Serie A Season 2011/2012

[Alessandro Matri]

Roma director Walter Sabatini: Our number-one goal is Champions League qualification
The Giallorossi had a poor start to the season under Luis Enrique but, after improved performances, are back in the race for a top-four finish in Serie A this season

No excuses for Delio Rossi after 'devastating' Napoli hand Fiorentina 3-0 defeat
Walter Mazzarri's men were too good for the Viola on Friday night at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and the defeated boss admits that his team were second-best in the encounter

Mario Gotze representative: Links to Manchester United and Juventus are unfounded
The Germany international, seen as one of Europe's brightest prospects, had been reported to have had contact from other clubs but those close to him say that he will stay

Bologna's Stefano Pioli hails 'perfect performance' after beating Inter 3-0
The Rossoblu added to Claudio Ranieri's misery by triumphing at San Siro and feels that his team approached the game well, at last getting the result they deserved

'Inter must think positive and look ahead' - Javier Zanetti
The Nerazzurri captain is refusing to panic after his side suffered another defeat and insists the club's coach has the full backing of the squad despite recent poor results

Ranieri dismisses resignation stories after Bologna defeat
The 60-year-old has refused to throw in the towel after yet another negative result in Serie A against the Rossoblu but admitted the team must improve to get back to winning ways

'Milos Krasic does not want to join Zenit St Petersburg,' says agent
The Russian outfit hopes of landing the out-of-favour Serbian appear to be de dead in the water, as the possibility of joining another club on loan does not appeal to him

Christian Abbiati: AC Milan will only start to think about Juve after Sunday's clash against Cesena
The Rossoneri are locked in an increasingly fascinating battle for the Scudetto with Juve and the teams will lock horns at San Siro on February 25

Juventus coach Antonio Conte demands equal treatment from referees
The Bianconeri boss had claimed after his side's 0-0 draw with Parma that officials are afraid to award his side spot kicks, an accusation which infuriated the Gialloblu

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Serie A wrap: Bologna compound Inter woe

18 February 2012

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Marco Di Vaio struck twice as Bologna heaped more pressure on Inter coach Claudio Ranieri with a stunning 3-0 victory at San Siro on Friday.Inter, who went into the game without a win in their four previous Serie A outings, had the better of the early exchanges but were left reeling after a quick-fire double from Di Vaio shortly before the break.

Inter tried to rally in the second period but Robert Acquafresca sealed victory for the visitors when he fired home with just five minutes of normal time remaining.Inter dominated the early exchanges but were made to pay for profligacy by a Bologna counterpunch, with Diego Perez setting up Di Vaio for the opening goal after 37 minutes.

The former Italy international extended the lead moments later after pouncing on a defensive error to slot in his second and give his side a 2-0 half-time lead. Inter continued to battle but were left open to the counterattack in the second half and Bologna put the game beyond doubt when Acquafresca fired home from the edge of area.

Inter, who have taken one point from the last 15 available, drop to sixth in the standings, while Bologna climb one place to 16th. An Edison Cavani brace and Ezequiel Lavezzi strike gave Napoli a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in Friday's other match.

Uruguay international Cavani opened the scoring after just three minutes at Stadio Artemio Franchi before doubling up 10 minutes after the break.Argentine Lavezzi struck in injury time to seal a second consecutive win for Walter Mazzarri's side, which takes them into fifth place.

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Serie A preview: Juve still hunting top spot from Milan

16 February 2012

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Juventus remain unbeaten in Serie A but may have to spend at least another week second to AC Milan with both facing winnable outings. Antonio Conte's Juve missed their chance to reclaim top spot on Wednesday after only managing a 0-0 draw at Parma in one of their two games in hand.

After the stalemate - Juve's second on the trot in the league - Conte hit out at Italian referees for refusing to award his team penalties. A visit from 12th-placed Catania on Saturday shapes as a great opportunity for Juventus to return to winning ways, and they will need their top-scorers Alessandro Matri (nine goals) and Claudio Marchisio (six) to help them regain their flair in attack.

Catania travel to Turin having built confidence after a 4-0 thrashing of Genoa last time out extended their unbeaten run to three matches.But even a win for Juventus is likely to mean they remain a point adrift of AC Milan, who travel to struggling Cesena on Sunday.

Massimiliano Allegri's men impressively thrashed Arsenal 4-0 in their Champions League round-of-16 first-leg meeting on Wednesday.Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted and assisted in the win, but he will miss the clash with Cesena because of suspension. More importantly, Allegri will be without the Swede for his team's blockbuster meeting against Juventus on February 25.

Fourth-placed Udinese have suffered consecutive league defeats, and will be eyeing a spot on the winner's list when they welcome Cagliari to Stadio Friuli. Lazio do battle with Palermo as they look to stay in the title race, while Genoa and Chievo meet on Sunday.

In other matches, Roma host Parma aiming to rebound from their shock loss to Siena. Near the bottom of the table, Lecce and Siena meet and last-placed Novara - who upset Inter Milan last time out - host Atalanta.

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Serie A wrap: Milan back on top, Lazio thrashed

20 February 2012

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AC Milan reclaimed top spot in Serie A with a 3-1 win over Cesena on Sunday, while Palermo thrashed an undermanned Lazio.Goals from debutant Sulley Muntari - on loan from Inter Milan - Urby Emanuelson and Robinho gave Massimiliano Allegri's men the convincing win away to Serie A's bottom-placed club.

Daniel Pudil pulled one back for the hosts midway through the second half but the early goals were enough for AC Milan.The champions went ahead on 29 minutes when Francesco Antonioli could only parry Thiago Silva's free-kick, and Muntari was on hand to tap in his first goal for the club.

AC Milan doubled their lead just two minutes later when Emanuelson struck a 25-yard shot in off the post after a tricky Robinho run.Cesena started the second half well but Robinho netted his team's third, blasting in from the right side of the area, while Pudil gave Cesena a deserved consolation when he volleyed home after 65 minutes.

Milan are a point clear of Juventus at the top, but Antonio Conte's undefeated side have a game in hand. In Sicily, Palermo embarrassed third-placed Lazio 5-1.Edgar Barreto started the rout in the 10th minute with a powerful low drive from the edge of the penalty area, before Massimo Donati scored a stunner 10 minutes later that found the top right corner.

Three minutes before the break it was 3-0 when Matias Silvestre was left alone to head Fabrizio Miccoli's free-kick into the net from just a couple of metres out.In the second half, Igor Budan and Miccoli added two more for Palermo, while Libor Kozak scored a consolation for Lazio with five minutes left in the game.

