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Maicon agrees with Claudio Ranieri's claim that Inter's treble-winning side is a thing of the past
The Brazilian defender admits that the all-conquering Nerazzurri line-up of 2010 is dead and gone and the focus now must be on building for the future
11 Dec 2011 13:08:00
By Mark Doyle
Getty Images
Maicon has backed Claudio Ranieri’s assertion that the current Inter side are not the same outfit that swept all before them during their remarkable treble-winning campaign of two seasons ago.
While there has not been an overly dramatic turnover in terms of personnel at San Siro in the past 18 months, there have been some notable departures, including coach Jose Mourinho and star forward Samuel Eto’o.
With Inter now clearly in transition, Ranieri sought to downplay expectations among the Nerazzurri faithful by claiming that the current squad should no longer be compared with the treble winners of 2010, and Maicon, a surviving member of that all-conquering side, is in total agreement.
"The coach is right: that Inter is gone,” the Brazilian defender told Sky Sport Italia after his side’s 2-0 victory over Fiorentina on Saturday night. “Now we have to continue working.
“We hope to keep racking up points until the Christmas break in order to get the ones that we need and to continue improving over the course the season."
The victory over the Viola halted a run of two straight defeats at the Giuseppe Meazza, and Maicon’s return was hailed as a key factor in Inter’s return to winning ways.
However, the man himself was reluctant to take any credit for the improvement in the Nerazzurri’s display.
"We didn't win because Maicon is back but because we have a strong squad that knows how to get past difficult situations,” the full-back argued.
Inter now sit ninth in the table on the back of their win over Fiorentina, but remain 12 points off Juventus in top spot.
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While there has not been an overly dramatic turnover in terms of personnel at San Siro in the past 18 months, there have been some notable departures, including coach Jose Mourinho and star forward Samuel Eto’o.
With Inter now clearly in transition, Ranieri sought to downplay expectations among the Nerazzurri faithful by claiming that the current squad should no longer be compared with the treble winners of 2010, and Maicon, a surviving member of that all-conquering side, is in total agreement.
"The coach is right: that Inter is gone,” the Brazilian defender told Sky Sport Italia after his side’s 2-0 victory over Fiorentina on Saturday night. “Now we have to continue working.
“We hope to keep racking up points until the Christmas break in order to get the ones that we need and to continue improving over the course the season."
The victory over the Viola halted a run of two straight defeats at the Giuseppe Meazza, and Maicon’s return was hailed as a key factor in Inter’s return to winning ways.
However, the man himself was reluctant to take any credit for the improvement in the Nerazzurri’s display.
"We didn't win because Maicon is back but because we have a strong squad that knows how to get past difficult situations,” the full-back argued.
Inter now sit ninth in the table on the back of their win over Fiorentina, but remain 12 points off Juventus in top spot.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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