We can win title at Juve, says Mourinho

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said his side can win the title next week in Turin despite dropping two points at home to Palermo.

The champions and leaders were cruising to a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A as goals from Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave them a two goal half-time lead at the San Siro.

But two goals in two minutes from Edison Cavani and Davide Succi earned the Sicilians an unlikely point and momentarily halted Inter’s title charge.

With Juventus going down 3-2 at fourth-placed Genoa, Inter still increased their lead to 10 points with just seven matches left and with the pair meeting at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico next Saturday.

“We’ve dropped two points but the story of the season has been made by moments in which you take advantage and others in which you are helped,” said Mourinho.

“But I don’t think that those chasing us can win their last seven matches. Next Saturday, however, will be a completely different story, I’m sure that my team can practically end the uncertainty in Turin.”

A win for Inter would give them a 13-point advantage with just 18 points up for grabs and a better head-to-head record.

Even the most blinkered of Juve fans would have to admit the title chase would be over.

A draw would also suit Inter given they would still hold a 10-point lead and have a better head-to-head as they won 1-0 when the sides met at the San Siro in November.

But Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso said his side would not be going to Turin to settle for a point.

“We will take to the pitch with one thing in mind: winning. It’s a match that everyone’s been waiting for, both us and our fans because this is a direct title clash,” he said.

Palermo’s ineffectual offside trap contributed greatly to Inter’s early dominance but after surviving when Ibrahimovic chipped wide when clean through, they were not so lucky on 15 minutes when Balotelli ran past a static Morris Carrozzieri to head home Sulley Muntari’s cross from the left.

Balotelli could have added a second when he ran clear of the Sicilians’ woeful backline once again but he couldn’t beat Marco Amelia in goal.

However, Inter doubled the advantage six minutes before the break as Ibrahimovic converted the penalty he had won when going down in the box following contact with the unlucky Simon Kjaer.

Inter seemed to be cruising, but two goals in two minutes turned the game on its head.

Brazilian forward Cavani beat veteran goalkeeper Francesco Toldo at his near post on 73 minutes and then substitute Succi lost marker Cristian Chivu to tap home Fabrizio Miccoli’s cross from close range.

Palermo had several chances to snatch a winner and Mourinho was not happy at the final whistle.

“The first half was one of the periods of the season in which we played some of our best football,” he said.

“But in the dressing room (at half-time) I told the team to be careful because despite the 2-0 scoreline the game was not over.

“Straight after the restart I had a bad feeling because we gave the ball away too much, we lacked intensity, weren’t reacting quickly enough and our defensive line was too deep.”