t been hanging around the training ground as much, and people are beginning to talk. The couple’s teenager Mario Balotelli has even been seen in tears, although that could be down to the fact that he couldn’t get the top up on his sports car when it started to rain.

Doors are being slammed all over the house as Jose gets the blame for losing at Atalanta, and a few snide remarks after failing to put Torino in their place. And of course, the kids suffer; Maxwell and Cristian Chivu were even banned from going outside to play for a week.

Like a celebrity couple who feel they need to reassure the world that all is sweetness and light, Moratti has been pouring his heart out to La Gazzetta dello Sport in country and western fashion no less.

“I am standing by Mourinho,” ran the headline in Wednesday’s edition.

“I am more than convinced than ever in him and although it was costly to get rid of [Roberto the ex] Mancini I am sure Mourinho will get it right when we need it.”

Moratti endures another Inter struggle

Of course, even a man of means such as Moratti does not want to pay for another divorce when he’s still doling alimony on the previous one so a break-up is not imminent.

However, the twinkle-eyed Silvio and his new hotty from the States are coming to dinner on Valentine’s weekend and then after that a craggy old Scot is in town.

The couple will have to put on a united front for that visit.

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Think Chelsea are in trouble? Look at Juventus

2009-02-02T11:00:00Z

The floodlights were switched off at the Olympic Stadium in Turin soon after the final whistle on Saturday evening, and the lights have gone out on Juventus' title bid as well.

Serie Aaaaargh! had taken up the offer of a trip into the depths of misty Piedmont to see if the league’s in-form side could finally break a 42-year-old no-winning streak in Turin – and to investigate whether Juve really are on the slide.

Well, the evening out was well worth it for the sight of the few hundred Sardinians dancing in the stands at the final whistle. And yes, the signs are all there that Juve are finished as a force this season.

Agony and ecstasy...

As they say in football parlance the world over, Claudio Ranieri has lost the dressing room.

Having seen Alessandro Del Piero publically humiliate his coach when substituted at Udinese last weekend, this time it was the whole team who gave the king of the flops the thumbs down.

The defence shambled around in disarray while Gigi Buffon brought to mind one of the superheroes in the trailer for the upcoming blockbuster Watchmen... sadly it was the superhero who gives up on dear old planet earth.

Where once the one-time leading goalkeeper in the world wore a Superman T-shirt, now he has taken to wearing some sort of headscarf to hide his identity.

The midfield has lost its character and it may never return after Cristiano Zanetti suffered his umpteenth injury setback.

Mohamed Sissoko can run and head the ball but he can’t pass and can’t tackle – two prerequisites for a central midfielder – and although, like Sissoko, Pavel Nedved scored against Cagliari, the Czech is looking as out-of-date as the shaggy haircut he continues to sport.

While Del Piero, still in those natty tights, continues to give his all for The Cause or His Cause, depending on how you look at it, Amauri is a shadow of the marauding forward from the first half of the season.

Dithering over whether he should make himself available for selection for Italy when his Italian passport finally arrives, or just remain a common Brazilian, he wanders the pitch dazed and confused.

Blood is thicker than water as they say, and Juventus had no qualms blocking Dunga’s efforts to call the lanky frontman up for the upcoming friendly with Italy after Luis Fabiano dropped out.

The club’s hierarchy left the player with egg on his face, and no doubt made the decision of where his future allegiances lie that much easier.

Amauri: A shadow of his pre-Christmas self

So it’s cloak and dagger time all-round for the Old Lady and if Ranieri cannot plot a course past Chelsea in the Champions League, the whispers suggest that Ciro Ferrara will be installed as ‘the puppet’ in charge for the remainder of the campaign.

After that, Rafael Benitez anyone?

Some latest transfer news as the clock ticks down on Monday: AS Roma have signed Marco Motta from Udinese to replace Christian Panucci who will remain in the capital in splendid isolation after turning down a move to Hull City.

All the sports papers are expecting Inter flop Ricardo Quaresma to join Tottenham with Jermaine Jenas moving in the opposite direction, despite Jose Mourinho claiming it’s all fantasy football – something is side haven’t been too familiar with lately.

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Galliani & Golden balls 'Working on a Dream'

2009-01-29T12:00:00Z

The new Bruce Springsteen album has just been released to great fanfare in Italy, where he is something of an iconic figure.

Adriano Galliani must have been singing along in the car to the title track.

When asked for the umpteenth time if David “Gentleman” Beckham would remain at AC Milan, the club’s chief executive nearly broke into song as he misquoted the Boss.

“We are working on the dream,” belted out the wannabe rocker, no doubt wishing he could tear off his shirt sleeves and lead the gathered press in a rousing sing-along. “David is a man of honour but we are hoping for a miracle.”

"Ooh, microphones. Any requests?"

The highway is filled with broken heroes on a last chance power drive, and it now looks more and more likely that Becks isn’t about to let the glory days pass him by.

If the scenes at the San Siro were anything to by on Wednesday evening, who needs Hollywood when you can lap up the adulation of 50,000-plus fans just about every week.

A cracking free-kick, man-of-the-match award and standing ovation is not a bad way to spend a mid-winter evening.

Mrs Beckham must be digging her stilettos further into the marble floor at the Armani superstore in frustration at the thought of having to leave Los Angeles, but it's a mission impossible, especially with her hubby’s celebrity friends lending a hand.

Tom Cruise threw his two cents into the ring when interviewed on the Sky Italia Cinema channel to plug his new film.

Obviously a glory-hunter when it comes to nailing his colours to a team, the diminutive but perfectly formed screen star claimed he was not only a Beckham fan but a Milan supporter.

“I would love to get to Milan to see David play,” he cooed in a desperate push to get Rossoneri-supporting film-goers, at least, into the cinema to see if he bumps off Hitler. “I am supporting my friend and Milan as well.”

However, that seemed to be the extent of his footy knowledge and when asked what he thought of Francesco Totti, he gave a quizzical look before admitting he had never heard of him.

Time to chuck those Risky Business DVDs away then Francesco.

Not that the Roma man will have much time for lounging around in front of the TV. Fit again after the most recent of ever-growing injury problems, Totti scored in the win over Palermo on Wednesday to push the Giallorossi to within one point off fourth spot.

"I'm more famous than Tom Cruise... right?"

Genoa currently occupy the final Champions League position and along with Roma and, erm, Cagliari, are the form side at the moment.

This weekend could prove to be a pivotal one, with Inter having opened up a six-point lead over Juventus who, without Alessandro Del Piero, produced a lacklustre performance and lost at Udinese on Wednesday night.

They now face the Sardinians on Sunday, while the leaders are home to Torino, so no slip-ups can be afforded. Although Del Piero has already admitted that the game is probably up.

“I don’t think we are title material at the moment,” he declared, thus further undermining Claudio Ranieri’s waning authority over his captain.

It may have been pretty quiet on the transfer front since the Kaka yarn, but two Serie A players could be winging their way to the Premier League in the next 48 hours.

Serie Aaaaargh! favourite goalkeeper Marco Amelia has admitted that Manchester City have his ear, while Marco Storari is set to go from being Fiorentina’s reserve keeper to Chelsea bench-warmer.

And, what with sod’s law and all, just when we thought we had seen the last of Christian Panucci, Marco Cassetti is out with a pulled hamstring for three months so cue pretend kiss-and-make up between the grumpy defender and Luciano Spalletti.

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Sour puss Panucci bites the hand that feeds him... again

2009-01-27T11:00:00Z

Just when we thought he would go gently into the night of his twilight years, Christian Panucci just couldn't resist one last rage and rant.

Having refused Luciano Spalletti’s request to sit on the bench for AS Roma's game at Napoli on Sunday, the moody defender then threw in a transfer request of sorts.

Well, considering he’s nearly 36 and his contract is up in the summer, it was more a cry for help for one last topping up of his bank balance.

"What do you mean no bids? Put me back on ebay again"

Apparently Roma are not willing to consider extending Panucci’s 2million euro-a-year salary for another two seasons; not after securing Juan for four more years on 2.5m a year.

However, even if he were to accept the reported 30 percent pay drop it’s not as if he’s going from the haves to the have-nots - more like the haves to the haves-a-bit-less.

In these lean times, and for someone whose stock is plummeting as quickly as any financial institution, that’s not a bad deal to consider.

It’s not as if he’s Ricky Kaka, although it must be a major blow to his inflated ego to find that clubs have not exactly been falling over themselves to secure the Panucci signature.

Juventus chortled at the idea, Genoa shook their heads and turned out their empty pockets and even Help the Aged, aka AC Milan, claimed they had no room at their Milanello retirement home.

"Panucci? Thanks, but no thanks"

Torino have been mentioned, then there’s always Manchester City although the Premier League is still probably getting over his short and unpleasant stay at Chelsea.

Having fallen out with every coach he has ever played for - from Arrigo Sacchi to Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello in between - the sour puss of football is once again now trying to bite the hand that feeds him.

However, now it’s a case of the bark being worse than the bite and Spalletti would do well to tie the mangy old dog up to the bench and let him howl for a few scraps.

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Timid Tuscans risk losing Champions League lucre

2009-01-26T11:00:00Z

It didn’t take Ricky Kaka long to get over not moving to Manchester City and even David Beckham is no longer California dreamin.

AC Milan are now very much in the hunt for the title, along with Inter and Juventus, but it’s fourth place that looks wide open and that’s in part due to Fiorentina’s inferior complex.

For a second week in a row the shrinking violets diffidently gave away an early goal before belatedly summing up some self-confidence to make a game of it – last weekend it was Milan, this time Juventus.

Marchisio consigns Fiorentina to defeat in Turin

How can you be intimidated by a team whose star player is wearing tights? Well, the timid Tuscans were as they spent most of the first half bowing demurely as Alessandro Del Piero pirouetted around the pitch like a latter-day Rudolf Nureyev.

Little Alessandro later demonstrated his prima donna qualities of a different kind on seeing his number held up, when he threw his comfort blanket on the ground as he stormed off to the bench.

Cesare Prandelli’s side need that sort of petulance, as a lack of belief in their own abilities could well see them miss out on a Champions League place.

It would be a shame if they can’t get their heads around what it takes to be winners, not only because of the exciting young players coming through, such as Riccardo Montolivo, Zdarko Kuzmanovic and - Brian May lookalike - Stevan Jovetic, but for the forward thinking of owners the Della Valle brothers.

Andrea, the club president and Diego, who pulls off the sartorial feat of wearing a sweater as a scarf over a scarf, have grand plans for a new stadium, but that needs oodles of financing which the local council are not willing to foot.

Much of the funding will have to come from the private sector and it will be a much more compelling investment if regular Champions League football is on cards.

But the way things are going there is little likelihood of that: Fiorentina have had a appalling start to 2009 results-wise, losing at home to Lecce of all teams before these two recent losses.

Mutu: Out of action with dislocated elbow

Adrian Mutu’s absence has not helped the cause, but like the city’s favourite dish – the Florentine steak – the team need to start showing a bit of backbone otherwise they could be dining at the McDonalds of European competition: the UEFA Europa League.

Much like their ancient ancestors, AS Roma are on the march again and, after sweeping Napoli away, Luciano Spalletti’s side must now be favourites to occupy fourth place before very long.

Serie A is back for the third and final midweek round of the season on Wednesday, and with Roma at home to Palermo, Genoa at Milan, Fiorentina and Napoli facing each other and Lazio at Sampdoria, that could happen much sooner than expected.

