Former Lazio goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani has come to the defence of Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic following the criticism he has received for the goal he conceded in yesterday’s 1-1 draw away to Atalanta.
Many in the Italian media criticised the Slovenian for conceding the goal and many believed that he could have done more to stop Aleksei Miranchuk’s shot from going into the goal but Marchegiani implies that the criticism of Handanovic has been unfair.
Marchegiani has explained in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, during their ‘Sky Calcio Club’ broadcast.
“The shot did not seem very fast but it was sudden and passed between the legs of the defender,” Marchegiani was then asked about what he made of the performance of the Inter team as a whole.
“When it usually happens the goalkeeper loses half a second, it is an angle that he does not consider when he looks at the ball, if the ball passes between the legs he loses a second and does not get near it with the dive. The details must be contextualized.”
“I didn’t see them as being at 100%. They are a team that is careful not to allow space and that tries to stay together and does not stretch play to avoid getting hurt. Attacking play was very limited by the two forwards who failed to build much. It was a balanced match, the result was right.”
In conclusion he was asked whether he is expecting to see more from attacker Alexis Sanchez, who has struggled to perform as well as he did during his loan spell last season since making his move to Inter a permanent one.
“It was not an easy match for him, because Atalanta presses a lot and makes you play with your back turned, you take a lot of blows. I only remember one Sanchez dribble. He is no longer the player he was. It’s easy for everyone to play with the space ahead rather than having to create it. A strong team is expected to have the tools to do this.”
