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Mihajlovic: Milan don´t deserve to have more than three points
18 September 2015 19:57
Sinisa Mihajlovic has told his Milan players they do not deserve to have any more than the three points they currently have on the table in Serie A.
Last weekend's derby defeat to Inter means the Rossoneri have lost two of their opening three league fixtures ahead of Saturday's clash against Palermo.
Mihajlovic warned his players not to feel sorry for themselves going into their fourth game, saying they only deserve to have a maximum of two or three points on the board at this stage.
"In Florence we deserved to lose, against Empoli we should not have won but we did and in the derby we didn't get what we felt we had earned with our performance," the head coach said at his pre-match press conference.
"Perhaps we should have drawn with both Empoli and Inter, but then we would only have two points. Everyone expected more from us in this first month, but for the time being we deserve the points we have.
"The statistics never lie. We have had chances to shoot but have chosen other options. We must improve and take advantages of the chances we get better.
"Palermo are a good team, we must repeat the performance we gave against Inter and put all our anger on the pitch. We must continue on this path and play our own game.
"You always feel pressure when you are at Milan, it will always be like this. We must stay calm, knowing that if we play as a team we can get a lot of satisfaction and only think about ourselves."
Mihajlovic confirmed he will be naming the same starting XI that played in the 1-0 loss to Inter, meaning Mario Balotelli will again take his place on the substitutes' bench.
He also revealed key attacker Jeremy Menez was getting closer to a recovery having started light training, but would sit out of the Palermo game along with Andrea Bertolacci.
"The same team that played in the derby will start on Saturday," Mihajlovic said.
"I would like to let 25 players play but I can't. I must make decisions, right or wrong. Balotelli has started well - he must do that every time he gets the chance to play.
"Injuries are part of football and I hope Menez can recover, along with [M'Baye} Niang and [Andrea] Bertolacci. Without doubt Menez was one of our best players last season, but I don't want to talk about injured players to find excuses."
Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has backed captain Gianluigi Buffon as a Ballon d'Or contender.
The Italy veteran delivered an outstanding performance in the 2-1 Champions League win over Manchester City this week and was later hailed by ex-Juve midfielder Andrea Pirlo as the greatest goalkeeper in history.
The 37-year-old helped guide the Serie A champions to a domestic double last season, as well as the Champions League final, and Morata is in no doubt that he deserves a shot at the sport's biggest individual prize, which will be awarded on January 11 next year.
"Gigi deserves it," Morata told Mediaset and Sky. "It's a pity that goalkeepers only seem able to win the Golden Glove award.
"It's an honour for me to play with and even against him, given that I'll face him on international duty."
France star Paul Pogba has been tipped as a future recipient of the prize and Morata has no doubt about his chances.
"Paul is capable of winning it as well. We're all aware of his qualities and so if he wants it he can do it," added the Spain international.
Juventus head into Sunday's trip to Genoa looking to arrest a run of three games without a win in Serie A, and Morata - who fired home the winner against City - says his side must take their Champions League form into the game.
"We managed to beat world-class opponents by playing as a unit and understanding each other's movements," he continued. "Now we need to put this into practice again against Genoa, who are another excellent side.
"It will be great to return to the Marassi [Genoa's stadium], where we claimed the Scudetto last year. We know it won't be easy and we need to give everything we've got in order to win and to start climbing the league table."
Mario Balotelli and Gonzalo Higuain will be licking their lips as they prepare to take on some historically profitable opponents but Roma have a tricky game against Sassuolo
Serie A is back for matchday four on a weekend during which two big-name strikers should expect to plunder goals.
Mario Balotelli is back at AC Milan after a nightmare year at Liverpool and he will be relishing taking on Palermo - they are the team past whom he has scored the most goals.
It's a similar scene for Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain, who has notched eight against Lazio in just four games against the Rome side. He has a better record against them than any other opponent.
Meanwhile, Inter should be confident of a good result against Chievo with a marvellous recent record against the Verona club, while Roma face a tricky test when Sassuolo come to the Stadio Olimpico.
Fiorentina have confirmed on-loan winger Jakub Blaszczykowski partially dislocated his right shoulder in Thursday's Europa League defeat to Basel.
Poland international Blaszczykowski played the full 90 minutes as Paulo Sousa went down to defeat against the club he left for Fiorentina in pre-season.
