Inter Milan owner Erick Thohir has backed under-fire coach Walter Mazzarri despite Roberto Mancini being linked with a return to the San Siro.
A 4-1 home defeat to then basement side Cagliari 10 days ago and Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Fiorentina dropped Inter to 10th in Serie A, already 10 points behind leaders Juventus.
Rumours abound Mazzarri could be replaced before the end of the season, with yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport suggesting former coach Mancini could be the “dream” solution.
He helped Inter to a club record three consecutive titles between 2004-2008 and is currently out of work after leaving Galatasaray last season, but Thohir has indicated 53-year-old Mazzarri’s job is safe for now.
“We will give him the time he needs. He will continue to have our support,” Thohir said.
Inter host Napoli after the international break. Despite a mediocre start, Rafael Benitez’s side have won their past two games and finally look to be on the up.
But ahead of a clash that will have special significance for Mazzarri, who led Napoli to second place in 2013, Thohir has called for improvements.
“The defeats against Cagliari and Fiorentina may have come as a bit of a shock, but I’m sure everybody is desperate to improve,” added the Indonesian.
“Serie A is extremely competitive so we must be patient. We need to closely analyse the period the team is going through and we hope that the international break gives us the chance to do that.”