Former Atalanta and Inter goalkeeper Alberto Fontana discussed tomorrow’s league clash between the two sides in an interview with Italian media outlet FcInter1908 yesterday.
“I expect a match with many chances for a goal. Inter in the offensive phase are very dangerous, even if behind they give a little too much space for the moment.
“Atalanta also creates a lot of chances and concedes a little behind. That kind of game often has contraindications.”
He highlighted how he did not expect Antonio Conte’s Inter to have such defensive issues this season.
“Honestly, no. Surely now they create a lot, while in the defensive phase they have to improve some things.
“Last year the numbers were very different and I don’t think this is the actual potential of the team.”
The Italian touched on coach Antonio Conte and how his character seems to have changed this season, compared to last campaign.
“I am an admirer of Conte, let’s start from this point. In this moment we must try to defend the project. My feeling is that Inter in the offensive phase really hurt the opponent. Lately they have also paid for some mistakes.
“Against Parma there was a clear penalty, in the Champions League with Shakhtar they hit the cross bar twice and dominated. We must also defend a project that goes in the right direction.
“It is part of his role to also try to distract a little from the work he is doing to fix the defensive issues, the only thing that is not 100% at the moment. Inter will fight for the Scudetto.”
Fontana thought that the 51-year-old Italian coach should be happy with the players that were signed by the club over the summer transfer window, including Achraf Hakimi and Arturo Vidal.
“The coach asked for players and they have arrived. It is inevitably a mix between requests and the availability and budget of the club. It seems to me they have had a good market together.”
The former Nerazzurri goalkeeper did not think that club captain Samir Handanovic was to blame for the current defensive issues.
“On Samir I am not objective. I consider him the top. Inter are conceding goals from three meters away. Being very high up the pitch and not having a great balance weighs heavily.
“Handanovic always remains a certainty and I would like to have him always on my team.”
He touched on the current form issues of 23-year-old Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez.
“He is a player who has done very well. He has a very long path ahead of him and must know how to handle moments of euphoria and tough moments.
“It is normal that in the growth of a great talent there are stages that must be respected.”
Finally, Fontana discussed Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal and if his new deeper position at the Nerazzurri suits him.
“He is a fixed point of the coach. He never hid that he wanted him. If a coach wants a player so strongly it is because he knows all his characteristics.
“On a character level, Vidal is very much a reflection of Conte’s type of football. I am not surprised that in this growth period he tries to have him always on the field.”
Inter are currently sixth in the league after six games, sitting one point behind fourth place Atalanta.
