Inter Milan coach Leonardo is convinced his side's recent crash in a city derby against AC Milan will have no impact on the Nerazzurri as they tackle Schalke Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The reigning European champions at the weekend saw their chances of repeating last season's treble getting slimmer as Milan trounced them 3-0 to leap five points clear with seven games left in the Italian Serie A.
The Italian Cup and the continental trophy are likely to become Inter's only targets in the last part of the season, with fans relying on the resilience that their heroes displayed in the final-16 stage, when they beat Bayern 3-2 in Munich after suffering a 1-0 defeat in Milan.
"If you play a derby, of course you want to win it," Leonardo said. "The team, however, are very mature and will not be disheartened. After a defeat at Juventus (1-0 in early February) everybody said we were dead.
"I am certain that there will be no consequences in the Champions League."
The Brazilian coach received plenty of criticism for his tactical handling of the big match against his former team, but he also found little help from winger Douglas Maicon and the unusually lacklustre Samuel Eto'o, who, on eight goals, is the tournament's top scorer with Lionel Messi and Mario Gomez.
Things could improve with the return of Diego Milito, who played part of the game against the Devils after a long absence, while forward Giampaolo Pazzini is unavailable for the tournament and defender Lucio is suspended.
Schalke lie fairly safe at mid-table in the German Bundesliga. They were ahead 2-0 late in Friday's game at St Pauli when the match was abandoned after a referee's assistance was struck by a a full plastic beer glass hurled from the stands.
At the Giuseppe Meazza, coach Ralf Rangnick will be without midfielder Peer Kluge and striker Mario Gavranovic, who were both injured in Hamburg.
Central defender Christoph Metzelder broke his nose in the match but is expected to play wearing a protective mask.
The reigning European champions at the weekend saw their chances of repeating last season's treble getting slimmer as Milan trounced them 3-0 to leap five points clear with seven games left in the Italian Serie A.
The Italian Cup and the continental trophy are likely to become Inter's only targets in the last part of the season, with fans relying on the resilience that their heroes displayed in the final-16 stage, when they beat Bayern 3-2 in Munich after suffering a 1-0 defeat in Milan.
"If you play a derby, of course you want to win it," Leonardo said. "The team, however, are very mature and will not be disheartened. After a defeat at Juventus (1-0 in early February) everybody said we were dead.
"I am certain that there will be no consequences in the Champions League."
The Brazilian coach received plenty of criticism for his tactical handling of the big match against his former team, but he also found little help from winger Douglas Maicon and the unusually lacklustre Samuel Eto'o, who, on eight goals, is the tournament's top scorer with Lionel Messi and Mario Gomez.
Things could improve with the return of Diego Milito, who played part of the game against the Devils after a long absence, while forward Giampaolo Pazzini is unavailable for the tournament and defender Lucio is suspended.
Schalke lie fairly safe at mid-table in the German Bundesliga. They were ahead 2-0 late in Friday's game at St Pauli when the match was abandoned after a referee's assistance was struck by a a full plastic beer glass hurled from the stands.
At the Giuseppe Meazza, coach Ralf Rangnick will be without midfielder Peer Kluge and striker Mario Gavranovic, who were both injured in Hamburg.
Central defender Christoph Metzelder broke his nose in the match but is expected to play wearing a protective mask.
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