The Borussia Dortmund loanee could be set for a spell on the sidelines, however, with Fiorentina claiming Blaszczykowski had "begun a rehabilitation programme".
Fiorentina travel to Carpi on Sunday with Blaszczykowski a doubt, but the club delivered a positive update on midfielder Matias Vecino – who will be assessed on Saturday after being cleared of any muscle or tendon damage in his left thigh.
Milan president Silvio Berlusconi is pleased that the club signed Mario Balotelli rather than Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he feels the Paris Saint-Germain striker might be past his prime.
The Rossoneri were heavily linked with a move for Ibrahimovic during the transfer window, but eventually missed out on the Sweden international as PSG refused to sell.
They then brought in Balotelli from Liverpool on a one-year loan deal instead and Berlusconi has no regrets over Milan's transfer dealings.
"Ibra wanted to come to Milan, but they wouldn’t let him go," Berlusconi told the official Milan website.
"However we got Balotelli, who is younger. Ibra is like me and is getting older.
"Balotelli didn’t get a pass wrong against Palermo and God willing he really has changed, he appears to be more serious and pensive.
"He made a series of runs and passes, linking up with the other players. I hope he can keep this going in the future. I talk with him on the phone from time to time and he seems calm, I think he has reached the maturity stage in a player’s career.
"I can also see him playing behind the two strikers. Balo can play in any of the three positions in attack."
Balotelli, 25, has yet to find the net since his return to Serie A, but impressed during substitute appearances against Inter and Palermo.
Udinese v Milan Preview: Mihajlovic demands more control
20 September 2015 16:55
Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic wants Milan to use the Serie A match against Udinese as an opportunity to demonstrate that they can dominate opponents.
Twice against Palermo at the weekend Milan allowed their visitors a way back into the contest, with Oscar Hiljemark equalising on both occasions for the Sicilians, something which irritated Mihajlovic despite Carlos Bacca going on to secure a 3-2 win.
The former Sampdoria coach feels that Milan's inability to seize control of games is their biggest issue at the moment, but the Serb is happy that he has managed to help build some team spirit since his close-season appointment.
He told Sky Sport Italia: "When we have the chance to kill the game, we have to take it. The important thing is that I have rediscovered the team, the right spirit and approach.
"[But] we do not know how to control a game, so we must always push and aim to control the situation with stronger possession.
"I think we played well over the last two matches [against Inter and Palermo], though we certainly need to improve when it comes to reading the moments of the game."
Much of Milan's season so far has been focused on the integration of a host of new arrivals who have been brought in to boost a side that finished 10th in 2014-15.
And some of the latest recruits are starting to show signs of settling in, with Luiz Adriano catching the eye in flashes, while Bacca – who scored twice against Palermo – has three goals in his last three games.
Udinese, however, are in the midst of a difficult spell and Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Empoli was their third reverse in succession, leaving coach Stefano Colantuono despondent.
The Udine club can take heart from their three consecutive victories over Milan at Stadio Communale Friuli, though the last-gasp loss to Empoli may have impacted on morale.
"We mustn't feel sorry for ourselves," Colantuono said. "Now is the moment to work hard."
Milan still have a few injury concerns to contend with, as Jeremy Menez (back), M'Baye Niang (foot) and new signing Andrea Bertolacci (thigh) are all expected to miss out.
Meanwhile, Udinese will definitely be without Alexander Merkel after picking up a serious knee injury, while Silvan Widmer and Guilherme are out with knocks.
Milan have lost both of their away matches this season, albeit last time out they were beaten by rivals Inter at San Siro as the nominal visitors.
´Remember when Roma won the first 10 games´ - Mancini urges caution on Scudetto bid
21 September 2015 09:20
Inter coach Roberto Mancini has attempted to lower the growing expectations surrounding his side after their latest Serie A victory by pointing to Roma's title bid of two years ago.
League-leading Inter beat Chievo 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a Mauro Icardi goal in Verona, making it four wins from four with only one goal conceded in the campaign so far.
That superb start has prompted a number of key figures to tip Inter for a Scudetto challenge, with Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri amongst those to label them title favourites.
Mancini urged observers to look back to 2013-14 campaign before making bold predictions over his team's chances.
That year, Roma incredibly won all of their first 10 matches until falling away and eventually finishing 17 points behind Juventus.
