Inter’s detractors should think twice before suggesting they were helped by the postponement of last Saturday’s match with Sassuolo, according to Christian Vieri.
Antonio Conte’s side will now go 20 days without playing in Serie A, between their win at Torino on March 14 and the next game away to Bologna on April 3.
Inter remain six points clear of AC Milan at the top of the standings – and they have a game in hand – but Vieri suggested it wasn’t necessarily an advantage for them to miss a weekend.
“People have said postponing the Sassuolo game benefitted Inter, but perhaps it will be the opposite,” Vieri told Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview for Wednesday’s print edition.
“Three weeks is a long time to not play a game.”
Bobo nonetheless remained optimistic about Inter’s chances of winning the Scudetto and ruled Juventus out of the running.
“Andrea Pirlo has to believe Juventus are still in contention because he’s the coach, but I don’t believe it personally,” Vieri revealed.
“Juventus will not win this Scudetto; Inter are far more organised, determined and ready.
“They’ve also become good to watch lately, although can you tell me which teams play well for 38 games in a season?
“In any case, even when they don’t play so well Inter are difficult to beat.”
Conte has recovered three key players for Inter in recent weeks, with Christian Eriksen, Ivan Perisic and Alexis Sanchez offering improved performances.
“Inter are playing much better football now, playing Eriksen and Perisic more was a decisive more,” Vieri argued.
“Conte realised he was making a mistake; Eriksen has given Inter more quality, Perisic has worked hard and I’d include Alexis Sanchez as well.
“They deserve credit for making sure they were ready to play and Conte deserves it for changing his mind.”
Asked about who was in the running for the title, Vieri added: “It’s a battle between Inter and AC Milan.”