INTER CONFIRM PLANS

Inter Milan have confirmed through their sporting director that they plan to retain Walter Mazzarri into next season as well. The former Napoli manager came to the club with a big reputation of achieving a lot with relatively low budgets.

He did extremely well at Napoli and help of the club almost win the title by beating Juventus in the season before last. He was expected to finally revive the club, who have been suffering since the departure of Jose Mourinho in 2010. Since winning the Champions League, the club has been on a steady decline.

They failed to qualify for any European competition this season, while they do not look like getting back into the Champions League for next season as well. Inter Milan started the season in excellent fashion and looked like being potential title contenders, but the early-season optimism quickly faded and the club has slipped into the fifth position in the last few months. It looks highly likely that they will end up in the fifth place at the end of the season. Despite this poor campaign, the club are planning to retain their faith in Mazzarri according to sporting director, Piero Ausilio.

Mazzarri was given a chance to spend during the January transfer window, but it did not improve results. The club remains 11 points behind the top three places.

“He works 24 hours a day. He follows all the movements of the team. Mazzarri is part of the foundation. You can already see a growing team, a different game, a solid defence. Despite our ranking, it looks like that. Mazzarri will remain, regardless of where we finish. Mazzarri has worked wonders with Rolando, we want to keep him. [Andrea] Ranocchia we will talk with at the end of the season but I wouldn’t rule out a renewal,” said Ausilio.