Mancini said: "Scudetto? Felipe Melo is right: you have to be first at the end, not now. Remember when Roma won the first 10 games and then got a long way behind Juve.
"We do not want to hide but you cannot know who will win the championship. We always have a responsibility to succeed, we are Inter. Our goal is to remain at the top.
"I am happy but we will talk about the Scudetto at the end of the season."
Mancini was also asked about Inter's run of one-goal victories, with the win over Chievo their third 1-0 win of the new league season.
He continued: "We should have closed the game against Chievo. We hope to get two goals next time so I suffer less!"
Lazio hope to have Antonio Candreva back for their next Europa League clash against Saint-Etienne after scans showed no serious damage to his ankle.
Candreva missed the 5-0 humbling at the hands of Napoli on Sunday after picking up a problem following the 1-1 draw with Dnipro in Europe.
He is expected to miss the Serie A clashes with Genoa and Verona this week, but the club's medical staff are hopeful he will then be ready to make a return.
"Today we performed instrumental checks on Antonio Candreva," club doctor Stefano Salvatori told Lazio Style Radio.
"The MRI scans have not highlighted a distortion trauma, but revealed the presence of a hematoma, so Antonio will not be available either for Wednesday's game or for that Sunday.
"Now the race is on to make him available for the Europa League. One positive note is that today Candreva walked independently."
The news is not so good for Stefan de Vrij and Miroslav Klose, though, with Lazio expecting the pair to be out until mid-October.
Juventus v Frosinone: Chiellini and Pereyra buoyed by recent upturn
21 September 2015 19:23
Juventus head into their first ever top-flight meeting against Frosinone with their belief restored, according to experienced defender Giorgio Chiellini.
The reigning Serie A champions endured a torrid start to their title defence, taking a solitary point from their first three games, and found themselves 1-0 down midway through the second half of their Champions League opener at Manchester City.
But goals from Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata completed a sensational turnaround to see off the Premier League leaders and Massimiliano Allegri's men built on that success with a 2-0 victory at Genoa on Sunday.
The latter win came at a price, with Mandzukic (thigh) and Morata (abdominal) leaving their coach with something of a quandary in attack, but Chiellini is delighted to be back to winning ways.
"We'll take each game as it comes and approach Frosinone with the same calmness that we demonstrated [against Genoa]," he told Sky Italia.
"After this week we have plenty of belief going forward for the rest of the campaign."
Roberto Pereyra entered the fray when Morata sustained his injury during the first half at the weekend and could be in line to start against the visitors, who have lost all four matches to date on their Serie A debut.
Juve come into Wednesday's clash eight points behind leaders Inter, who have a perfect record thus far, but such a margin does not intimidate Pereyra at this early stage of the season.
"Inter have started well and that's why they're top after four games," he told his club's official website.
"But as we all know the season has just started and we'll give everything as a team to make sure we start climbing the table."
On his prospects of a place in the first XI against Frosinone, where Simone Zaza will be pushing for a maiden Juventus start, Pereyra added: "The manager asked me to pick up where Alvaro had left off [at Genoa] and I think I did a good job.
"No-one is guaranteed a spot in this team and everyone knows that they have to work hard to cement their place in the side."
Juventus won both matches against Frosinone without conceding during their Serie B campaign in 2006-07, goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Massimo Zappino taking part in those encounters.
Zappino has not played for Frosinone so far this season, with Nicola Leali – on a season-long loan from Juventus – keeping him out of the team.
Inter v Verona: Club record in sight for Mancini´s leaders
21 September 2015 19:53
Roberto Mancini's Inter can equal a club record of five successive wins at the start of a Serie A campaign when they host Verona at San Siro on Wednesday.
Sunday's 1-0 success over Chievo made it four out of four for Mancini's men in 2015-16, giving them maximum points and opening up a two-point lead over Torino at the top.
Mauro Icardi struck the crucial goal at the weekend – his first of the season – as Inter closed in on a perfect five-game start only previously achieved once before, in 1966-67.
Inter's success has been all the more impressive given the changes Mancini made to his squad during the close season, the head coach bringing in a host of new faces to try and get over the disappointment of finishing eighth in 2014-15.
Rather than the new recruits taking their time to settle into life at Inter, they have flourished and with an eight-point lead over defending champions Juventus some are already tipping Inter to be Scudetto contenders.
