Roma resilient over cup chance

By Paolo Menicucci in Milan

FC Internazionale Milano are close to landing their first trophy since 1998 as they take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Coppa Italia final against AS Roma at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium.

Cautious mood
Inter coach Roberto Mancini, however, believes the tie is still in the balance. "It would be a big mistake to think we have already won the trophy," he said. "After the home defeat in the first leg, Roma have nothing to lose and will come here to play all their cards, probably with three forwards.

'Great players'
"We have to play at our best until the final whistle if we want to win this trophy. Roma have great players and it is always difficult to play against them. We will also miss several important players so I think we have a 60 per cent chance to win the Coppa Italia, nothing more."

No Adriano
Inter are still without injured forwards Alvaro Recoba and Christian Vieri. Adriano - who scored both goals in Sunday's first-leg win at the Stadio Olimpico - Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso will miss out too after joining their national teams for the FIFA Confederations Cup. Obafemi Martins and Julio Cruz should start in attack.

Conti determined
"We cannot think about the players missing at Inter," said Roma coach Bruno Conti. "We just have to try to score from the very first minute. If we take the lead, we can put them under pressure.

Pledge to fans
"It's never easy to start from 2-0 down and Inter are a very solid team," he added. "I can just promise that we will leave the pitch knowing we gave everything we had in order to give this trophy to our fans."

Three-pronged attack
The Giallorossi are shorn of suspended defender Matteo Ferrari while Brazilian winger Mancini is an injury doubt. Conti may field three forwards in Francesco Totti, Antonio Cassano and Vincenzo Montella.

Mancini record
Inter lifted the Coppa Italia in 1939, 1978 and 1982, while Roma are the tournament's second most successful side after nine-time winners Juventus FC with seven victories. For Inter boss Mancini, though, this could be a ninth triumph in the competition as both player and coach.