Inter chief blames Gasperini for woes

MILAN - Agence France-Presse

Stramacconi poses for photographers after being unveiled as the new Inter coach. AFP Photo

President Massimo Moratti blamed former coach Gian Piero Gasperini for Inter Milan’s disasterous season after firing Claudio Ranieri and replacing him with the untried and unheralded Andrea Stramaccioni.

Ranieri was dismissed on March 26 after a run of just one win in 10 league games which left the nerazzurri down in eighth and 10 points off a Champions League qualification position.

In the last month he had overseen the club’s exits from the Champions League and Italian Cup.

Ranieri took over from Gasperini a month into the season and while Moratti paid tribute to the dignity of the former Chelsea and Juventus boss, he turned his anger on Ranieri’s predecessor.

“Ranieri is a fantastic person, very intelligent, I thought he would tell me where to go (after being fired) but instead he offered his services as a consultant, he’s a true gentleman,” said Moratti.

“Given his method of coaching he needs another type of team, a different project.

“But it’s Gasperini’s fault for the disaster that is this season.

“He ruined everything, he stripped the atmosphere of determination and complained constantly of the players.

“He was really terrible.” Gasperini was famed for favouring a back-three defence when he was hired by Moratti but after losing his opening game in charge his president openly told the press the coach would probably change tactics.

Gasperini did so but lost his next game as well.

Moratti had also sold last season’s star performer Samuel Eto’o before the season began, robbing Gasperini of his most potent attacking weapon, and the only true pace in the side.

The unfortunate coach lasted just five official matches, losing four and drawing the other, before being unceremoniously dismissed and replaced by Ranieri.

Gasperini has since complained that he was not backed by Moratti in the transfer market and complained at the loss of his best player.

But he refused to answer Moratti’s latest jibe.

“I’ve got nothing to say, when the time is right I’ll talk, but not now,” he said.

Moratti may have hired Stramaccioni but he admitted there are other names on the horizon for next season.

Stramaccioni is likely to be given until the end of this campaign before a new, and more experienced coach is brought in.

And Moratti likes Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa.

“He’s a lot of fun and well prepared, Inter need a crazy man like him, we don’t like boring people, we need someone who is fun,” said Moratti who also considered the possibility of hiring Andre Villas-Boas.

“He’s light years from (Jose) Mourinho but he’s young and could do very well.

“(Vincenzo) Montella is very good, as is (Zdenek) Zeman. He’s a lot of fun and always has everyone against him.

“Even this year he’s doing very well with Pescara.” However, Moratti insisted he has not totally ruled out the possibility of Stramaccioni staying on.

“If he does well then why not keep him, if he has the quality that I’ll be very happy with that,” he said.
It wasn’t just Gasperini who copped criticism, though, as Moratti also explained which players had disappointed him the most.

“(Diego) Forlan, but you have to say that he’s been injured a lot.

“Maicon and (Wesley) Sneijder could also have given a lot more and (Diego) Milito has done little, even though he seems to be back.

“On the other hand, I can’t understand how anyone can speak badly of (Esteban) Cambiasso and (Javier) Zanetti, two fantastic players.”