Inter remain favourites to win the Serie A title this season despite yesterday’s surprise defeat at Sampdoria, according to the Nerazzurri’s former defender Bruno Bolchi.
Antonio Conte’s side saw their eight-game winning run in the league ended by Claudio Ranieri’s side thanks to goals from two former Inter players in Antonio Candreva and Keita Balde.
They remained only one point behind league leaders AC Milan, however, courtesy of the Rossoneri’s defeat at home to Juventus last night.
“I keep saying Inter are favourites because for me they have the strongest team, both in terms of quality and squad depth,” Bolchi told Italian news outlet TuttoMercatoWeb today.
Wednesday’s loss at Marassi has led to widespread claims that Inter are over-reliant on Romelu Lukaku, who started on the bench after sustaining a thigh injury against Crotone on Sunday.
Bolchi admitted Conte’s men found it much tougher to play their normal style of football without the Belgian in the team.
“It’s true that without Lukaku Inter are different team, because even when they’re under pressure they can hit the ball forward and he can hold it up to solve their problems,” he explained.
“Inter have the best squad in the league, though, and it will be difficult for them to strengthen it.
“Juventus would also be a different team if Cristiano Ronaldo got injured, but it’s not like they can go and buy a player who plays like CR7 in the event of an injury.
“Inter must hope that Lukaku stays fit and in some cases make up for his absence, but you can’t think of having two teams of the same value.”
The former Italian national team defender, who played for Inter in the last 1950s and early 1960s, then went on to express his views on Inter’s upcoming Serie A clash away to Roma this weekend.
“The Giallorossi, who started with uncertainty and the coach being criticised, are surprising even if I don’t think they are among the eligible candidates for the Scudetto,” he argued.
“Roma are playing very well, as well as AC Milan despite their defeat to Juventus.”