While most sides would have struggled to stop Palermo's first two goals, the home side easily dissected Lazio for the other three, with the Rome-based club missing eight players from their regular starting line up.But Lazio remain third due to Udinese's failure to beat Cagliari.The home side only had themselves to blame for the 0-0 draw having 13 shots but only getting three on target.

Elsewhere, Roma moved up to fifth with a 1-0 victory over Parma thanks to a first-half goal from Fabio Borini.In other matches, Lecce took another step towards safety with a 4-1 thrashing of fellow strugglers Siena, Cyril Thereau's goal saw Chievo earn a 1-0 win at Genoa, while strugglers Novara held on for a 0-0 draw at home to Atalanta despite having Simone Pesce sent off late in the encounter.

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Roma's Totti jokingly denies getting booked in order to be free for Lazio clash
The forward's yellow card against the Gialloblu means that he will now sit out next weekend's clash with Atalanta, thus removing the threat of him missing the derby

Emanuelson relieved after first goal for AC Milan
The Netherlands international, who arrived at San Siro from Ajax in January of last year, put the Rossoneri two goals to the good at the Dino Manuzzi with a terrific 25-metre shot

Juventus coach Conte: Referee was 'perfect' against Catania
The Bianconeri boss sparked controversy after the midweek draw with Parma by claiming that officials have been afraid to award his side penalties this season

AC Milan's Gattuso willing to play for free
The midfielder has been out of action since suffering complications arising out of an accidental collision with team-mate Alessandro Nesta during last September's clash with Lazio

AC Milan coach Allegri: Juventus match could be decisive in title race
The Rossoneri boss was quite pleased with his side's victory over Cesena and is eagerly anticipating next weekend's game against the Turin outfit

Walter Samuel resumes Inter training
The powerful centre-back spent the past two weeks on the sidelines, but has resumed regular practice again ahead of the Nerazzurri's European fixture in France

Juventus defender Chiellini hails 'vital' win over Catania
The powerful defender has expressed his joy with Saturday's Serie A victory and is eagerly anticipating the crunch clash versus AC Milan next weekend

Luc Castaignos handed three-match ban for spitting at Andrea Raggi
The Dutch forward will have to sit out of Inter's next three matches for his behaviour during the club's 3-0 loss to Bologna on Friday at San Siro

Buffon: Juventus' win over Catania was 'a victory of character'
The experienced goalkeeper was pleased with his team's response to the early setback in the game and believes that the triumph will put them in good stead to face AC Milan

Brescia president warns Barcelona's Pep Guardiola against joining Inter
Luigi Corioni of the Serie B side believes that the Spanish coach will remain at Camp Nou and observes that the Nerazzurri lost a fortune when they decided to offload Andrea Pirlo

Al Nasr's Luca Toni: I was close to joining Napoli
The experienced striker heaped praise on the San Paolo outfit for their recent achievements and revealed that he is a big fan of Partenopei forward Ezequiel Lavezzi

AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng in doubt for Juventus clash with new thigh injury
The 24-year-old is a major worry for Saturday's crunch match against the Bianconeri after sustaining another medical problem in the club's midweek Champions League victory

Andrea Pirlo prepares for emotional return to AC Milan
The former Rossoneri stalwart acknowledges that he will be feeling the occasion when he returns with Juventus to San Siro, the stadium where he spent 10 years of his career

Mazzarri: Chelsea will be a 'terrible test' for Napoli
The Italian coach is wary of the threat posed by Andre Villas-Boas' side and believes that their poor Premier League form will have little bearing on the Champions League match-up

Riccardo Montolivo: I will probably leave Fiorentina but no offer from AC Milan
The Italian midfielder has insisted that the Rossoneri have not yet come knocking for his services, but admitted that he will most likely switch clubs in the summer

Conte delighted Juventus 'have shown themselves to be a great team' following win over Catania
The young trainer has commended his side for responding maturely to their goalless draw against Parma, and feels the Bianconeri have now proved their credentials for Serie A glory

Napoli star Edinson Cavani: Anything can happen against Chelsea
The Uruguay international believes his team need to go into their midweek European encounter with the right mentality against Andre Villas-Boas' men

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Big & strong with good feet - introducing new AC Milan striker Philipp Prosenik

Feb 19, 2012 9:00:00 AM

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By Gianluca Pepe​

Born in Vienna, Austria, on March 3, 1993, Philipp Prosenik is a modern centre forward blessed with an imposing physique - which makes him a real threat in the air - and good feet. Surprisingly agile given his size, the 18-year-old also boasts a powerful and accurate strike.

Three years ago, Chelsea beat off competition from a host of top sides to prise him away from Rapid Vienna. At the time, Prosenik was spoken of as a player with a bright future; one destined to dramatically improve the fortunes of the ailing Austrian national team.

However, Prosenik failed to develop as expected at Chelsea; if anything, he went backwards and his regression resulted in him failing to nail down a regular berth in the Blues' reserve team.

Indeed, Prosenik featured only three times for the London outfit's second string in the first half of the current campaign, while he didn't make a single appearance last term because of a succession of injuries, which undoubtedly played a major part in his lack of progress over the past 18 months.

​	PHILIPP PROSENIK FORWARD | AC MILAN​

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VITAL STATISTICS Name Philipp Prosenik Position Forward D.O.B. 03/03/1993 Born Vienna, Austria Height 188cm Weight 80kg <tbody> </tbody>

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Before his English experience, Prosenik had excelled at under-age level for his country. The stats speak for themselves: three goals in two games for the Under-16s; 10 goals in 18 for the Under-17s. It was this impressive form for the national side which persuaded Chelsea's then-director of football Frank Arnesen to offer the player a three-year deal with the club in 2009.

However, after failing to make any sort of impact at Stamford Bridge, and with his contract set to expire in June, AC Milan capitalised on the opportunity to sign Prosenik on the cheap during last month's transfer window.

Over the course of the next six months, Prosenik will be deployed in the Rossoneri's Primavera side, partly due to how overcrowded the current senior squad is with offensive players. However, if he can manage to usurp either Simone Andrea Ganz or Gianmario Comi in the Primavera's forward line, the plan is for him to be gradually introduced into the first-team squad.

Prosenik is from good stock: his father, Christian, was a midfielder with the Austrian national team during the 80s and 90s before taking charge of the Rapid Vienna youth team in 2008. A fun piece of trivia tells us that, although he played for Chelsea, Prosenik the younger has always been a Liverpool fan.

