Former Inter striker Nicola Ventola believes that the Nerazzurri remain the favourites for the Scudetto despite a summer of major changes from last season.
Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the 43-year-old gave the view that the Nerazzurri’s attack is still strong enough to take them to the top of Serie A.
Inter saw major upheaval during the summer transfer window, with Antonio Conte departing at the end of a season in which he helped the club win their first Scudetto in eleven years and the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Romelu Lukaku following him out the exit door.
Simone Inzaghi arrived from Lazio to replace Conte as head coach while a number of players were signed to reinforce the squad in the absence of Hakimi and Lukaku.
Many observers have questioned whether these replacements would be enough to see the Nerazzurri maintain their level from last season, but Ventola is of the view that the team still has the strength to defend their Scudetto crown.
On Nerazzurri coach Simone Inzaghi he said, “He is proving to be a coach worthy of Inter. He has maintained some details of Conte’s team, while also adding his own.”
He went on, “With the Salento coach, the Nerazzurri played by memory through the counterattack and after waiting for the opponents. Now it is different. The back three is different. Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 is offensive, it is based on winning the ball high up, on being aggressive forward in order to suffer less from the opponent.”
“The match against Real was approached in the right way,” he went on, “with Madrid unable to get out. But if you don’t score, they’ll punish you in Europe. I think the match against Shakhtar Donetsk was more worrying, with the difficulty in recovering the ball, given the Ukrainians’ ability in possession.”
“There were opportunities, but at the level of play I saw took a step backwards. However, I am still very positive, there are many benefits brought by Simone Inzaghi after Antonio Conte’s farewell,” Ventola reflected.
He gave the view that “Inter are right there for the Scudetto, they are the favourites. The mentality acquired after last year is a winning one. I have no doubt that the new additions will replace Lukaku and Hakimi well.”
He continued, “In the Champions League, you are now in a difficult situation mentally. You have to win by force, take advantage of opportunities, know how to suffer, and already know you can no longer make a mistake, given what’s already happened.”
Of former Lukaku he said, “I’m a great admirer of his. He works alone, attacks in behind like few others, scores, creates, and can find ways to change the game. I wouldn’t have switched Romelu with anyone but given the economic difficulties it was right to sell him for a significant fee.”
Of the Belgian’s replacements Edin Dzeko and Joaquin Correa he said, “Edin has goals in his blood. Tucu has incredible qualities and can create chances from nothing. Lazio have lost ten goals, and he could hit twenty goals easily.”
“Alexis Sanchez is also in the squad,” Ventola continued, “the Chilean’s only problems are injuries, his qualities are not in question. Paradoxically, Inter reinforced the attacking department.”
He continued, “Last year with Alexis often out injured, you had to hope that Lautaro and Lukaku wouldn’t even catch a cold. This year you can count on four really high-level strikers plus the young Martin Satriano, a striker who showed very well during the preseason. Everyone talks about him very positively, you can see he’s good.”
