Former Inter midfielder Nicola Berti is confident ahead of Inter’s Champions League clash with Sheriff Tiraspol believing that the Nerazzurri will put Saturday’s loss to Lazio behind them with an emphatic win.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the 54-year-old projected great optimism and additionally gave the view that his former side would go on to beat Juventus over the weekend.
Inter did not get their return from the international break off to the best start, letting an early lead slip to fall to a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico, their first in Serie A of the season.
However, the team will barely have time to catch their breath as their play Sheriff this evening in a match which is virtually must-win to keep themselves in the hunt for a place in the Champions League knockout stages.
After this they host Juventus in the league, in a match where the Bianconeri could catch up to them in the table, or the Nerazzurri could extend the gap over them while keeping pace with rivals at the top of the table.
Berti acknowledges that these will not be easy games, but is confident that Simone Inzaghi’s team will have what it takes to win them.
Of the defeat against Lazio he said, “Very strange game. In the first half we had set up very well, taking advantage of Lazio’s weak points with our counterattacks. Even the penalty that gave us the advantage came in this fashion.”
“We didn’t kill it off,” he reflected, “the equalizer arrived quite randomly, and we got nervous. Losing your head like that is not good, but I think and I hope it was just an episode. Not to mention that Lazio are a very good team.”
On whether some players could be in bad form because Antonio Conte is gone as manager Berti stated, “I don’t think so. Hands off Inzaghi who is doing a great job. The match against Lazio must be forgotten, we must reset because two decisive challenges await us.”
On the decisive players against Sheriff he stated, “Barella and Brozovic. Even if Nicolino [Barella] has to calm down every now and then, he remains our heart and soul. He enjoys more freedom on the pitch than Brozo, who does a lot of dirty work – in addition to grinding out kilometres, he makes everything run for the team.”
At the suggestion that Sheriff are a tough opponent he stated, “But let’s not joke! The technical difference is evident. And after the first two victories it is impossible to take them lightly. Let’s not forget, however, that against Shakhtar and Real they had great luck. Benzema and other Real players created and wasted a lot of chances.”
His prediction for the Sheriff match was that “We will win 4-0.”
“In fact, even a 2-0 is fine,,” he continued. “Without a win we would be out of the knockout stages of the Champions League for the third consecutive season. I don’t even want to think about it.”
Finally, on the significance of Sunday’s clash with the Bianconeri and whether it could be decisive he stated, “We are only on matchday nine, so in mathematical terms it can’t be. But if we beat Juve, we push them back to six points behind us, we become aware of the head-to-head matches and find the right momentum to face Milan and Napoli in November.”
