Leonardo faces difficult opener to close gap on leaders Milan

LEONARDO faces a difficult introduction to life as Inter Milan coach when he takes charge of the team in Serie A for the first time against second-placed Napoli tonight.

The Brazilian replaced Rafael Benitez during the winter break after president Massimo Moratti admitted he lost patience with the Spaniard when he made a public demand for money to spend this month.

Leonardo inherits a side lying seventh in Serie A, 10 points behind tonight’s opponents and 16 adrift of leaders and city rivals AC Milan, albeit with two games in hand.