Inter Milan's Davide Santon celebrates at the end of the Serie A match against Chievo Verona at the Bentegodi Stadium on September 20, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
With four consecutive wins and only one goal conceded, Roberto Mancini’s men are already being talked of as scudetto challengers to four-time consecutive champions Juventus.
But Mancini who won seven trophies including three consecutive league titles in his previous spell in charge (2004-2008) — was quick to dampen any premature enthusiasm. “Our league position doesn’t count at the moment. What does count is being among the top sides over the course of the season,” he said after Sunday’s 1-0 win at Chievo.
But with Inter missing out on the Champions League for the past two seasons, the Italian is in no mood for complacency. “We always have the weight of expectation, because we’re Inter Milan. We need to be protagonists this season,” added Mancini, who made significant additions to his squad, notably in midfield and defence, in the off-season.
With a two-point lead over Torino, Roma four off the pace and Juventus eight points adrift in 13th, Mancini has some room to manoeuvre.
Meanwhile, Roma’s 2-2 draw with Sassuolo last weekend came with Francesco Totti’s 300th career goal for the club, for whom he made his league debut in 1994.
But dropping two points has put unwelcome pressure on Rudi Garcia’s men ahead of a difficult outing at Sampdoria, who have hit nine goals thanks largely to Eder’s five-goal haul.
Anything less than a Roma win in Genoa would not upset Juventus ahead of the visit of league new boys Frosinone.
Juventus suffered a blow on Monday after striker Mario Mandzukic was sidelined for up to three weeks with a tear in his right thigh, also putting the Croatian out of the Turin giants’ Champions League clash at home to Sevilla in a week.
However, coach Massimiliano Allegri received the more welcome news that Alvaro Morata has been given the all-clear after being forced off late in Juve’s 2-0 win against Genoa with an abdominal muscle problem.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2015.
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