Crespo believes in Coppa miracle
Saturday 12 May, 2007
After fighting back to beat Lazio 4-3, hat-trick hero Hernan Crespo and Coach Roberto Mancini believe Inter can also overturn a 6-2 Coppa Italia deficit.

The Nerazzurri were 2-0 down within the opening five minutes of today’s San Siro thriller before a late push and Marco Materazzi’s last-gasp winner completed the comeback.

“I think I have done well all season,” said the striker who could be recalled by Chelsea before the end of the month.

“My thoughts have not changed. After my injury, I returned really fired up. Now I am focusing only on the game with Roma.”

The first leg ended 6-2 for the Giallorossi, but Crespo thinks they can stage another shock Lazarus routine next Thursday.

“As I said, we have got to believe. After all, we came from 3-0 down to win the Italian Super Cup 4-3 practically in 45 minutes, this time we have a full 90 at our disposal.”

However, today’s seven-goal thriller showed that Inter are suffering from a post-Scudetto hangover.

“It has been an extraordinary season and we are happy to be setting new records, but we must be more careful in defence,” concluded Crespo.

Coach Mancini agreed that after winning the title, their focus did slip somewhat at the back.

“Considering how the game started, I was a little scared,” he admitted. “We reacted and definitely improved from the opening 10 minutes.

“This is a time in which we are a little too ‘happy’ in defence and that means there are a few too many mistakes.

“We could have easily conceded more, but after the 3-3 we were shaken out of it. We wanted to win and were definitely helped by Sebastiano Siviglia’s dismissal.”

Mancini has won the Coppa Italia two years running with Inter and hopes to make it a hat-trick.

“Football is strange. It won’t be easy to come back from 6-2, but we want to do well for our fans and play a great game.”

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Matrix regrets Coppa ban
Monday 14 May, 2007
Inter’s Marco Materazzi is disappointed at having to miss the second leg of the Coppa Italia Final against Roma through suspension.

The defender was booked in the 6-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico last week and will be ruled out of the return leg at the Stadio Meazza, when he believes the Nerazzurri can still do well.

“I am very sad that I will not be able to play, it has been my biggest regret right since the end of the first leg,” Materazzi told Inter Channel.

“Roma deserved the win and I congratulate them,” continued the Nerazzurro.

“But I believe the criticism towards us was probably too harsh, especially when you consider the pace we kept to win the Scudetto, that we deserved and secured easily, breaking every possible record.

“I think that sometimes it is right to respect those who have been professional to the end, including today,” he explained.

Matrix scored his ninth goal of the season against Lazio this weekend, completing Inter’s incredible comeback and sealing their record-breaking 29th win of season.

The defender celebrated by showing five fingers and shouting “May 5” at the fans - recalling the date in 2002 when Inter’s Scudetto dreams ended at the Olimpico.

“I didn’t want to offend the Lazio fans, I just meant to say that May 5 has finally been erased. I think today proved that justice exists.

“We showed that we still want to do well. We can’t deny that maybe unconsciously we have started to relax a bit and this has penalised us,” he added.

“In any case, we are certainly not doing it on purpose, no one likes to put up a poor show. Now we hope we have regained everything we will need against Roma on Thursday,” concluded Materazzi.

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Zanetti believes in Cup shock
Wednesday 16 May, 2007
Javier Zanetti insists that Inter have a chance of completing a miracle comeback in the Coppa Italia Final despite Roma’s 6-2 first leg advantage.

“Only if we remain united can we succeed,” he said. “The Coppa Italia has always been important for us and that is why on Thursday we will try to give life to a miracle.”

The Giallorossi are understandably in pole position to lift the trophy after the Olimpico leg, but the Argentine maintains that anything can happen – especially after Roma’s 7-1 Champions League capitulation this term.

“We know that a comeback will be difficult, but we must try even if we will face a very strong side,” added the defender.

“You are just unlucky in some matches which don’t go the way you want them to. Our first leg was a bit like what Roma suffered against Manchester United.

“Nevertheless, last week’s defeat can’t erase the excellent results we have obtained this season.”

Zanetti, who will turn 34 in August, added that he has made no retirement plans and will keep on appearing for the Nerazzurri for as long as possible.

“This has been the best year of my career and I do not feel that age is a problem,” continued the South American.

“I will continue for as long as I am physically fit and I feel that I can have fun on the pitch.”

The Coppa Italia Final will kick-off at 17:30 local time and will be refereed by Emidio Morganti.

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