Mourinho defends Inter Milan rotation policy

Mourinho has demanded his side win (GETTY IMAGES)

Internazionale coach Jose Mourinho has vowed to continue his controversial squad rotation policy despite coming in for fresh criticism following a stuttering 2-1 win over Catania.

Inter remain top of the Serie A table but continue to receive flak for the manner of some of their performances.

"I was satisfied with how we played in the first half and the way we fought in the second," said Mourinho. "It's never easy after a Champions League match.

"Today I played Ivan Cordoba because he's in form. The same goes for Patrick Vieira.

"My team needs some rest once in a while and before certain Champions League matches I will leave three or four players out.

"I will make more changes and perhaps risk something more in the league."

Roma head coach Claudio Ranieri blamed Sunday's shock 1-0 defeat to Livorno on the continued absence of Francesco Totti.

The club captain is currently sidelined by a fresh knee problem, with no return date yet in sight for the veteran playmaker.

"We did well only in the first ten minutes," admitted Ranieri, who was only appointed in September.

"The team is following me, but it is not easy to recover when you are missing someone like Totti.

"We created chances today and maybe a goal would have come through Francesco."

New Livorno coach Serse Cosmi was in dreamland after starting his reign with a 1-0 victory at Roma.

A Francesco Tavano goal proved decisive in the Stadio Olimpico, with the visitors holding on despite having goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia sent off 25 minutes from time.

Cosmi said after the win: “We achieved something particularly difficult, but not impossible. I didn't think we would be able to do something so difficult.

“We had a bit of luck, something that my predecessor, Gennaro Ruotolo, did not.

“I don't want to take all credit for the victory. I also have to applaud those who came before me.”