Inter Milan boss Jose' Mourinho has lived up to his 'tough love' reputation by axing two players who failed to match his expectations in Sunday's goalless home draw against a ten-man Genoa.
The Portuguese, who cultivated a smooth but tough image at his former club Chelsea, left Adriano and Julio Cruz out of the team to face Fiorentina in Florence on Wednesday night.
The axings came as no surprise after Mourinho told the press Sunday night that ''two or three players'' would have to face the consequences for failing to obey orders.
''I don't let my children do everything they want. Why should I let my players get away with it?'', he said.
But he softened the impending blow by saying ''I'm here to help young players understand their mistakes''.
Mourinho was seen from the sidelines of the Genoa game shouting at Cruz as well as the two young strikers Mario Balotelli and Victor Obinna.
The latter pair appear to have escaped his wrath - while Adriano, a player who has returned to form after giving up a playboy lifestyle and problems with drink, reportedly enraged his manager by staying out at a disco until early Monday morning.
Inter are joint top with Napoli and Udinese on 17 points, one ahead of Fiorentina and Milan who both have 16.
Mourinho will finally have his first-choice defence available at Fiorentina with Maxwell returning at left back and Walter Samuel ready to come off the bench after a long injury.
Patrick Veira has also recovered from a knock and should centre the midfield alongside captain Javier Zanetti and Dejan Stankovic.
Veteran striker Hernan Crespo has earned a call-up in Cruz's place and may start alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Giampaolo Pazzini will lead the line for Fiorentina aongside Adrian Mutu unless the Italian Soccer Federation lifts a two-match ban on Serie A top scorer Alberto Gilardino inflicted for handling the ball into the net in Sunday's 3-1 win over Palermo.
In the other big matches Wednesday, Napoli hosts bottom club Reggina and Udinese travel to sixth-placed Catania.
AC Milan will be without injured Ronaldinho at home to 12th-placed Siena and Pippo Inzaghi is expected to partner Pato up front.
In this year's surprising 'classificia corta' (short table) just five points separate the top 11 teams.
Only goal difference puts 11th-placed Palermo behind Juventus which continued a comeback by winning the Turin derby against Torino 1-0.
Roma, languishing sixth places off the bottom on seven points, host fellow stragglers Sampdoria without defender Philippe Mexes and striker Mirko Vucinic, both banned.
Former Olimpico idol Antonio Cassano will link up with Claudio Bellucci in the Samp attack.
