Inter legend Riccardo Ferri spoke ahead of tonight’s match between Lazio and Inter in an interview with Laziopress.it.
“Spalletti’s side is doing well, they deservedly won and convinced during the derby last week. I think both Inter and Lazio are coming in to this match in a good mood. Both teams want points as they are both chasing Champions League qualification. It will be a very physical match, both teams come in to it having played in Europe and the team who find the most balanced tactic will have the best chance of success.”
Ferri then spoke on some of his fondest memories from playing against the capital city club.
“I remember a match when I marked Alen Boksic, I still have his shirt under my nails. We clung to each other all game. I also had to mark Karl-Heinz Riedle. They were two very strong players. I also remember scoring in a Lazio-Inter match early on and was promised a thousand bottles of wine but they never were delivered to me,” he laughed.
A centre back during his playing days, Ferri then spoke on Inter centre back Stefan de Vrij and Lazio’s Francesco Acerbi.
“de Vrij is a player of undoubted quality. I rate Acerbi a lot. Acerbi has quality, is always careful, is physical and has character. He is a player who leaves everything on the field and the Lazio fans immediately appreciated this about him.”
Ferri proceeded to discuss each side’s main man with Inter having Mauro Icardi and Lazio having Ciro Immobile.
“Both have two teams behind them that allow them to bring out their individual qualities as strikers. Both of them can be decisive.”
Ferri downplayed the importance of the result on the final league standings but did insist that it will have some impact on the teams.
“I think it’s too early to draw conclusions regarding the achievement of certain goals but it’s a game that will say a lot for the team that wins. It’s a direct confrontation between two ambitious clubs who want to shorten the gap with Juventus and Napoli. Inter want to achieve great results while Lazio always succeeds through bringing lesser known players to the club, enhancing them and making them become top players.”