Mancini and his players have played down those claims, but another win on Wednesday would only add to the impressive start made by his side.
Next up for the league leaders is Chievo's city rivals Verona, to whom Inter have never lost at home in 26 league attempts.
Added to that dominance, Inter are unbeaten against Verona since February 1992 after 10 wins and two draws.
Verona's early season form has yet to produce a morale boosting victory, with Andrea Mandorlini's side having drawn three of their opening four games – scoring four goals in the process.
They snatched a point in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Atalanta thanks to Eros Pisano, but travel to Milan with a huge doubt hanging over their talisman Luca Toni.
The 38-year-old was substituted after just 25 minutes in that draw with a knee injury, with Mandorlini hoping he can make a quick recovery to start at San Siro.
Verona could also be without experienced central defender Rafael Marquez – who was also substituted against Atalanta – while Bosko Jankovic will serve a suspension after his red card.
"It will be a tough game," said Pisano. "Luca Toni and Rafael Marquez are two important players, I wish them good luck, we expect them to have fitness tests and then we'll see whether they can play."
Udinese 2 AC Milan 3: Balotelli on target for San Siro side
22 September 2015 22:45
Mario Balotelli marked his first start since returning to AC Milan with a goal to help them to a 3-2 Serie A win over Udinese on Tuesday.
The Italy striker, back with the club following a failed spell with Liverpool in the Premier League, opened the scoring after just five of minutes as the visitors made a superb start at the Stadio Communale Friuli, before Giacomo Bonaventura doubled their lead in the 10th minute.
Cristian Zapata's goal in the closing minutes of the first half seemed to have decided the match, but Udinese came into the game after the interval.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu made it 3-1 shortly after the break and then substitute Duvan Zapata got another on the hour mark to set up a tense finale.
But there was no comeback from the struggling hosts, despite plenty of late pressure, and their hopes were finally ended in injury time when Bruno Fernandes was sent off for a second yellow card.
Victory sent Milan fourth in the table for at least a day, while Udinese have now lost four in a row and look set for a battle against relegation.
Milan started the game superbly and needed only five minutes to take the lead. Balotelli stepped up to take a free-kick in a dangerous position after he was brought down himself and the Liverpool loanee justified Sinisa Mihajlovic's decision to include him in the starting XI with a perfect shot into the top corner.
The visitors did not let up after their early opener and made it two after just 10 minutes. Riccardo Montolivo spotted Bonaventura's clever run behind the Udinese defence and the latter chested down the midfielder's superb pass before slotting home from inside the area.
Milan continued to look dangerous and they should have piled even more misery on Udinese in the 26th minute. Keisuke Honda set up Carlos Bacca with an intelligent pass, yet the Colombia international hesitated too long and his shot was eventually blocked by Manuel Iturra.
The pair combined again 10 minutes before half-time when Honda this time tried his luck from 12 yards after being set up by Bacca, but once again Iturra did just enough to deflect the Japan playmaker's attempt wide with a last-ditch tackle.
There was no denying Milan in the closing seconds of the first half, though. Bonaventura sent his corner to the back post and Cristian Zapata beat his marker to the ball before diagonally heading home for his side's third.
Udinese refused to give up, however, and they pulled one back shortly after the interval. Antonio Di Natale's first touch let him down, but the ball fell kindly to Agyemang-Badu, who fired home to reduce the defecit.
The Ghanaian's goal seemed to spur Stefano Colantuono's men on, and they soon got a second shortly before the hour mark when Cyril Thereau set up Duvan Zapata and the substitute had no trouble tapping in from just a few yards out.
Thereau nearly completed Udinese's comeback after a low cross from Di Natale, but Diego Lopez rushed off his line to collect the ball before the Frenchman could get to it
To rub even more salt into Udinese’s wounds, the home side were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Fernandes received his second yellow card, as Milan held on.
Alex Ferguson considered making Mario Balotelli a Manchester United player before his contacts in the game warned him off the maverick Italy international.
Balotelli joined United's local rivals Manchester City in 2010, helping them to the Premier League title in 2011-12 when he scored a brace in a 6-1 thrashing of Ferguson's men at Old Trafford.
The striker revealed his iconic "Why Always Me" t-shirt when he opened the scoring in that match after an impromptu fireworks display from his home bathroom earlier that weekend resulted in the fire brigade being called.
