Italian journalsit Maruzio Pistocchi believes that Inter were too defensive in their style of play against Juventus on Sunday evening, but also that they were unlucky to have conceded a penalty from VAR.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Radio Marte, Pistocchi suggested that the style of play by the Nerazzurri especially in the second half of the match was not proactive enough.
Inter got an early goal in the match through Edin Dzeko when the Bosnian turned in a Hakan Calhanoglu strike which had come off the post, but after having more of the initiative in the first half they increasingly looked to restrict the Bianconeri and protect their slender advantage as the opponent searched for an equalizer.
“Juventus played a mediocre first half, Inter a passive second half,” was how Pistocchi summarized the match. “They express football that is not of a high level.”
And on the late penalty awarded to Juventus he gave the view that the VAR should not have intervened as the foul was not clear enough to indicate that a mistake had been made when nothing was given on the pitch by the referee, and that the Nerazzurri were hard done by.
“Last year in Juventus-Inter there was a foul by Rabiot on Lautaro, the VAR called the referee and it was a penalty kick,” Pistocchi explained. “When they saw a player fall into the box, they went to the screen to see. The real problem of the VAR is the protocol that establishes limits to its usage.”
He elaborated, “How can it be judged a clear and obvious mistake to go to the VAR on the Dumfries penalty when the referee made a clear gesture to continue playing? Theoretically the VAR should not have intervened. So yes, should change the protocol to make the VAR intervene in every possible error.”