Inter Milan vs Qarabag preview - Mazzarri demands immediate response

Posted Wednesday, October 01, 2014 by PA

Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri has demanded an immediate response from his players when they host FC Karabakh on Thursday after last weekend's humiliating defeat to Cagliari.

The Nerazzurri head into their Europa League Group F clash at the San Siro on the back of Sunday's 4-1 home loss to Cagliari.

The reverse was Inter's first defeat of the campaign and dropped Mazzarri's side to fifth in Serie A.

"It's normal there would be booing," Mazzarri said to www.inter.it. "When you lose 4-1 at home it's natural for people to be unhappy.

"But we have to get right back up and play a strong match on Thursday.

"The highs and lows from the match against Cagliari tell us we still have a lot of work to do."

Inter, who won 1-0 at Dnipro to take command of Group F, are without injured defenders Hugo Campagnaro and Jonathan.

The Nerazzurri nevertheless expect to keep up their strong form in Europe, where they have won all three of games this season, scoring 10 goals and keeping a clean sheet in the process.

Karabakh, meanwhile, travel to Italy looking to become the first Azerbaijan side to win a group stage game.

Gurban Gurbanov's men have drawn all three of their continental games so far, including a goalless result at home to St Etienne in their group opener.

The Azerbaijan champions lie third in the group, two points adrift of Inter and level on points with St Etienne, who are second.

Karabakh warmed up for the encounter in Milan with Saturday's 3-1 victory at Neftci PFK, their third-straight league win.

The outcome lifted Gurbanov's outfit to third place in the Azerbaijani Premier League, three points adrift of leaders Inter Baki with a game in hand.

Vuqar Nadirov is expected to lead Karabakh's attack.