Inter Milan to train at Murray Park before Celtic tie

INTER Milan are set to train at Rangers’ Murray Park base ahead of this week’s crunch Europa League clash at Celtic.
Mancinis side face Celtic in the last-32 tie at Parkhead on Thursday. Picture: GettyMancinis side face Celtic in the last-32 tie at Parkhead on Thursday. Picture: Getty
Mancinis side face Celtic in the last-32 tie at Parkhead on Thursday. Picture: Getty

Roberto Mancini’s side face Celtic in the last-32 tie at Parkhead on Thursday. And they have asked for Rangers’ help in preparing for the clash.

The former Manchester City boss usually holds a light training session on the morning of games to work on Inter’s set-pieces.

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And his Serie A side have requested Rangers loan them the use of Celtic’s Old Firm rivals’ training base to work at before the encounter. After they warmed up for their visit to Scotland with an impressive 4-1 win at Atalanta, Mancini confirmed: “Yes, training at Rangers is an option. We will decide on Thursday morning.”

Rangers have previously welcomed Celtic’s European opponents to prepare for games.

In 2013, they let Juventus train at Murray Park before they romped to a 3-0 Champions League success at Parkhead.

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That infuriated current Celtic midfielder Kris Commons, who stated: “If they want to prepare at a Division Three training ground let them get on with it.”

Meanwhile, Mancini was delighted with his side as they recorded their first consecutive wins since October with a comfortable triumph at Atalanta.

Admittedly, they were aided by some beneficial refereeing decisions including a penalty inside the opening minute and a questionable Atalanta sending-off for dissent.

But Inter – who had not won at Atalanta for seven years before yesterday – still gave Celtic plenty to ponder, with Colombian playmaker Fredy Guarin in particular their main man – he scored a double and had a hand in all four Inter goals in Bergamo. Mancini said: “I am very satisfied with that performance and we are all looking forward to play Celtic in a competition we are taking very seriously indeed.”

Inter suffered a pre-match blow when in-form striker Mauro Icardi missed out with a stomach bug, but Mancini confirmed he will be fit for Thursday. He was replaced by Rodrigo Palacio, who netted the fourth goal. After the match Palacio insisted: “Getting an away win is always important. Now we have three days to prepare for the Celtic match. We will go there to win.”

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Inter were gifted a penalty inside 50 seconds at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia when Guarin was somehow adjudged to have been blocked by Atalanta captain Gianpaolo Bellini in the box.

Xherdan Shaqiri netted the penalty despite Atalanta keeper Marco Sportiello getting a hand to it. But instead of settling Inter, the awful decision only seemed to galvanise the home team and ex-Hearts striker Mauricio Pinilla somehow missed an open goal from a couple of yards out when he ballooned the ball over the bar.

But he soon made amends when the home side deservedly equalised in the 28th minute. He won a header against Inter skipper Andrea Ranocchia into the path of Argentine striker Maximiliano Moralez who comfortably scored.

Inter regained the lead against the run of play eight minutes before the interval when Guarin curled in a superb shot.

Inter were handed another gift by referee Luca Banti just after the break when he sent off Atalanta defender Yohan Benalouane for a second booking for dissent. Guarin grabbed his second goal in the 63rd minute, curling in an effort from distance, before Palacio netted a sublime finish after Guarin set him up.

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