Will he look back on the recent Champions League final clashes between the Reds and Milan differently now? Who knows, but he'll no doubt be hoping that, the next time the two meet, he'll be in a position to make a name for himself against his boyhood idols.

 

[Alessandro Matri]

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[Alessandro Matri]

Juventus's Alessandro Matri: AC Milan are still the favourites
The former Cagliari star feels that the Bianconeri are the underdogs in Saturday's encounter at San Siro and is unsure whether he will start the encounter

Chiellini warns Juventus that there's more to AC Milan than Ibrahimovic
The 27-year-old believes that the Italian champions have a host of great players and that Antonio Conte's men would be unwise to switch off due to the Swede's absence

AC Milan's Mario Yepes: Juventus are not dependent on Andrea Pirlo
The Colombian defender has warned the Rossoneri not to solely focus on the Bianconeri playmaker, and added Saturday's game will not be decisive in the title race

Prandelli: AC Milan versus Juventus not decisive in title race
The national team coach has stressed that there are many more games to come after this weekend's clash and expects the Scudetto fight to remain open until the end of the season

Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia to miss Napoli clash
The Italy international has sustained a thigh injury in training, and will be unavailable for a while as a result meaning the player will miss this weekend's league fixture

Atletico Madrid boss Simeone: I'm too young to coach Inter
The Argentine, who has also been linked with a return to Lazio in a coaching capacity, insists that he is not yet experienced enough to take the reigns at San Siro

Napoli's Lavezzi open to Premier League switch
The Argentine forward was in scintillating form against English opposition on Tuesday night, scoring twice as the Partenopei defeated Chelsea 3-1 at the San Paolo

'I would never have allowed Andrea Pirlo to leave AC Milan for Juventus,' says PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian coach says the 32-year-old playmaker probably switched clubs to get a bigger paycheck and insists he would have held on to Azzurri ace

Inter's Maicon out for 15-20 days with knee injury
The fitness problem sustained in Wednesday's round of 16 first-leg defeat at the Stade Velodrome in France is not as serious as initially feared according the the club

Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss Juventus game as AC Milan's ban appeal is rejected
The Swedish striker will have to miss a third game for his slap on Salvatore Aronica earlier in the month, meaning he misses out on Saturday's match against the Bianconeri

Robinho: I could stay at AC Milan for 10 more years
The Brazilian attacker has spoke of his happiness at San Siro after experiencing a recent upturn in form, claiming he would stay for another decade if it were up to him

Lazio coach Edy Reja: My resignation was not irrevocable
The trainer has affirmed his loyalty to the Biancocelesti ahead of the Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid, just hours after being rebuffed in his attempts to quit the club

Van Bommel: Van Persie would be a massive signing for Milan
The holding midfielder was full of praise for his Dutch compatriot and feels he would be an excellent addition for the Rossoneri if he were to leave London for San Siro

Who will win the Scudetto showdown between AC Milan and Juventus?
It's the biggest league game of the season in Europe, with the two most storied clubs going head to head for the Serie A leadership, but who will prevail?

Why Juventus should start Matri & Quagliarella up front against AC Milan – how the Bianconeri's different forward partnerships have fared this season
The question marks over the Bianconeri's ability to turn possession into points means Antonio Conte has a crucial selection decision to make ahead of their trip to San Siro

AC Milan's Emanuelson: Juventus match will be complicated
The Dutchman has developed into an important first-team member at San Siro, and has underlined the importance of Saturday's encounter against the Turin outfit

Sacchi believes Guardiola should stay at Barcelona and Mourinho will stay at Real Madrid
The ex-AC Milan boss feels the Blaugrana coach would be making a mistake if he opted to depart Camp Nou, while offering his take on Mourinho's future in the Spanish capital

Juventus defender Chiellini hails Pirlo ahead of AC Milan clash
The Italy international has taken the time to praise the experienced midfielder ahead of the highly anticipated Serie A clash versus the Rossoneri this weekend

Inter sweating over Maicon knee injury - report
The Brazilian full-back sustained a knee problem in Wendesday's Champions League loss, and could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines for the struggling giants

Stop the tinkering - After last-gasp defeat to Marseille, Inter's Claudio Ranieri must banish Sneijder & Zarate back to the bench
The under-fire Nerazzurri boss appears to have lost the courage of his convictions if his team selection for his side's latest defeat is anything to go by

Inter's Julio Cesar after Olympique de Marseille loss: I have never been in such a tough situation before
The Brazil international has conceded that the struggles the Nerazzurri are currently going through is a new experience for him, but urged his team-mates to salvage the season

Former Udinese, Parma and PAOK striker Zlatan Muslimovic joins Chinese outfit Guizhou Renhe
The Chinese Super League club claimed they had beaten English outfit West Ham to the Bosnia international's signature after he penned a six-month deal

Reja set for talks over future as Lazio boss
The veteran coach's resignation was rejected by the Biancocelesti on Wednesday but he could yet be heading for the exit door at the Stadio Olimpico

Garay's agent unaware of Roma interest
The Argentine defender's representative stated he has not been approached by the Giallorossi as reports suggest Luis Enrique wants to sign the in-form player

Edy Reja coy on Lazio resignation: My future is Thursday's game at Atletico
The 66-year-old was enigmatic when asked if he had handed in his resignation and stated he will address his future after the match at the Vicente Calderon

Inter's Branca backs Sneijder but cryptic on Dutchman's future
The Netherlands international has been heavily criticised for his poor performances of late by compatriot Marco van Basten and Nerazzurri legend Sandro Mazzola

AC Milan's Ibrahimovic struck woman with his car - report
The Sweden international allegedly clipped the waiting female journalist with his rear-view mirror while reversing out of his parking space at Milanello on Tuesday

Luis Muriel's agent admits forward's interest in Roma switch
The young attacker, who is on loan at Lecce from Udinese, is making a real name for himself in Serie A this season and has reportedly attracted the attention of the Giallorossi

Lazio reject Edy Reja's resignation offer - report
It was reported overnight that the Biancocelesti boss' position was under threat after a poor run of results and it has now been claimed that he tried to step down on Wednesday

Sneijder hits back at Van Basten: I'm fully focused on Inter
The legendary Dutch striker has attributed his compatriot's poor form to a bad attitude, claiming that the trequartista has already written off the Nerazzurri's season

Thiago Silva: AC Milan are hungry for success again
The Brazilian defender has admitted the Rossoneri were previously lacking in motivation to win more trophies, but assured that they are now hungry for silverware again

