Cambiasso: Inter cannot afford to have another bad season

Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has urged his team-mates to pick themselves up following the Nerazzurri's disappointing 2011-12 season.

The San Siro outfit finished in sixth place in Serie A last term, while they lost the Supercoppa Italiana to cross-town rivals AC Milan and bowed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 at the hands of Marseille.

Cambiasso has now called on the team to pick up the pace as they prepare for their Europa League qualifier against Hajduk Split.

"The tie against Hajduk is only the consequence of our last season," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "If we are in this situation, we are the only ones to blame.

"In the past, we have had the chance to play two different Supercups in August, now we will play the Europa League qualifiers in August.

"Inter can't afford to have another bad year."

The 31-year-old went on to comment on Inter's signing of Rodrigo Palacio, declaring that he expects his compatriot to score many goals.

"Italian football gives something extra to attackers," Cambiasso observed. "Just look at Diego Milito: he was not fond of scoring goals before, but then he developed his finishing skills at Genoa.

"Palacio was a second striker who mainly did assists, but now he is a second striker who picks up assists and scores goals."