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Feel good factor back in value for money Serie A

2009-01-23T11:00:00Z

Maybe it’s seeing those stunning blue Italian skies once again after weeks of unrelenting rain.

Maybe it’s the perfect cappuccino to start the day or the sight of a drop-dead gorgeous woman passing in front of the local café,

Either way, Serie Aaaaargh! is feeling in chipper form this fine Friday morning. And so too is Italian football by all accounts.

Attendances are up from last season – by 2,395 to 24,825 – so it’s all positive, what with crowd trouble and general anti-social behaviour in and around grounds down by half.

A recent study confirmed that Italians are once again turning to traditional family entertainment in these recession-hit times, and going to football matches is one of those corner-stones.

And it’s not just the less-threatening atmosphere that has been encouraging the tifosi back, but also a matter of simple economics.

The cheapest tickets start at 23 euro to watch Inter against Sampdoria at the San Siro this weekend, with major concessions for U16s. And it’s the same story from the San Paulo in Napoli to the Olympic Stadium in Turin: the price is right and it’s actually worth it.

Heading into the second half of the season there is all to play for, from the relegation battle to the title race and everything in between.

Then there is the feel-good factor sweeping Italian football following AC Milan’s ‘brave’ stand in repelling Manchester City’s millions for Ricky Kaka.

The moral high ground has been reclaimed once again and being super-rich does not automatically gain entrance into the hearts of the most exclusive club in the country: the Italian on the street.

However, it’s another matter if you are Silvio Berlusconi or David Beckham – the two kings of smart marketing.

When not practising free-kicks, obeying Carlo Ancelotti’s on-pitch orders or attending the odd cat-walk show, our man in Italy has been the embodiment of the quintessential English gentlemen.

Goldenballs is always well turned out and courteous to one and all.

And in hard times where there is less tolerance for big-mouths and troublemakers, Beckham has won over a whole nation with his fine manners both on and off the pitch: with visiting the Lou Gehrig-stricken Stefano Borgonovo his most recent good deed.

Milan’s game at Bologna this weekend was sold-out by Thursday – and when interviewed after buying their tickets, the locals admitted their enthrallment with all things Beckham.

If the English Tourist Board are looking for someone to encourage even more Italians to spend their euro in the UK, then Mr. Posh is their man.

In part, it’s taken the English in their many guises to make the Italians feel good about themselves, so we thank you and do come again.

The weather is indeed wonderful and the stadiums are welcoming.

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Robin Hood of reffing ruins Inter - Roma Cup clash

2009-01-22T11:00:00Z

Despite the best efforts of Emerson to keep the Ricky Kaka transfer saga on the front pages of the Italian sporting press, it's back to business as usual – and that means dodgy refereeing decisions.

While the Puma was backtracking over comments that his AC Milan team-mate would be on his way to Real Madrid in the summer, Inter were taking on AS Roma in the Italian Cup.

A quarter-final tie between the finalists from each of the last four years of the competition had all the perfect ingredients for an evening of high drama at the San Siro – a one-off tie, Inter coming off a thumping at Atalanta, holders Roma on the up again.

Cicinho & Mexes keep Zlatan company

Pity then that referee Daniel Orsato and his assistants took such a laissez-faire attitude to their duties of following the rules of the game.

The encounter got off to a pretty explosive start when the Giallorossi had what appeared a cast-iron penalty turned down after Mirko Vucinic was tripped in the area.

As the striker fell, his out-stretched hand propelled the ball into the net, and Orsato not only waved away the protests but also booked Vucinic for 'deliberate' hand-ball.

Having set the precedent for ineptitude, he went on to turn a blind eye to Philippe Mexes’ attempt to take Zlatan Ibrahimovic out of the contest with two lunging challenges, and generally create confusion among the players with more whistle-blowing than a traffic warden in the centre of Rome.

But Ibra has the last laugh...

Genoa fans once nicknamed Orsato 'Robin Hood' accusing him of “stealing” three points from their team a few seasons ago in a Serie B game at Pescara.

And he had plenty of help from one of his merry men for Inter’s winner, with his assistant failing to detect Walter Samuel a good metre or so offside in the build-up to Milan's second goal.

Orsato then displayed his own take on the offside, bringing a pass to Dejan Stankovic to a halt even though the Inter midfielder still had Roma defender Juan in front of him when he received the ball.

And so it went on, until everyone had just about given up doing anything without first looking towards the official, apart from Mexes who continued to scythe Ibra down without a care in the world.

"Graham Poll, I take it all back..."

It was this permissive attitude that allowed the robust Gallic approach to go relatively unpunished with just a booking, when Mexes should really have seen red following a malevolent coup de grace in the dying moments.

A shame then, that the overall spectacle was spoilt by the man in the middle, as both sides showed a willingness to attack and play neat football which bodes well for their Champions League endeavours.

For Mr Orsato on the other hand, he must learn, sooner rather than later, that his style of refereeing makes him nothing more than the big bad sheriff.

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Rossoneri rejoice as Kaka chooses club over cash

2009-01-20T11:00:00Z

It was a wonderfully choreographed piece of theatre that would have done Barack Obama proud.

On a wet and windy Monday night in Milan, Silvio Berlusconi strolled out of his two-up, two-down to announce to the thoroughly soaked and sodden members of the press that “Kaka is staying with us. Money isn’t everything.

“The negotiations were closed by myself and Kaka so all I can say is, long live Kaka.”

A little earlier in downtown Milan, the player had given the game away somewhat when he appeared in the window of his humble abode to wave his number 22 shirt at the fans gathered below, and give the general impression of a man who had dodged a long prison sentence.

"Alright, alright, I'll stay. Now let me get back to Deal or No Deal..."

By all accounts, the deal was on until well after 9pm before Manchester City finally threw in the towel, leaving Kaka glowing like a man spared some terrible evil.

There were the usual platitudes about how the fans, and especially the kids, had won him over and how he had never asked for a pay rise and so forth, but let’s see how long this little love-in lasts.

The final decision was, of course, down to Kaka and not his father, but it can't be long before Real Madrid come calling once again.

After all, world domination is still the Brazilian’s aim and, after Berlusconi admitted that times were tough even for a media mogul, which new faces will we see arriving at the San Siro to turn the Rossoneri back into genuine title contenders?

The names of Franck Ribery and Emmanuel Adebayor will all have to be jettisoned from the collective memory while Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko and Massimo Ambrosini’s weather-beaten mugs will be hanging around for some time to come.

There is little to suggest that the aging country-club atmosphere will change in the foreseeable future, so how will that sit with the ultra-ambitious 26-year-old?

Aww, isn't he adorable. The lion cub's not bad either...

It may not be a new era dawning, but there will be plenty of time for carping so let’s celebrate on what is, after all, a historical day with some of the headlines in this morning’s Italian sporting press reading.

Gazzetta dello Sport
Silvio: “Kaka stays”

Corriere dello Sport
Kaka: “I am staying”
Berlusconi: “He turned down City millions”

Tuttosport
“Kaka chooses Milan”

Of course, the Turin-based paper’s main headline concerned Juventus.

“Boom times for Juve as Inter crack”

Some things never change.

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News: City claim Milan moved goalposts over Kaka
News: Kaka decides to stay put at San Siro
Blog: Cloak & dagger conduct from Kaka's nearest & dearest
News: Kaka's father due in Milan for talks
News: Milan fans plead for Kaka to stay
News: Milan considering colossol Kaka offer
News: Losing Kaka might not be disaster for Milan
News: Milan meet City to hear Kaka proposals
News: Kaka to ponder move to Man City
Blog: Milan should cash in as City come calling for Kaka
Kaka interview

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Cloak & dagger conduct from Kaka's nearest & dearest

2009-01-19T11:00:00Z

AC Milan have been acting all innocent in the Ricky Kaka saga but according to a Serie Aaaaargh! source close to the club, they in fact officially informed the player on Friday that they were ready to listen to Manchester City’s mind-blowing offer.

Needless to say, Kaka was somewhat thrown by Milan’s willingness to contemplate allowing him to leave, regardless of the transfer fee.

The Serie Aaaaargh! source then related that a “heated” conversation with papa Kaka - who runs his affairs - confirmed junior’s worst fears, but “hey, look on the bright side, think of all that lovely loot” was the pay-off line.

Kaka: Waving goodbye to the San Siro?

So, have daddy and Mr Berlusconi been plotting away behind the star’s back to make sure the deal goes through?

Our man-in-the-know seems to think so and Kaka’s team-mates aren't best pleased with the state of affairs, although that might be something to do with the fact that they are unlikely to ever land a contract worth half a million pounds a week.

It's all intriguing stuff and now it’s a matter of persuading Kaka to bid farewell to Italy for a new life in the Premier League.

That passage may be further smoothed by whispers that the God-fearing Kaka will no longer answer to mere mortal status, but transcend into that rarefied atmosphere of global megastar.

Again according to our source, with David Beckman’s pulling power on the wane, Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment have Kaka lined-up as a the perfect product replacement.

Fuller has already ensured Becks and his missus their global prominence and such grandiose plans are afoot to brand it like Beckham for the Brazilian.

Those clean-cut chops would not only be elevated to saintly eminence in the marketing heaven of the US, but into the very lucrative frontiers of the Gulf States and the Far East where the Premier League already has a far greater impact than Serie A.

'Brand Beckham' out, 'Brand Kaka' in

So, let us leave Kaka to rub shoulders with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Richard Dunne and turn to more pressing matters such as Inter’s dismal form of late.

Today is officially the most depressing day of the year and no doubt Jose Mourinho will be in a foul mood after Sunday’s woeful display against Atalanta, although the coach has to accept much of the blame for his side’s winter blues.

The Portuguese’s own malaise has rubbed off on his team and a more morose group of individuals you would never wish your greatest enemy to run into.

Maybe it’s time to let Adriano take the lads out on the tiles to lighten the mood, although the thought of Gareth Bale joining the Nerazzurri would bring a chuckle to anyone’s face.

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News: Kaka's father due in Milan for talks
News: Milan fans plead for Kaka to stay
News: Milan considering colossol Kaka offer
News: Losing Kaka might not be disaster for Milan
News: Milan meet City to hear Kaka proposals
News: Kaka to ponder move to Man City
Blog: Milan should cash in as City come calling for Kaka
Kaka interview

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What Milan might do with all that filthy lucre...

2009-01-16T15:00:00Z

To quote Bob Dylan, “money doesn’t talk, it swears.”

No doubt the air has been turned blue around the AC Milan headquarters in the last few days as the runaway train that is Kaka to Manchester City gathers speed.

Silvio Berlusconi’s right-hand man, Adriano Galliani, who usually can’t pass a microphone without offering a sound-bite, has been sneaking in and out of the backdoor at the club’s base.

Galliani: "Goodbye people carrier, hello private chopper..."

It’s not as if the Rossoneri faithful are protesting en-mass about all that filthy lucre which should be winging its way into the club’s coffers very soon.

In fact, walking past the Milan HQ in the city centre on Friday morning, the only sign of discord was provided by a handful of workshy Ultras, who had lamely spray-painted the pavement with “Hands off Kaka.”

So let’s, for arguments sake, accept that this is the beginning of the end for the current Milan side, and imagine just what they could do with that £100m plus windfall.

Carlo Ancelotti would have to have to go first of all, obviously, and in his place would arrive bright young thing Alessandro Costacurta, who at 42 has been cutting his managerial teeth at Serie B side Mantova.

