Rafa Watch

[Fredo]

Yep, he's got a tough act to follow but Rafa's teams are notoriously better in the second part of the season.

[destinydude]

A good chance that they will win the treble this season?

Not a chance in hell, IMO opinion.

WTH heck

[Craig_H]

Yep, he's got a tough act to follow but Rafa's teams are notoriously better in the second part of the season.

They'll probably have a 15 point defecit by then.

No chance of winning the title, i dont think.

[Fredo]

Probably is the word Craig but yeah, we had a tendency of having slow starts here as well so you've got a point.

[Craig_H]

Looks like it's Milan's to lose.

Early days of course, but no serious contender can afford to let a big gap develop. Inter's bid is in serious danger now. Hardly any margin for error.

[The_weatherman]

That's a really bad result for Inter, especially where they are now sitting in the league, and that long home record of Jose's/Inter's now gone.

Whatever way you look at it, Inter not winning the league will be a terrible season. They are head and shoulders above everyone and have been pissing that league for years.

I dont think they are head and shoulders above everyone this year though Milan are very good, let's not take that away from them.

[Craig_H]

They still have the best squad, although signing Zlatan was a masterstroke by Milan.

[Fernandinho]

I wouldn't write Inter off to early for the league, I know you haven't yet. But Milan have in the last few years, developed a tendency to go on a horrible run and lose against some poor oppositions. I wouldn't be suprised if Inter clawed back a big Milan lead to take the title later in the season.

[danperkins]

Maybe not but did Mourihno win it in his first season?

I'm not a betting man but if you can bet your life on something which is rationally impossible to know for sure, then you're a bit crazy.

Did Mourinho not winning Italian Cup and League in his first season? And considering Inter have won the league 5/6 years on the trot, Rafa under massive pressure, IMO if he doesn't win the league he will be sacked.

[Fredo]

Did Mourinho not winning Italian Cup and League in his first season? And considering Inter have won the league 5/6 years on the trot, Rafa under massive pressure, IMO if he doesn't win the league he will be sacked.

Dunno.

[danperkins]

Dunno.

Yup he did, double in his first year, and treble in his second year.

[Arn]

Benitez plans Inter overhaul

Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez has plans to strengthen his squad in January after the derby defeat to AC Milan extended their winless streak in all competitions to four matches.

The 3-1 Champions League loss to Tottenham earlier this month has been followed by Serie A draws with Lecce and Brescia, while the derby defeat left them six points adrift of the table-topping Rossoneri.

Former Liverpool and Valencia boss Benitez said: "Six points from the top is not good, but the championship is long.

"We need to regroup straight away and improve in Verona (against Chievo next weekend). It is obvious that in January we will need something, but for now we need to get a win.

"Who could arrive in the next transfer window? All the players expect someone of quality to maintain the level of the side, a side that in the past season won a lot and therefore got tired and has struggled to start again."

However, Benitez's position could be under threat after club president Massimo Moratti said of Inter's display: "I didn't really like anything, not just the build-up which was poor. We did not do enough to deserve the win.

"It would seem difficult to go on like this. I don't think we were hurt by Milan's play, it seems more to me that we didn't play."

Clicky

[Arn]

I would say that next game in the league is a must win game or Rafa will be sacked if the comments made by Moratti is true.

[Fredo]

Yup he did, double in his first year, and treble in his second year.

It's incredibly hard to better something like this. Maybe in time he could achieve it, but he's set himself up against very high standards (results wise). We all know Mourihno's teams were efficient to the detriment of the playing style - it's been documented that Rafa wants the team to expand its game a bit more.

[Fernandinho]

Also, Rafa is up against a far harder competition this year. Milan are so much better with Ibra and Robinho in their team.