Sampdoria vs Catania preview - Maran sets Inter target

Posted Wednesday, May 08, 2013 by PA

Catania coach Rolando Maran has set his sights on finishing above Inter Milan this season, with a win over Sampdoria his first priority.

The Sicilians are just two points behind the faltering Nerazzurri with three games of the season remaining, and despite already achieving their objective for the season of avoiding relegation, Maran wants his team to pull out all the stops for what would be a "prestigious" ending to the campaign.

"Before our game against Siena I heard a lot of murmurings which annoyed me, but we shut everybody up with a performance in line with sporting morals," he said at a press conference.

"I want to see this attitude against Sampdoria too. Delio Rossi's side will be very motivated since they need points to avoid relegation, but we are fighting for a prestigious goal.

"That would be to break into the top eight of the league and we will try to impose ourselves in Genoa."

Sunday's win over Siena took Catania to their highest ever number of points in a season with 51.

"For us, this is like winning the title," said Maran. "I am proud to coach this team."

Samp, meanwhile, have slipped to within six points of the relegation zone and need at least one win from their remaining three matches to be sure of their place in Serie A next season, unless Udinese can do them a hand by beating Palermo.

"Samp are alive and I saw some positive signals," said their coach Rossi after the 3-1 defeat to Udinese on Sunday.

Rossi has kept his team in a training camp since last Friday to concentrate on an important week.

"It is no punishment at all, it has been agreed on to keep us all united in a moment when it is best we analyse everything together," he said.