Inter Milan are one of the richest and biggest clubs in Europe but they start their Champions League campaign without a defence.
They visit Fenerbahce in Group G on Wednesday without injured centre backs Marco Materazzi and Cristian Chivu while Walter Samuel is also struggling with a knock. Meanwhile, Nicolas Burdisso, Maicon and Ivan Cordoba all have long term Champions League suspensions following the mass brawl in the game with Valencia last season.
That leaves the Italian champions with just Brazilian left back Maxwell, a converted midfielder, and largely untried Colombian central defender Nelson Rivas.
Captain Javier Zanetti may have to return to right back from midfield and left winger Cesar, who scored a cracking goal in the 2-0 league win over Catania on Sunday, could play at left back but it is doubtful Maxwell could shift across.
Midfielder Patrick Vieira could have dropped back to central defence as a stop gap measure but he is doubtful for the trip to Istanbul after playing twice for France despite a hamstring injury, which greatly annoyed Inter coach Roberto Mancini.
Inter fans may wonder why they let flexible full back Fabio Grosso join Lyon in August. The ripping up of defender Francesco Coco’s contract to allow him to become an actor may also have backfired (see “Coco from Inter to Hollywood” at Soccerphile if you missed the story)..
The decision to leave troubled striker Adriano out of their Champions League squad is another talking point. If Mancini was looking for a makeshift defender the big, powerful Brazilian would fit the mould, especially as his current lack of form in the box means he would be unlikely to score any own goals.
Mark Meadows, Milan
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It’s hard to feel much sympathy for them, isn’t it? Adriano could have played left back: left back behind the goal, as we used to say.
- Posted by RafaInter will be found out again this year in Serie A & the Champions League. They’ll crack in the league as soon as any pressure is applied. And they have built-in excuses for blowing the Champions League. That 80s saying “cocaine is god’s way of telling you you have too much money” should be adapted for Inter into something like “finishing in the top 3 every year w/o ever winning is god’s way of telling you to let football people make football decisions, Moratti, you numbnuts.” Forza Roma!
- Posted by David