Recoba ready to win scudetto

Monday, April 29, 2002

MILAN, April 28 (Reuters) - Inter Milan's 3-1 win over Piacenza in Sunday leaves them needing a victory at Lazio in their final game to claim the title and Uruguayan winger Alvaro Recoba is confident they can bring the prized 'scudetto' back to the city of Milan.
The talented Recoba scored Inter's crucial second goal with a trademark 25-metre free-kick before twice World Player of the Year Ronaldo sealed the victory with a similar effort.

The last two titles have been won by teams from the capital Rome with Lazio crowned champions in 2000 and AS Roma winning last year's battle.

'Now we have a week to prepare for Lazio and I am confident that we can go down to Rome and bring the scudetto back up to Milan with us,' the Uruguayan told Rai television.

With rivals Juventus crushing Brescia 5-0 and Roma beating Chievo by the same scoreline, Inter, who last won the league in 1989, still have only a one point lead.

And while Juve and Roma are ending the season in sparkling form, Inter are almost labouring to the finishing line.

After last week's draw with Chievo and their recent home defeat to Atalanta an edgy Inter were level at 1-1 until Piacenza had Vincenzo Sommese sent off in the 69th minute.

A minute later Recoba struck and he admitted they needed that goal to calm their nerves.

'Luckily this was one of the few recent games where we didn't have to suffer in the last quarter of an hour,' Recoba said.

'We were a little bit nervous, we were creating chances but we couldn't put them in. Then came the second goal and everything was easy.'

A relieved Inter coach Hector Cuper said he would settle for all three of the top teams winning again next week -- an outcome that would leave Inter champions.

'Today everyone won and we were all happy,' said Cuper, 'Next week I hope all three of us will win and we will all be happy,' he quipped.

'Today we deserved to win. It is true that we were all a bit tense but I must admit that playing in front of 80,000 people with all this pressure isn't easy.

'We are all tired but with such an objective as the 'scudetto' and being so close, we have to overcome that tiredness,' said the Argentine.

[ESPN.com]