Legendary former Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic is a fan of many of the current players in the Nerazzurri squad.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the current Red Star Belgrade coach expressed happiness that so many Balkan players have important roles in this Inter team but reserved special praise for Alessandro Bastoni.
Stankovic made a significant impact during his ten seasons with the Nerazzurri, culminating in his important role in the team that won the continental treble during the 2009-10 season.
Now, after some years without much success, Inter look to be the strongest they’ve been in some time, and Serbian legend Stankovic is pleased to see that a number of players from Balkan countries are still represented in this strong team.
“Two Croats, a Serb, a Slovenian, and a Bosnian,” he pointed out, “all friends with Balkan roots. I’m very attached to Kolarov, but even Dzeko seems rejuvenated – no one remembers the loss of Lukaku.”
He went on that “Perisic always pushes hard and Brozo is at the heart of everything in the engine room. Handa, too, is still my son Filip’s hero, who is now making his way with Volendam in the Netherlands.”
“I know that Onana is bound for Inter, but taking Samir’s place will be very difficult,” he added.
On what he expects from Saturday’s Milan derby, the 43-year-old stated that “Last year Inter were in this form too, but now the team is even stronger – they are moving ahead at full speed, they seem happy, playing a spectacular and organized game confidently.”
“Usually in the derby it is difficult to say who is the favourite,” he reflected, “but this time…”
Of the job done at Inter by his old Lazio teammate Simone Inzaghi, Stankovic stated that “He’s exceeded all expectations, but I’m not surprised because he knows how to thrive in difficult situations.”
“Look at his first seasons with Lazio, and then with their failure to hire Bielsa,” he considered, “when things get tough, he backs himself and transmits confidence.”
“He also added freedom and creativity with Calha and Dzeko,” Stankovic added. “Now, however, it’s Bastoni who is the real gem – what role does he even play in the team? He seems to be everywhere, he has rare intelligence.”
On comparing current Nerazzurri midfielders to his own style of play from his playing career, he remarked that “Calha is more of a modern Number Ten, with a shot like Sneijder.”
“I hope he doesn’t take any offense, but I feel that I have more in common with Barella,” he continued, “determination, heart, playing with spirit every match.”
“His absence against Liverpool is a huge blow,” he continued, “but this team has no limit. Indeed, the English fear us more than we fear them. If you underestimate this Inter you’ll get burned.”
