Mancini to quit Inter at end of season

MILAN – Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini said on Tuesday he wanted to leave the club at the end of the season.

The coach made the announcement after Inter were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 after losing 1-0 at home to Liverpool and 3-0 on aggregate. “The next two and a half months will be my last guiding Inter,” he told a shocked news conference.”I have told the boys and it’s right to tell everyone.It is a decision I have taken and it does not depend on the defeat tonight.”There was no official statement from Inter and there had been no hint he would make such an announcement.Inter romped to the Italian title under Mancini last season and are six points clear this term.However they have limped out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage for the second successive season.Mancini, Inter coach since July 2004, added that he wanted to leave Inter with another scudetto and an Italian Cup in the bag.Earlier this season Italian media reports said Inter owner Massimo Moratti had held talks with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho but the club and the Portuguese denied it.Nampa-Reuters”The next two and a half months will be my last guiding Inter,” he told a shocked news conference.”I have told the boys and it’s right to tell everyone.It is a decision I have taken and it does not depend on the defeat tonight.”There was no official statement from Inter and there had been no hint he would make such an announcement.Inter romped to the Italian title under Mancini last season and are six points clear this term.However they have limped out of the Champions League at the first knockout stage for the second successive season.Mancini, Inter coach since July 2004, added that he wanted to leave Inter with another scudetto and an Italian Cup in the bag.Earlier this season Italian media reports said Inter owner Massimo Moratti had held talks with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho but the club and the Portuguese denied it.Nampa-Reuters