Zanetti: ‘Inter among top 5 in Europe,’ but Verona have fresh injury problems

Verona have fresh injury problems ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Inter, who coach Paolo Zanetti claims are ‘among the top five teams in Europe.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi on Sunday at 11.30 GMT.

Hellas are still looking for their first victory of the Serie A campaign, and also crashed out of the Coppa Italia in the second round against Venezia.

Suat Serdar had scored in the midweek 3-1 defeat to Como, but is out of the squad to face Inter, along with Unai Nunez, Yellu Santiago, Daniel Oyegoke and Tomas Suslov.

Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and Grigoris Kastanos are also not at 100 per cent.

“We don’t know how long Serdar will be out for, but we hope it is nothing too serious. He certainly won’t be in this match, we’ll see about next week,” said Zanetti in his press conference.

“Akpa Akpro and Kastanos are back, Al-Musrati and Nunez should return to training on Tuesday. Oyegoke needs time to get over the fracture.”

Inter are unbeaten in their last 28 Serie A meetings with Verona, a remarkable record.

“They are among the top five teams in Europe, at the very pinnacle looking at every conceivable metric. However, we need to focus not on them, and only on ourselves. We need a super performance, also to have the right mentality going into the next games, which will be decisive for us,” added Zanetti.

“I told the lads that I want to see the same Verona that played against Juventus and Roma. We don’t want to let our fans down at this difficult moment, when they are trying so hard to help us. We want to give 100 per cent, but Inter are practically playing a different league to us.”

Considering he is on a yellow card and there are some big games coming up against Lecce, Parma and Genoa, Verona could potentially rest Rafik Belghali.

“He is a player we struggle to do without at the moment, he has unique characteristics, is organised both defensively and when attacking, as many of our moves start from him. We must take this into account, but also want to field our best XI,” added Zanetti.

Other injuries have prompted a change in defence for Hellas Verona.

“Victor Nelsson seemed more secure on centre-right until the Unai Nunez injury, which is why in the last game I moved him to the centre. I have great respect for Nelsson, and we cannot expect our players to be always perfect.”

“We are working on situations from wing-back to wing-back, as the pressure for goals cannot all be on the strikers. Everyone needs to get involved and be more clinical in front of the net. We have been unlucky this season with goals, but also not determined enough.”

Gift Orban has been criticised by some fans for being too open in his complaints against teammates when the supply isn’t what he expected.

“This is Orban. He has this individualistic approach, but he also gives his all, which is why against Como he started from his own half with that hunger to score. He probably needs to limit some of this attitude, but as long as the team likes him, they accept him for who he is.”