Inter Milan vs AS Roma preview - Zanetti targets Inter riposte

Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by PA

Inter Milan captain Javier Zanetti is hopeful he and his team-mates will find their feet after a slow start to the new campaign.

Gian Piero Gasperini's men host Roma on Saturday evening desperate to claim their first win of the season.

Last weekend's 4-3 loss at Palermo and their 1-0 midweek defeat to Trabzonspor in their opening Champions League group game have put Gasperini under pressure.

To complicate matters, the Nerazzurri face a frantic 10 days with games against Roma, Novara and Bologna before returning to European competition to face CSKA Moscow in Russia on September 27.

Zanetti believes they must rediscover their winning touch immediately.

"No-one expected such a start," Zanetti said. "We are disappointed but this is only the beginning.

"I know this group can respond positively.

"We want to win on Saturday night and change the trend.

"During a season, you have moments of difficulty and we hope this is just just one of them."

Roma travel to the Giuseppe Meazza also searching for their first win of the campaign.

The Eternal City giants lost 2-1 to Cagliari in the last round but despite the setback, coach Luis Enrique believes his team is showing signs of improvement.

"I am optimistic," he said. "We have a good group of players.

"We only just started a new project.

"We are eager to work.

"The results have not arrived yet but I've seen things that I've really liked."

Roma, who held Inter to a 1-1 draw at the San Siro last season, will be without defender Jose Angel, who serves a one-match ban.

Inter's Wesley Sneijder is set to play in support of Diego Milito and Diego Forlan.