Former Inter striker Jurgen Klinsmann has shared his belief that Inter are the favourites for tonight’s Champions League group stage opener between themselves and Borussia Monchengladbach.
“Borussia are an excellent team, they have a solid system, the players go out on the pitch with clear ideas. The quality of football is high, last season they had an exceptional first part of the season,” he explained in an interview with Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, which appeared in today’s print edition of the Milanese news outlet.
He then went on to add: “Inter are the favourites, they are superior, they have great individuals but they must have great respect for the opponents. At Gladbach there are young players with great enthusiasm, who can be dangerous to Conte’s side.”
Next Klinsmann shared his thoughts on the Inter team: “I see a team ready to win, due to how it was designed and built.”
He proceeded to discuss Inter Summer transfer window recruit Achraf Hakimi and whether he has been surprised with how good Hakimi has been since his arrival at the Nerazzurri club.
“No, Hakimi is not a player who can be discovered now. He makes a difference, he adds quality to Inter and not just speed.”
In conclusion he was asked if Inter’s current strike force of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez are better than the partnership he had with Aldo Serena.
“I’ll tell you something, I see myself in Lautaro, certainly more in him than in Lukaku. I notice a great feeling between them during the matches, it can also be seen from the outside, they are the greatest certainty of this Inter.”
Klinsmann spent three years with Inter between 1989 and 1992. During his spell with the club, the legendary German forward made 123 appearances across all competitions, in which he scored 40 goals and provided seven assists for his teammates.