Antonio Conte’s Inter have a lot in common with the Nerazzurri’s title-winning side under Giovanni Trapattoni, according to their former defender Andrea Mandorlini.
Trapattoni led Inter to the Scudetto during the 1988-89 season, fighting off competition from Diego Maradona’s Napoli and Arrigo Sacchi’s legendary AC Milan team.
The Nerazzurri set a new Serie A record that year for the two-points-per-win era, totalling 58 points in 34 games (26 wins, six draws and two defeats).
“Conte’s Inter is very similar to that record-breaking team in 1989,” Mandorlini, who made 24 league appearances for Inter that season, argued in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport 24.
“We also played a 3-5-2 system with Andreas Brehme on the left wing and Alessandro Bianchi on the right.
“Even that year, the defence achieved important results and now this team’s defence is one that is difficult to penetrate.
“There are two strikers in Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez who sacrifice themselves and keep the team compact.”
Mandorlini, who spent seven years with the Nerazzurri between 1984 and 1991, went on to discuss comparisons between some of his former teammates and Inter’s current midfield star Nicolo Barella, who he has tipped to improve still further in the future.
“I could compare Barella to Gianfranco Matteoli, although he also reminds me of Nicola Berti in terms of characteristics,” he continued.
“Berti had a better attacking ability and scored more goals, but we are talking about a very good player in Barella who will develop further.”
Mandorlini, who is currently the coach of Padova in Serie C, also reflected on some Milan derby memories ahead of Sunday’s huge clash between Inter and AC Milan.
“I have many memories, many beautiful but some also difficult,” he recalled.
“At that time AC Milan were really strong, it took us some time to win.
“The derbies were the most important games in my life.
“I’ve been an Inter fan since I was a child and I’m happy that the Milan derby is once again important.”
During his seven year stint with Inter, Mandorlini made a total of 275 appearances for the club and won one Serie A title and won one UEFA Cup, which has since been rebranded to the UEFA Europa League.