Genoa vs Inter Milan preview - Inter chief calls for patience

Posted Saturday, January 18, 2014 by PA

Inter Milan president Erick Thohir is preaching patience to the club's fans ahead of Sunday's match at Genoa.

Inter have struggled since Thohir became majority shareholder in October.

With the club 20 points adrift of leaders Juventus, the club supremo said: "The fans need to be patient.

"You don't build a business in one or two months, you have to wait several years.

"This is the principle that a lot of franchises in the United States follow, trying to always find balance between having healthy books and great results."

The Nerazzurri have won just one of their last seven league games and Monday's 1-1 draw with Chievo left Inter in fifth place.

Thohir said: "Inter have improved with respect to last season. I think fourth place is a realistic aim for us.

"We will nevertheless have to keep an eye open to see what the other teams do. But we cannot forget that we have slipped a few times this year."

Inter, who are winless in 2014, finished a disappointing ninth place last season and failed to qualify for European football.

The Nerazzurri were knocked out of the Coppa Italia at the hands of Udinese last week, a game which again highlighted their problems in attack.

Walter Mazzarri's men have found the back of the net just once in their last three games.

"Sometimes the ball just doesn't go in and your opponents score at every opportunity," Mazzarri said. "We just have to keep working.

"The players believe in themselves, we just need a little more luck, which is crucial in sport."

Mid-table Genoa go into the match on the back of a 4-0 defeat at Roma, their second loss in three league games.

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be hoping his side can extend their unbeaten run at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, where they have not lost since September 28.

Gasperini's side have claimed four wins and two draws from their home games since.

The hosts will be without Brazilian midfielder Francelino Matuzalem, who serves a one-match ban.