Legendary former Inter striker Alessandro Altobelli believes that Inter’s win over Napoli on Sunday can be a pivotal moment in their season.
Writing in a column for today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Nerazzurri legend highlighted the importance of the performance and result against league leaders the Partenopei.
Going into Sunday’s massive head-to-head, the Nerazzurri hadn’t managed to take three points from a direct rival at the top end of the Serie A table.
In spite of this, Simone Inzaghi’s team played with an evident confidence and took three points which were no less than they deserved for a performance which saw them dominate possession for long stretches and create numerous openings.
Altobelli believes that if the team can continue to show this kind of form then they can get back in the driving seat for the Scudetto race.
“Before, Inter had never managed three points against a big side, though in any case they did not lose head-to-head matches, and now they have shown that they know how to win them as well,” he writes. “This will send a message that makes the other teams nervous.”
“It was the turning point,” he goes on, “Inter got back in the running for the league and Champions League. League titles are won in March, and Napoli will have a lot of trouble without Osimhen for two months.”
“Until Christmas Inter’s schedule is favourable apart from Roma at the Olimpico,” he writes, “otherwise they have winnable matches against midtable teams.”
“Scudetti are won by beating the small teams,” he adds, “Inter had the problem of not being able to overcome the big teams, but the mental block is now removed.”
On the substitutions made by Simone Inzaghi during the second half of the match, he writes that “When you look at the substitutions you must also consider the final result.”
“You have to scrutinize them when you lose, Inzaghi has won, he’s right,” he concludes. “The victory over Napoli sends a clear message: Inter are right there. They have a first-rate squad, They change five men and you don’t notice it.”
