Inter fire Gasperini

Inter Milan have dismissed coach Gian Piero Gasperini after a poor start to the new season.

The Italian giants suffered their fourth defeat in five official games with a shock 3-1 reverse at newly-promoted Novara last night and Gasperini, who replaced Leonardo in the summer, has been let go.

A statement from Inter read: “Inter announces that today’s training session has been carried out by Daniele Bernazzani and Giuseppe Baresi.

“The club wishes to thank Gian Piero Gasperini for the effort shown during his tenure and manifests its true disappointment for the interruption of the relationship with the coach.”

Inter president Massimo Moratti questioned Gasperini's leadership after yesterday's 3-1 Serie A defeat at Novara.

He said: “When you lose in the manner that we did against Novara, there is nothing positive to take from that.

“Gasperini did not seem to be in control.”

Gasperini, meanwhile, denied he had lost the backing of his players.

“Moratti has declared that I don’t have the support of the players?,” he questioned.

“The rapport with the group is optimum. If the problem is the coach, then it has an easy solution.

“If, instead, as I believe, the problem is another one, then we must resolve it through work.”

Inter have yet to announce who will replace Gasperini.

They travel to Bologna on Saturday before taking on CSKA Moscow in Russia in the Champions League four days later.