Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has denied that Gian Piero
Gasperini's job is in danger after losing his first three games, but
Saturday's home match with AS Roma will still be a huge test for the
new coach.
Gasperini, Inter's third boss since Jose Mourinho left at the end of
the 2009-10 treble-winning season, is coaching a major club for the
first time and some fans fear he is out of his depth.
Moratti said after Wednesday's shock 1-0 home defeat to Champions
League debutants Trabzonspor that there was no threat to Gasperini, a
surprise appointment to replace Leonardo in the close season.
"If we start putting it like that then it becomes impossible both for
the coach and the players to work," he said on Inter's website.
Such votes of confidence are often taken with a pinch of salt in
football and Gazzetta dello Sport has already declared Saturday's match
as decisive for the former Genoa coach.
"A defeat could prompt Moratti to make a change of direction," the
Italian daily newspaper predicted.
Gasperini started out by losing to AC Milan in the season-opening
Italian Super Cup match played in Beijing and saw his team and
three-man defence slump to a 4-3 defeat at Palermo in their Serie A
debut last Sunday.
He reverted to four at the back on Wednesday under pressure from
Moratti, but the defeat against the Turkish side has dented Inter's
chances of making the last-16.
Gasperini is unlikely to cut much ice with his explanation that the
team tried hard but were unlucky.
SHOULDER INJURY
"They put in a lot of effort and I saw important performances, but
unfortunately we didn't have much luck on our side," he said.
"However, I saw an angry reaction on Inter's part. I saw a group that
reacts and also tonight showed how much desire they have to do well."
New Roma coach Luis Enrique is in a far from comfortable situation
himself with a home defeat to Cagliari on his Serie A debut following
Europa League elimination at the hands of Slovan Bratislava.
So far, Roma have looked nothing like his former club Barcelona, who he
wants his side to imitate.
The weekend's matches are officially listed as matchday three, although
as a player strike caused the opening weekend to be postponed, they are
in effect matchday two.
The other highlight is on Sunday when champions AC Milan visit Napoli,
who finished third last term and kicked off with a 3-1 win on Cesena's
artificial pitch last weekend before Wednesday's 1-1 debut Champions
League draw at Manchester City.
AC Milan, held at home by Lazio last week, are without midfielder
Massimo Ambrosini, who is out for two-to-three weeks with a shoulder
injury following the 2-2 Champions League draw at Real Madrid.
Juventus, with no European action to distract them, visit Siena hoping
to show their opening 4-1 win at home to Parma was not just a flash in
the pan.
Gasperini's job is in danger after losing his first three games, but
Saturday's home match with AS Roma will still be a huge test for the
new coach.
Gasperini, Inter's third boss since Jose Mourinho left at the end of
the 2009-10 treble-winning season, is coaching a major club for the
first time and some fans fear he is out of his depth.
Moratti said after Wednesday's shock 1-0 home defeat to Champions
League debutants Trabzonspor that there was no threat to Gasperini, a
surprise appointment to replace Leonardo in the close season.
"If we start putting it like that then it becomes impossible both for
the coach and the players to work," he said on Inter's website.
Such votes of confidence are often taken with a pinch of salt in
football and Gazzetta dello Sport has already declared Saturday's match
as decisive for the former Genoa coach.
"A defeat could prompt Moratti to make a change of direction," the
Italian daily newspaper predicted.
Gasperini started out by losing to AC Milan in the season-opening
Italian Super Cup match played in Beijing and saw his team and
three-man defence slump to a 4-3 defeat at Palermo in their Serie A
debut last Sunday.
He reverted to four at the back on Wednesday under pressure from
Moratti, but the defeat against the Turkish side has dented Inter's
chances of making the last-16.
Gasperini is unlikely to cut much ice with his explanation that the
team tried hard but were unlucky.
SHOULDER INJURY
"They put in a lot of effort and I saw important performances, but
unfortunately we didn't have much luck on our side," he said.
"However, I saw an angry reaction on Inter's part. I saw a group that
reacts and also tonight showed how much desire they have to do well."
New Roma coach Luis Enrique is in a far from comfortable situation
himself with a home defeat to Cagliari on his Serie A debut following
Europa League elimination at the hands of Slovan Bratislava.
So far, Roma have looked nothing like his former club Barcelona, who he
wants his side to imitate.
The weekend's matches are officially listed as matchday three, although
as a player strike caused the opening weekend to be postponed, they are
in effect matchday two.
The other highlight is on Sunday when champions AC Milan visit Napoli,
who finished third last term and kicked off with a 3-1 win on Cesena's
artificial pitch last weekend before Wednesday's 1-1 debut Champions
League draw at Manchester City.
AC Milan, held at home by Lazio last week, are without midfielder
Massimo Ambrosini, who is out for two-to-three weeks with a shoulder
injury following the 2-2 Champions League draw at Real Madrid.
Juventus, with no European action to distract them, visit Siena hoping
to show their opening 4-1 win at home to Parma was not just a flash in
the pan.
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