The Serie Aaaaargh! First XI of 2008 goalkeeper Marco Amelia would take over between the posts. At 26, the Palermo man is a mere babe in the woods in goalkeeping years.

Marco Amelia: Milan's next No.1?

The club have already bought a right-back in Felipe Mattioni. The 20-year-old Brazilian arrived in the middle of the Kaka maelstrom, on loan from Gremio, and the deal will become permanent in the summer. The “new Cafu” comparisons are expected any day now.

The centre of defence would no longer have a combined age of 76, such as it did last weekend when Paolo Maldini and Giuseppe Favalli lined-up against AS Roma.

Instead, 24-year-old Thiago Silva would help provide the backbone if not the class but, then again, how can any team replace Maldini or Nesta.

Things looking are a bit shaky at left-back where the only candidate currently on the books is Luca Antonini who is knocking on a bit at 26, but he just sneaks in.

While there is plenty of fresh talent in midfield, with Yoann Gourcuff the ideal replacement for Kaka, Mathieu Flamini taking over the spadework of Rino Gattuso and Mathias Cardacio directing operations from the centre.

The Uruguayan has been kicking his heels on the bench for the last season and a half and, at 21, only made his competitive debut in December despite Ancelotti’s protestations that he can fill the Andrea Pirlo role.

Gourcuff: One for the (very near) future

However, the real find will be Rodney Strasser – lo and behold an actual youth team product.

The 18-year-old from Sierra Leone is a cross between Patrick Vieira and Michael Essen, and made his first-team debut in the Italian Cup at the end of last year.

Alexandre Pato, 19 and Marco Borriello, 26, provide the perfect partnership in attack, with 19-year-old Alberto Paloschi back from a loan spell at Parma to add back-up.

And, of course, how could we forget Jermaine Pennant? Well maybe we can now.

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News: Losing Kaka might not be disaster for Milan
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Blog: Milan should cash in as City come calling for Kaka
Kaka interview

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Milan should cash in as City come calling for Kaka

2009-01-14T11:00:00Z

It’s no surprise that Manchester City are likely to make a world-record transfer bid for Ricky Kaka.

After all, the Brazilian is the best player in the world, isn’t he?

As pointed out in previous blogs, the dynamic at AC Milan has changed since Ronaldinho’s arrival and it’s been clear for some time that the pair are no longer the perfect fit.

"Interesting... very interesting"

Just last Sunday, while David Beckham was going about his job in an unfussy manner – just what was all the fuss about his debut anyway? It’s not as if he had forgotten how to play football since moving to America – Kaka and Ronaldinho were cat-fighting over a bit of turf out on the left flank.

Kaka’s superior pace ensured that he exploited AS Roma’s rickety right side, leaving Ronie to shake his ever-expanding booty in disgust.

So, Man City arrive in town, apparently with their sights set on Nelson Dida and Rino Gattuso, otherwise known as a cunning ploy to get their feet under the table for a chat with Adriano Galliani.

Of course, the Rossoneri club are officially in “no comment” mode, although Silvio Berlusconi could not allow the moment to pass without a word or three despite denying he knew anything about three English gentlemen turning up at his club’s headquarters.

“I hope that Kaka is not for sale,” purred the president, muddying the waters as usual.

Note, “I hope” rather than “He’s not for sale” like when Real Madrid and Chelsea came calling.

There are further compelling reasons why Milan may now take a more pragmatic approach to their prize asset.

There is a need to strengthen the defence and Philippe Mexes of AS Roma has already declared he would be “honoured” to play for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

But the Frenchman is not going to come cheap: more like something in the region of 15million euro.

Then, there is Yoann Gourcuff who is showing the sort of form at Bordeaux that is definitely worth nurturing back at Milanello next season.

Gourcuff: On fire for the French

The 22-year-old has been saddled with the “new Zidane” tag for long enough and now is the time for Milan to invest in the future.

Take the Gulf cash, pension off the old guard and build a new side capable of winning the league and dominating in Europe.

Offers like these don’t come around very often, although if City have offered 100million there's no harm in trying to wring a further 50m out of them is there.

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NEWS: Milan: Kaka to ponder City's record bid

NEWS: Losing Kaka might not be disaster for Milan

NEWS: Milan meet City to hear Kaka proposals

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Roma ready to ruin Golden Balls bow

2009-01-09T10:00:00Z

David Beckham is in for a bit of a shock this weekend.

While AC Milan and the Becks circus have been living it up in the balmy climes of Dubai, Italy has been gripped by the icy fingers of mid-winter.

All the major airports in northern Italy have been either shut down or worked on reduced capacity, for once, not due to a strike but a good dose of the white stuff.

Geronimoooooooooooooo...

The inclement weather gave the Rossoneri a good excuse to extend their stay in the Gulf region and will touchdown in the capital on Friday for what promises to be a warm welcome for Serie A’s newest recruit.

It’s AS Roma who await of course, and will Carlo Ancelotti throw David to the Lions - as we mix biblical references - on Sunday evening and, if he does, which side will benefit the most?

Word from the Giallorossi is that they can’t wait to get torn into 'Golden Balls' if he steps on to the Olympic Stadium turf.

Ancelotti will not want to give the opposition any sort of lift for what is a pivotal match for both sides so don’t be surprised if a 'diplomatic injury' comes into play which keeps Becks out of the starting line-up at least.

"Interesting kit you guys play in..."

Needless to say, neither side can afford to walk off the pitch without a positive result, but the encounter does have draw written all over it

It’s highly unlikely that will be the scoreline at the San Siro where Inter meet Cagliari. The league leaders have been braving the frigid temperatures and Jose Mourinho has been moping around, chomping at the bit to get started again.

The Nerazzurri should maintain their six-point lead at the top although it could well be 1-0 to the Inter (again).

Juventus will also have to ensure there is no post-holiday lethargy hanging around when they welcome Siena, who before the winter break had proved to be feisty competitors.

"BORRRING. Come on, they never have a winter break in England..."

Fiorentina shouldn’t catch a cold at home to Lecce and could well find themselves in third spot come Sunday, while Napoli have yet to lose at home this season but face Catania – a side that will do anything to gain a result.

That ball of testosterone, Walter Zenga has even employed a former banker, Gianni Vio to work on dead-ball situations. He is an author of a book on set-pieces and claims that he has devised nearly 5,000 ways to outfox the opposition.

Expect plenty of fireworks at the San Paolo then, and up and down the peninsula all weekend as we welcome back the crazy world of calcio.

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Cut-price Pennant appealing amid credit crunch

2009-01-06T13:00:00Z

There is something worth pointing out with the credit crunch kicking in as the January sales get into full swing.

With the euro now almost on parity with the pound, Italians have been flooding the streets of London in search of a bargain. This time last year they could hardly afford the flight over.

Maybe now the same won’t be said of young Italian footballing talent as the lure of the pound sign diminishes, and - just as importantly - Serie A will become the must play-in destination for the wandering modern-day footballer.

Well, we can all dream I suppose.

Dossena: Stay back comrades, there's no more money here

Flicking through the sporting press on a snow-bound Milanese morning, one would be forgiven for thinking that 2009 had come to a shuddering halt even before it had really begun.

Why is no one in the café talking about the big-name signings heading to Inter, Juventus and AC Milan?

There, instead, staring out of the front page of Corriere dello Sport is one Jermaine Lloyd Pennant, who the paper helpfully inform their readers is an Anglo-Jamaican who played well for Liverpool in the Champions League final against Milan in 2007.

The Milan transfer chiefs must certainly have a long memory, as few of the calcio-obsessed clientele in Serie Aaaaargh!’s local watering-hole could actually recall any other performance that merited Pennant wearing the red and black jersey next season.

However, Carlo Ancelotti may have seen something the rest of us have missed. Apart from fitting the bill of most Milan signings - he is out of contract and won’t cost a cent – Pennant is lightening quick and relatively young.

Pennant 'playing well' against Milan in Athens

Carlo has smoothed out the edges of many a rough diamond before, including Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Daniele Bonera, and the word is that he is going to transform the summer arrival into the new Serginho.

While the recently-retired Brazilian, in his prime, operated the full length of the left flank, Pennant will be asked to perform the same task on the right where the Rossoneri have had problems ever-since Marcos Cafu ran out of steam a few seasons ago.

Maybe this age of impending doom and gloom will see other clubs follow suit and adopt a mix and match attitude rather than going straight for the finished product.

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Ronaldinho rumpus the straw that could break Kaka's back

2009-01-05T10:00:00Z

So 2009 is upon us and it's out with the old and in with the new in Serie A.

Ricky Kaka, for one, will be glad to see the back of 2008. The big question now is what will the New Year hold for the Brazilian superstar?

One thing is certain, with the way events have been unfolding at AC Milan, the spectre of Real Madrid and Chelsea will loom large once again.

Kaka fell to the curse of the Golden Ball after being named European Player of the Year in 2007: a loss of form compounded by niggling injury problems, tactical changes which saw him shunted out to the flank, and then losing his star status to a Barcelona reject.

Kaka puts on a brave face with Milan's new head boy

It has been the arrival of Ronaldinho at the San Siro and his subsequent benediction by everyone from Silvio Berlusconi downwards that could be the straw that breaks the camels back once and for all.

“I’d pay to watch Ronaldinho play anytime,” was just one of Berlusconi’s glowing appraisals of his new darling.

For all their public camaraderie, you could not wish to witness two different Brazilian characters, both on and off the pitch: the party man and the family guy, the show-boater and the pragmatist.

Kaka is probably still the best player on the planet and, at 26-years-old, is coming into his prime.

Milan set him on the road to where he is now, with his goals and phenomenal performances catapulting the Rossoneri back to the top of the world game.

As he has always said when asked about his future, “I’ll stay at Milan as long as our objectives are the same.”

"Beckham Schmeckham, he's only here for two months anyway..."

And it now has to be questioned whether both parties are still on the same page, particularly in the light of the effort and hubbub the club put into securing David Beckham for just two months.

Brand Becks, Brand Ronie, where does this leave Brand Kaka?

If Milan don’t make their best player feel wanted, the suitors from Madrid and London certainly will.

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The alternative Serie A(aaaargh) league table

2008-12-30T11:00:00Z

So another year comes tumbling to a end quicker than you can say "Filippo Inzaghi's offside" and Serie Aaaaargh! would like to bring 2008 to a close with its very own take on the Serie A table.

Six points ahead of Juventus and a further nine in front of Fiorentina and AC Milan ensure that there is no argument that Inter are the team of the season so far.

On top of that, Jose Mourinho’s men have not only scored the most goals, but conceded the fewest. The only blemish so far is that they may be a little too dependent on the maverick skills and goals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Juventus deserve their second place and despite losing to Inter are the only viable title rival going into the second half of the season. Claudio Ranieri has dug deep and built a dogged outfit that can still chip away at that deficit at the top.

Just two points outside the final Champions League spot, Napoli have been a joy to watch, especially at the San Paolo. If only they could recreate that form away from home – they've only chalked up two wins on the road – Edy Reja’s exciting young team could be a genuine top-four contender.

See Naples and die: Napoli's home sweet home

Another side whose home form have taken them within touching distance of the top-four is Genoa and in the princely Diego Milito they have the player of the season so far.

As annoying as Antonio Cassano in a strop, Catania have been another surprise and are starting to get under the skin of the top teams. Walter Zenga has turned the Sicilians into almost unbeatable at home and once again if they could only win away, then Europe beckons.