Inter star Wesley Sneijder: I am in great form, but it is difficult to impress whilst the team is suffering
The Netherlands international has made it clear that it is hard for him to shine in a side that is under-performing, but is looking forward to playing at Euro 2012 this summer

Mathieu Valbuena & the five Marseille stars who could end Claudio Ranieri's Inter reign in the Champions League
With the Italian's job seemingly on the line going into the midweek clash, Goal.com examines the OM players who could help strike the final blow to his ailing leadership

Inter director Marco Branca: It's a bit premature to say our cycle has reached its end
The Nerazzurri chief feels that it's too soon to say that their era of success is over, despite a string of disappointing results and the club not being in Scudetto contention

Injured Guarin misses out on Jose Pekerman's first Colombia squad
The Inter man is expected to rejoin training in the next week, but has been left out of the Argentine's debut plans as Gio Moreno is given a chance to shine in midfield

Napoli's Mazzarri laments missed opportunity to kill off Chelsea
Christian Maggio was presented with a golden opportunity to given the Partenopei a three-goal advantage at the San Paolo but his shot was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Serie A preview: Milan, Juve set for showdown

24 February 2012

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Andrea Pirlo can strike a blow against his former employers when Juventus travel to AC Milan in a match that could decide the Serie A title.Juventus are a point behind the league-leaders and have a game in hand.A win on Saturday, as well as in their spare game on March 7 against Bologna, could mean a five point gap over Milan for Pirlo and his teammates.

Pirlo joined the Turin-based club in May, after the reigning champions let his contract expire.The 32-year-old has started 22 of Juventus' 23 matches in Serie A this season, with six assists and a goal.Pirlo has been crucial to Juventus' unbeaten run, linking well with the rest of Antonio Conte's midfield, and he will be hoping to continue his side's dominance over Milan this season.

Claudio Marchisio scored twice as Juventus won 2-0 at home against Milan in October, while Juventus also triumphed in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg earlier this month, defeating their rivals 2-1 in Milan.Milan have won three matches in a row since that reverse, including a 4-0 demolition of Arsenal in the Champions League.

In Saturday's other match, Genoa will host Parma.On Sunday, Napoli will host Inter Milan, fresh from their impressive victory over Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday.Napoli's attacking trio of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi were again brilliant as the Italian club won 3-1.

Inter Milan did not fare as well mid-week, losing 1-0 to Marseille thanks to a last-second goal to Andre Ayew.Udinese, who are third in Serie A, need to beat Bologna away if they are to maintain their chance of catching the two clubs at the top.Lazio are in the same position and they take on Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Roma can move to within a point of their cross-town rivals if they beat Atalanta and Lazio lose, while Palermo will be in Siena for a game that could see the hosts move five points clear of the relegation zone with a victory.The bottom three clubs will all travel on Sunday.Cesena head north to take on Chievo Verona, Novara will be in Sicily to play Catania, and Cagliari will welcome Lecce to Sardinia.

 

[Yi Dao]

Damn spammers again!

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Serie A wrap: Milan, Juve share spoils

26 February 2012

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Alessandro Matri extended Juventus' incredible unbeaten streak to 27 matches as they drew 1-1 with AC Milan in the Serie A on Saturday.Juventus entered the match without a defeat since May 15, when they lost 1-0 to Parma.But the golden run Antonio Conte's side had embarked on looked like coming to an end at the San Siro after Antonio Nocerino gave the hosts the lead on 15 minutes.

Nocerino's effort from distance took a deflection and wrong-footed Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.Conte brought Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic off the bench in the second half to increase his side's attacking options but it was another substitute in Matri who would make the telling impact.

Pepe provided the assist and the forward did the rest, side-footing home for his 10th goal of the season with just seven minutes to play.Juventus' Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal was given a straight red card on 89 minutes in a heated end to an exciting match.Milan top the league by one point, with Juventus sitting second.

The day's other match saw Rodrigo Palacio strike twice in the final 20 minutes to earn Genoa a point in a 2-2 draw with Parma.Goals to Massimo Gobbi and Sergio Floccari before the hour mark handed Parma the lead but the Argentine forward rescued a draw for his side off his own boot.

Firstly, he tapped in the rebound after seeing his penalty saved with 12 minutes remaining.Palacio's second came six minutes into stoppage time as he netted his ninth goal in as many matches for Genoa.Parma had defender Alessandro Lucarelli sent off just moments after in a heated finish to the match.

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Napoli's Mazzarri ignores Inter speculation
The San Paolo coach has been linked with replacing under-fire Claudio Ranieri at the Giuseppe Meazza but is committed to the Naples outfit and wants three points on Sunday

Crisis at Chelsea & Inter imploding ... but Jose Mourinho's transfer policy is not to blame - and he's leaving a legacy at Real Madrid
The Portuguese coach has been accused of favouring short-term success over long-lasting gain at his previous clubs, but is building a team for the next decade at the Bernabeu

Escape from San Siro - how a refereeing reprieve helped slow-starters Juventus survive Conte's conservatism to claim a vital draw against AC Milan
The Rossoneri could well have put the unbeaten Old Lady to bed had a big decision gone their way, with the Juve coach having handed them an early advantage

'I was watching the ball, not the line' - Buffon after ghost goal in Juventus' draw with AC Milan
Sulley Muntari appeared to have scored for the hosts with a header but the Italy goalkeeper believed that he had kept it out, though he admits that he would not have spoken up

Fiorentina boss Delio Rossi ignoring Lazio confusion
The Stadio Olimpico side had endured uncertainty over coach Edy Reja's future this week, but the Viola are putting that to the back of their minds to concentrate on themselves

AC Milan star Nocerino ecstatic with goal against former club Juventus
The Italy man could not hide his delight after putting one over his old side during Saturday's controversial draw, but admits the result was a "missed opportunity" for his side

Juventus coach Conte bemoans refereeing errors in controversial AC Milan draw
The 42-year-old is disappointed that the match will be remembered for its officiating rather than the football it served up, but nevertheless happy his team rescued a point

Milan coach Allegri: I wasn't upset, but Muntari's disallowed goal affected the game
The Rossoneri coach says he did not see Matri's equalising strike but ponders how the complexion of the match could have been different had his side been given the second goal

Disallowed goal makes us even with AC Milan, says Juventus striker Matri
The Bianconeri hitman had a goal ruled offside by the linesman, but he feels it is justice for Sulley Muntari's first-half header, which appeared to have crossed the line

Edy Reja confirms he will stay 'now and in the future' at Lazio
The Biancocelesti trainer had been turned down in his attempts to resign previously, but he has now committed himself to the club after clear-the-air talks with Claudio Lotito

