Leonardo talks up Inter´s ´good season´

Inter Milan boss Leonardo insists his team have had a positive season despite surrendering the Serie A title and their Champions League crown.

Having won the treble last season under Jose Mourinho, Inter can only retain the Coppa Italia this campaign, with Palermo awaiting them in the final on May 29.

Inter’s late-season form has markedly improved, but their coach said a ‘damned’ four-day period in which his side effectively lost both the Serie A title and their European crown had cost them dearly.

“There’s still three more games, two in the league and the Cup final. I know the numbers, no other team has won as many points (in the same period). With all that went on, including our ‘damned week’, it’s been a positive season,” said former AC Milan manager Leonardo, who replaced Rafa Benitez at the helm in December.

“No other team has gained so many points since January 6.”

“A little bit of disappointment remains, of course, because we all wanted to win the Scudetto this season and we’ve come very near.”

“It’s also true that thinking about what the team’s been through and what they have done – finishing this season after a World Cup, a Supercoppa Italiana, being in the Coppa Italia final and second in the championship – in the end, it means it has been a good season.”

Inter travel to third-placed Napoli on Sunday knowing a draw will wrap up second spot on the table with one game remaining, and Leonardo said he was determined to finish off the season on a high note.

“Well, our aim is always is to win any game we play, so it’s important to remain focused and play at our top-level,” he said.

“We still have to play a final and two games in the Italian league and we want to continue with the results we’ve gained up to now.”

“The same applies for the level of play, or if possible, we should improve it. We’ll be facing the third team in the table, so they are a very big team.”

Leonardo’s side tackles an opponent with its own ambitions.

Napoli need only a point to ensure a top-three finish and a place in the Champions League group stages next season.

It would be the first time the club had qualified for this competition since the old European Cup changed format in 1992/93.

“It will be a historic event because Napoli hasn’t been in the Champions League for 21 years, since Maradona’s era,” manager Walter Mazzarri said.

“It’s something extraordinary, please don’t forget this. Fourth place already means the Champions League qualification, but if all together we manage to finish the season in third place it will be a historic event for Italian football.”

“I’m afraid of Inter anyway because they are a great team. As I’ve always done, I’ll try to think only at my team, to prepare a team that won’t suffer too much when the opponents have the ball and to try to develop our play.”

Mazzarri said opposite number Leonardo was ‘the right person’ for Inter Milan, while he also shed light on his own future at Napoli: “At the end of the season, we will meet in a calm way and we will talk about the future, because I’m an understanding person and I’ve always said that and so it will be like that,” he said.