They got off to a terrible start to the campaign and then crashed out of the Champions League, but suddenly Fiorentina have found their dash and bravado that took the Tuscans to fourth last season.

If they stay consistent and keep providing Alberto Gilardino with goal-scoring chances then a repeat of last season is assured.

Congratulations to Atalanta, Cagliari and Siena who are never going to see their name in lights but have under their astute coaches caught some of the big names cold.

Milan may be fourth and taken the most points of any team at home, but having set out to challenge for the title, poor old Carlo Ancelotti has presided over some of the most inept performances from a Rossoneri side in many a long year – and then there has been the showboating of Ronaldinho and the David Beckham saga.

Lazio and Udinese flew out of the blocks but both have run out of steam of late. The Romans can still turn their season around if Delio Rossi can get his players to accept a revamped 4-4-2 formation whilst Udinese’s nosedive has been spectacular to say the least – one point in the last seven games is more like relegation form.

Sixth last season and now sixth-bottom, Sampdoria have demonstrated so far that they are nothing more than a one-man team, and when Cassano doesn’t turn it on Samp slump.

"Must I do everything myself?"

Who would have thought AS Roma would be pinning their hopes on a kind draw in the Champions League to save their season? A disastrous start was arrested by five consecutive league wins but going into the New Year, Luciano Spalletti’s team are nine points off fourth and need to hit the ground running.

Lecce, Bologna, Reggina and Chievo have struggled to varying degrees although Torino would not have pictured themselves in such a perilous situation and will be glad to see the back of 2008.

Here’s to 2009!

Serie Aaaaargh! alternative table

Inter
Juventus
Napoli
Genoa
Catania
Fiorentina
Atalanta
Cagliari
Siena
Lazio
Milan
Palermo
Lecce
Bologna
AS Roma
Udinese
Sampdoria
Torino
Reggina
Chievo

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Who's in the team of the (half) season?

2008-12-29T10:00:00Z

Too many players have flattered to deceive so far this season.

Injuries have played a major part, with the likes of Francesco Totti, Ricky Kaka, Gianluigi Buffon and Adrian Mutu a few of the big names who have only featured in fits and starts.

With this in mind, the Serie Aaaaargh! First XI for 2008 takes on a less than familiar look.

Goalkeeper: Marco Amelio has demonstrated that Italy should not fret over Buffon’s ailing health. The Palermo No.1 is big, strong and dominant – and as sly as a fox in a chicken coop when it comes to saving penalties. Best moment: swatting away Ronaldinho’s spot-kick.

Right-back: There is only one candidate and that is Mr Douglas Maicon. More mosh-pit than samba, the Brazilian is a force of nature who has suddenly discovered how to defend. But where he really excels is coming forward: with four goals, he's Inter’s second-top scorer.

Centre-back: This time last season, Walter Samuel’s career looked in ruins after snapping knee ligaments. However, the Argentine isn’t known as “The Wall” for nothing and a return to the Inter backline in November coincided with the Nerazzurri’s vice-like grip over their rivals.

Centre-back: As befits a religious fellow, Nicola Legrottaglie has been born again. For so long derided as the weak link in the Juventus defence, the 32-year-old has been as solid as a cathedral door for Claudio Ranieri.

Left-back: Always a tricky position at the best of times and with no outstanding candidates it’s Cristian Molinaro of Juventus who gets the nod. Naturally left-footed, he can whip in the odd decent cross, but it's the improvement in the defensive side of his game that's caught the eye.

Molinaro (left) and Legrottaglie: Credit where it's due

Right-midfield: Giuseppe Sculli is something of a late developer. Now 27, the Genoa man was tipped as a star of the future as a Juventus youth striker but converted to a wide position under Gian Piero Gasperini, and allies work-rate with an eye for goal, having netted six times so far.

Defensive midfield: Ivan Cambiasso does it all: covers back, passes, tackles and generally makes everything look so easy. The Argentine has overcome an early-season injury to keep Inter ticking over at the top of the table.

Attacking midfield: Cristiano Doni may be a throwback to a time when a fancy-dan was allowed to do what he pleased, but the Atalanta veteran has the experience to go with the touch and vision to turn any game. Comes with the added bonus of being as deadly from free-kicks as Alex del Piero or Ronaldinho.

Left-midfield: Marek Hamsik has eclipsed big names like Pavel Nedved and Clarence Seedorf out on the left and emerged as one of the most exciting talents in European football. Often arriving in the area from a deep-lying position, the 21-year-old is Napoli’s joint-top scorer with seven goals.

Hamsik: Models himself on Gary Lineker

Striker: Diego Milito has lived up his nickname of “The Prince” in Genoa, turning in a regal performance in each of his 15 league appearances to finish 2008 as Serie A joint-top scorer on 12 goals. Sheer class and a noble calmness in front of goal.

Striker: From "The Prince" to “The King”. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reigned over the first part of the season, not only with his spectacular goals but a new-found work ethic that has turned the Swede into a man of the people while at the same time regaining that imperious haughtiness that stands him out from the masses.

Coach: He came, he saw, he conquered. Jose Mourinho has shaken Serie A out of the inertia of recent seasons and only the Special One could manage such a special team. Thankfully, the Portuguese has toned down the sarcasm without losing that trademark self-satisfied smirk.

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Beckham's stylish Milan need to add substance

2008-12-22T13:00:00Z

Milan is synonymous with luxury and wealth – where else would the poor and homeless feast on beluga caviar* for Christmas?

So when the world’s most fashionable city welcomed the world’s most fashionable man, it was always going to be done with a certain amount of panache.

Dolce & Gabbana provided the bespoke club suit, to go with the 8,000-Euro-a-night presidential suite at the super-posh Four Seasons, while Mrs Beckham lunched with Giorgio Armani.

Sky Italia pulled their impressively curvaceous Sunday afternoon footballer presenter Ilaria D’Amico from whatever she gets up to on a Saturday evening to front a channel special, Hello Beckham.

Prepped to perfection on how to win over an Italian lady, Becks' first words were the obligatory bellissimo – a word to describe how wonderful and beautiful everything is and must be dropped into any conversation at least once when conversing with a signorina.

His new team-mates were equally smitten as they lined up to send their video greetings – most of them in English, apart from Ronaldinho, who mumbled something that could have been Spanish, Italian or Portuguese but sounded much along the lines of “can’t wait to hit the town with you.”

Becks rocks the Dennis The Menace look

The press conference didn't take long to deteriorate into one of those mind-numbing Italian Q&As, with Adriano Galliani outdoing any Just a Minute panellist by droning on without repetition, hesitation or deviation for what seemed like hours.

An array of sweater-wearing local hacks kept their British counterparts at bay as they attempted to outdo each other for question length. Becks’ eyes glazed over as he did his best to follow the overworked translator on a set of ill-fitting headphones.

However, being the consummate professional, he certainly won his hosts over as the missus sat demurely in the front row, but what the Milan fans will want to see is some substance beneath all this stylish veneer.

It’s all fine and dandy putting five past an Udinese side currently showing as much fight as a Christmas turkey but it’s different doing what Inter and Juventus are achieving – winning at places like Siena and Atalanta.

The top two were certainly helped by some iffy offsides this weekend but it’s beating the mid-to-lower-table sides away that generally seals the title.

Draws at Lecce and Torino and defeat at Palermo have helped leave Carlo Ancelotti’s men nine points off leaders Inter.

As we have seen with signing of Ronaldinho and the events of the last few days, Becks arrives at a club obsessed with image but Milan need more than just a passing fashion trend to put them back in scudetto contention again.

*In case you're wondering why the less fortunate will be tucking into posh fish-eggs over the festive period: it’s a consignment that was snatched by the police when they apprehended a group of smugglers and, rather than chuck it away, handed it out to charities in the city. Merry Christmas!

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Hungry Italians ready for full English

2008-12-19T15:30:00Z

Apparently, Italy has leapt ahead of the UK in terms of GNP and Serie A’s three Champions League representatives feel they will be in the money when they face the Premier League's rich list.

The Italy game has been lagging behind its English counterpart for far too long and now is the perfect moment to regain their position as the head honchos in Euroland.

Of course, when Inter take on Manchester United, it’s really Jose against Sir Alex and the Portuguese was the cat who got the cream – well that’s the façade he put on – when he met the press on Friday.

“My wish has come true,” he beamed. “We are very motivated, I want to face the best and Manchester [United] are certainly that.”

Of course, Inter's dire recent form in the competition will count for nothing come late February and United's attacking style plays perfectly into Italian hands.

"I'll get you next time, Penelope Pitstop"

It’s something La Gazzetta dello Sport's website highlighted under their headline: “No fear of the Devils.”

“A lesser opponent may have seen the Nerazzurri fall into their lazy ways but Manchester [United] will sharpen Mourinho’s senses.”

This is just the sort of occasion for which Massimo Moratti hired Mourinho in the first place and the showdown with the English champions will define the Special One’s season.

Claudio Ranieri was another chirpy chap on hearing of a return to Stamford Bridge and Juventus are more than well equipped to deal with Chelsea, who have already lost heavily once to Italian opposition in the shape of AS Roma.

“I am looking forward to seeing how Italy gets on against the money men,” he said. However, wily old Claudio quickly added: “I can’t say I am too happy.”

If there were smiles of contentment from the Inter and Juve camps, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti was absolutely beaming with joy at the news of having drawn Arsenal out of the bowl. “We can face the game with no fear,” was the Tuscan’s up-and-at-'em reaction.

That can certainly be the mantra for all three Italian clubs through the rest of the winter months before tackling the best that England has to offer.

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Cool reaction to San Siro experience

2008-12-18T10:00:00Z

Never let it be said that Serie Aaaaargh! isn't generous.

In a show of festive cheer, it purchased six tickets for AC Milan’s final UEFA Cup group game against Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

Delving into the Christmas fund to dredge up 12 euro, it was to treat a group of underprivileged North Americans who were on the final leg of a tour that had taken in some long-lost backwater in eastern Europe – had they never seen the film Hostel? – and were now heading home via Milan and Paris.

Yes, 12 one-euro coins for six tickets! So desperate were Milan to create any sort of atmosphere in the San Siro that they were literally stopping people in the street and cajoling them into coming along to what was basically a dead rubber.

"2 euro a ticket? Against Wolves? I think I'll pass"

Having never been to a soccer game in their lives, our ever-enthusiastic cousins from across the Atlantic couldn’t wait to see what all the fuss was about.

A bit of back-story would help enlighten them. “The San Siro is known as La Scala of soccer" (sorry, 'football' only led to puzzled looks).

“La Scala? That’s so cool.”

“Yes, but we aren’t actually going to La Scala.”

“Cool.”

Oh dear, this was turning into one of those evenings.

“David Beckham is going to play for Milan.”

“Wow, cool. He’s so cool.”

There followed some Marco Borriello-like swooning over Becks from the females in the group.

Digressing for a moment, poor old Marco is obviously a confused young man at the moment, having revealed he can’t wait to see ‘Golden Balls’ in all his glory while at the same time dumping the stunning Belen Rodriquez, who he believes cuckolded him when she appeared on Italy’s version of “I'm a Celebrity... get me out of her[e].”

Borriello: "Is that a banana in his pocket or is he just pleased to see us?"

But back to the real world, and our intrepid group headed off to the San Siro, although on arrival we could have been forgiven for thinking we had turned up on the wrong day.

