Roberto Mancini claimed his first win as Inter coach following his return to the club after goals from Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia gave them a 2-0 victory over Serie A strugglers AC Chievo Verona on Monday.
Mancini, who spent four success-laden years with the Nerazzurri from 2004 to 2008, took over in time for the Milan derby last month, but after a 1-1 draw the 50-year-old was handed a reality check following defeats to AS Roma (4-2) and Udinese (2-1).
Mancini, who is aiming to end Inter’s two-year absence from the UEFA Champions League with a third-placed finish this season, saw his side move up one place to 11th to close the gap on SS Lazio, who presently occupy third spot, to just six points — although it was a far from a straightforward affair at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.
Photo: EPA
“It was an important win because it has closed our deficit and given us confidence,” Mancini told Sky Sport. “Chievo are a good side, we didn’t concede so I’m relatively happy.”
“We’re disappointed because we were dangerous and created a lot of chances,” Chievo coach Rolando Maran said. “I’m sorry for the result, but I can’t complain about the players’ attitude.”
Inter had to rely on the heroics of Samir Handanovic throughout a one-sided first half that saw Chievo, fourth from bottom but unbeaten in their previous five games, test the Slovenian goalkeeper on several occasions.
Handanovic saved Inter’s blushes inside 10 minutes when Alberto Paloschi pounced on a mishit pass, only to be denied from point-blank range.
Kovacic broke the deadlock nine minutes later when he seized on a poor clearance by Alessandro Gamberini to beat Benjamin Bizzarri for his first goal in more than two months.
Kovacic, who is being deployed as a trequartista by Mancini, admitted he is still adapting to his new role playing in the hole behind the two strikers.
“I need to improve the way I find space and I’ll do that with the coach’s help,” Kovacic said. “We took three vital points. We’re happy with the win and want to keep it going against Lazio [on Sunday].”
Handanovic came to the rescue again, palming away a Riccardo Meggiorini overhead-kick, while Kovacic suffered two horrendous tackles inside the space of four minutes which earned Bostjan Cesar and Meggiorini a yellow card each.
Handanovic was almost caught out on the cusp of halftime when a Gennaro Sardo cross from the right bounced off the post and crossbar, and came off the face of Sardo at the back post.
Yuto Nagatomo had Inter’s first chance immediately after the restart, but he failed to find the target after being sent through by Fredy Guarin.
Paloschi then fired wide of Handanovic’s upright after Kuzmanovic lost possession in midfield to give the hosts a three-on-two.
Inter were beginning to control proceedings and on 55 minutes Danilo d’Ambrosio pounced on Kuzmanovic’s corner to fire a deflected shot just wide of the upright.
When Inter doubled their lead minutes later, Ranocchia, unmarked on the edge of the area only had to stroke D’Ambrosio’s cross from the left past a beaten Bizzarri.
Inter’s task was made somewhat easier on 72 minutes when Ruben Botta was cautioned for a second time and sent off after a forearm smash on Kuzmanovic during a mid-air challenge.
Soon after, Mancini replaced striker Mauro Icardi with French midfielder Yann M’Vila, a move which effectively locked down the game and ended Inter’s five-game winless streak.
Earlier, Torino grabbed a point at fellow strugglers Empoli in a drab scoreless draw that helped edge both sides away from the relegation zone.
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