Alessando Bastoni feels Inter showed they are a “great team” after dominating Juventus in a comprehensive Derby d’Italia victory.
The Nerazzurri hadn’t beaten their Scudetto rivals since 2016 going into the match but produced one of their best performances of the season to take the three points.
Former Juve man Arturo Vidal opened the scoring before Nicolo Barella put the cherry on the top in the second half.
Bastoni and his fellow centre-backs barely gave Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata a sniff, with the only real action for Samir Handanovic coming as he saved from Federico Chiesa late on.
After the match the defender was asked how important the three points could prove in the long-run as his team go for the Scudetto.
Bastoni replied: “They’re definitely crucial, first and foremost for the table because we’ve kept a great team like Juventus behind us who, for me, are the favourites.
“In terms of morale this gives us a lot, we went close last year but in the head-to-head games we couldn’t get it over the line.
“Tonight we showed we’re a great team.
“The feeling is certainly positive because we know we had a great game and we were focused for ninety minutes.
“Even when they put in Kulusevski, Bernardeschi and McKennie and they were very attacking we were very focused and played a great game.”
Bastoni assisted the second goal with a fantastic pass to Nicolo Barella and the defender says that was no accident.
“Luckily I slipped!” he joked.
“Seriously, the long pass with the inclusion of Barella is something we have been trying for some time, even in training.
“Sometimes it succeeds and sometimes not, luckily today it went well.
“Credit to Barella too.
“When we are focused, at it and together – and today we all were – we have great games.
“Today we were all on the ball and we had a great performance.
“With this win we are aware of what we can do from here on out.”