In his Christmas message to fans, Inter captain Javier Zanetti has spoken of the hope the team has in winning something in 2012.
The 2011 calendar year saw the Nerazzurri play more games, collect more points and score more goals than anyone else in Serie A yet finish the 2010-11 season behind Milan and find themselves in December only fifth in the table going into 2012.
In his Christmas message to fans, Inter captain Javier Zanetti has spoken of the hope the team has in winning something in 2012.
The 2011 calendar year saw the Nerazzurri play more games, collect more points and score more goals than anyone else in Serie A yet finish the 2010-11 season behind Milan and find themselves in December only fifth in the table going into 2012.
Despite the disastrous start to the 2011-12 campaign, the team’s four consecutive League wins before the winter break have, as Zanetti intimates, given the players renewed hope going forward.
“This break will give us a chance to unwind, and we'll have a week to relax with our families. Then on January 2 we'll be back with those same objectives we always have in our minds.
“An opinion on the first half of the season? In the League we got off to a difficult start for various reasons and due to many different issues, but we responded by putting our minds to it, picking ourselves up, showing our character and our unity.
“Whenever things have got complicated this group has always been able to produce a positive response and this is extremely important.”
The record appearance holder for the Nerazzurri looked forward to what 2012 has in store.
"In 2012 my third child will be born and I'll be looking forward to that day with great excitement. I hope to play an active role from a sporting point of view as well, as I always have done for Inter, in all the competitions.
“Let's hope we raise another new trophy again at the end of the season. From January we'll be able to count on [Wesley] Sneijder and [Diego] Forlan again – Wesley has been unlucky with injuries and Diego is getting his form back and really wants to show what he can do. Both of them will still need some time, but they'll be back.
“[Claudio] Ranieri is right when he says they are two players who can make a great contribution with all of their qualities. Let's not forget the other players who have been sidelined by injury problems and whose absence really penalised us.
“But we are Inter and we are still in the running: along with our fans whose support spurs us on.”