Vast swathes of empty seats greeted the footy novices. So this is European Cup competition. Roll on the Europa Cup.

Thank goodness for the Americans and their ability to enjoy themselves whatever the circumstances.

“They are playing Wolfsburg.”

“Wolves – burg?” Cue howls of laughter.

“They are German.”

“Cool.”

The Milan players unfortunate enough to be roped into running around on a misty evening in front of least five people who hadn’t a clue who they were included Philippe Senderos, who lasted all of three minutes until he actually had to kick the ball.

One hefty hoof later and the lumbering Swiss was stood-stock still, clutching his back before hobbling off.

Meanwhile, the Americans took a shine to Andrea Pirlo – mainly because he always seems to have the ball and has really long hair.

“He could be in a band.”

“Who’s the over-excitable girl?”

“Oh, that’s Filippo Inzaghi.”

"I stayed onside..."

And so it went on. A request for something to eat only garlands the usual appetising fare found at Italian football grounds.

It’s like being at the zoo: you wave frantically and a surly ‘keeper’ who hasn’t washed this side of Thanksgiving lobs you a bag of nuts or a box of crackers.

Italian food is the best in the world, unfortunately Italians only eat it at home or in restaurants.

“Don’t eat too many nuts, we’re going for pizza later.”

“Cool.”

Let’s hope Beckham is this easily pleased when he hits town on Saturday.

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Why Italy's finest kids are being blocked

2008-12-17T09:30:00Z

As Adriano staggers back to Brazil - future uncertain - another South American arrives in Milan.

Thiago Silva completed his move to AC Milan on Monday and as the defender is ineligible to actually play, he hightailed it back across the Atlantic after attending the club’s Christmas dinner.

With the transfer window about to open, no doubt there will be plenty of other foreign players winging their way to Serie A next month.

A fair share of these stranieri will become first-team regulars, leaving home-grown talent to either sit out the rest of the campaign on the bench or find another club.

What's the Motta with you, hey?

Looking at the first XI of each of the 22 clubs in the top-flight in the early part of the season, there were only 95 Italians guaranteed a starting place among the 242 positions available.

Back in 2005/06 that figure was 114 and the following season it leapt to 136 although that was a bit of an anomaly as Juventus, who would have had a high percentage of foreigners, had been banished to Serie B.

The fall was pretty startling last season, with 105 Italian-born players in the starting line-ups and, on current evidence, a local in the team is going to be as rare as an end-of-year tax return.

AS Roma, for example, have always been considered the most ‘Italian’ of the top sides, developing local talent from Giuseppe Giannini through to Francesco Totti and more lately Daniele de Rossi and Alberto Aquilani.

De Rossi to Aquilani: "They're coming!"

There was a time when Giallorossi fans dreamt of the club following the Basque model of Athletic Bilbao: fielding only players with Roman blood flowing through their veins.

However, forget those born within chipping distance of the Colisseum; over the last two seasons Italians at the club have lost a third of the starting places to imports.

World Cup winner and all-round Roma legend Bruno Conti is well aware that the right balance must be found.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, he admitted that the squad had greater depth, having brought in Julio Baptista, Jeremy Menez and John Arne Riise (some mistake there) in the summer, but invariably it would slow the development of youth team players.

Conti, in the days of stringent import limits

“We don’t want to be in a position where a youngster feels he won’t get a chance here,” warned the former winger and current sporting director of the club.

Well, it has already happened.

In the last few seasons the following names have all continued their football education away from the capital: Gianluca Curci, Cesare Bovo, Simone Pepe, Daniele Galloppa and Stefano Okaka.

Okaka is back in the capital, but has only made one league start; Pepe has gone on to become an Italy international playing for Udinese while Bovo is now a mainstay in the heart of the Palermo defence and is a good 10 years younger than Christian Panucci.

Juventus are another club who in the past have been able to unearth gems from all points in the peninsula – although considering what the Old Lady was up to in the Luciano Moggi era, it may not have been that difficult to prise a youngster away from a rival.

Three of those young talents are at least on the fringes of becoming regulars and two of them played their part in the demolition of an ageing Milan, who may as well abolish their youth programme, with Paolo Maldini the only one to come through in eons.

But back to Juve, and youth team products Claudio Marchisio and Paolo de Ceglie were only brought back from loan spells at Empoli and Siena as cover in central midfield and along the left flank.

De Ceglie: "Aiiee!!"

Injury has given the 22-year-olds their chance, while Sebastian Giovinco is being groomed to take over from Alessandro del Piero, although he remained on the bench on Sunday as the old master turned on the style.

The positive thing is that when Giovinco does get his opportunity he will be stepping into the boots of an Italian. But for many a local lad it seems that situation is all too rare.

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Milan begging for Beckham after trouncing in Turin

2008-12-15T12:00:00Z

Things are now getting so desperate at AC Milan that the fallen giants of Serie A cannot wait until David Beckham parks up at the San Siro.

Anything will do to lift the mood, which is currently as depressing as the weather which hangs over the Rossoneri camp following Sunday evening’s 4-2 mauling at Juventus.

It wasn’t as if Juve looked like genuine title-contenders - although they thoroughly deserved their victory - it was how woefully inept Carlo Ancelotti’s side were in every area of the pitch.

Thwack! Amauri pops in Juve's fourth

The one thing that Becks will bring from the sunny climes of California, apart from a winning smile, is a bit of good old-fashioned grit and determination.

Claudio Ranieri’s men have that spirit by the pasta-dish load and it’s hard to think that just a few months ago there were calls for the coach’s head on a plate.

All in all, it was without doubt the most exciting, drama-filled weekend of the season so far... a throwback to the heady days when Italy held the title of “the most beautiful championship in the world.”

41 goals in total – a record for the campaign so far, with the top-two scoring four apiece, a last-gasp win for AS Roma and the comeback of the season by Lazio against Udinese.

Inter may have stuck four past Chievo but the league’s bottom side made Jose Mourinho’s work their little cotton socks off.

Having said that Zlatan Ibrahimovic must have tuned into Barcelona-Real Madrid on Saturday night and decided that anything Leo Messi can do, he can do better.

The same goes for Francesco Totti, against Cagliari, who caressed a chip of such tenderness that there wasn’t a dry eye in the Stadio Olimpico when the ball gently kissed the top of the bar.

Mirko Vucinic’s goal-celebrations after netting the winner were less beguiling: the Montenegrin stripping down to his shorts before racing off like the office drunk at the Christmas party.

He was having such a stinker that he can be forgiven getting all tired and emotional.

Vucinic goes all gooey-eyed after grabbing winner

The sky-blue half of the capital did a Liverpool at Udinese, where having trailed 3-0 they clawed their way back through sheer force of will, and a bit of Goran Pandev/Mauro Zarate magic.

Equally enchanting were Antonio Cassano, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Adriano Mutu and Alberto Giardino who - all twinkled-toed and magnificent in the wide range of climatic conditions - inflicted their wrath upon grounds up and down the country.

What a shame then that Adriano isn’t around to enjoy the party.

Banished from training for apparently being tired and emotional after a big night out with Maicon Douglas, the thick-headed Brazilian slinked out of the country on Saturday, bound for a flight back to South America.

It’s doubtful we’ll see him dancing on the tables in Milan again and the latest word is that Inter are waiting for Manchester City’s new backers to produce a wad of cash, or if Chelsea are dim enough, to use him as a makeweight to reunite Didier Drogba with Jose Mourinho.

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Ancelotti out to get even with Juventus

2008-12-12T14:00:00Z

Carlo Ancelotti in Father Christmas guise would certainly be an arresting sight in the lead up to the Christmas break.

With his ever-expanding girth and drooping jowls, the AC Milan boss would play the part of old Santa to perfection.

Speaking to satellite broadcaster Sky Sports Italia, cuddly Carlo revealed that if he had a sack of goodies sitting in front of him it would contain: an appointment with the barber for Ronaldinho, a pen for Jose Mourinho and a Milan shirt with No.10 on the back for Alessandro Del Piero – still his favourite player, apparently.

"Great goal... now get a bloody hair cut!"

What he won’t be handing out is the gift of three points to Claudio Ranieri this weekend.

It is a meeting between Juventus and the Rossoneri that neither side can afford to lose or the fat lady could well be belting out a ditty or two on where the title is heading.

As it stands, Juve and Milan are currently six points behind Inter who are scheduled to have a kick-around against bottom side Chievo.

In Turin, it’s much more serious and, on a personal level, especially for Ancelotti who was never accepted as one of their own by the Bianconeri followers when he was in charge.

He was fired for 'only' finishing second and even six years down the road that bruising experience of his time in charge of the Old Lady still gets to someone who, on the whole, is a very affable fellow.

Just this summer when the sides met in a friendly, he flicked the Juve fans the one-fingered salute as they baited him mercilessly about his ample appetite.

No doubt a considerable section of the home support will once again be asking 'who ate all the pies', but he has promised he won't turn the other cheek this time around.

The sight of Carlo’s ever-expanding frame waddling towards his tormentors would make for strangely compelling viewing.

Milan seem to have come up with a pressie of sorts for their coach although he won’t be able to unwrap it until next season.

It’s another Brazilian in the shape of Thiago Silva from Fluminense, who unbelievably does not possess a European passport.

Thiago Silva: Next stop... somewhere in Italy

So with the Rossoneri overstocked with non-EU members, the 24-year-old will more than likely be loaned out to Sampdoria or Fiorentina come January.

Milan have also been linked with William Gallas, but the ever-reliable Tuttosport claim that now they have cover in central defence it leaves the path clear for Juventus to swoop in and sign the Arsenal defender in the New Year.

But all such issues will be put to one side for the main event come Sunday evening when Carlo sets out to feast on those who have previously mocked him.

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Car doors & comedy defending leave Jose with a headache

2008-12-10T12:00:00Z

Jose Mourinho has been sporting an ugly scar on his forehead over the last couple of days.

Those imagining that a disgruntled Inter reserve - take your pick - had finally cracked and smacked his boss over the head with a boot will be disappointed to learn that the Portuguese had merely bumped his head getting out of his car.

It looks pretty painful, but it can't be anywhere near as bad as having to watch his side labour once again in Europe.

"I slipped and fell, I mean I banged it on the car, err, the dog ate it..."

On display was yet another comical performance from the defence, who ran around like a group of school-kids on their first trip away from home.

While another concern is that the team has become over-reliant on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to provide any spark of individuality.

The Swede was left out of the starting line-up for the first time in 20 games. And it was only when the big man came on that we saw any of the verve and high-tempo approach which has been such a feature of Inter's domestic dominance.

But the Champions League is an entirely different playground and while the majority of Serie A can be easily bullied into submission, that isn’t the case with the rest of Europe.

Having lost at home to Panathinaikos and now away at Werder Bremen - hardly two heavyweights - Mourinho must now wait to face one of the group winners in the last 16.

That might be relatively far off in February but until then all he has to go on is swatting the locals around.

Chelsea and Mourinho old boy Pizarro sends Inter packing

Roberto Mancini found himself in a similar situation last season as his side raced away with the title, only to come off the rails against Liverpool in the last 16.

The ever-confident Mourinho believes his men will be at the height of their powers come the first buds of springs, but will that be good enough if they draw Barcelona or Manchester United?

A better bet for Italian glory lies with AS Roma who finished top of their group for the first time and have the added incentive, if one is needed, of the final being in Rome.

