Genoa game not about a reawakening: Ranieri

12 December 2011 18:17

Inter Milan coach Claudio Ranieri insisted Monday that even if his team beat Genoa away on Tuesday it will not mean they have turned the corner.

Inter have had a disastrous start in the league having lost five of their opening nine matches and spent the first three months of the season hovering above the relegation zone.

Three wins in four games has propelled them into the top half and a two-goal victory at the Marassi stadium would send them sixth in Serie A.

But Ranieri doesn't believe such a circumstance would warrant talk of a reawakening of the Milanese giants.

"Winning tomorrow wouldn't signify anything in particular other than three points," he said.

"There would be no reawakening, as you know I believe. We're continuing to work hard as we've always done and tomorrow night we have to do well against a team that knows how to play football.

"They have many new players but have managed to organise them well and having seen them against Siena I can but say good things about Genoa.

"We have to concentrate on ourselves, on our path which isn't free of accidents. Hence we keep quiet and pedal."

They will have to keep pedalling without playmaker Wesley Sneijder, though, as Ranieri says he prefers to exercise caution when it comes to the Dutch midfielder's possible comeback.

Sneijder said last week on his Twitter account that he was close to a comeback but Ranieri won't be picking him against Genoa.

And he denied the 27-year-old is being ushered towards the exit door.

"Not having Sneijder means not having a big shot but I don't want to take any risks," added the former Chelsea and Juventus coach.

"I don't believe in the stories that the player wants to leave and that he's been placed on the transfer list.

"If a player feels he's at the heart of a project he gives his utmost, I don't think he's worried, I'm waiting for the best Sneijder, which I haven't had much.

"He has an old scar from many years of battles, we have to be cautious but everyone wants the best Sneijder."

Another player who will be missing is Italy centre-back Andrea Ranocchia while Brazil full-back Maicon will be rested despite making his return from injury in the 2-0 win over Fiorentina on Saturday.

But Ranieri is hopeful of having Argentine forward Diego Milito available while Uruguay striker Diego Milito is due to make his comeback after two weeks out with a hamstring problem.

"I will take Milito to Genoa but will decide only tomorrow if he will play or not," said Ranieri.

"Forlan will start on the bench, he's an immense player, fantastic, classy, with the kind of temperament that will definitely be good for us.

"He's got great desire, we have to hold him back with chains as he would always want to play.

"He's like Sneijder, he always says he's fit and that's why we have to know how to manage him.

"Forlan's a modern player, a striker who knows how to play in different roles and who thinks about the team, and that's very important."

Source: AFP