Inter wing-back Matteo Darmian has admitted that when playing for a club such as Inter, you have to give something extra when out on the pitch following Inter’s narrow 1-0 home win over Napoli.
“We knew it was a difficult match, against the big teams every detail can make a difference,” he began an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia following the full time whistle at San Siro.
He then spoke on his thought process when it came to getting forward in a move which led to Inter being awarded a penalty, which was slotted away by Romelu Lukaku who sent Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina the wrong way.
“When I saw that ball in the middle of the field I jumped right away and tried to move it away from the goalkeeper. I think the penalty was right, we won the game and we are happy.”
Next he was asked if he is good at being ready when it comes to being called upon: “Am I good at being ready? The coach makes me take the field, since I arrived I have made myself available and I think we are seeing the result of this work.”
He was then asked how much his spell at Manchester United in the Premier League has helped him to be ready.
“I think it affected a lot, I went to confront myself with a different reality and culture, it made me grow as a player and as a person. Playing for a great club like Manchester United makes you responsible, it’s the same with Inter. When you wear such a shirt you have to give something extra.”
In conclusion he spoke on what it has been like for him to compete for the right wing-back position with Achraf Hakimi.
“I knew what I could give, when I signed I knew I was arriving at a great club, with a lot of competition. In big teams this level of competition is normal, I have always tried to be ready and when the coach calls me into question I always try to answer.”