Inter defender Federico Dimarco feels happy with how things have gone this season and is ready to commit his future to the club.
Speaking to Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the 24-year-old also gave the view that the Nerazzurri have a real chance to progress from their Champions League tie against Liverpool.
Dimarco returned to Inter this summer from a two-year loan spell with Hellas Verona, where he had grown into a mature and versatile player under coach Ivan Juric.
Now, the 24-year-old is a part of the Nerazzurri’s first team and is continuing to impress both from the start and from the bench.
Dimarco’s performances this season have already made him someone whose future the club want to secure, and an agreement on a new contract for the defender looks to be close at hand for him.
Regarding his extension he stated that “I prefer to stay focused on the pitch and not get distracted, but if I’m honest I can’t wait to sign.”
Dimarco spoke of his missed penalty against Atalanta, stating that “That day I was calm, but truthfully it felt like the whole world fell on my shoulders. In the days afterwards I put it behind me.”
He went on about his role as a set piece taker in the team, stating that “In today’s football, set pieces are really important, both attacking and defending.”
“I think about big matches where sometimes one moment is enough,” he went on, “or against teams that play a very deep and compact defense. We work hard and you can see the results.”
Dimarco spoke about the impact of Romelu Lukaku’s departure from the club, stating that “Romelu was hugely important here, but Inter wasn’t just Lukaku, and we’re showing it with new players like Dzeko and Correa who have done very well so far.”
“I have always believed in this team, even when we were seven points behind Milan and Napoli,” he added.
Of the Champions League round of sixteen tie against Liverpool he stated that “We will face one of the three strongest teams in Europe, it will be tough. We go in as underdogs, but we are Inter and we will do everything we can.”
The 24-year-old gave his thoughts about working under coach Simone Inzaghi, stating that “The coach makes us feel very good. On a personal level he has an excellent relationship with everyone, the group is very close.”
Compared to Antonio Conte he stated that “The way of playing football between the two is different. For example, under Inzaghi there are more positional rotations.”
“I was very impressed by Conte’s way of working, the relationship he created between him and the players,” he went on.
On the influence of former Verona coach Juric on him he explained that “When I started playing regularly, the coach really changed me.”
“Sometimes he started playing as a wide central defender, a role that I never thought I could play,” he continued.
“He managed to get it into my head that I could do it though,” he added. “In the end he was right and the defensive phase, one of my weak points, has improved a lot.”
Dimarco stated of tomorrow’s c;ash with Juric’s current team Torino that “Juric and his staff gave me a lot, I will always thank them. Juric is good, he brings results, it will not be easy for us.”
On his career path to Inter he said that “Ever since I went to Ascoli in 2016, I have always had the goal of returning and staying for a long time.”
“It made me grow a lot, causing me to believe more in my potential,” he continued.
He also spoke about the prospect of his brother Christian following in his footsteps to the Nerazzurri first team, saying that “It would be nice, a dream, but now he has to think about playing, having fun, and improving.”