Moratti Rolls Out Red Carpet For Lippi
Thursday 7th March 2002
Internazionale president Massimo Moratti has claimed he will welcome Marcello Lippi with open arms when his former manager brings Juventus to the San Siro on Saturday.
Lippi worked under Moratti until 17 months ago but, following a stuttering start, he was sacked just one game into the season in October 2000.
Yet despite the split and the importance of Saturday's top-of-the-table clash, Moratti insists there are no hard feelings. "I don't know about the fans, but I have a positive relationship with him and Juventus are doing great things with Lippi," he said.
Moratti went on to echo Mark Iuliano's plea for the controversy that marred the crucial championship encounter between the sides in 1998 to be forgotten.
A contentious penalty claim against Igor Tudor was turned down that night, allowing Juve to march to victory and eventually claim the title. But Moratti insisted: "I will avoid such controversy this time.
"I have forgotten what happened in 1998, when the defeat in the Delle Alpi eliminated us from the race for the Scudetto. Both clubs would prefer to forget that day. We start from zero."
Ronaldo, the player on the end of Tudor's forceful challenge in 1998, will not feature on Saturday as he continues his rehabilitation from injury, but Moratti is adamant the Brazil star will be an Inter player next season.
"All the rumours about a divorce are false," he said. "I absolutely deny that Inter will sell Ronaldo at the end of the season."
He also poured cold water on speculation that Lazio centre-back Alessandro Nesta was on the verge of moving to Inter.
"He is a great defender, but ours are also having a great season," he added. "I rate Marco Materazzi and Ivan Cordoba very highly. I would hesitate to change Inter's defensive line as it currently has great harmony."
Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is certain the game will prove to be a title-decider and identified the key players from each side.
"Christian Vieri and David Trezeguet will make the difference," he said. "Christian is the dangerman but Inter have an excellent team and are very dangerous.
"I am happy not to be a defender and have to face Vieri, but as a goalkeeper I will have to pay particular attention."
Vieri will lead the Inter attack in Ronaldo's absence, while Juve must do without the suspended Ciro Ferrara and Cristian Zenoni - and the injured Paolo Montero.
A win for Inter would see them pull four points clear at the top of Serie A, while victory for Lippi's men would enable them to leapfrog their rivals and claim first place.
Inter (probable): Toldo, Cordoba, Materazzi, Zanetti, Di Biagio, Gresko, Seedorf, Zanetti, Recoba, Ventola, Vieri
Juve (probable): Buffon, Ferrara, Juliano, Pessotto, Thuram, Conte, Davids, Nedved, Zambrotta, Del Piero, Trezeguet
