Sunday’s abandoned match bet-ween Roma and Parma will probably be played in the first half of April, reports said yesterday.
The Serie A clash at the Olympic Stadium was called off after a few minutes due to a waterlogged pitch.
Corriere dello Sport suggested that the match will resume from the minute it was called off either on April 2 or April 9.
Corriere added that because the game had kicked off, Radja Nainggolan, who was serving suspension against Parma, will be available for next Sunday’s derby against Lazio.
Mazzarri: Juventus gave us a lesson
Inter coach Walter Mazzarri acknowledged his team had a lot to learn from Juventus after the leaders’ 3-1 triumph over the Nerazzurri 3-1 on Sunday.
The result kept Mazzarri’s men winless in 2014 and saw them drop to sixth in the standings, and left the boss full of admiration for the victors.
“We needed to focus on every little detail with great determination, the way Juventus did,” Mazzarri said.
“When the going gets tough, Juve get going. They were more determined whereas we were sluggish and lazy... unfortun-ately, we have a lot to learn.”
Rodgers stands by his man Toure
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to blame defender Kolo Toure after his horrendous error allowed West Brom to equalise in their 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.
Daniel Sturridge put the Reds ahead but they could not add to their lead as striker Victor Anichebe capitalised on Toure’s mistake midway through the second half.
“I said to Kolo it is the price you pay when you try to play football,” said Rodgers.
“He shouldn’t have received the ball in the first place from our goalkeeper but Kolo knows it was a mistake and he is devastated.
“There is no blame. He misplaced a pass and unfortunately for us it has cost us two points.”
Lennon grateful
Neil Lennon thanked Celtic fans for their show of support after he was pelted with missiles while watching Aberdeen’s 4-0 League Cup semi-final win over St Johnstone on Saturday.
Lennon had to leave Tynecastle not long after the hour mark after coins and cups of liquid were thrown at him. The Celtic fans responded to the latest tribulation to affect Lennon with a special reception during the 18th minute of their team’s 1-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday.
Lennon, who wore the no.18 as a Celtic player, said: “I can’t thank them enough for that.
“It’s something we don’t hear very often but I think the supporters felt it meant a lot to me personally.”
Swansea dismiss Laudrup rumours
Huw Jenkins, the Swansea City chairman, yesterday rubbished claims that the Premier League club had discussed the future of manager Michael Laudrup (picture).
Rumours have been circulating about Laudrup’s future after the Swans lost 2-0 at West Ham on Saturday. It was their sixth defeat in eight league games, leaving them only two points off the drop zone.
“I haven’t heard anything in reference to Michael and neither have we met, or discussed, or done anything about our manager Laudrup,” said Jenkins.
“It’s difficult for me to say anything because there isn’t anything to discuss.”
Kallstrom could be vital – Wenger
Manager Arsene Wenger hopes midfielder Kim Kallstrom will be fit from a back problem by the end of February. The 31-year-old’s move from Spartak Moscow was the only incoming business concluded by Arsenal during the transfer window.
Wenger said: “Being fit at the end of February is the best-case scenario. They (Spartak Mos-cow) will pay the first six weeks’ wages. He might play before that (the end of February), but he might play as well later.”
Asked if he considered pulling out of the deal, Wenger said: “I would not have signed him but it was Friday evening so it was a case of you sign nobody or you do it under these conditions.”
Poor form frustrates Napoli boss Benitez
Napoli coach Rafael Benitez is frustrated by his team’s recent dip in form.
Third-placed Napoli suffered one of their worst defeats of the season at Atalanta on Sunday, falling 3-0 after failing to capitalise on opportunities in attack and making three defensive blunders.
Napoli are 15 points behind Juventus after collecting two points in their last three matches.
“We had three or four promising counter-attacks in the first half but then started the second half with a mistake,” Benitez said.
“We need to analyse these individual mistakes, but the defeat is not down to any systemic problems in the construction of the squad.”