Brooding Mourinho suspended in Serie A midweek round
September 21st, 2009 - 7:56 pm ICT by IANS
Rome, Sep 21 (DPA) Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho will watch his Italian champions from the stands Wednesday when they welcome Napoli in a midweek round of the Serie A.
The Portuguese coach is to receive a one-game suspension after he was sent off in Cagliari on Sunday for bickering with the referee over the flooring of one of his players.
His men managed a 2-1 rally against the lowly hosts through a brace from Diego Milito, which kept the champions within two points of leaders Juventus and Sampdoria but evidenced some tactical and physical flaws.
As Inter keep looking for the best form, Mourinho has showed to be more brooding and allergic to criticism than usual and reacted sharply to his colleague Alberto Zaccheroni, who disliked Inter’s performance as they drew 0-0 with Barcelona last week.
Mou had something to say also about the luck of Juve, who played Saturday and are back on the pitch on Thursday, instead of Wednesday, and declined to meet the press after the game in Cagliari.
“When Inter play poorly he never shows up,” said television commentator Massimo Mauro, a former player of Juve who probably is now in for some acidic riposte.
Juve, meanwhile, were not quite perfect, partly due to their many absentees, as they clinched a fourth straight win beating Livorno 2-0 and may expect a rough time away to Genoa.
“We started well. We have all the qualities to win the scudetto,” said the young Claudio Marchisio, on target with a classy goal after Vincenzo Iaquinta’s opener.
Surprising Sampdoria bask at the top next to Juve on 12 points and are also in for a tough game when they visit Fiorentina, looking to bounce back from a 3-1 beating at Roma.
Signs of improvement after a dull start came from AC Milan, who still struggled to edge minnows Bologna 1-0 and will prove their effective worth at Udinese.
The season began quite well for promoted Parma, lying level on seven points with Fiorentina, Milan and their next hosts Lazio, while newcomers Bari also have no complaints on six points before hosting Cagliari.
In remaining action, Palermo are at home to Roma, Bologna host Livorno, bottom side Atalanta welcome Catania and Siena entertain Chievo.
- Roma draw level with AC Milan in second place - Feb 01, 2010
- Inter Milan move seven clear at top of Serie A - Nov 02, 2009
- Juventus better than Inter Milan in season opener - Aug 24, 2009
- Mourinho keeps his cool after ban - Feb 25, 2010
- Nine men enough for Inter Milan to dominate city derby - Jan 25, 2010
- Last chance for Juventus to stay on Inter Milan's heels - Dec 03, 2009
- Inter upset by Lecce as Milan win to chase Juventus - Jan 30, 2012
- Inter Milan held to draw by gritty Napoli - Feb 15, 2010
- Juventus crash at Palermo, lose chance to go top - Oct 05, 2009
- Juve win Serie A title after Milan loses in derby - May 07, 2012
- Inter Milan widen lead through win over Cagliari - Feb 08, 2010
- AC Milan only chasers of Inter Milan after win at Juventus - Jan 11, 2010
- Inter Milan go top through drubbing of Napoli - Sep 24, 2009
- Roma, AC Milan close in on leaders Inter Milan - Feb 22, 2010
- Moment of truth for Juventus against Sampdoria - Oct 26, 2009
Tags: absentees, ac milan, alberto zaccheroni, claudio marchisio, diego milito, game suspension, inter milan, italian champions, jose mourinho, juve, massimo mauro, meet the press, physical flaws, riposte, rough time, scudetto, seven points, target, television commentator, vincenzo iaquinta