Raiola '99.9 per cent certain' Ibrahimovic will stay at AC Milan
The outspoken agent expects his client to see out his two-and-a-half year deal in northern Italy, and has described the Swede's ban for the clash against Juventus as "unjust"

Andre Villas-Boas rubbishes Inter link & says he still expects to be Chelsea manager next season
Portuguese admits he is pleased the Blues put a smile on the faces of fans and praises 'unbelievable' Frank Lampard after recalled midfielder scores against Bolton

Claudio Ranieri: I do not think Napoli game will be my last in charge of Inter
The 60-year-old trainer has spoken positively about his side's performance in their defeat to Marseille and also claimed he will not be leaving the club anytime soon

Paolo Maldini criticises AC Milan & blasts 'whining' Juventus
The 43-year-old has ruled out a return to San Siro as a coach, blasting the Serie A champions in the process while also speaking negatively of their Turin rivals

Marco van Basten open to coaching Juventus one day
The Dutchman, who is to take charge of Heerenveen in the summer, is a legend at San Siro but he admits that he would not turn down the Bianconeri if they came calling

Roma boss Luis Enrique plays down Barcelona link
The Spaniard plays down talk that the Blaugrana could attempt to bring one of their favourite sons back to Camp Nou should current coach Pep Guardiola leave in the summer

'There are not many champions of Pirlo's calibre' - Gattuso praises Juventus playmaker before AC Milan reunion
The combative midfielder has suggested that the Rossoneri erred badly in allowing his former club and international colleague to leave on a free transfer last summer

Lazio to clarify Reja's position as coach
The Biancocelesti boss has offered to resign and the club have apparently lined up a replacement in the shape of Luigi De Canio but the 66-year-old's future remains unclear

Inter want Barcelona boss Guardiola to replace Ranieri - report
The Nerazzurri are hoping to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding the Catalan coach's future by turning his head with a lucrative contract offer to move to San Siro

Nedved: Referees have been conditioned against Juventus
The Czech legend has backed Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte's assertion that officials are now afraid to award the club penalties, claiming that 'Calciopoli' is to blame

Ibrahimovic didn't deserve three-game ban, but it was impossible to overturn his suspension - former Serie A referee on Zlatan missing AC Milan v Juventus
A former top-flight official has argued that, while the Sweden international's suspension may originally have been too severe, there was no room for allowing him to return early

No feud between Napoli duo Cavani and Lavezzi - agent
The South Americans dovetailed wonderfully well together at the San Paolo earlier this week but it has been suggested that the two forwards have not been seeing eye-to-eye of late

Gago to sign four-year deal with Roma - report
The Argentina international has excelled since arriving at the Stadio Olimpico on loan from Real Madrid last summer and is now set for a bumper new contract with the Giallorossi

Juventus' Marchisio dismisses comparisons with Tardelli and Gerrard
The Italy midfielder has been one of the Bianconeri's key performers this season but he is not a fan of being labelled and instead just wants to focus on facing AC Milan

Buffon: Pirlo has been more decisive than Ibrahimovic this season
The 34-year-old custodian says that the midfielder has played a key role for Juventus during 2011-12, while stressing that Saturday's match is not decisive for the Scudetto race

Inter president Massimo Moratti admits to uncertainty over Claudio Ranieri's future
The 66 year old recognised that the former Chelsea coach was under pressure after a bad run of form, but hoped that he would turn fortunes around

Marcello Lippi rules out replacing Edy Reja at Lazio
The 63 year old says that he sees no reason to return to club coaching, and has not received any contact from the Roman side

Antonio Conte: Ibrahimovic's absence changes nothing for title clash
The 42-year-old coach has called on his side to demonstrate they can win the Scudetto in Saturday's match, while insisting the Rossoneri remain strong without Ibrahimovic

 

[Alessandro Matri]

'I was watching the ball, not the line' - Buffon after ghost goal in Juventus' draw with AC Milan

Sulley Muntari appeared to have scored for the hosts with a header but the Italy goalkeeper believed that he had kept it out, though he admits that he would not have spoken up

Feb 26, 2012 8:15:00 AM

By Gareth McKnight

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Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has claimed that he was watching the ball and not the line and so did not realise that a mistake had been made in the 'ghost goal' incident againstAC Milan on Saturday.

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A Sulley Muntari header for the Rossoneri appeared to be comfortably in the net, but the Italy international scooped the ball clear and a goal was not awarded, the game eventually finishing 1-1.

The 34-year-old stated that he was unsure whether the effort had crossed the line and was only interested in helping his team, adding that, if he had known that the goal was legitimate, he would not have corrected the officials.

"I was watching the ball, not the line," Buffon told La Repubblica.

"I didn't realise it had gone over the line, and even if I did I wouldn't have lent a hand to the referee.

"Taking a point and continuing the unbeaten streak makes it a special evening, where we played against most successful team to win the Scudetto.

"In the end what counts is that we were ready to adapt to whatever happened in the match. Milan had greater freshness, lucidity and technical skill.

"In the second half we tried to change and in the last 25 minutes we were better because in the first half AC Milan had control of the game," he admitted.

The draw means that Milan are still top of Serie A by one point, though Juventus have a game in hand.

 

[Alessandro Matri]

Nedved: Referees have been conditioned against Juventus

The Czech legend has backed Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte's assertion that officials are now afraid to award the club penalties, claiming that 'Calciopoli' is to blame

Feb 25, 2012 9:30:00 AM

By Mark Doyle

Pavel Nedved is adamant that referees have been conditioned to go against Juventus ever since 'Calciopoli'.

The Bianconeri were relegated to Serie B and stripped of two titles because of their involvement in the scandal, which centred on former managing director Luciano Moggi's alleged attempts to influence the performance of match officials, as well as their appointment for certain games.
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Nedved, now a director at the club, believes that Juve are still paying the price for their involvement in 'Calciopoli' and is in total agreement with coach Antonio Conte, who recently claimed that referees have been afraid to award his side penalties this season.

"We do not want favours but we expect fair treatment," the 39-year-old Czech legend told Sky Sport Italia.

"It's a fact that they are conditioned against us. After 2006 we have been given very few penalties in our favour."

Turning his attention to Saturday night's eagerly-awaited clash between second-placed Juve and league leaders AC Milan, Nedved insisted that he is disappointed that the Rossoneri will be without their talismanic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic through suspension.

