<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/lazio-inter-serie/image/10415151?term=benitez" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Finally this power struggle is over. It was inevitable that the Spaniard was not going to get anything from Massimo Moratti for this January transfer window, and Moratti got fed up with Benitez’s strange demands. It all seemed slightly better when Rafa Benitez had guided his team to the World Club Cup title, but after the final against TP Mazembe, Benitez decided to stoke the fire with some strange comments.</p>
<blockquote><p>“I deserve respect. I’ve carried all the blame and all the responsibilities, but the club had promised me three players in August. Nobody arrived. Now there are three possible options: or the club has a project and buys four players right away in January, or we go ahead like this with the coach as the only one to blame, or the president talks with my agent and we find another solution.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Benite continues his rant,</p>
<blockquote><p>“Last year Moratti had spent 80 million for five players, all starting eleven players, this year with a new coach he has spent zero. I don’t know why, he had projected a market plan which then wasn’t executed, because of the [UEFA] financial fair play or something else. After the summer I was disappointed one-hundred percent.”</p></blockquote>
<p>And so, Benitez had tried to earn himself some respect and transfer funds with these defiant comments. While it seems like Benitez is right in many ways, he approached solutions in the wrong way. It is true that Moratti spent plenty for Mourinho and didn’t spend anything for him, and it is true that Benitez has been carrying basically all of the blame, but ranting like this won’t get you very far with the president he has.</p>
<p>In a certain way, it seems to me that Moratti almost welcomed the option of firing Rafa. Moratti decided to go for a “softer” coach after Mourinho’s arrogant demanding time, and if Benitez worked, problem solved, if he didn’t Moratti would just bring someone else in. It’s almost as if Benitez was never meant to be a long-term coach, almost just a transition coach who wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Yet Benitez tried to fight, and now he is without a job.</p>
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3442 alignleft" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20101224_WST_3441_EOLEO.webp&amp;width=225&amp;height=152" alt="" width="225" height="152"></figure></div>
<p>The man who will replace Benitez could be considered another “softie” compared to Jose Mourinho. It’s the youthful Leonardo who had previously managed AC Milan before Massimiliano Allegri had replaced him. &nbsp;While Inter fans may be thinking, “Why would we want an AC Milan reject?” the solution is relatively simple.</p>
<p>At AC Milan, Leonardo was in a similar position that Benitez was with Inter. An aging squad, a president who prefers not to spend money, and a group of slightly divided players. Leonardo did his best with that side, arriving third in the Serie A, 12 points off of the scudetto winners Inter Milan. Now Leonardo has a chance to work with a better team than that AC Milan team at the time, and it seems like Massimo Moratti is lining up some players to bring in this January.</p>
<p>Right now the name which has been&nbsp;circulating&nbsp;is Andrea Ranocchia, the 22 year-old central defender already partially owned by Inter. The deal between Genoa and Inter is being negotiated right now, and it’s almost 100% certain that Leonardo will have a new central defender to work with in 2011.</p>
<p>Along with Ranocchia, some other names have been floating around, even if they look like very unlikely possibilities. Kaka from Real Madrid could have a shock return to the Serie A after his poor spell in Spain, and Riccardo Montolivo of Fiorentina could join Inter in January as well. You may think that these are ludicrous possibilities, but Moratti could decide to unite new Brazilian with new Brazilian, and create a team which could maybe challenge for the Serie A title.</p>


Inter Replaces Rafa With Leonardo - World Soccer Talk

Inter Replaces Rafa With Leonardo

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/italy-training/image/9173572?term=Italian+soccer" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
<p>Despite Italy’s lackluster performance in their first two group stage matches, the Azzurri have the chance to advance into the next&nbsp;round of the World Cup with a win or a tie plus help.&nbsp; Some <a href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/south-africa-2010-analysis-reasons-behind-italys-struggles/2588" target="_blank">excellent</a> <a href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/italy-can-only-draw-against-new-zealand/2585" target="_blank">analyses</a> of the Italian team’s weaknesses have been published over the last few days, and the negatives about this Italian team have seemingly come true (too old, not enough play makers, etc.).&nbsp; The squad faces&nbsp;the forked road that some European powers have already faced, with one path leading to redemption (England) and another leading to disgrace and finger-pointing (France).</p>
<p>So, how can Italy win its first international match in 2010?&nbsp; Here are three ways Marcello Lippi can tip the outcome:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Start Leonardo Bonucci over Cannavaro</strong>: Yes, Cannavaro is the captain, has won a World Cup, and was one of the world’s best defenders at one time.&nbsp; But in a win-or-go-home match, you need to put in the player that gives you the best chance to&nbsp;win.&nbsp; Cannavaro&nbsp;is (directly or indirectly) responsible for both goals scored against Italy this World Cup.&nbsp; His defending on New Zealand’s only&nbsp;goal&nbsp;was terrible, as he had a good opportunity to deny the ball but was a step too slow.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bonucci lacks Cannavaro’s World Cup experience but does have one thing most of the squad lacks – a goal in international competition.&nbsp; He scored off a rebound in the Mexico friendly,&nbsp;and has showed&nbsp;the type of finishing off set pieces that has been a weakness of this team so far.&nbsp; His presence enhances the defending and scoring in set pieces, which the team needs more than experience.</li>
<li><strong>Start Antonio Di Natale instead of Alberto Gilardino:</strong>&nbsp; Di Natale’s presence in the New Zealand match made an immediate difference.&nbsp; While he did not score, he had some quality shots and had the best chances to score in the second half.&nbsp; Starting him would allow him to get into a groove throughout the match instead of trying to be an immediate threat off the bench, which has not worked to this point.&nbsp; And while I suggest Gilardino sit, any of the Azzurri strikers could be inserted here, as the offense has been stagnant.</li>
<li><strong>Start Andrea Pirlo and sub Montolivo for him at halftime:</strong>&nbsp; Marcello Lippi has said Pirlo will <a href="http:\/\/www.goal.com/en-us/news/67/world-cup/2010/06/23/1992242/world-cup-2010-italy-coach-marcello-lippi-we-must-do-better" target="_blank">be available off the bench </a>due to injury, but if he is healthy enough to come off the bench Lippi should consider starting him.&nbsp; He is the best spark plug for the offense, and if the Italians score quickly and take a lead into halftime, Montolivo can finish the match in his place.&nbsp; Could this backfire and potentially aggravate Pirlo’s injury, taking him out of the entire World Cup?&nbsp; Yes, but you need a positive result in this match before you can worry about future ones.</li>
</ol>
<p>What do you think are the keys to the match?&nbsp; Share below or on Twitter at <a href="www.twitter.com/roberthayjr">@roberthayjr</a>.</p>


How Italy Will Beat Slovakia - World Soccer Talk

How Italy Will Beat Slovakia

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