Inter will be competitive this season, insists Zanetti

The Argentine legend believes the club is heading in the right direction in its quest for trophies this season after a dismal 2012-13 campaign.

Javier Zanetti is confident Inter Milan can be competitive this coming season as it looks to re-establish itself at the top end of Serie A.

Inter labored to a ninth-place league finish in a trophyless campaign in 2012-13, leading to coach Andrea Stramaccioni's dismissal, but the 39-year-old Zanetti believes the club is back on track to return to the summit of Italian football despite its poor preseason form.

"I expect to see a competitive Inter. From a certain point of view it will be an advantage to have a full week to work from one match to the next. We have an obligation to return to the top, and Inter are a team battling for important objectives," he told Inter Channel.

“The preseason is going well and we have good reason to believe we’ll do well once the season starts."

The Nerazzurri face uncertainty in the immediate future, as D.C. United part owner and Indonesian media magnate Erick Thohir attempts to complete a takeover of the club, and Zanetti - who has represented the club for 18 years - is unfazed by the prospect of a change in leadership.

"President [Massimo] Moratti will do what’s good for the club, as he always does."

Inter lost 2-0 and 4-0 to Chelsea and Valencia respectively in the Guiness International Champions Cup in the past week and will face Serie A rival Juventus in a match to determine who finishes seventh and who finishes last in the eight-team field Tuesday night in Miami.