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FBL-SERIEA-ITA,PREVIEW
‘Jackass’ Conte’s Inter ready to kick back against AC Milan
MILAN, Sept 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Antonio Conte branded himself a
‘jackass’ for his tactical blunders which saw Inter Milan struggle to a draw
in their European opener this week, but warned they would kick back into gear
on Saturday against city rivals AC Milan.
Conte’s side rescued a 1-1 draw against Czech outsiders Slavia Prague in
the Champions League in the San Siro, and the former Chelsea manager said
they should use that anger in their upcoming games against AC Milan and
Lazio.
“I’m the biggest jackass,” said Conte.
“I’m the one who’s primarily responsible, both in terms of the
selections made and because I obviously didn’t make the lads understand what
I wanted.”
The former Juventus and Italy coach conceded his side could have been
focusing too much on Saturday’s game, as they look to stay top of Serie A.
“Could be, but this is part of the growing process. I am here to make
them better players.”
The Derby della Madonnina is always a fiery affair and Inter are
unbeaten in their last six league games against arch rivals AC Milan.
Inter have maximum points after three games and are two points ahead of
Bologna and champions Juventus, with Napoli three points adrift in fourth.
AC Milan’s focus this season is on Serie A after they lost their place
in the Europa League for breaches in financial fair play rules.
New coach Marco Giampaolo’s side are seventh with two wins after their
opening round defeat at Udinese.
On Saturday, the two best defences in Serie A will face off in the San
Siro, with both having only conceded one goal in the league this season.
Juventus host Verona after throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at
Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener.
It was the second consecutive stalemate for Maurizio Sarri’s side who
also dropped points last weekend in Fiorentina.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli travel south to promoted Lecce after punishing
European holders Liverpool 2-0 in the San Paolo Stadium.
It was a second match without conceding a goal after letting seven past
in their first two games.
“We’ve been boosted by the improved fitness level of a number of
players,” said Ancelotti.
“We’ve improved defensively in a short space of time.”
But Ancelotti’s side need to be wary of Lecce who shocked Torino 2-1
last Monday.
Atalanta host Fiorentina after their Champions League baptism ended in a
bruising 4-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
“These are games that teach you important lessons,” said coach Gian
Piero Gasperini.
“We can learn from it even in Serie A.”
Bologna, flying high in second despite the absence of their coach Sinisa
Mihajlovic who is undergoing cancer treatment, face a tough visit from Roma,
who earned their first win of the season last weekend.
One to watch:
In-form Napoli forward Dries Mertens will be looking to find the net for
the fourth consecutive game this season as he closes in on club legend Diego
Maradona’s mark of 115 goals for the southerners. The 32-year-old Belgian
international has scored in all three Serie A games and converted a penalty
in the 2-0 win over Liverpool this week, to bring his tally to 113 — two shy
of Argentine Maradona’s total from 1984 to 1991. Slovak Marek Hamsik leads
both with 121.
Key stats
170 – Number of times AC Milan and Inter Milan have played the Derby
Della Madonnina in Serie A.
113 – Dries Mertens goals for Napoli — two short of club legend Diego
Maradona (115).
64 – Inter Milan’s wins in the derby compared to AC Milan’s 51. There
have been 55 draws.
9 – Number of goals Napoli have scored in Serie A this season; and
number Sampdoria have conceded.
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals for Juventus this season
Fixtures (all times GMT):
Friday
Cagliari v Genoa (1845)
Saturday
Udinese v Brescia (1300), Juventus v Verona (1600), AC Milan v Inter
Milan (1845)
Sunday
Sassuolo v SPAL (1030), Bologna v AS Roma, Lecce v Napoli, Sampdoria v
Torino (all 1300), Atalanta v Fiorentina (1600), Lazio v Parma (1845)
BSS/AFP/BZC/1745HRS