Palermo vs Inter Milan preview - Iachini gets Palermo backing

Posted Saturday, September 20, 2014 by PA

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has handed coach Giuseppe Iachini a vote of confidence ahead of Sunday's game against Inter Milan.

Iachini, who guided Palermo to the Serie B title last season, has faced criticism for his team's winless start to the campaign.

The Sicilian side were eliminated from the Coppa Italia last month after a 3-0 defeat to Modena and were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Sampdoria in their Serie A opener, before losing 2-0 on Monday evening at Hellas Verona.

"Iachini is a fantastic coach and he will remain with us for another five years," Zamparini said. "We are upset because in our opening two games we didn't get what we deserved.

"Instead of having six points we find ourselves with just one point in the standings.

"But we need to be optimistic because the team produced good performances against Sampdoria and Hellas.

"Inter also have a great coach in Walter Mazzarri and they are a very good side.

"But they will face a determined Palermo on Sunday."

Inter head into the encounter at La Favorita looking to end a positive week on a high note.

The Nerazzurri followed last Sunday's 7-0 demolition of Sassuolo, their first win of the campaign, with a midweek 1-0 triumph at Dnipro in their Europa League opener.

Danilo D'Ambrosio's solitary goal handed the Italians all three points in Ukraine.

"It was important for us to play a great game at Dnipro and prove to everyone that our victory against Sassuolo wasn't a one off," D'Ambrosio said. "The goal against Dnipro was the most important of my career.

"Now we must put this result behind us and focus on Palermo.

"We expect a difficult game in Sicily."

Mazzarri will have all of his players available for Sunday's match with the exception of injured midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

The hosts are without injured defenders Giancarlo Gonzalez and Ezequiel Munoz as well as midfielder Enzo Maresca, who underwent an appendicectomy this week.