Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni says he will be honoured to face Juventus in Sunday’s Derby d’Italia but warned the Bianconeri he will do everything he can to halt their Serie A title charge.
Antonio Conte’s side head into the weekend’s crunch match at San Siro with a four-point lead over Juventus in the Serie A standings, although the Old Lady have a game in hand.
Bastoni played in both league games against Juve last season but admits he will still feel a special emotion on Sunday night.
“Playing Inter-Juventus is always a great feeling,” he remarked in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, this afternoon.
“I have played it three or four times, but you always get the same feelings.
“It’s a big match and it’s an honour to play in it.
“Juve have been winning for many years, our journey began last year with the arrival of a new coach.
“We will try to cause them problems, we want to improve.”
Bastoni then addressed the gap that has been present between the sides in recent seasons, which was almost entirely removed at the end of last season as Inter finished just one point behind Juventus in Serie A.
“Juventus have been winning for some time, we are following our own development path.
“We are playing a lot and we don’t look at the standings, we will try to stop them though.
“Juve are certainly the favourites to win the Scudetto, their domination has lasted for a long time.
“We need to work as a team, we are growing.
“We are a good group and we are good together. They are a strong team.”
The 21-year-old, who is reportedly set to sign a new deal with Inter shortly, then spoke about the Nerazzurri’s defence, which has not been as solid as it was last season.
“Games are often won and lost in key moments and in this moment there are many going against us.
“Having said that, we are playing more aggressively than before and it’s normal you will run more risks, but we still want to concede as little as possible.”
Next Bastoni was asked about the ongoing speculation concerning the potential sale of Inter which has dominated the Inter news front for the past week or so.
“These are rumours that must not disturb us.
“Inter are a great club, with very good management who will solve everything.
“We only think about the pitch and doing well on it.
“We know that if things go well on the pitch everything else will work out.
“We want to do this, because it is our passion.”
The former Atalanta player then spoke on this season, which has been one of the most balanced at the top of Serie A in several years.
“It is a strange season due to the many commitments.
“Ours is a continuous path, we think game after game trying to win them all.”
Bastoni then reflected on 2020, a year in which he cemented his place in the Inter starting line-up.
“Everything changed quickly, up until a year and a half ago I was at Parma.
“Inter are a glorious club and after I wish to thank Conte, because he trusted me and threw me into the fray and it wasn’t a given that it was going to happen.
“I have always been myself, doing what I learned as a child.
“The coach saw these things in me and I thank him. He was not afraid to play me alongside great champions, even in important matches.
“I want to do great things.”
Bastoni then spoke on similarities between Inter coach Conte and Italian national team coach Roberto Mancini.
“They both play with three at the back and have the desire for their to win the ball back immediately,” he said.
“They are different, but I like them both.”
In conclusion, he spoke on his footballing future and admitted to feeling very good at Inter.
“I feel very good at Inter, it’s good in Milan.
“This is a great club. I’m fine here, but we’ll see over time.”
