APPIANO GENTILE - José Mourinho and his staff organised the Nerazzurri into groups for the first training session ahead of the upcoming Serie A matches away to Catania (Wed 28 Jan at 20:30) and at home to Torino (Sun 1 Feb at 15:00). Those who played most of yesterday's victory over Sampdoria went through a warming-down session, performing exercises on the pitch or in the gym according to individual necessities, while the second group of players performed warm-up, possession and tactical drills. 

As a precaution, South American defenders Nicolas Burdisso and Maxwell were sent home with the flu after a check-up by Inter's medical staff. Central defenders Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel, who sustained right-leg injuries during Inter-Sampdoria, had medical tests. The Romanian defender has strained his adductor muscles while the Argentine has strained his flexors.

Francesco Bolzoni, who strained his left thigh during last Friday's training session, had treatment. The Italian Under-21 midfielder will train again this afternoon together with Marco Materazzi who this morning underwent a strength building session in the gym followed by a 15-minute jog and repeat runs on the pitch.

As planned, Patrick Vieira returned to Italy today after a ten-day period of rehabilitation in Saint Raphael in France. "I'm very pleased," the French midfielder told inter.it. "With Mourinho and the medical staff we analysed the situation this morning. Everything is going for the best. The specific recovery work has produced good results. For this reason, I will return to France tomorrow to complete the programme. I will return to Appiano next Tuesday (3 February) to resume training with my team-mates."