There were tensions and even fighting between Inter players during the 4-2 comeback win over AC Milan in the February 2020 Milan derby.
This according to former Nerazzurri midfielder Borja Valero, who looked back on the massive comeback win and explained the atmosphere in the dressing room going in at halftime 2-0 down to their city rivals.
The Nerazzurri played a number of memorable matches under the tenure of former coach Antonio Conte, but the dramatic comeback to defeat the Rossoneri is one of the ones that lives the longest in the memory.
Milan were clinical in the first half to leave the Nerazzurri with a mountain to climb, and according to Valero the players were very unhappy, including with each other.
A blistering second half saw Inter reverse the deficit to win comfortably, but according to Valero it came from an intense atmosphere within the team.
“We went in 2-0 down, it was incredible,” he explained. “At the end of the first half we were devastated. There were some teammates fighting, and Conte came in and said ‘Go ahead and fight!'”
“Someone tried to separate them,” the former midfielder went on, “but he repsonded, ‘No, it’s good for them, let them fight!’ Then we went back on the pitch and dismantled them.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s derby clash, the Spaniard predicted that “If Inter win it would be a step towards the second Scudetto.”
“They still have many important matches to play, but it would be a great boost in confidence going into the rest of the season,” he added.
