Francesco Coco: “If Inter Don’t Pass The Champions League Group Stage It Will Be A Failure”

In an interview with the online edition of Italian daily newspaper Il Giornale, former Inter defender Francesco Coco has stated that it would be a failure for Inter if they fail to make it past the Champions League group stage this season.

Inter have not started how they were expected to in the competition with them sitting bottom of their group after three games played. Inter have not won any of the three games that they have played and have just two points to their name after the games they have played.

“If Inter do not pass the group stage it will be a failure, because Inter are a great team, built to win and have the duty to pass the group stage with this squad and this coach,” he began the interview.

Coco, who spent half a decade with Inter between the years 2002 and 2007, then went on to discuss the criticism that Inter manager Antonio Conte has been subjected to.

“He will become open to criticism if this year Inter have a worse season than the previous one because the squad has been improved and because he has different ambitions.”

Coco, who can count AC Milan and Barcelona among his former employers, then went on to discuss some positive notes and some disappointments as far as the Inter squad is concerned after the first few weeks of the 2020/21 season.

“Lukaku sets a good example on the pitch, he plays in all matches if he can, works hard, drags his teammates along and doesn’t hold back.

“Among the players who positively surprised me I put Bastoni, he is impressing me. Then there is Barella who is another who has had exponential growth.

“If I have to say a player who is disappointing me it is Lautaro but it is because I expect a lot from him. He can become a top player but this year he has to change and prove that he is a great player even when he is not having an inspired day.”

In conclusion Coco spoke on struggling Inter attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen and shared his belief about what Eriksen needs to express himself in the best way possible.

“We all know him and he is an important player. A player needs trust and in my opinion he is unable to express himself because he does not feel trust.”