"I'm sorry for his absence; he's a loss to the game," the former Ballon d'Or winner admitted. "With him on the pitch, the people would certainly have enjoyed the match even more."
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[Arturo Vidal]

Tacconi backs Buffon: Never tell the truth in football
The former Bianconeri goalkeeper has admitted that he would not have informed the referee if the ball had crossed the line against the Rossoneri either

Thiago Silva: Ibrahimovic's influence will be key in title race
The Brazil international believes that there is not a player in the world like the mercurial striker, who is set to make his return from suspension against Palermo this weekend

El Shaarawy: If Ibrahimovic had been playing against Juventus he'd have gotten a 10-game ban
The Rossoneri striker believes his notoriously volatile team-mate would have lost it had he been on the field when Sulley Muntari's header was not given by the match officials

Clubs and Uefa agree to drop August dates for friendly internationals
In a 'major breakthrough' for European club football Uefa has agreed with the continent's top clubs to put an end to the disruptive fixture at the start of each season

AC Milan's Thiago Silva: Every player's dream to play for Barcelona
The Brazil international has been repeatedly linked with a move to Camp Nou and he has admitted that he would love to line out for "the best team in the world"

Roma's De Rossi: No problem with Luis Enrique after Atalanta omission
The midfielder, who recently signed a new contract with the Giallrossi, was reportedly dropped from the squad for the game in Bergamo for turning up late for a team meeting

Mexes banned for three games for punch on Borriello
The Frenchman escaped any punishment at the time as it went unnoticed by the referee, Paolo Tagliavento, but the incident was caught by the television cameras

Inter president Moratti mulling over Ranieri's position
The Roman is under pressure after a run of five successive defeats in all competitions but the Nerazzurri supremo insists he will not make any rash decisions on the coach's future

Pescara coach Zdenek Zeman: I will answer Inter call
The former Roma and Lazio boss does not believe the Nerazzurri will turn to him should they decide to part company with Claudio Ranieri but he would be interested in the job

Buffon refuses to retract controversial comments following AC Milan draw
The Italy international has reiterated that he would not have informed the referee if he had realised that Sulley Muntari's header crossed the line in Saturday's crunch clash

Silvio Berlusconi: Robin van Persie is a good player, but there are many good players out there
The Rossoneri chief was noncommittal when asked about a potential move for the Dutch ace and gave Pato a vote of confidence after he put in another lacklustre display on Saturday

Inter captain Zanetti: 'I'm here to comment on another defeat, this cannot continue'
The Argentine veteran conceded that his side are finding it difficult to recover from setbacks and called on the team to bounce back in their upcoming match against Catania

AC Milan's Thiago Silva: I saw Muntari's goal from midfield
The Brazilian defender was disappointed with his side's disallowed strike in Saturday's clash with the Old Lady, but refused to blame the incident on goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon

First Chelsea, now Inter - world-class Lavezzi lands knockout blow which could leave Ranieri out for the count
The Argentine fired the 11th goal conceded by the Nerazzurri since they last scored and ensured that questions be asked of the coach after he replaced Sneijder and Forlan

Napoli's Mazzarri after Inter win: Lavezzi has become a champion
The coach could hide his joy after the Azzurri recorded an important victory over their rivals for Champions League places and reserved special praise for Ezequiel Lavezzi

'I will not resign - I believe in this team' - Inter's Ranieri
The Nerazzurri boss was defiant in the face of adversity after telling reporters he will not step down from his role, and is confident his side will eventually banish their demons

Agent of Manchester City-owned John Guidetti could engineer a move to AC Milan - report
The Swedish teenager recently appointed renowned agent Mino Railo as his representative, and rumours have emerged that the transfer guru may help the Rossoneri sign the player

Manchester City star Mario Balotelli misses out as Roma's Fabio Borini earns maiden Italy call-up
The Lupi striker has been included in the Azzurri squad for the first time, and will join returning goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano as the team prepares for the friendly with USA

Roma coach Luis Enrique: Daniele De Rossi did not seem prepared to play
The Spanish coach criticised the midfielder's commitment before the match and refused to say whether he will make the squad for the match against Lazio

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi left fuming with match officials after Juventus draw
The Scudetto holders were denied a clear-cut goal after Sulley Muntari's header was over the line but not awarded, and the executive was left frustrated after the game

AC Milan's Antonini bemoans failure to award 'ghost goal' in 1-1 draw with Juventus
Sulley Muntari's header whilst the game was at 1-0 had clearly crossed the visitors' line but this was not spotted by the linesman, which angered the Scudetto holders' defender

 

[Arturo Vidal]

Japanese in Europe: Okazaki nets third in a row, while Miyaichi earns first Premier League start

The Stuttgart attacker had another productive outing with countryman Gotoku Sakai, while Shinji Kagawa returned to action for Dortmund after a brief injury scare last week

Feb 27, 2012 2:30:00 AM

By Gyo Araiwa & Dan Orlowitz

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In Germany‚ VfB Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki made it three in as many games when he slid into a cross by Martin Harnik in the 21st minute of the rather flattering 4-1 home win against bottom side SC Freiburg on Saturday afternoon.

The former S-Pulse man who had a fairly good game on the Swabians' left side was as always engaged to defensive duties but took his chance and has now seven league goals to his name this season.

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Gotoku Sakai, 20, also started for Stuttgart and put on a solid performance‚ crowned by providing the assist for his side's opening goal.

Stuttgart's boss Bruno Labbadia will have something to think about as the Japanese-German youngster's recent outings would justify claims for a starting spot.

STAR OF THE WEEKEND

Shinji Okazaki

Okazaki notched three goals in February, all of which have come when Gotoku Sakai joined him on the pitch​

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The Bundesliga matchday was concluded on Sunday evening by a convincing Dortmund side sending home Hannover with a 3-1 win. Despite not being involved in the goals Shinji Kagawa had a fine game until taken off in the 87th minute‚ creating numerous chances with defence-splitting passes for the champions‚ most notably when he sent the ball through into the run of Jakub Blaszczykowski shortly before the break.

The 22-year old didn't look like he missed match action due to his minor injury the other week as he looked sharp throughout the game.

Kagawa only narrowly missed out on assists as the referee somewhat controversially didn't award the attacker a penalty when he seemed to have been fouled in the area in the second half.

The league's leaders are now unbeaten in 17 games and have recorded seven straight league wins.

After being handed his first Premier League start‚ Bolton's Ryo Miyaichi made the most of it despite an overwhelming display by Chelsea resulting in a 3-0 loss.

The teenager's runs down the left side were some of the few attacking chances that the Wanderers had all game‚ and he would go on to play the full 90 minutes in his last match before joining the Japan national team for his first call-up.

