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Inter emerging as dark horse for title under Spalletti
MILAN (AP) Inter Milan is emerging as a dark horse for the Serie A title.
Napoli, Roma and perhaps AC Milan were expected to present the toughest challenges to Juventus' bid for a seventh straight league title. But after beating Roma comprehensively in the Italian capital as well as collecting victories over Fiorentina and Spal, Inter could pose a serious threat.
''We know that despite our three victories we still have not achieved anything,'' Inter midfielder Matias Vecino said. ''To finish at the top you have to leave no point behind and for this reason there is still a lot of work to do.
''We must not let our guard down and we need to keep working because the season is long. The objective is to win all of our matches up until the next break.''
And Vecino, who joined from Fiorentina in the offseason, said much of the credit is due to Luciano Spalletti, the team's new coach.
''Spalletti has given me confidence, which is fundamental for a player when arriving at a new team,'' said Vecino, who also plays for Uruguay's national team. ''He looks at every little detail so you know exactly what to do when you go out onto the pitch.''
Spalletti, a former Roma coach, has seemingly provided some much-needed stability to Inter after a tumultuous campaign last season that included four coaching changes.
''My job has been easier, because having talented material I just needed to put it in order,'' Spalletti said. ''(Mauro) Icardi and (Ivan) Perisic are talented players and exceptional professionals.
''In general we are on the right path. We are working hard because, going forward, the hope is to become even stronger.''
Inter has scored eight goals and conceded only one, which doesn't bode well for its next opponent as Crotone is the only Serie A side yet to score in its its three opening matches.
Inter will be expected to pick up all three points at Crotone and continue its unbeaten run into October, as it next faces Bologna, Genoa and Benevento before two much sterner tests against Milan and Napoli.
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More AP Serie A coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/SerieA
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