Even Juventus look better equipped for Europe, with their counter-attacking approach, so for Mourinho it may well be more than just car doors that end up giving him a headache.

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Why Italian coaches go back for seconds

2008-12-09T08:00:00Z

They say you should never go back, but in Italy coaches have little choice but to return to the scene of their crimes.

It’s very unlikely that a Serie A coach would ever send their president a text message with a curt “I am off,” and – Roberto Mancini’s meltdown apart – there are very few public resignations.

Instead, no matter how dire the situation becomes, the current ‘Mister’ will hang on and on until his employer informs the world at large that he’s having said coach around for a little chat.

Even then, it’s not so clear-cut as there are no big pay-offs and "on your way now" – not where Italian contract law is concerned: you can’t just decide to one sack someone on the spot.

So like many before him, the latest managerial casualty, Torino’s Gianni de Biasi, has been sent home with his current contract paid into his bank account as if nothing was amiss.

"If anyone needs me, I'll be in my shed"

It’s a bit like having a coach in reserve – one who got the club into a mess, but who can be called back at a moment’s notice if the new man fails to deliver the goods.

Thus we have the situation of Torino president Urbano Cairo summoning Walter Novellino from Milan to Turin on Monday morning to replace the man who replaced him.

Novellino departed Toro in less than happy circumstances first time around and no doubt there was a groan of "Oh no, not again" from the players, who knew something was afoot when they turned up for training only to be told it had been cancelled.

Let us not forget that De Biasi has been in charge of Torino three times while Francesco Guidolin keeps an overnight bag ready at all times just in case he has to take charge of Palermo for a morale-draining fifth time.

Guidolin: "Guess who's back?"

Why do they do it? Well, it’s like having a job where you are on call all the time but depending on how well the current incumbent is doing, you can either fill your time with a few spots on the numerous footy shows or take an extended holiday with your nearest and dearest: a mobile phone.

No doubt ego plays a big part, and the hope-springs-eternal belief that "This time I'll do better". But on the whole very few have ever turned things around second, third, fourth or however many times they trudge back on to the training ground to face the same players who couldn’t stand the sight of them in the first place.

They could always find another club – but then, why bother when you are still being paid a tidy sum? Don’t expect to see Mancini back on the bench for another four years unless it all goes pear-shaped for Jose Mourinho.

Then, who knows, maybe we’ll hear Massimo Moratti uttering that get-out clause so loved by club owners, that "everyone deserves a second chance" and "let bygones be bygones" while at the same time finally getting some work out of someone who he has been paying for the last couple of years anyway.

There's always a second act in Italian football, it’s just that they are never worth watching. But then again, Toro fans already know that.

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'SuperMenez' magic silences French flop skeptics

2008-12-08T10:00:00Z

Jeremy has finally spoken.

It looked odds on that Jeremy Menez would land the title of 'flop of the season so far' as we head towards the winter break, but the plucky French lad finally answered his ever-growing band of critics at the weekend.

A cavalier performance along the flanks for AS Roma at Chievo, culminated in the perfect coupe de grace with a stunning angled volley to give the Romans their fourth consecutive league win.

Take that critics! Menez wallops home against Chievo

In the past, probably sometime before reality television came along, a player was given time, occasionally as much as a season, to prove himself.

It happened to other noteworthy imports from across the Alps such as Michel Platini and Zinedine Zidane.

Both took at least a campaign to settle into the rigours of Italian football after moves from the relative backwater of France's Ligue 1.

No such luck for the former Monaco wingman who was expected to take flight from the moment he took to the pitch on the opening day of the season, with that 12million euro plus price-tag strung around his neck.

He had even been handed the No.24 shirt worn by Marco Delvecchio, known by one and all as ‘SuperMarco,’ thanks mainly to his goalscoring exploits in the Rome derbies.

The headline writers have had to wait some time to hand the 'Super' title over to the new boy and they finally had their chance on Saturday evening.

“SuperMenez fires Roma,” probably wasn’t worth getting up extra early on a holiday weekend to grab La Gazzetta dello Sport before the newsstand called it a day before noon.

However, the way the Roma players celebrated with their new-found hero meant the 21-year-old will be saving the press cuttings.

His goal was also a timely reminder to the folks back home that young Jerry is not another over-hyped French youngster who would be better off skipping past defences from Lille and Cannes.

Roma face Bordeaux on Tuesday in what is essentially a Champions League qualification play-off and, talking of French flops, in the ranks for the visitors will be Yoann Gourcuff who arrived at AC Milan with such fanfare that he was nicknamed 'Zizou II' by the press.

Gourcuff: Insipid in Italy, flashy in France

He turned out to be more like Steve Zissou, sinking without a trace before washing ashore somewhere off the south-west coast of France.

So impressive have the 22-year-old’s performances been this season, both on the domestic front and in Europe, that he is in danger of seeing his career nose-dive again, with reports that Carlo Ancelotti is ready to bring him back from his loan spell in January.

No doubt he’ll have a stinker at the Stadio Olimpico to ensure that doesn’t happen, but for young Jeremy, who had been hinting all week that he may jump ship, it looks like he’s here to stay.

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Serie A previews: Kaka, crackers, Kakha & All Blacks

2008-12-05T12:00:00Z

Ricky Kakà caught offside as the lone striker, grumpy Ronaldinho elbowing an opponent in the face, Kakha Kaladze stood stock still in the centre of midfield…

This was a snapshot of the once mighty Milan on Wednesday evening as they crashed out of the Italian Cup at home to Lazio.

Carlo Ancelotti is looking more and more like Deputy Dawg as he watches his little ‘varmints’ descend into an incredible free-fall, and in another few weeks they won’t even be able to give themselves that self-important title 'World Champions'.

In short, the Rossoneri need a bit of inspiration. And who better to give a few tips on battering the opposition to a pulp than the members of the New Zealand rugby team?

Milan and the All Blacks share the same sponsor hence the sight of the pretty boys of Italian football shivering in their match kit in front of the giants of the oval-ball game.

A puzzled-looking Kaka posed alongside his rugby equivalent Dan Carter before the Brazilian attempted a couple of place-kicks with the alien sphere.

Kaka and the All Blacks Dan Carter examine their balls

Paolo Maldini didn’t look too keen on the scrum, having had his luscious locks perfectly quaffed for the occasion, but, as you might expect, Rino Gattuso couldn’t wait to add a bit of realism to the photo op.

Not even a meaty swat of the hand from All-Black captain Richie McGaw could dampen the feisty midfielder’s enthusiasm for a bit of rough and tumble.

The Rossoneri will need to start rolling over the opposition again if they are to prevent themselves becoming also-rans before the first cracker is pulled at the club’s Christmas party next week.

The thought of being the backdrop for the David Beckham fitness show would be too much to bear so it’s paramount that three points are picked up against Catania at the weekend.

In the past, you would have said: “Catania at the San Siro, no worries.” Not now though and Walter Zenga’s cheeky boys, if you excuse the rugby-themed pun, are no pushovers.

It’s a pivotal weekend in the league. With Inter holding a six-point lead at the top, everyone will be hoping that Lazio can at least hold Jose Mourinho’s ever-improving side to a draw.

Juventus should be too strong at Lecce whose southern kindness to the Turin side is well known (they've lost seven out of 12 meetings at the Via Del Mare).

Meanwhile, a much-needed dash of colour will be provided by the Genoa derby.

The Genoa ultras are probably the closest Italy gets to the sort of loyal, through thick and thin support associated with British fans.

The Luigi Ferraris is also a real football stadium although 'The Derby of the Lantern' will have no bearing on the top of the table, it promises to be played out in a real cup tie atmosphere.

It also brings together the Prince and the Street Urchin, with the league’s top goalscorer, Genoa's Diego Milito, coming up against Sampdoria's Antonio Cassano (fresh from the most hilarious football autobiography this decade).

Cassano: Lady friend not pictured

Serie Aaaaargh! is backing the Prince and a victory for the Rossoblu to go with Inter sneaking past Lazio, Milan drawing with Catania, Juve victorious at Lecce, ditto Roma at Chievo and Napoli back to winning ways at home to Siena.

Followed by Ronaldinho pulling at least one cracker at that Christmas party.

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How Mourinho won over the Italians

2008-12-03T15:30:00Z

It’s taken the Italian media five long months, but they have finally, grudgingly accepted that Jose Mourinho is actually good for Serie A.

“SuperMou,” headlined La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday before going on to wax lyrical about the Inter coach’s growing influence over the domestic game.

Mourinho’s strength, they said, was his ability to amend his approach to meet the demands of the ultra-competitive Italian league.

“He loves to play with two wingers but it wasn’t working,” argued their editorial, no doubt angling for an exclusive interview in the near future. “However, he must be credited for then employing a more pragmatic approach.”

"How do you like me now?"

What has really impressed the locals is that the Portuguese isn't all hot air and controversial soundbites after all – he’s hard-nosed but realistic.

They admire that in a coach. Just look at Fabio Capello: not particularly liked, but revered for the way he adapts to changing circumstances.

Having dispensed of widemen Amantino Mancini and Ricardo Quaresma for a midfield trio of Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Sulley Muntari, the Nerazzurri have taken maximum points from the last five league games – and are now six points ahead at the top of the table.

That solid midfield platform has enabled Mourinho to be somewhat more creative further up the pitch, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no longer an isolated figure.

Summer reject Dejan Stankovic has been transformed into a free-roaming midfielder behind Ibra and either Ricardo Cruz or Adriano – both rehabilitated into the grand scheme of things after facing the boss’s ire.

The Brazilian, in particular, has cut out his childish behaviour and knuckled down to act like a professional, and these efforts have been awarded. Unfortunately, teenager Mario Balotelli has not followed suit and a lack of effort in training has seen the young sensation sent to his room until he bucks up his ideas.

Muntari offers a lift in return

Mourinho’s refreshing approach has also rubbed off on a few other forward-thinking coaches – Luciano Spalletti being the most notable. The AS Roma boss is full of admiration for his rival, proclaiming him the catalyst for change.

“The way he has conducted himself has given the rest of us strength – expressing, as he has done, his thoughts and tactics in a direct manner,” he told Gazzetta.

Italian football has always been a bastion of conservatism, but if there is one man who can beat the system then it’s the outsider who has become new darling of the press.

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The weekend PlayStation saved Serie A... sort of

2008-12-01T14:00:00Z

These days it seems that to best prepare for facing world class opposition, you might as well dispense of all the old coaching manuals and buy a PlayStation.

It certainly worked for Marco Amelia, who has been honing his penalty-saving skills by watching Ronaldinho on his games console.

After saving a spot-kick from the Brazilian on Sunday evening, the Palermo goalkeeper claimed he knew where the Milan man would put the ball just by watching his run-up.

“It was the same as his PlayStation figure,” he revealed. “The way he ran towards the ball was the same and when I saw him opening his foot I knew it was going to the near post.”

A young Jurgen pioneers the method using FIFA '88

Simple really. It’s just a shame that the rest of the Milan side can't play like their game console counterparts.

Another dismal away performance, in what was a display even more embarrassing than the one at Portsmouth three nights before, now leaves the ever-more hangdog-looking Carlo Ancelotti six points adrift of our old friend Jose and Inter.

But who needs to go on about the rubbish Rossoneri when there are so many positives to take from the weekend’s action?

Serie A may have slipped down the popularity stakes behind the Premiership and La Liga but the Italian game looks in rude health judging by the action on the pitch.