In the Championship‚ Tadanari Lee had another fulfilling match in Southampton's 3-0 win at Watford. Lee drew a penalty in the box that allowed Rickie Lambert to complete his hat-trick and put in a full 90 minutes.

In a rare display of scoring prowess‚ VVV Venlo's Robert Cullen came off the bench in the 75th minute to score his second goal of the season in his team's 3-1 win against a woeful Heracles.

Cullen was left completely unmarked as the game headed into additional time and gently tapped in the pass from Yannick Wildschut to ensure his team would take the full three points.

Italy

Yuto Nagatomo (Inter): Played a full 90 minutes in the 1-0 loss at Napoli. Was the first of five Inter players to see a caution in a tempestuous affair‚ but managed to play the full game and served up some fine chances that unfortunately went unused.
Takayuki Morimoto (Novara): Left off roster for 3-1 loss at Catania.

Germany

Yuki Otsu (Borussia Monchengladbach): Entered from the bench in the 79th minute in the 1-1 home draw to Hamburg. It was the former Reysol youngster's third league match for the high-flying Foals but he didn't have too many touches.
Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg): Was not selected in the Wolves' 2-1 home loss against Hoffenheim. Wolves boss Magath dropped a number of players from the matchday squad including the 28-year-old as well as the team's most prolific player Mario Mandzukic.
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke): Came on in the 84th minute for his club's 2-0 loss away to Bayern. The right-back came on for an injured team-mate with the Knappen already two goals behind‚ and performed solidly for the time remaining.
Takashi Usami (Bayern Munich): Not included as Bayern Munich defeated Schalke 2-0 at home.
Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg): Full appearance in Augsburg's 3-0 home win over Hertha Berlin. The defensive midfielder was not involved in the goals but once more proved his importance for the team with his work rate and an amazing passing accuracy.
Takashi Inui (Bochum): Played a full 90 minutes in Bochum's 6-2 loss at Greuther Furth. The 23-year-old playmaker started brightly‚ scoring the opener - his sixth goal - early in the game‚ but like his team-mates had an afternoon to forget otherwise.

Netherlands

Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo): Played a full 90 minutes in the 3-1 home win against Heracles. Was shown a caution‚ his third of the season‚ in the 67th minute.
Michihiro Yasuda (Vitesse): Played a full game in Vitesse's 1-0 loss away to RKC.
Mike Havenaar (Vitesse): Entered from the bench in the 66th minute in his club's 1-0 loss at RKC.
Yoshiaki Takagi (Utrecht): Came on in the 71st minute in his club's 1-0 loss at Twente.

Belgium

Eiji Kawashima (Lierse): Played a full 90 minutes in the 0-0 home draw to Anderlecht.

 

[Arturo Vidal]

Tacconi backs Buffon: Never tell the truth in football

The former Bianconeri goalkeeper has admitted that he would not have informed the referee if the ball had crossed the line against the Rossoneri either

Feb 28, 2012 2:00:00 PM

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By Paolo Camedda

Stefano Tacconi has backed Gianluigi Buffon over the controversial comments the Juventusgoalkeeper made regarding Sulley Muntari's 'ghost goal' at San Siro on Saturday, arguing that honesty is not the best policy when it comes to football.

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The AC Milan midfielder beat Buffon with a close-range header during the first half of the top-of-the-table clash but the match officials failed to notice that the ball had crossed the line before Buffon was able to get it under his control.

Buffon claimed after the game that he had no idea if the ball had gone over the line but then infuriated the Rossoneri by claiming that even if he had known, he would not have informed the referee.

The Italy international's less than sporting attitude has shocked many but former Bianconeri goalkeeper Tacconi believes that there is no room for honesty in the game.

"I would not have said anything [either]," the 54-year-old Italian said. "I'd have kept quiet.

"Never tell the truth in football. I've experienced it during my career when I was out for six months for telling the truth.

"Since then I have realised that being honest in football does not pay."

Tacconi also believes the fact that Buffon's comments have sparked such a heated debate within the game is indicative how times have changed since he was a player.

"In today's football everyone talks too much," he argued. "I say this: that everyone takes responsibility for their own actions and that we return to playing football.

"Once we were winning the Scudetto with fists, punches and broken teeth; now that there are thousands of cameras filming every game, however, the titles are won by talking ... They only want to go onto the field to talk.

"It's no longer football - it's football-gossip: who has gone out with who; who has sniffed coke. These are the arguments that you often read about in the papers and on the internet. Now the more you talk, the more you win."

As for who will win this year's Scudetto, Tacconi believes that the title race will go right to the wire, feeling that Bianconeri might have a slight edge given they have no European commitments.

"The duel could last until the end, though usually the Scudetto is decided in the spring," he mused.

"With the arrival of summer we will see who has more strength. Milan may have to expend a significant amount of energy in the Champions League, but the race remains open."

Tacconi, who was capped seven times by the Azzurri during his playing days, spent nine years with Juventus between 1983 and 1992.

 

[Arturo Vidal]

Fiorentina's Montolivo admits AC Milan interest
The Italy international is out of contract at the end of the season and while Juventus are also said to be tracking him, the midfielder is expected to end up at San Siro

Montpellier's Giroud admits interest in Serie A switch
The forward, who netted on his full debut for France in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Germany, has been attracting interest from across Europe because of his fine form in Ligue 1

Guarin primed to make Inter debut against Juventus - report
The Colombian midfielder has not featured for the Nerazzurri since completing his loan move from Porto in January, but is reportedly in line to make his bow against their rivals

Totti doubtful for Rome derby - report
The Giallorossi veteran sustained an injury in training and his fitness is a worry for coach Luis Enrique ahead of Sunday's clash at the Stadio Olimpico

Del Piero: March will be a crucial month for Juventus
The Bianconeri legend is aware of the difficult task that lies ahead and stated that the club's chances of claiming silverware this season may be defined in the next 30 days

Ivan Cordoba: We are all behind Ranieri
The Colombian defender has lent his support to the under-fire coach and urged the team to get back to winning ways in order to salvage the season

Ibrahimovic: Guidetti has a great future ahead of him
The AC Milan striker is confident that the 19-year-old has the potential to be a great player but stressed that he must be taken care of

Juventus and AC Milan monitoring Fabian Monzon - report
According to reports in Italy and France, the Bianconeri and the Rossoneri, who are currently battling it out at the top of Serie A, are now also competing for the Nice full-back

Inter tracking Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez - report
According to speculation in Italy, Nerazzurri director Marco Branco is planning a double swoop on La Liga in a desperate attempt to inject some youth into the club's ageing squad

