The Italian Serie A resumes on Joy Sports and Adom-TV on Multi-TV later this evening when defending champions Inter Milan face 2nd placed Napoli in a match they cannot afford to lose. Leonardo faces a difficult introduction to life as Inter Milan coach when he takes charge of the team in Serie A for the first time against second-placed Napoli.
The Brazilian replaced Rafael Benitez during the winter break after president Massimo Moratti admitted he lost patience with the Spaniard when he made a public demand for money to spend this month.
Leonardo inherits a side lying seventh in Serie A, 10 points behind today's opponents and 16 adrift of leaders and city rivals AC Milan, albeit with two games in hand.
Leonardo admits the winter break has given him time to get to know his players since his appointment on Christmas Eve.
The former Milan coach told a press conference: "The last few days have been very useful, though the time has been short. It's always different when you have to start mid-season, but this team already knows how to play.
"It's been good to get to know the lads better and everyone has done everything they can to help me, also because they know there's not much time: we've got a huge game tomorrow.
"The players have shown a fantastic attitude in training. We're focused on Napoli because it's a key fixture: we're playing against the team that lies second in the league. And we're ready for it.''
Julio Cesar is out with a thigh injury and is replaced by Luca Castellazzi, Wesley Sneijder is a long-term absentee while Samuel Eto'o is banned.
Napoli are enjoying a superb season, having already won 10 league games, and sit three points behind Milan while edging out Lazio into third by the narrowest of goal difference.
On www.sscnapoli.it, manager Walter Mazzarri said: "First of all I like to greet the return of Leonardo.
"He is a person who knows how to live in this kind of environment.
"I especially appreciate the intelligence of a man whom I had the pleasure of knowing .
"Then it will be a further psychological boost for Inter, who are fresh from winning the Club World Championship, making it even harder for us.
"Therefore, being able to express ourselves on our level and play a great match against an opponent of that value, can be fascinating ''.
Inter Milan vs. Napoli kicks-off LIVE at 7:45pm on Joy Sports and Adom-TV on Multi-TV. Pre-match discussions begin 30 minutes later.
Credit: Multi-TV Sports Desk/espn.com
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