Unfortunately for City and Balotelli, tales of the Italians assorted hijinks off the field would far surpass his deeds on it and he was sold to Milan in January 2013.
Balotelli is back at San Siro on loan following an underwhelming spell at Liverpool last year – the prospect of the gifted 25-year-old fulfilling his considerable potential appearing ever more remote.
When these talents came to light during Balotelli's formative years at Inter, Ferguson – a keen nurturer of young prospects – was alerted but the 73-year-old is ultimately pleased he put his curiosity to bed.
"In 2010 I briefly flirted with the idea of signing Mario Balotelli, the talented but controversial Italian striker," Ferguson wrote in his new book, 'Leading'.
"I did my homework on him, speaking to a few Italian contacts, but the feedback I got confirmed it was too big a risk.
"I don't know whether this sort of candid professional courtesy exists in other fields, but for me it was a Godsend."
Had Ferguson's interest in Balotelli developed, it is likely it would have hit another stumbling block.
In 'Leading' he expresses a dislike for agent Mino Raiola – Balotelli's representative who also oversaw Paul Pogba's departure from Manchester United.
France international midfielder Pogba subsequently shot to stardom with Juventus and is now one of the most coveted performers in the world game.
"There are one or two football agents I simply do not like and Mino Raiola is one of them," Ferguson said.
"We had Paul under a three-year contract and it had a one-year renewal option, which we were eager to sign. But Raiola suddenly appeared on the scene and our first meeting was a fiasco.
"He and I were like oil and water. From then on, our goose was cooked because Raiola had been able to ingratiate himself with Paul and his family and the player signed with Juventus."
Lichtsteiner released from hospital after ´breathing difficulties´
24 September 2015 18:09
Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has been discharged from hospital but is expected to miss the Serie A clash with Napoli.
The Switzerland international was replaced by Giorgio Chiellini at half-time of Juventus' 1-1 draw with Frosinone on Wednesday and was later taken to hospital, where he was kept in overnight.
The Italian champions confirmed on Thursday that Lichtsteiner has been released from the Mauriziano Hospital but he is likely to sit out Saturday's trip to the San Paolo.
"Stephan Lichtsteiner was last night taken to Mauriziano Hospital after reporting breathing difficulties during the interval of the Bianconeri’s Serie A encounter with Frosinone at Juventus Stadium," a club statement read.
"He was kept under observation throughout the night and discharged this morning after the symptoms subsided. His condition will be monitored over the coming days.
"The defender did not train today and it is unlikely that he will be available for this weekends trip to Napoli."
Garcia wants ´positive run´ from inconsistent Roma
25 September 2015 21:27
Rudi Garcia has called for his Roma players to cut out the individual errors and get back to winning ways following the midweek defeat at Sampdoria.
An own goal by Konstantinos Manolas with five minutes to go saw Roma beaten 2-1 on their travels on Wednesday, a particularly disappointing result considering it came off the back of a 2-2 home draw with Sassuolo.
Roma sit ninth in Serie A, their tally of eight points leaving them seven adrift of early leaders Inter.
"All we're interested in is getting the win," Garcia told the club's official website.
"We've taken one point from a possible six in our last two matches, so we absolutely have to improve.
"We didn't play well against Frosinone and won [2-0], yet against Sampdoria we took the match to them and ended up missing out on the three points.
"We need to repeat the performance we showed against Samp but cut out the individual errors."
Despite the indifferent start to the campaign, Garcia insists he is not worried about his own future at Roma.
Instead his major concern is getting the season back on track, starting with a home game against lowly Carpi on Saturday.
"My only worry is preparing well for the game tomorrow," the Frenchman said.
"We need to reproduce the performance we showed against Sampdoria, cutting out the little defensive errors and trying to be more lethal in front of goal.
"The table isn't an issue at the minute – we're only in week six. We have a chance to pick up some points against Carpi, let's try and kick-start a positive run."
Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin believes his side should consider themselves capable of winning the Serie A title this season.
Roberto Mancini's side are three points clear at the top of the table, having won all five of their opening games, and already have a 10-point gap to reigning champions Juventus.
Guarin is thrilled with Inter's start to the campaign after their inconsistent form over recent seasons and says there should be a growing belief in their chances of ending Juve's Scudetto dominance.
"What's great about football is that things change so quickly," the Colombia international told reporters at the launch of his website, FredyGuarin.com.
