Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni would get into any of Europe’s top sides, according to former Inter defender Riccardo Ferri.
Inter have conceded just once in their last seven Serie A matches, which has proved key in Antonio Conte’s side going top of the table last month.
The Nerazzurri’s fortunes at the back have improved ever since Conte was able to start picking Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni together on a regular basis from November onwards.
Speaking about the challenges of adapting to a three-man defence, Ferri told Gazzetta dello Sport’s online edition: “With De Vrij playing in the middle, he had less adapting to do when it came to reading the game.
“The other two on the other hand have a more difficult task because they have to participate in the build-up play and move out wide.
“Bastoni has grown a lot thanks to his application and also for having trained with very experienced players.
“Skriniar has improved a lot in terms of reading the game and then, as mentioned, now he participates more in the play.
“Those three are still young and will be the foundation of this Inter team for years to come, and I think they can still grow a lot.
“Skriniar, De Vrij and Bastoni are as good as all of Inter’s best defences in recent history and I think those three would find a place in all of Europe’s top clubs.”
Ferri went on to share his belief that Inter are close to their best and pointed out that it is a good defence that makes more of an impact in winning the title, rather than a good attack.
“At the moment Inter are close to top form,” he argued.
“They can score in all ways, now even via a direct free kick thanks to Christian Eriksen.
“This impresses me because certain attacking numbers have been missing for a long time.
“Having said that, league titles are always won by conceding little.
“Just think that Atalanta scored more than Inter last season but they finished third.”
Ferri was asked what he thinks has changed at Inter compared to the start of the season, where Conte’s side made a bit of a faltering start.
“A bit of everything, starting with the tactical attitude,” he explained.
“The team now sits deeper, whereas beforehand they were always trying to go forward and dominate the game.
“If you do not have everyone in top physical condition, raising the defensive line too much becomes dangerous.
“Inter found their identity when Conte removed the ‘trequartista’ and with the elimination from the Coppa Italia and Champions League, the only remaining goal (winning Serie A) has become a mission.
“The team no longer makes mistakes like they did at the beginning of the season and even if the opponents manage to shoot, then Samir Handanovic is in goal.”
Ferri, who spent 13 years with Inter, praised Conte for the way he has managed to keep everyone involved, including those who are hardly playing now.
“The coach has done a great job in this regard, you can see that the whole group is following him.
“There will always be someone who is a little unhappy, but I think the awareness is that at the moment the fittest ones are playing and the results confirm this.
“Then you have to know how to seize opportunities.
“Just look at Eriksen, he seemed out of the project, instead he was able to insist and be ready to step in when Arturo Vidal got hurt.”
He also spoke on the revitalised Ivan Perisic, who has turned things around for himself in recent weeks.
“I do not think that he was convinced by the idea of playing as a left wing-back at first, but then he realised that he would not get space in another position,” Ferri argued.
“Now he has the willingness to adapt which he was lacking before, and let’s not forget he’s one of the few players at Inter who can go past his opponent.
“If I look at all individuals though, in the last two months Inter have really changed gear.”
