Legendary former Inter defender Beppe Bergomi feels that Francesco Acerbi was Inter’s standout performer in their Champions League group stage win over Viktoria Plzen yesterday evening.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Bergomi praise dthe 34-year-old’s display in the 2-0 win over the Czech champions, while also suggesting that the team need Nicolo Barella and Robin Gosens back at their best.
Acerbi has only been an Inter player for a couple of weeks, having only joined on loan from Lazio on the last day of the summer transfer window, but he has already put in an assured performance at the back to help his team to a clean sheet and three points against Viktoria Plzen.
Acerbi was signed to add strength in depth to Inter’s backline, and a backup and alternative to Stefan de Vrij, and he proved he could do this, with Bergomi very impressed with what he saw.
Of the rotations made to the team, he said that “Inzaghi may have been thinking of Udine, but I must emphasize that Acerbi was the best player on the pitch, along with Brozovic and Dzeko.”
“Rather, one of the most esteemed players in the team has not convinced yet me,” he continued, “Inter must re-motivate Barella to be what we know he can be. He scored against Cremonese and made the assist for Brozo against Torino, but I have too much esteem for Nicolo to be satisfied with what I’m seeing.”
Of the availability of Romelu Lukaku for Inter’s clash with Barcelona on October 4, Bergomi said that “It’s a tough match to come back in, but the Belgian would have been more useful against the Germans, who threw men forward in attack, leaving a one-on-one in behind.”
Of the rotation between Samir Handanovic and Andre Onana in goal, Bergomi said that “It can happen, because the two motivate each other and you can’t just offload Samir, who’s too important in the locker room.”
He called Henrikh Mkhitaryan “A great player, though perhaps still getting back to his best from injury,” and noted that “The absence of Perisic is still felt, they’re still waiting to see the real Gosens.”
