Wesley Sneijder is out of the trip to Lecce after his fainting spell, as Inter Coach Rafa Benitez confesses: “I didn't expect so many difficulties.”
The Nerazzurri are in the middle of an injury crisis and, with the Milan derby looming on Sunday, have opted not to risk Sneijder.
The Dutchman fainted during the half-time break in Saturday's 1-1 with Brescia and has been allowed rest as a precautionary measure.
Wesley Sneijder is out of the trip to Lecce after his fainting spell, as Inter Coach Rafa Benitez confesses: “I didn't expect so many difficulties.”
The Nerazzurri are in the middle of an injury crisis and, with the Milan derby looming on Sunday, have opted not to risk Sneijder.
The Dutchman fainted during the half-time break in Saturday's 1-1 with Brescia and has been allowed rest as a precautionary measure.
“After he fainted on Saturday, we have to wait for the results of the examination, so that we can understand how long his recovery will take,” explained Benitez in a Press conference.
Dejan Stankovic returns to the midfield, but the absentee list includes Douglas Maicon, Julio Cesar, Walter Samuel, Esteban Cambiasso, Sulley Muntari, MacDonald Mariga, Thiago Motta and David Suazo.
“I didn't expect all these difficulties at the start of my Inter career, as this is a side that had won a great deal last season and I thought we could do better.
“Now we are in this situation and all we can do is to stay united until January, as I told President Massimo Moratti and director Marco Branca. Then we'll see if we can do something.”
Benitez insisted he has no intention of playing a second-string side against Lecce in preparation for the derby.
“The most important match is always the next one. We'll think about the derby after the final whistle. Lecce will play on the attack and I don't expect them to sit back. We need to keep possession and force them to play on the counter-attack.”
Inter squad: Castellazzi, Orlandoni, Gallinetta; Cordoba, Zanetti, Lucio, Materazzi, Chivu, Santon, Natalino; Stankovic, Obi, Coutinho, Mancini, Nwankwo; Eto'o, Milito, Pandev, Biabiany