Serie Aaaaargh! braved the snow and weekend lunatics, sorry, motorists escaping the icy north, for a trip to the Eternal City to watch AS Roma against Fiorentina.

Inter-Napoli may have been the game of the weekend, providing three excellent goals and more backheels than the missus closing the door laden down with the weekly shopping, but you would be hard-pressed to find a more enchanting sight than that provided by the 22-plus subs in the Olympic Stadium.

Mrs Mourinho shows the Inter boys how it's done

The record books may read 1-0 to Roma but it was, as the old chant goes, like watching Brazil. Brazil 1970 versus Brazil 1982, that is.

So sublime were the touches, so fleet of foot were the players and so intricate was the movement that it should go down as a masterclass in footballing etiquette.

There was Francesco Totti and Adrian Mutu trying to out-do each other with the most audacious pass or backheel whenever hemmed in, Mirko Vucinic and Alberto Santana tap-dancing their way down the flanks and when anyone got a sight on goal both Alexandre Doni and Sebastien Frey were at their majestic best.

This was the weekend when it was a pleasure to watch Italian football, and it was Totti who, in the end, made the difference, with a rasping drive that not even the beefy Frey could repel. The Giallorossi are now on 17 points, seven off the final Champions League spot, and with a game in hand.

The way things are going, with Lazio, Napoli and Udinese suddenly unable to buy a win, it shouldn’t be too long before the top four places have a more familiar look to them.

"No video game can stop me, not even Donkey Kong!"

Banishing the early winter blues was another PlayStation favourite, Alessandro del Piero, who netted his 250th goal for Juventus during the demolition of Reggina in snowbound Turin.

No doubt goalkeepers up and down the country will be putting the latest footy computer game on their Christmas list for some inside tips on stopping the little man.

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Pompey's forward thinking fictitious to Serie A

2008-11-28T11:00:00Z

It’s a similar flight time from Milan to Portsmouth or Palermo, but a world away in terms of football culture.

Carlo Ancelotti’s boys 2-0 down in Sicily with six-minutes remaining would more than likely remain 2-0. If not, home coach Davide Ballardini would be heading for the exit door.

The air would have been sucked out of the game as soon as the second goal had gone in, with all method of 'professional' ploys utilised: players falling over and remaining grounded, tactical substitutions, the ball taking an age to reappear whenever it went out.

There was no witnessing such questionable activities at Fratton Park last night as the home side continued to flood forward with little regard for the basics of defending or even dropping the tempo a notch or two.

Pippo breaks Pompey hearts in injury-time

And it’s this approach that makes English football so popular with Italians – as is US sitcom Friends.

It may be highly-amusing and quite addictive viewing but it’s a world that holds no relation to reality.

In the real world of Serie A, there is little chance of ever seeing the names of Nelson Dida, Philippe Senderos, Luca Antonini and Giuseppe Favalli on a Milan team-sheet at the same time.

However, you could see that the supposed strutting pin-ups of Italian football were actually enjoying themselves.

No one tried to kick Ricky Kaka all over the pitch and Filippo Inzaghi didn’t even fall over once although Andriy Shevchenko must have had some terrible Chelsea flashbacks the way he ran around looking for someone to pass him the ball.

Sheva struggles to impress on return to England

The game did highlight the lack of depth running through the Milan squad and, above all, the need to find a central defender has become critical.

Thiago Silva has already been mentioned as has William Gallas, but Philippe Mexes of AS Roma could well be the man to move to Milan.

Landing quality will only happen if the cash is splashed which will only come to pass if Silvio Berlusconi sells off his greatest asset.

As it stands, you would get more for Kaka than Alitalia and only a few days ago the Brazilian was cosying-up to the UK media, telling them how much he liked English football.

After witnessing first-hand the acres of green space he would get to run amok in the Premier League, the delights of Eastlands may not seem so far fetched.

Now that could be the greatest storyline since Ross got off with Rachel.

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Inter's wilting winger can't handle jeers and sneers

2008-11-27T11:00:00Z

Jose Mourinho cannot bring himself to say a bad word about Ricardo Quaresma... well not in public anyway.

While he continually lambasts the likes of Adriano, Julio Cruz and the moody teen Mario Balotelli, he goes all misty-eyed when it comes to his fellow countryman.

Another dismal 45 minutes from the winger, this time against Panathinaikos during Wednesday’s Champions League kick-about, brought a defence from the coach that had 'teacher’s pet' written all over it.

“He did well enough but he knows he can better,” claimed ‘Mr Softy’ before making general sweeping statements that everyone had let themselves down in the 1-0 defeat to mediocre Greeks.

One attack, one goal – that’s the allure of European Cup competition.

Quaresma: Tricks, flicks, stepovers... but no end product

Quaresma was the one Mourinho wanted all summer and when he finally persuaded Massimo Moratti to initially part with something in the region of 19million euro, Inter fans were rubbing their hands with glee.

But judging by the reaction the former Porto man received last night, when he came as a substitute, the San Siro public have all but washed their hands of the poor man’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

All twinkling footwork which doesn’t actually go anywhere, he immediately endeared himself to the fans by playing one of his trade-mark outside-of-the-foot passes straight to an opponent.

While Zlatan Ibrahimovic has knuckled down and works for the good of the team, Quaresma still thinks he’s out messing around in the playground.

It was all downhill from the first slip-up as the groans turned to boos, to howls of derision with every mis-placed pass, lack of control and, in the end, all-round ineptitude.

Mourinho complained that his side only perform well when the pressure is on, a bit like the man himself, but young Ricky just wilts when those nasty Nerrazzuri fans get on his back.

'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me' may have to muttered by Mourinho to soothe his player’s ever-so fragile ego.

Even Luis Figo looks set to leap ahead of Quaresma in the selection stakes.

The veteran has been out injured with that, once-trendy, third-metatarsal fracture, but has kept himself busy as the frontman for such a wide-range of domestic appliances that there can’t be much room left in the Figo household to store them all.

"So, what is it I'm plugging this time?"

Maybe, he’ll give his under-the-weather team-mate a toaster to cheer him up.

As for Jose’s other buys...

Amantino Mancini: Was really a Roberto Mancini target but negotiations were so advanced that Mourinho had to take the winger. Much like Quaresma, the Brazilian has been a flop and his former club AS Roma look the real winners from this deal.

Sulley Muntari: Mourinho wanted Frank Lampard but the physical Ghanaian has won over the doubters and has proved to be the key on the left-side of midfield. Jose’s very-own Michael Essien so a definite hit.

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Milan's missing men poop on Pompey's party

2008-11-26T10:00:00Z

Paolo Maldini’s glittering career will remain incomplete... he will never play at Fratton Park.

The legendary defender failed to board the flight for Southampton this morning with the rest of the squad.

Although Portsmouth fans may never get the chance to see the great man in the flesh, it’s probably for the best as he is no longer the dashing and commanding figure of yesteryear.

In fact, his absence may have done the 40-year-old a favour.

We have already witnessed the sight of Torino’s Rolando Bianchi, of all people, skipping past the old boy on Sunday and the thought of Peter Crouch doing the same would be far too painful to watch.

"Crouch? Sod that, I'm staying in Milan..."

The Rossoneri are well aware that this is probably Portsmouth's most glamorous fixture ever so, apart from Maldini, a full squad headed off from chilly Malpensa airport.

However, just how many of the 'superstars' will take to the pitch at Fratton Park is another matter.

Less slick Samba skills and more Premier League rejects... Philippe Senderos on the bench and Mathieu Flamini in from the start, and let's not forget Andriy Shevchenko.

Further comic value will be added by Nelson Dida whose last visit to the UK ended with the goalkeeper being brutally tickled under the chin by a Celtic fan.

"Wallop! What do you mean we're shooting the other way?"

Watching Ronaldinho warm-up may be worth the entrance fee alone for some, even if he doesn't feature. But the Pompey faithful should not despair too much.

Ricky Kaka will play a part, if not the whole 90 minutes, as God’s own footballer is suspended for Sunday’s league encounter at Palermo having turned sinner in the eyes of the referees this season, picking up four yellow cards already.

Carlo Ancelotti has one eye on the weekend and he knows he cannot afford another winless trip unless he wants to see Inter disappear over the hill and far away before the end of the year is even out.

So Milan are likely to line-up thus: Dida; Zambrotta, Bonera, Favalli, Antonini; Flamini, Emerson, Ambrosini; Kaka; Shevchenko, Inzaghi.

It may be a long way from the heady days of the Champions League but at least the players will get the chance to play in a full stadium, after their last outing in the UEFA Cup saw a paltry 20,000 turn up at the San Siro for the tie against Braga.

In other Milan-related news, reports are surfacing that the club will make a bid to sign William Gallas in January.

"Fancy replacing me? It'll never last at Arsenal..."

At 31, he’s the perfect age, but it’s highly unlikely that the moody Frenchman will arrive as Milan will need to spend big to land their number one target Thiago Silva in the summer.

And who do they face competition from for the Fluminese defender? Inter, of course.

In the meantime, any Maldini fans in the UK who desire a final glimpse of their hero should book a trip to Milan post-haste.

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Football feast serves up mixed fortunes for Milanese

2008-11-24T14:00:00Z

Serie Aaaaargh! took the opportunity to watch the Inter-Juventus dust-up in the company of two couples from opposing camps.

The city of Milan was the venue, where everyone supports Inter, Milan or Juventus, with a smattering of Napoli and Cagliari die-hards lurking in the service industry.

With icy blasts hitting northern Italy and due to the fact that demand for tickets, for once, had outstripped supply, this peace-making mission would take place in the comfort of a restaurant.

The establishment was packed with hungry patrons, enjoying fine pasta dishes and liberal doses of fortified wine.

However, it was fare at the San Siro that held everyone’s attention although a bit of Juve-baiting did threaten at one stage to derail the meat course.

Sulley Muntari saves Serie Aaaaargh! a fat food bill

There was certainly plenty at stake, so to speak, with the vanquished paying for dinner and Serie Aaaaargh! feeling a little short-changed at the prospect of footing the bill in the event of a draw

It was case of “please let there be a winner,” throwing neutrality out the window when Sulley Muntari finally put ahead the champs ahead.

Up until then the evening had been more note-worthy for the colourful language of the diners along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s inability to put the ball in the net.

The Italians call it “eating a goal” when a players misses a sitter and the Swede choked on two clear-cut chances.

It’s moments like this that keep Ibra from being a genuine candidate for the Golden Ball despite all the protestations coming from Massimo Moratti.

Good-humoured gloating followed over coffee and the odd limoncello or two, but there was plenty to digest in the press on Sunday, with Corriere dello Sport catching the mood of the previous evening perfectly.

“Inter, what a party!”

Tuttosport, of course, took the defeat with it’s usual good grace. “Lucky goal gives Inter win” was one was one such one-eyed offering.

It was certainly a strange goal and Muntari, whom Serie Aaaaargh! would be happy to buy a coffee any day, had the good grace to admit he had been a lucky so and so.

However, what was Juve goalkeeper Alex Manninger doing waving to an invisible friend as Muntari’s mis-kick from six yards rolled past him?

The former Arsenal man did attempt some sort of explanation. “Ibrahimovic’s shot was going wide but Muntari popped out of nowhere and we all thought it was offside.”

Hmmm, well, that “we” would have been you Alex as the rest of your team-mates were left aghast at your ineptitude.

That left AC Milan to keep Inter’s lead in check on Sunday evening and, seeing as it was Torino, a pizza in front of the telly with a couple of Rossoneri fans felt appropriate.

