CATCHING INTER

They have caught Lazio and Napoli.

With Udinese, all are at third.

STRA-CURE WORKS

Inter beat Cesena and now are third.

Zarate came in and gave the Nerazzurri three points after the goals by Ceccarelli and Obi.

Milan – Strama is in third place which is quite amazing when you consider where Inter were in late March before Andrea Stramaccioni got his hands on this team: they were lying in 8th place – at 41 points, below Catania and out of any European competition – almost mid table and the moment was the most gray than ever at Appiano.  A month and four days later, Inter are back in the race for the Champions League.  Today they are tired in a condominium with Napoli, Udinese and Lazio.  A wild bunch.  Competitions are great and the schedule does not help but hopes are legitimate because this Inter is a different Inter.  In a month, “Strama” has eaten ten points between them and Lazio.

Stra-cura (cures) Stra-cura is working: 4 wins and 2 draws.  Fourteen points.  Yesterday they beat Cesena.  It was a good win but with a lot of suffering because Cesena were keen to continue the season with dignity just like they managed against Juventus also thanks to Antonioli, one of the best players on the field with his saves.

Stra-cambi (changes) Stramaccioni started with Pazzini as his central striker.  Courageous decision because Pazzo is going through a bad period.  He has not scored in the league for three months, on January 22.  And yet, “Strama” gave him his trust because Pazzini has been training well during the week.  And yesterday, when it was still 0-0, Pazzini had his chances to score goals.  The first was the assist by Maicon from the right: his low shot was saved by Antolioni.  The second was the assist by Sneijder, but the 42 year-old keeper said no again to the striker.  We are not intended to crucify Pazzini, far from it but the wind was changed when Milito appeared on the field.  Not that this Principle is the unstoppable forced like during the treble season, but his entrance changed the characteristics of the Inter attack.  “Strama” completed the job with the inclusion of Zarate who gifted Inter the game winning goal.  Conclusion: Stramaccioni was wrong in composing the initial formation but was able to correct it with proper changes.

Stra-Cesena Here we must pay tribute to Cesena, already relegated, but not resigning.  The team of Beretta also complicated the game against Juve on April 25.  Intensity, lines glued, Iaquinta is free to gallop in space.  They are fighting for the second place from bottom which  could be good in case of repechage.  Novara are six points away but at the 37th matchday, there is going to be a direct confrontation between the two sides and you never know.  But about the game yesterday.  At 0-0 – at the beginning just after the break, a moment later after the second chance for Pazzini which was saved by Antonioli – Iaquinta hit the crossbar.  A few moments came the 0-1: Rodriguez launched the ball to a shooting Ceccarelli, the left-footed shot ended up in the back of the net thanks to the deflection off of Nagatomo.  Curiously, the equalizer from Inter came in a similar fashion: Obi shot the ball from the outside which touched Von Bergen and beat Antonioli.  In the past, we would talked about them as own goals but today we are rewarding the shooters.  Finally, after many chances, Inter were able to score the winner.  Milito’s shot, again saved by Antonioli, Zarate’s shot, blocked by the wall of Cesena; the ball then went to Guarin on the right, a cross came and Zarate headed in for all three points.  This whole event before this goal seems to be the manifesto of Stra-Inter.  Believe.  Try.  Insist.  And if they can’t make it to the Champions League, Europa League would be better than nothing.