Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti believes that Inter are a formidable side and felt that the Nerazzurri made his Real Madrid team suffer on Wednesday despite the Merengues’ late victory.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Radio Anch’io Lo Sport, the Italian tactician gave his thoughts on the Nerazzurri’s competitiveness and expressed admiration for the level that they have shown so far this season, in particular their strong performance in defeat against Real.
Ancelotti’s men got the better of Simone Inzaghi’s Inter team in the much-anticipated Champions League group stage opener at the San Siro thanks to a last-minute strike by Real substitute Rodrygo.
However, the Merengues were reliant on the heroics of their keeper Thibaut Courtois to keep a clean sheet during a match in which the Nerazzurri played with attacking intent from the off and created a host of presentable goalscoring opportunities, particularly during a frenetic first half.
The Real coach characterized Inter as “A team that has maintained the same structure as last year’s side, despite changing coach and some important players. But they are solid, they played very well against Real, they put us in difficulty.”
“They can compete for the Scudetto,” he predicted of the Nerazzurri. “I see a very balanced Serie A, there are many teams that are starting out well and there is no clear favourite like in previous years.”
On the Champions League prospects of his opponents from Wednesday evening, Ancelotti stated, “Inter, as I said, will certainly be competitive. They have lost important players but just as many have arrived. The structure is the same, there is a lot of experience. The environment pushes the team, there is enthusiasm.”
