Stankovic expecting Inter to continue sweep

Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stankovic expects the club to continue its clean sweep when they face perennial rivals AS Roma in the Italian Supercup in Milan on Saturday.

Inter stormed to a majestic treble last season of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia and now Serbia captain Stankovic wants his team to continue reaping the fruits of their labours.

Those victories qualified Inter for three more competitions, the Italian Supercup, European Supercup and Club World Cup, and Stankovic wants Inter to emulate Barcelona’s feat last year in adding the three secondary pieces of silverware to the three bigger ones already garnered and continue the domination achieved under Jose Mourinho.

“He (Mourinho) left his mark, he won three trophies and made history but that’s in the past now and all we can do is thank him for what he did,” said the 31-year-old.

“He was a great coach but we can’t stop now, we’re still hungry and we’re looking to close the cycle.

“Saturday we have the first engagement for the first trophy, the Italian Supercup against Roma, then we will have two more, the European Supercup and Club World Cup.

“We could complete the sweep of six trophies and it would be stupid to go easy, we have to fight for ourselves, for our president and our fans.”

Team-mate and Argentina centre-back Walter Samuel says the team has to continue showing the same desire as last season.

“Last season was wonderful, a fantastic year. It’s hard to repeat a year like that,” he said.

“The league, Champions League and Cup are difficult competitions, we need to take each step as it comes.

“No-one likes to lose so already from Saturday we’ll try to show that we want to win, that’s what counts on the pitch.”

Both Inter players are looking forward to greeting an old companion, new Roma forward Adriano, who spent several years at Inter.

“Roma have bought well, the game will be difficult,” added Samuel. “We know Adriano and we know his strengths, we’ll see, they (Roma) will be very strong.”

Stankovic admitted he raised his eyebrows when hearing of Adriano’s return to Italy.

“I didn’t expect him to come back but I’m happy for him, it means he’s ready for new challenges and that he’s back on the right path. Good luck to him.”

Stankovic also responded to recent claims from Roma captain Francesco Totti that Inter did not deserve their last title.

“I know Totti well and I know that Roma are still a bit bitter. But the challenge goes on and on Saturday there is the first.

“But Inter have won many things recently because we deserved it and Francesco knows that.”

Roma finished runners-up to Inter last season in both the league and the cup, with Totti being dismissed in the Cup final for a wild kick at the now departed Mario Balotelli.

In Balotelli’s place, Inter have signed attacking midfielder Coutinho, an 18-year-old Brazilian, who has impressed Stankovic in his short time at the club.

“He’s still young but he’s shown great talent and humility, he’s a lad who listens and really wants to learn,” said the Serbian in what might have been a veiled snipe at Balotelli as those were all the qualities he often failed to demonstrate before leaving for Manchester City.

“He’s done very well in pre-season, he’s produced the goods and shown the desire to sacrifice himself for the team, his future is 100 percent secure.”