Watching Milan playing away from home is a bit like eating fast food: it looks tasty but ultimately you will be left feeling unsatisfied.

Rosina penalty denies Rossoneri a 'Milan-Turin' double

Carlo Ancelotti’s men don’t have the appetite for holding on to a lead against the lesser sides, conceding a late equaliser at Lecce, and then repeating the feat in Turin.

They aren’t helped by having Ronaldinho and Kaka remaining oblivious to the needs of helping out with some midfield defensive duties, leaving Rino Gattuso to run himself into the ground making tackles for two or three players.

When the change came it was only to introduce, that creaking sofa of a man, Emerson leaving Ronnie rooted to the left side of the pitch somewhere around the halfway line.

Meaning full-time brought only another serving of disappointment and Inter enjoying a three-point lead at the top.

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Italy's Odd Couple prepare for prime time tussle

2008-11-21T13:00:00Z

You can still catch The Odd Couple on cable TV in Italy, but Serie A’s very own Felix and Oscar will have a prime-time slot on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri will take their cantankerous, mismatched relationship in front of an enthralled San Siro audience for a performance sure to have us all rolling in the aisles.

It’s Inter vs Juventus, Italy’s answer to Manchester United vs Liverpool and Real Madrid vs Barcelona, and is known by its grandiose title “The Derby of Italy.”

No love's lost between the clubs and certainly none between the fastidious, preening Portugese peacock and the laid-back, easy-going Italian.

However, they can’t seem to live without each other and especially without getting on each other’s nerves.

Asked whether Ranieri would extend the hand of “friendship” before the game, the Juve boss replied: “With the help of God, yes.”

Jose offers his hand (God not pictured)

That will be probably be the height of any good will, with Ranieri claiming: “We have nothing in common. That’s the simple fact.”

That may be so, but their on-running series has produced some classic quotes, with the Italian press reproducing some of the best this week.

First, Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in July 2004 only to berate his predecessor for failing to win anything with: “If anyone happens to speak to Ranieri tell him you can only win the Champions League by beating clubs from other countries.”

While later that year Ranieri, admitting he doesn’t follow his old side, chirped: “Friends tell me they are difficult to watch.”

This year, Mourinho cropped up in Italy, chatting away like a native, adding: “The previous coach at Chelsea could hardly say “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” after five years in England.

“He’s won nothing and how old is he, 70?”

"The Force is strong with Jose. He must not become a Jedi."

Cue canned laugher as Ranieri turns 57 and turns to the audience with a knowing smile before uttering: “You should congratulate me, I am 70.”

On Friday afternoon during the pre-game press conference, Mourinho was as po-faced as a judge, claiming: “I’ll be as educated as ever and seeing as I am at home I will extend my hand in the tunnel.”

To do what, remains to be seen.

Now, how did that theme tune go again?

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Who needs Capello! Lippi's Italy don't know how to lose

2008-11-20T11:00:00Z

Can Italy go another 20 games or so unbeaten?

That’s the number of internationals, give or take the Confederation’s Cup and a friendly here or there, that would see the Azzurri crowned world champions again come 2010.

Maybe not, but any defeats that do come along are likely to be few and far between.

The national side finished off 2008 in the most positive manner, top of their World Cup qualifying group and – following their 1-1 draw in Greece – writing Marcello Lippi into the record books.

One more game undefeated and the silver-haired supremo will hold the record outright for an unbeaten run with a national side.

Luca Toni heads Lippi into history books

He has now drawn level with Argentina’s Alfio Basile and Javier Clemente of Spain, but more importantly - on the home front - he's overtaken Vittoro Pozzi’s record set back in the 1930s.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport headlined on Wednesday: “Only Lippi wins.”

OK, it may have been an indication of the low-key nature of the match against the Greeks, but 'Lippi' and 'wins' certainly go together.

What does going on a 31-game unbeaten run at international level count for when there’s nothing physical to hold in your hands and wave above your head?

Brazil are next up, in February at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, a fitting opponent to seal Lippi’s legendary status.

More importantly, Italy will head into the spring qualifiers in fine heart and, with the likes of Ireland and Bulgaria offering little competition, leaving only Macedonia pose as a potential banana skin.

No one wants to miss out and even though the likes of Daniele De Rossi, Rino Gattuso and Luca Toni were all carrying knocks, not one player dropped out of the trip to Athens although Fabio Quagliarella spoiled his good-looks by busting his nose in training.

However, Udinese won’t be asking the Italian FA to foot the bill for a bit of plastic surgery as there has always been excellent relations between clubs and the federation.

When the national side needed a left-back and there was no one coming through to replace Paolo Maldini, the request went out to Juventus to switch Gianluca Zambrotta over from right-back.

The Turin club, who once upon a time provided the bulk of the national team, duly obliged and the problem was solved.

There is, however, a slight dilemma looming and that concerns the form of captain Fabio Cannavaro.

We are getting used to seeing some fragility in the white of Real Madrid but unfortunately that’s now creeping into his performances in a blue shirt.

There’s no denying his experience – just five caps away from Maldini’s record of 121 international appearances – but with him being nearly 37 when South Africa comes around, he needs a fresh pair of young legs alongside him.

On the other hand, Giuseppe Rossi’s arrival on the scene gives the attack plenty of youthful vigour.

If the 21-year-old maintains his progress – playing like an assured veteran after just two caps – then any discussion about Alessandro Del Piero returning can be laid to rest, although no doubt with much gnashing of teeth by those who can’t let go of the past.

Rossi: Ready to displace Del Piero once and for all

All in all, there is no better time to be an Italian footballer, in particular Simone Pepe and Christian Maggio.

Six months ago, neither were even mentioned as potential internationals but look at them now – almost sure-fire certainties to be part of the new Lippi era.

Let the good times roll and here’s to another 31 games undefeated.

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Cheeky Catania caught with their shorts down

2008-11-18T11:00:00Z

It’s only Tuesday but it’s already turning into one of the wackiest weeks in Italian football for a long time.

An unemployed coach is named top manager of the year, players are caught with their shorts down and ungrateful fans throw a player’s shirt back.

These events all came to light on the back of Monday’s offerings of dodgy refereeing decisions and post-match verbal dust-ups.

The latter incident involved Walter Zenga and we’ll come to the Catania coach and his short-dropping tactic in a moment, but first to Roberto Mancini.

Out of work since winning the title last season, Mancio has been moping around, buying the odd yacht, investing in five-star hotels – the sort of thing you generally do when your former employer is still paying you around €4m a year.

Anyway, not forgotten by his peers, the former Inter boss was awarded the “Golden Bench” as last season’s best coach.

"This Golden Bench I've won will really come in handy..."

They were all there to see a rare Robby smile, including Jose Mourinho, who may have been reading a recent Serie Aaaaargh! blog on how to bore the Italian press.

The Portuguese dominated a debate amongst the coaches, rambling on about marketing opportunities to make Serie A more popular around the world when all the likes of Carlo Ancelotti wanted to do was tuck into the free grub.

Big, mean Walter Zenga was keeping his head down, not only due to his spat with a TV presenter, but about the ploy his team pulled off, so to speak, in their game against Torino.

Winning a free-kick on the edge of the penalty-area, three Catania players advanced beyond the wall and when Giuseppe Mascara stepped up to shoot, they pulled their shorts down and 'mooned' the keeper as the ball curled into the corner of the net.

Plasmati (R) drops his shorts, Mascara scores

Obviously, Toro Matteo Sereni didn’t notice and the incident didn’t come to light until it was picked up by a Monday afternoon sports show.

Not wishing to calm the situation in any way, Catania sporting director Pietro Lo Monaco admitted that the low-down trick had been hatched in training.

Boo, hiss all round and now the powers that be have called for a clamp down on any form of “bad taste” on the pitch... no more shots of Antonio Cassano is his underwear then.

You know you have hit rock bottom [sorry] when your own fans don’t appreciate your efforts or the chance to take home a sweat-soaked shirt for free.

Vangelis Moras thought he was doing the right thing when he lobbed his shirt into the Bologna crowd after the strugglers had gained a valuable point at Siena, only to see the offending article come hurtling back in his direction.

"What use is your shirt when we've got this giant flag..."

We can only hope that some sort of sanity returns when Italy take on Greece on Wednesday.

Marcello Lippi can equal the world record of 31 internationals undefeated, currently held by former Argentina number one Aflio Basile and Javier Clemente, formerly of Spain, if his side either win or draw.

That would be an incredible feat and the Azzurri would only then have to gain a positive result against Brazil in London in February for the 60-year-old to nab the record outright.

The way things are at the moment, anything is possible.

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Swinging Zenga, dodgy refs and friendly fire

2008-11-17T12:30:00Z

Just when we were about to start contemplating the closest title race in years, the pretenders to the throne collectively implode. Napoli, Lazio, Udinese and Fiorentina all lost over the weekend, leaving the top of the table with a more familiar look to it.

Inter lead AC Milan by a point, with Juventus in third after their 4-1 demolition of Genoa on Thursday – the game having been brought forward to accommodate Saturday’s rugby Test match between Italy and Argentina.

That's it, lads, stay off the pitch

Let’s hope that the Olympic Stadium pitch has recovered from that pounding by the time Juve and Inter run out next Saturday evening for what, to the annoyance of Milan, is known as the Derby of Italy.

It'll be even more high-profile than usual this season, what with Inter's Jose Mourinho and Juve's Claudio Ranieri having the first opportunity to settle their media spat on the field.

That will be a less than friendly encounter after a midweek of non-competitive internationals. Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juve's Olof Mellberg both asked to be left out of Sweden's squad for the kick-about with Holland, and their request was accepted. And the club versus country very rarely causes problems for any Italy coach either: the Azzurri all-stars don’t do friendlies.

Iba: brace, then relax

Instead, Marcello Lippi will use the game against Greece to have a look at a few players who have been impressing of late. So Udinese’s Gaetano D’Agostino will have a chance to shine in the centre of midfield at the age of 26, and there'll be no headlines complaining that Alessandro del Piero or Antonio Cassano have been snubbed again.

Indeed, despite a relatively harmonious weekend which witnessed two more cracking goals from Ibrahomivic and Julio Baptista finally winning over the Roma fans with the only goal in the derby against Lazio, reporters could be excused for watching what they say about any manager, lest there be serious repercussions.

Last week there was Jose's none-more-Italian squabble with Sky Italia. This week, coming out swinging from the Rossazzurri corner comes Catania’s Walter Zenga, verbally laying into a presenter who brought up the goalkeeper’s mistake in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Argentina to highlight some point or another.

There ensued a bout of shouting and screaming, much as you might hear in the cafes on a Monday morning, with Zenga promising to go a few verbal rounds with his assailant at a future date.

It was another dark Sunday for referees as well. Milan were awarded a penalty when Ricky Kaka was clearly tripped outside the area; the God-fearing Brazilian dusted himself down to score the winner from the spot.

What would Jesus do, Ricky?

Elsewhere, Napoli had the referee to thank for their spot-kick at Atalanta. It looked for all the world as if home defender Thomas Manfredini won the ball first when he tackled Chelsea’s reported target Ezequiel Lavezzi, but the ref somehow saw it differently.

Referee chief Pierluigi Collina has now called his charges to a meeting and will no doubt ask them to stand up in front of the whole class to explain their decisions.

And just when we thought we were in for a quiet few days before the fireworks expected next weekend in Turin.

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