Christian Eriksen has helped Inter become a less predictable side since the turn of the year, according to former Lazio boss Delio Rossi.
The Dane was out of favour under Antonio Conte until the end of January, when he began getting more game time in the Nerazzurri’s midfield.
Conte started Eriksen again for Sunday’s 1-0 win at home to Cagliari and the 29-year-old helped dictate play in a complicated match at San Siro, which eventually ended in victory.
“Eriksen has come into the team and given Inter more unpredictability compared to before,” Rossi, who was in charge of Palermo when Inter beat them in the 2011 Coppa Italia final, told TMW Radio on Monday.
“As soon as he understood how we play football in Italy, he started giving the Nerazzurri that little bit extra, like the champion he is.”
Inter finally broke Cagliari’s resistance on Sunday with a late goal from Matteo Darmian, who was on hand at the far post to tap in a cross from Achraf Hakimi.
Rossi coached Darmian for one season at Palermo and is clearly not surprised that the 31-year-old has settled into Conte’s 3-5-2 system so well.
“I was the first person to play Darmian out wide,” he revealed.
“He played as a centre-back in AC Milan’s Primavera team but I didn’t think he had the physical structure to succeed in that position.
“Darmian is proving his worth as a wing-back, having waited for his opportunity after coming in from Manchester United.
“Not everyone does that.”
Rossi also assured he was not at all surprised to see Conte leading Inter towards the Serie A title.
“Inter were already a great team before this season, and then you have to factor in Conte as well,” he argued.
“Conte was helped by Inter going out of the UEFA Champions League, knowing how maniacal he is with his work.
“Knowing him like I do, he probably took too much time if anything to find the formula for Inter, considering the quality of his players, but I knew he’d get there eventually.”