Mourinho drops strikers after Genoa blank

Inter coach Jose Mourinho has dropped strikers Julio Cruz and Adriano for Wednesday's Serie A clash with Fiorentina, following the side's poor 0-0 draw against Genoa at the weekend.

An infuriated Mourinho took off Adriano at half-time during Sunday's draw against a 10-man team, going on to blast his players' limp, undisciplined performance at the final whistle.

Cruz and the Brazilian, ever-present in the team since the beginning of the season, appear to be paying the price of that outing.

“There's no reason to question the empathy there is between us,” the Portuguese coach told a press conference on Tuesday.

“But empathy is not only about saying 'kiss kiss' but means loyalty, honesty and sincerity, seeing eye to eye.

“I repeat what I have already said on many occasions: I protect to the full those not playing well, it can happen.

“I never criticise a player who plays badly, never … but a player who hasn't played for the team is another story.

“It's the core of my work, the team. And when someone doesn't play for my team, why should I defend them? I'm like that and I will never change.”

The outspoken coach has an injury headache ahead of the tie against the fifth-placed Florence team, with midfielders Esteban Cambiasso, Luis Jimenez and Sulley Muntari all struggling to recover from knocks.

France's Patrick Vieira has been drafted in to plug the gaps, despite having only just recovered from a calf injury sustained on international duty against Romania on October 11.

After Sunday's match Mourinho lashed out at his team.

“This was an Inter without discipline but Genoa did what they had to, at the end I congratulated their coach and players,” said the former Chelsea boss.

“Maybe the Genoa coach has a greater ability to influence his players' mentality than that of Inter, hence I have to show my players that there is only one chief here. I'll leave two or three players at home on Wednesday.

“Maybe some people don't know me yet and they will start to on Tuesday when we tell them who's been selected. It's easy to understand who will be left out, you just need to watch this match,” he added without naming names.

On Monday Italian media reported that Adriano – who has had his problems before with Inter and was loaned back to Brazil at the end of last year when he was suffering from depression and a loss of form – was late for that day's training.