Samir Handanovic is keeping his place in Inter’s XI by playing well with his feet, according to the Nerazzurri’s former defender Daniele Adani.
The Slovenian has received rave reviews following his performance in Sunday’s derby win over AC Milan, pulling off three miraculous saves to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sandro Tonali at the start of the second half.
But Handanovic also helped set up Inter’s second goal at San Siro by starting their glorious team move, something Adani wished to highlight last night.
“Handanovic gave a clear explanation of where football is going when he was speaking with Francesco Guidolin after Inter’s match against AC Milan,” Adani told Sky Sport, referencing the pair’s discussion about how teams never used to play out from the back like Conte’s Inter are doing.
“Today the Slovenian is starting for Inter because he plays with his feet, whereas Guidolin played a different kind of football at Udinese when Handanovic was there.
“All three of Inter’s goals were well constructed, but then nobody can stop Romelu Lukaku in a one-on-one situation.”
Adani also had words of praise for Christian Eriksen and Ivan Perisic, who are slowly turning their Inter careers around after a difficult first half of the season.
“Inter’s second goal against AC Milan was extraordinary and this is where Eriksen comes into the picture,” Adani continued.
“Look at the pause he took (before passing the ball) to allow Perisic and Lautaro Martinez to combine for the goal.
“This is called work, just like the work Conte is doing with the Croatian.
“Perisic can now cover the whole flank; he has the physique of a decathlete, which allows him to mark people like Lazio’s Manuel Lazzari and then even get forward to provide decisive assists.”
Adani made 45 appearances in all competitions during a two-year spell between 2002 and 2004.
He is best remembered in a Nerazzurri shirt for scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against Juventus in a Coppa Italia tie which Inter ultimately lost on penalties.