Inter’s treble-winning side had the best defence Italian football has seen in the last 20 years, according to the Nerazzurri’s former captain Beppe Bergomi.
Bergomi spent more than 20 years playing for Inter at centre-back and spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about the art of defending in the modern era.
The 1982 World Cup winner picked Paolo Maldini as the best individual defender and selected Juventus as the best defence currently in action.
“Inter’s treble side had an iron defence,” Bergomi said.
“Lucio and Samuel were physical, rough, quick and experienced. Chivu and Zanetti provided balance on the left while Maicon was explosive on the right.
“Juventus’ defence is the best at the moment, not least because Giorgio Chiellini is still playing.
“Paolo Maldini is the best I’ve seen individually, though. When I joined the national team in 1988 I told our coach Azeglio Vicini he was ‘phenomenal’.
“Maldini had everything: elegance, physical strength, an eye for goal and an ability to manage the big moments.”