Milena Bertolini, coach of the Italian Women’s international team, believes that Inter captain Samir Handanovic remains a key player in the team despite a few high-profile errors.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster Rai Radio 2, the coach emphasized how even though Handanovic has had some tough moments, his overall contribution in the team is still of great importance.
Handanovic endured some criticism earlier in the season for a few mistakes, both in possession and in terms of his shot-stopping, which led some to believe that he was no longer at the required level for his position.
However, the 37-year-old has also made a number of important saves throughout the campaign, undoubtedly rescuing results for his team in difficult situations.
Bertolini emphasized how the undoubted quality of the Slovenian still shines through even in spite of the errors, in addition to the fact that he is a leader within the dressing room.
“Handanovic is a vital player for Inter,” she reflected, “we can’t expect him to never make errors.”
She went on that “He is very important within the squad and in the locker room, he is the captain. He makes some normal mistakes, but the kind that can always be made in a difficult league.”