Thohir backs Mazzarri, wants more from players

04 April 2014 12:01

Inter Milan owner Erick Thohir offered his backing to coach Walter Mazzarri but called on his stuttering side to get back to winning ways after claiming only two points from their last three outings.

Inter, who missed out on Europe this season, are bidding for one of Serie A's two Europa League places but have slipped up recently with defeat at home to Atalanta followed by consecutive draws against Udinese and Livorno.

The 2-2 draw away to relegation-haunted Livorno was particularly grating for Inter, who sit fifth with a two-point lead on fellow Europa chasers Parma.

Thohir, who became president after acquiring a 70 percent stake in the club last November, gave Mazzarri his backing when he spoke to reporters upon his arrival at Linate airport on Friday.

"If I didn't have faith in him, I would have let him go months ago," said the Indonesian businessman.

But he added: "The players need to learn from the mistakes they made against Livorno, we need to get our focus back on the game because we still have matches to play.

"The positive thing is that we got a point... but we have another match tomorrow and we're already under pressure."

Inter host Bologna on Saturday and in their last six games afterwards have potentially tough encounters at home against high-flying Napoli, away to resurgent Milan and at home to Lazio.

Only seven points separate Inter from 10th-placed Torino, meaning the fight for Europa League places is likely to go all the way to the final weekend.

And Thohir warned: "At the end of the season we will review our squad of players along with the coach.

"We need to build Inter's future and that means preparing for next season, keeping in mind the World Cup and being ready for the tour to America."

Source: AFP