Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon (center) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against Palermo, at the Milan San Siro stadium, Italy, on Sunday. Inter won 3-2. Emilio Andreoli / Associated Press

ROME - Inter Milan coach Leonardo denied his side has a problem in defense after it launched a remarkable comeback to defeat Palermo 3-2 at the San Siro.

Fabrizio Miccoli and Antonio Nocerino gave Palermo a 2-0 halftime lead while Javier Pastore hit the post and had a penalty saved as the Sicilians threatened to overrun their illustrious host.

But debutant Giampaolo Pazzini scored a brace as a second-half substitute and Samuel Eto'o scored the winner from the penalty spot as the champion kept its Serie A title hopes alive.

It sits nine points behind leader and bitter city rival AC Milan but with a game in hand.

And although it has scored 19 goals in the Brazilian coach's eight games in charge, it has leaked 12.

Under predecessor Rafael Benitez, Inter conceded only 14 goals in 15 league games, with Leonardo that figure is 10 in just six.

However, the former Milan boss denies the team has a problem at the back.

"We gave away chances at the back, it's true, but that's because it wasn't easy to reorganise ourselves after conceding an early goal," he said.

"The balance, however, can also come from a team that is heavily weighted in attack if you score more goals than you concede.

"However, in this game the key aspect in the lack of tactical balance was the goal conceded after five minutes.

"At Napoli, in the Cup, we were compact, organized and we didn't concede."

The flip side is that while under Benitez Inter struggled to score, with Leonardo they are firing them in at a rate of more than two a game.

It has scored 16 goals in Leonardo's first six league games, whereas it took 14 games to pass that mark under Benitez.

On Sunday, it was boosted by a dream debut for Pazzini.

"Coming back in a game like this and winning it sends out an amazing signal," said Leonardo.

"And maybe not even Pazzini could have dreamed of a debut like this, with Pazzini (whose name means crazy little one) Inter are more crazy than ever.

"Now in attack we have many options, excellent players who are all different.

"Pazzini did really well, but so did the others. They're forwards who compliment each other, also in terms of sacrificing themselves.

"In that respect Eto'o showed enthusiasm in helping the team during the fight back."

Pazzini admitted he had never imagined such a spectacular debut.

"It was impossible to imagine a day like this, it seems like a dream, a fantastic afternoon, it will be difficult to forget it," he said.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/01/2011 page22)