Benitez surprised by problems at Inter Milan

November 11, 2010 - 0:0

Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez has admitted that the number of problems he has encountered since taking over from Jose Mourinho has surprised him.

Benitez has been unable to prevent his side enduring a turbulent start to the season, with Inter outplayed by Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League last week and held at home by Brescia in the league.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Serie A match at Lecce, former Liverpool boss Benitez told FIFA.com: ""No, I did not expect as many problems on the part of a team which had just come off a season where it won everything. The players are working well, but there are also difficulties.""
Inter will have to make do without defender Walter Samuel for the rest of the season, after the Argentine suffered a serious knee against Brescia.
With right-back Maicon likely to be out for several weeks with a thigh injury, a defensive crisis is developing for Benitez, who has admitted he may have to reinforce his squad in January.
""We must work to get into the best position possible in January and we will see what we can do in January in the transfer window,"" said Benitez. ""We will have to do something after Walter's injury - he is an important player.""
Benitez refused to be drawn on the additional significance of Sunday's Milan derby. ""The most important match is always the next one. We must defeat Lecce, then we will think about the derby.""
(Source: Soccernet)