Former AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini feels that the choice to start Samir Handanovic over Andre Onana by Inter coach Simone Inzaghi against Torino had to do with the playing style rather than being a matter of leadership.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN, Ambrosini gave his thoughts on the goalkeeping situation at the Nerazzurri, and noted that it ultimately comes down to performances on the pitch rather than on intangible qualities like leadership.

Handanovic impressed with his display against Torino, by some distance his standout performance of the season, and the 37-year-old went some way towards responding to suggestions that he should be dropped in favour of summer arrival Andre Onana with how he played.

The captain didn’t just show that he is in the team for his presence in the locker room or the fact that he wears the armband, but gave a convincing account of himself purely in terms of his playing ability.

Ambrosini analyzed, “The role of the goalkeeper is always a sensitive one, I’ve always been skeptical about alternation.”

He added that “Undoubtedly when a player is left out and given an opportunity again immediately, he wants to show what he can do. For a goalkeeper it’s even more delicate. The choice of Handanovic was a technical one, not a leadership one.”