"After three years of not finding the right way forward, there were positive changes. I had difficulty during that period, but I think I gained in experience and today we have a great opportunity with this team, this coach and these new players to lift our heads and think about winning the Scudetto.
"To be considered a great team, you have to earn it one match at a time. Mentality is very important, as is making sure we fix our mistakes. What really counts is to be a solid squad, to leave no room for doubt."
Inter have been criticised by some for the level of their performances so far, with Mancini's side having won four of their five matches 1-0, but Guarin says such talk only spurs them on.
"What do I say to critics? Nothing," he added. "The pitch does the talking, as far as we're concerned they're motivating us to do better."
Guarin came close to joining Juventus in January 2014, though the move failed to materialise, but the 29-year-old insists he is happy to remain at San Siro.
"In reality I never felt distant from Inter," he added. "The club let me know I was part of their plans and I said from day one that I'm prouder to be part of Inter than any other team I've played for.
"Would I like to end my career at Inter? You never know what might happen, but I hope to win things with them now."
Genoa v Milan: Romagnoli focuses on room for improvement
25 September 2015 18:28
Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli says things are looking up for Milan ahead of the trip to Genoa, but warned of the need to continue their upward curve.
Sinisa Mihajlovic has enjoyed a positive start to his first season in charge at the club with defeats to Fiorentina and rivals Inter the only low points of his tenure to date.
Since the derby defeat at San Siro, Milan have recorded back-to-back wins and seen Mario Balotelli get back on the scoresheet for the first time since his loan return from Liverpool with a goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win at Udinese.
Balotelli has scored in three of his four appearances at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris against Genoa and has never lost a game against this weekend's opponents in Serie A.
Team-mate Romagnoli hailed the striker following victory at the Stadio Communale Friuli, telling reporters: "Balotelli was brilliant, battling, holding up the ball and he scored a sublime goal.
"We played very well in defence and I mean everyone... even if we did concede two goals that could have been avoided and it's something we have to work on.
"After we conceded the second goal we switched on again and we managed to come away with the win.
"We know we can hold our own with anyone. You can see the plan of the coach and we're improving."
Mihajlovic is likely to again be without Andrea Bertolacci (thigh) although Luca Antonelli could return from a thigh injury.
Genoa - who did the double over Milan last term - have endured a difficult start to their campaign and sit 16th in the table with just one win to their name.
Former Inter coach Giampiero Gasperini is without suspended pair Goran Pandev and Issa Cissokho for this weekend's clash - the latter having been handed a three-match ban for his elbow on Mauricio and subsequent red card in the defeat to Lazio.
Experienced defender Nicolas Burdisso says the Genoa squad must keep the faith, telling Il Secolo XIX: "Right now everything is going wrong but we have to cling to what we know and the warmth of our fans who support us.
"We are a new squad and we have only had ten days to all work together.
Inter v Fiorentina: Fast start leaves Icardi focused on Europe
25 September 2015 20:40
Mauro Icardi insists Inter must at least qualify for Europe next season ahead of this weekend's top-of-the-table clash with Fiorentina.
Inter lead the way in Serie A having maintained their perfect league record with a 1-0 victory over Verona on Wednesday.
Felipe Melo scored the only goal of the game as Roberto Mancini's side moved three points clear at the summit thanks to a fifth successive win.
Icardi admits even the Inter players themselves did not expect to make such a sensational start to the campaign, particularly with so many new close-season arrivals.
“We wanted to start strongly, but maybe didn't think this strongly,” the former Sampdoria striker told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"We're only at the beginning, but I feel relaxed in first place. Third place is the minimum objective for a club that has made major investments.
"Inter can't have another season without Europe. With 10 new players, there has been a revolution that made us very strong.
"We have drawn a line over the past and worked to create a great group. In time you will realise. We can only get better."
Stevan Jovetic, one of those who joined during the most recent transfer window, has scored three goals already since his loan move from Manchester City.
The forward will go up against one of his old clubs at the weekend - he played over 100 games for Fiorentina before moving to the Premier League in 2013.
Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez is looking forward to pitting himself against a familiar face in Jovetic.
"It’s nice to meet a former team-mate like him. I always had a good relationship with him, and he's the complete striker," the Argentina international said.
"He's physically strong, and has a good understanding with Icardi. We'll have to defend as a team.”
