Inter ´keeper Cesar warns against title complacency

Inter Milan’s Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar warned his team-mates they cannot relax despite their six-point lead at the top of the Serie A table.

Inter maintained their gap over chasers AC Milan and Juventus with an impressive 3-0 victory at Lazio on Saturday.

They know that if they beat Chievo at home this weekend they will increase their lead over at least one of their title rivals, who meet at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.

But the Brazil stopper doesn’t want his team to get carried away with their position despite a run of six successive league successes.

“The championship is not over. This year the Serie A is a lot closer,” he said. “Inter are doing great and we have to just concentrate on this.

“We can’t let ourselves think about the others, they all want to finish first given that we have won the scudetto the last two to three years.”

Inter are the reigning three-time champions having claimed last season’s title by three points from AS Roma, the same team who finished second the year before that but with a 22-point deficit.

Roma were also promoted to second when Inter were awarded the title by default three years ago when the top two finishers Juventus and Milan were penalised for match-fixing.

Without that event and the consequent shift in the balance of power in Italy, Inter may not be enjoying their current status as the team to beat in the country.

Prior to being awarded that 2006 title they had not finished top of the pile in Italy since 1989 and were regarded as perennial under-achievers.

But now the boot is firmly on the other foot and Inter are determined not to let slip their new position as kings of the jungle.