Post by Salem6 on Nov 24, 2003 14:51:05 GMT
ROME, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Inter Milan's preparations for their Champions
League group B clash with Arsenal on Tuesday are being dogged by tension
between Christian Vieri and the club's fans.
The Italian international striker scored in Inter's 6-0 demolition of
mid-table Reggina at the weekend, but was whistled by a large section of the
home supporters.
He responded with sarcastic applause towards the stands and needled the fans
even more by flashing a thumbs-up as he left the pitch at halftime.
The falling-out dates back to Inter's laboured 2-2 away draw with Brescia
last month, when Vieri directed an obscene gesture at Inter fans who had
whistled their team's lacklustre performance.
Since then the club's fortunes have improved.
Under the guidance of Alberto Zaccheroni, who took over from sacked coach
Hector Cuper, Inter have taken 10 points from their last four league matches
without conceding a goal.
The run has lifted the Milan side to fourth in Serie A but has failed to
improve relations between their most prolific
goalscorer and the paying public.
After beating Reggina, Zaccheroni said he was unconcerned by the stand-off
between Vieri and the supporters.
"Vieri's a problem for other people, not for us," the 50-year-old coach was
quoted as saying in Corriere dello Sport
on Monday.
"He has already scored five goals (in Serie A) this year and is the kind of
player you never substitute.
"He seemed a bit calmer in the second half against Reggina, but as far as
I'm concerned he's fine the way he is.
"It's not my job to worry about the reaction of a group of fans.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=3880227§ion=news
League group B clash with Arsenal on Tuesday are being dogged by tension
between Christian Vieri and the club's fans.
The Italian international striker scored in Inter's 6-0 demolition of
mid-table Reggina at the weekend, but was whistled by a large section of the
home supporters.
He responded with sarcastic applause towards the stands and needled the fans
even more by flashing a thumbs-up as he left the pitch at halftime.
The falling-out dates back to Inter's laboured 2-2 away draw with Brescia
last month, when Vieri directed an obscene gesture at Inter fans who had
whistled their team's lacklustre performance.
Since then the club's fortunes have improved.
Under the guidance of Alberto Zaccheroni, who took over from sacked coach
Hector Cuper, Inter have taken 10 points from their last four league matches
without conceding a goal.
The run has lifted the Milan side to fourth in Serie A but has failed to
improve relations between their most prolific
goalscorer and the paying public.
After beating Reggina, Zaccheroni said he was unconcerned by the stand-off
between Vieri and the supporters.
"Vieri's a problem for other people, not for us," the 50-year-old coach was
quoted as saying in Corriere dello Sport
on Monday.
"He has already scored five goals (in Serie A) this year and is the kind of
player you never substitute.
"He seemed a bit calmer in the second half against Reggina, but as far as
I'm concerned he's fine the way he is.
"It's not my job to worry about the reaction of a group of fans.
www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldFootballNews&storyID=3880227§ion=news