jose - soccer

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has recalled Brazil striker Adriano to his squad for tomorrow's top-of-the-table clash against Juventus.

The build-up to the Derby d'Italia has been dominated by the battle between the two former Chelsea bosses, Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri. But Mourinho turned attention back to on-field matters today by naming Adriano, who had been out of favour for Inter's previous five matches. He offered a less than ringing endorsement, though, for the striker, who this week admitted he may look to continue his career "in another team'' if he continues to be overlooked by Mourinho.

"He will be judged like all the available players,'' said Mourinho. "They agree with him when he says that if he doesn't succeed at Inter it's better to change. "A football player cannot remain at a club in that situation.''


Adriano will compete for a place in attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was left out of Sweden's squad for their midweek friendly against Holland at his own request in order to rest.

Mourinho said: "I don't know if this short period of rest has done him good. We'll see tomorrow evening. "I don't agree with those who say he's indispensable. "For me he always plays well. With him you can win or lose, just the same.''

Mourinho downplayed the rift with Ranieri, with whom he exchanged barbs through the press earlier this season.

"Ranieri at the San Siro will be for me like any other colleague,'' he said. "I will shake his hand in the tunnel before the start.''

Ranieri, who took over at Juventus at the beginning of last season, believes Inter are still in transition following the departure of Roberto Mancini in the summer. "Just like it was important for me last year to get to know all the players, so it is for Mourinho now,'' he told www.juventus.com.

"Inter will surely grow with time. Even now in comparison to last year they have changed in certain aspects: Ibrahimovic was more static while now he moves along the whole attacking line. "They've changed with regards to playing without the ball, with only Ibrahimovic ahead of the ball. "Obviously they are still getting used to him, therefore it is only normal that there is less fluency with respect to last year. "Mourinho has a Portuguese philosophy but he has taken a lot from Italian football. "It is a compliment, just like (Manchester United boss Sir Alex) Ferguson complimented us when saying that he changed Manchester United after watching Italian football.''

Juve will be without Jonatan Zebina after the full-back underwent surgery on an Achilles tendon injury. He is expected to be out for three months. Also out is goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, as well as Jorge Andrade, Cristiano Zanetti, David Trezeguet, Hasan Salihamidzic, Dario Knezevic and Christian Poulsen.

Inter pair Cristian Chivu and Nelson Rivas are on their way back from injury but will not be ready to face Juve, while Ivan Cordoba is banned.

(source: http://soccernet-akamai.espn.go.com)