Former Inter defender Andrea Mandorlini has weighed in on the Nerazzurri’s quality going into next season, with the Italian believing that the club will have sufficient quality to compete for the Scudetto.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Mandorlini, who is currently managing Serie C side Padova, gave his thoughts on the new manager Simone Inzaghi as well.
He believes that despite the loss of Antonio Conte, Inzaghi has a suitable replacement, and that the Nerazzurri have brought him in at the right time from Lazio.
He considers the Italian tactician to be someone who is ready to make the step up to competing for the Scudetto after his achievements with the Biancocelesti, and gives an encouraging assessment of what supporters can expect under the new coach.
His views reflect those of many fans, who are cautiously optimistic that the new manager will be able to transition the impressive qualities he showed in the Italian capital to the expectations that weigh on a coach at the Giuseppe Meazza.
His words on Inzaghi:
“It is a new beginning, there is great curiosity. We are always talking about a team that won, and from here have to start again.”
“He has been doing this job for some time, the fact that he started from the youth teams is important. I think he is ready: he has coached a top-level club for several years, and has won titles. He comes to a team that has just won the Scudetto, and expectations change: coaching Inter is different from coaching Lazio, even if they are both great clubs. I’m very curious, but you have to watch what happens, step by step.”
Asked about the effect that Achraf Hakimi’s departure could have on the Nerazzurri’s title ambitions, he stated the following:
“It was a hard transfer to digest, but Inter will certainly be able to find a suitable replacement for him. I think the Nerazzurri are still the team to beat, even if there will be a different Juventus, and other rivals. I still think it’s a duel between Inter and Juve.”
