Cesena vs Inter Milan preview - Leonardo hoping to delay Milan celebrations
Posted Saturday, April 30, 2011 by PA
Inter Milan coach Leonardo is confident his team can at least postpone AC Milan's Scudetto celebrations by beating Cesena on Saturday afternoon.
The Nerazzurri are well aware that anything but a win at the Dino Manuzzi stadium, coupled with an AC Milan triumph over Bologna, will see the league title head to the Rossoneri camp for the first time since 2004.
Inter trail Milan, who have a better head-to-head record, by eight points with four games remaining.
"We want to win this game because our aim is always to triumph," Leonardo said. "We want to approach our remaining games in a positive frame of mind.
"We want to maintain our second position in the table and win the Coppa Italia."
Leonardo, whose side are just one point clear of third-placed Napoli, will be forced to make some changes with respect to the side which beat Lazio 2-1 last weekend.
Dejan Stankovic and Wesley Sneijder are out injured, while Luca Castellazzi will replace the suspended Julio Cesar in Inter's goal.
Inter have taken just one point from their last three away games and Leonardo expects a tough encounter at Cesena on Saturday.
"Cesena are in great form right now," Leonardo said. "They are full of enthusiasm and it will be a difficult game for us."
The promoted outfit took another step towards Serie A safety with a 2-0 win at Bologna last time out.
A second straight win lifted them to 16th place, two points clear of the drop zone.
"We still need five points from our remaining four games to defend our Serie A status," Cesena coach Massimo Ficcadenti said.
"We face a difficult game against Inter, but we have to approach that match with the right mentality.
"The team has grown in recent months and has shown a lot of courage and this is a positive sign."
Photos
More»
Ex-Barcelona WAG strips completely naked
Thursday April 18 2024
[PICTURE SPECIAL] Real Madrid end City's UCL dream
Thursday April 18 2024
Glam British athlete Lauryn Davey shows off bum
Wednesday April 17 2024
Your Say