Moratti wants Villas-Boas at Inter - report
The Portuguese has endured a turbulent debut season at Stamford Bridge but the Nerazzurri are keen for him to replace Claudio Ranieri at the helm at Appiano Gentile

Manchester City line up €50 million bid for Napoli's Cavani - report
The Uruguay international, who has again been in fine goal-scoring for the Partenopei this season, will allegedly be offered a lucrative contract to make the move to Eastlands

AC Milan weighing up summer swoop for Udinese's Armero - report
According to two different publications in Italy, the Rossoneri believe that the Colombia international is the solution to their problems on the left-hand side

Roma's Gabriel Heinze: Simply winning against Lazio will not save our season
The former Manchester United player is of the opinion that a victory against the Aquile will not miraculously solve all of the Giallorossi's problems this season

AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso returns to training
The tenacious Italian midfielder has recovered from a serious eye problem earlier than expected, and took part in a practice session with his team-mates on Tuesday

Thiago Silva plays down Barcelona comments: I do not have any intention of leaving AC Milan
The Brazilian defender said that he is not looking for a new challenge in his career and wants to become a club legend at San Siro

Ibrahimovic: Muntari's disallowed goal is a tragedy for football
The Sweden international is shocked that the assistant referee did not see the ball cross the line in the Serie A showdown at San Siro last weekend

Massimo Moratti: Things are cleared up with Ranieri
The Nerazzurri chief has seemingly backed the coach after he claimed on Monday that he was mulling over his future at San Siro

Sneijder: It's not my place to say that Ranieri should be sacked
The Dutch midfielder has refused to comment on the coaching situation at the club but rued the 60-year-old's defensive strategy in Sunday's loss to Napoli

 

[Arturo Vidal]

Moratti wants Villas-Boas at Inter - report

The Portuguese has endured a turbulent debut season at Stamford Bridge but the Nerazzurri are keen for him to replace Claudio Ranieri at the helm at Appiano Gentile

Feb 29, 2012 10:50:00 AM

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Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is reportedly Inter president Massimo Moratti's first choice to take over at San Siro during the summer.
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Moratti gave current coach Claudio Ranieri his vote of confidence on Tuesday after a run of five successive defeats in all competitions.​

However, Gazzetta dello Sport is claiming that the Nerazzurri supremo has already decided to part company with the Roman coach at the end of the campaign and now intends to do his utmost to lure Villas-Boas to the Giuseppe Meazza.

Moratti had hoped to hire Villas-Boas last year but the Portuguese eventually ended up leaving Porto for Chelsea after the Blues agreed to meet his €15 million release clause.

According to Gazzetta, though, France's Laurent Blanc, Napoli's Walter Mazzarri and Udinese's Francesco Guidolin are also on Moratti's coaching shortlist.

Blanc, a former Inter player, is out of contract after Euro 2012, while both Mazzarri and Guidolin have done remarkable work with their respective clubs in Serie A in recent seasons.​

 

[Marek Hamsik]

Javier Zanetti calls on veterans to halt Inter slump
The 38-year-old feels his younger team-mates would perform better in different circumstances and says that bad luck has been a contributing factor to their appalling run

Conte lauds the return of the good old days for Juventus
The former Bianconeri midfielder did not exactly savour the fallout from their incident-packed 1-1 draw at San Siro but he believes it is actually a positive sign for the club

Allegri wants Milan to put Juventus controversy behind them
The furore surrounding Sully Muntari's 'ghost goal' at San Siro last weekend is still raging but the Rossoneri boss just wants to focus on Saturday's trip to Sicily

Trapattoni: Juventus have slight edge over AC Milan
The 72-year-old believes that the Bianconeri have an advantage over Massimiliano Allegri's men in that they are not burdened by the added pressure of competing in Europe

Lazio sporting director: We could have signed Fabio Borini
The 20-year-old had the chance to join the Biancocelesti when he left Chelsea last summer but opted to move to Parma instead

Galliani: My heart still bleeds after Juventus draw
The Rossoneri chief is still angry that his side had a goal disallowed against the Bianconeri and stated that the club do not plan to open contract talks with Ibrahimovic right now

Van Bommel: Now Juventus know that AC Milan are stronger
The Netherlands international expressed his dismay at the linesman's mistake, but stressed his side are mentally stronger after the match against the Old Lady

AC Milan keen to extend Ibrahimovic's contract until 2016 - report
The Serie A giants want to offer the striker an improved deal as a way to reward him for his important role in the squad which will keep him at San Siro for four more years

Sao Paulo's Lucas Moura dreams of Inter switch: They are one of the biggest clubs in the world
The Brazilian sensation has conceded that he is seeking a move to the Nerazzurri in the near future after being blown away by their success in recent seasons

Vasco da Gama's Dede: Playing for Juventus would be wonderful
The Brazilian defender has opened the door to a move to the Turin-based club, who are believed to be keeping tabs on the 23-year-old with a view to making a summer bid

Inter midfielder Cambiasso: Good spells do not last forever in football
The Argentine believes the club has begun a new cycle and has called on the team to work tirelessly to get back on track having collected just one point in their last six games

Inter players are not finished and we are still hungry for success, says Diego Milito
The veteran Argentine forward looks for fan support to get the Nerazzurri back on track while hinting that a coaching career may be in his future

Totti resumes full training ahead of Rome derby
The Giallorossi have received a major boost as the veteran attacker has resumed training after picking up a minor knock on Wednesday

Roma's Juan: I want to win something important here
The Brazilian defender believes that Sunday's derby with Lazio will be as memorable as ever and hopes to reach milestones before calling it quits with Roma

Agent reveals Buffon will commence contract talks with Juventus in the summer
The Italian shot stopper's representative stated that his client will sit down with the Turin club and begin talks over a new deal at the end of the current season

Inter and AC Milan join race for Podolski - report
The Serie A duo are reportedly also vying for the 26-year-old striker, but will face stiff competition from Arsenal and Schalke for the services of the Germany international

Walter Sabatini: Fabio Borini will stay at Roma
The Giallorossi chief has ruled out the possibility of the striker leaving in the summer and noted that the club are very happy with his recent displays

Agent: Aquilani will become an official AC Milan player after five more appearances
The Italy international is currently on loan to the Rossoneri from Liverpool but a deal is already in place to make his stay at San Siro permanent in the summer

Mexes apologises for punching Borriello during AC Milan's draw with Juventus
The France international was retrospectively banned for striking the Bianconeri forward in the side during last weekend's Serie A clash between the two clubs at San Siro