Cesar: Inter ´surprised´ by poor start

Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar admits his side’s slow start to the 2011-12 season has shocked the squad.

After Gian Piero Gasperini took charge in the off-season, the Milanese outfit lost a number of fixtures that they would have expected to win, with results only now starting to pick up under new coach Claudio Ranieri.

Inter still languish in 12th place in Serie A, however, 12 points off the pace, but the Brazil international is hopeful that his side can continue their march up the table.

“We were surprised ourselves by what has happened at the start of the season,” the 32-year-old told Tuttomercatoweb.

“Since I arrived here in 2005 we have never been down in the bottom half of the standings, we always have been at the top.”

“We are not thinking about the Scudetto, and take every game as it comes.”

Despite Inter not currently threatening the frontrunners in the race for the Serie A title, Cesar said he had no thought of leaving Milan.

“I am happy at the club. I have a contract until 2014 and do not want to change this,” he insisted.

“I just want to win here, we’re used to it. We hope to lift a trophy at the end of the season.”

Inter face a crunch match against high-flying Udinese on Saturday, and will look to close the gap on one of the league’s top teams.