Inter gives away lead twice in bitter loss to Palermo

Coach Gasperini blames errors and lack of concentration for the shocking 4-3 defeat

ROME - New Inter Milan coach Gian Piero Gasperini blamed individual errors and a lack of concentration for his team's shock 4-3 defeat at Palermo.

Inter led twice through Diego Milito but Gasperini's new three-man defense proved brittle as it couldn't keep the Sicilians out.

Fabrizio Miccoli and Abel Hernandez both restored parity before spectacular strikes from Miccoli and Maurizio Pinilla gave Palermo a two-goal advantage.

Diego Forlan caused Palermo some late jitters but it held on for the victory.

It was the first time since March 2004 that Inter had conceded four goals in a game.

But Gasperini insisted it wasn't the system that was at fault.

"It was many little things, we were in front when we deserved to be but we didn't manage to hold it," he said.

"At the end we had the game in our hands and we could have won, but things went against us and we lost.

"We have to think about it a lot, we were conceding counters from our own corners due to (a lack of) concentration.

"We conceded too many chances from counters. These things are unacceptable and we have to improve.

"It's not about one defensive system or another, it was due to lack of attention and also tiredness.

"It seemed at the end that we were doing well and could win the game, I'm disappointed we conceded those goals.

"But we also showed tonight that we have the potential to do well, certainly we paid for our lack of attention and certain situations, it was harsh.

"It's the first game of the season and I'm disappointed because we had the conditions to win."

Gasperini surprisingly left playmaker Wesley Sneijder on the bench in favor of Mauro Zarate, but the Argentine lasted only 35 minutes before being replaced by the Dutchman.

"In recent days he had looked very fresh in training but he was struggling physically and athletically," Gasperini said about hauling Zarate off.

Palermo coach Devis Mangia is only in the job temporarily while president Maurizio Zamparini waits for former coach Delio Rossi to decide if he will come back for a third stint.

Mangia was the youth team coach until he was called in to the first team to replace Stefano Pioli, who was coach during the preseason when Palermo crashed out of the Europa League.

"What pleased me the most was that we never gave up, we never got stretched even though we were tired at the end, which is normal, we were struggling," said Mangia, who refused to be drawn on his future.

"We'll take a day off and then think about Atalanta because that's going to be a difficult game.

"We made some mistakes tactically but we had a great attitude, everyone ran hard, that's pleasing and can take us forward.

"We did well in the first 15-20 minutes, but then we struggled with Forlan dropping deep and also when Sneijder came on."

Two-goal hero Miccoli was delighted with the performance from a team that lost its best player, Javier Pastore, in the summer, as well as three Italy internationals.

"We couldn't ask for more, it was a great game, we played amazingly," he said.

"We've created a group in 10 days, well done to the coach, he's done a great job.

"It's really satisfying to start like this."

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar felt he was at fault.

"I'm really angry with myself, we were playing really well, but after Miccoli's goals I was really angry with myself," he said.

Agence France-Presse