However, Inter's early success has not been built on goals scored. Instead, they have relied on a watertight defence that has conceded only once in Serie A so far.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, have hardly been leaking goals themselves. Paolo Sousa's team were beaten 3-1 by Torino on the opening weekend of the season, but since then have won four league games on the bounce while only conceding twice.
They moved above Torino into second place courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over Bologna in midweek, with Jakub Blaszczykowski and Nikola Kalinic getting the goals in the second half.
The only disappointment on the night for Fiorentina was a calf injury picked up by Manuel Pasqual, ruling their captain out for at least three weeks.
The striker has scored just one league goal in five games for Roma this season but his coach says it will take time for him to adapt
Rudi Garcia says he is unconcerned by Edin Dzeko's lack of goals and remains confident the Roma striker will soon start finding the net on a regular basis.
Only five players have hit more shots than Dzeko in the opening five Serie A games of the season, yet the striker has scored just one goal following his transfer from Manchester City in the summer.
However, Garcia is adamant a run of form is around the corner and highlighted the need to be patient as he adapts to his new surroundings.
"He has always scored and Edin knows that the goals will come," he told reporters.
"Of course, the team must learn to play with him and he has to learn to play with his team-mates, but I have no worries."
Roma have collected eight points from their first five games this term, having drawn with Sassuolo and lost to Sampdoria in their two most recent games.
Their inconsistent start leaves them ninth in Serie A and Garcia admitted he isn't happy with his side's lapses in concentration in defence.
"The table is not a problem yet, but if we keep losing points it can become one," he added. For this reason, we have to beat Carpi on Saturday.
"In the last two games we have made some individual mistakes that cost us so much. Only Kostas Manolas is 100 per cent sure of a role in the centre, but he cannot play every game.
"Only time will tell you what our best central pair is, while we develop."
Fiorentina replaced Inter at the top of Serie A after ending the hosts' 100 per cent start to the season in spectacular style at the San Siro.
Nikola Kalinic grabbed a hat-trick and Josip Ilicic also found the net for Fiorentina, who romped to a 4-1 win on Sunday, having led 3-0 inside 23 minutes in Milan.
Inter had defender Miranda sent off during a disastrous first-half, with skipper Mauro Icardi eventually pulling a goal back on the hour-mark.
Fiorentina also took the points in the corresponding fixture last season, having previously failed to win at the San Siro since 2000.
To compound a miserable night for Inter, they also lost in-form striker Stevan Jovetic who picked up a thigh strain during the warm-up.
City rivals Milan did not fare much better, as a deflected Blerim Dzemaili free-kick proved enough to condemn them to their third defeat of the season at Genoa.
Dzemaili's effort found the net with just 10 minutes gone and Milan's hopes of forcing their way back into the contest were not helped by a red card to defender Alessio Romagnoli just before the break.
Luiz Adriano and Mario Balotelli both went close for the visitors in the second half, but Sinisa Mihajlovic's men could not find a way through and slipped to tenth in the table.
Torino, meanwhile, continued their fine start to the season with a 2-1 home victory over Palermo.
Giancarlo Gonzalez inadvertently gifted the hosts the lead with an own-goal just before the break, before Marco Benassi made it 2-0 three minutes into the second-half.
Gonzales then made amends for his earlier blunder by scoring at the right end to bring the Sicilians back into the game on 71 minutes, but Torino held on to secure their fourth win of the season.
Sassuolo remain fourth after being held to a 1-1 draw by Chievo, with both goals coming in the first-half at the Mapei Stadium.
Struggling Bologna remain in the relegation zone after slumping to a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Udinese.
It was a very similar story at Hellas Verona who also took the lead only to lose 2-1 to Lazio.
Roma have confirmed that Edin Dzeko will be out for between three or four weeks with a twisted knee, while Francesco Totti is set for further scans on a thigh injury.
On-loan Manchester City man Dzeko picked up the injury during Saturday's 5-1 thumping of Carpi in Serie A.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina striker will miss Roma's Champions League game against BATE and their trip to Palermo, as well as his country's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Wales and Cyprus - but could return for the Serie A clash against Empoli on October 17.
Roma also announced that captain Totti, who turned 39 on Sunday, and midfielder Seydou Keita will undergo further tests in the next 10 days after they both sustained thigh strains in Saturday's match.
