Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 8y

Samir Handanovic: Inter Milan U.S. trip hindered preseason preparations

Inter Milan goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has said the club's decision to play in the U.S. this summer hindered their preparation for the season.

The Nerazzurri arrived in Portland in July and played friendlies in Utah, Oregon, New Jersey and North Carolina before returning to Italy at the end of the month.

Summer signing Ever Banega was one of many players who did not join the squad on the trip to North America, and Handovic, speaking after his side had lost their opening Serie A game to Chievo, said he felt the organisation "wasn't great."

"We took part in a tour where we had only half of our squad and there was little time between games and travelling to do any actual training," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It's not the coach's fault, but the organisation wasn't great."

The Slovenian said the Chievo defeat had been "an ugly performance" and warned: "We need to wake up and get our season going in our next game."

Inter coach Frank de Boer was appointment as Roberto Mancini's replacement just a fortnight before the start of the season, and former Inter boss Mircea Lucescu said it would take time before the Dutchman's ideas started to emerge.

"I think every coach needs at least three months of work to be able to transmit their own ideas," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Sometimes it even takes longer -- even six months. You find yourself entering into something which is already under way, with a team used to playing in a certain way and it's difficult to put things right which aren't working in just two weeks.

"But De Boer is a man of football and with international experience which speaks for itself. With the help of the team, he can get it right."

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