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Saturday March 14, 2009

Inter focus on Serie A after Champions League exit

ROME: It’s back to the Serie A grindstone for champions Inter Milan this weekend following their disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United in midweek.

The current leaders have a seven-point gap over Juventus to protect and despite the pain of another year of delusion in Europe, coach Jose Mourinho said his team still had important goals to go for.

They face Fiorentina at the San Siro tomorrow with their visitors also chasing fourth place and a spot in next season’s Champions League.

“Now we have to think about the championship and the Coppa Italia, even if it won’t be easy to get to the final following our 3-0 first-leg defeat (to Sampdoria) in the semi-final,” said Mourinho.

“But, as I’ve already told all the TV companies in the world, if this team win the scudetto, it will be a great title, won in a very difficult league with competitive teams across the board.

“It would be a title even more difficult than the one won last season.

“I think winning the title would be a good way to finish the season because next season Inter must return to the Champions League as Italian champions.”

Inter are not the only club looking to bounce back from European disappointment as Juventus and AS Roma also went out — all three losing to English teams.

Juve still harbour faint hopes of catching the leaders and they can cut the lead to four points, for a day at least, if they beat Bologna at home today.

Roma have ground to make up on Genoa and Fiorentina in the race for fourth place and they face a tricky trip to Samp, whose home form is far superior to their performances on the road.

Meanwhile AC Milan travel to Siena looking to try to continue the improvements they showed in last weekend’s 3-0 success at home to Atalanta. — AFP

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