Legendary former Inter defender Lucio believes that current Nerazzurri defender Milan Skriniar looks a bit out of sorts right now but that he can still fight for the club once he finds his bearings again.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, the Brazilian treble winner looked back on his own experience facing Barcelona ahead of this evening’s Champions League clash, and weighed in on Skriniar’s situation.
Skriniar will have been uncertain of his future for much of the summer transfer window, given the strong transfer links to Paris Saint-Germain.
These links have hardly gone away, whilst the lingering effects of a hectic summer in which the Slovakian won’t have been sure whether he was staying or going could still be felt.
Lucio believes that this is indeed the case, stating that “Having put him up for sale didn’t help keep him calm, but players at big clubs have to manage moments like that.”
“The Inter shirt is as important that of any of the biggest teams of Europe, including PSG,” he continued.
The former defender looked back on his encounter with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in 2010, stating that “At the time Messi was flying, he was in his best period.”
“It’s clear that Lewa has different technical and physical characteristics,” he noted of the challenge that the current Nerazzurri defenders will face, “but he’s just as difficult to mark.”
“In cases like this you work as an entire backline, there’s not one single player who defends,” the Brazilian said, “rather it’s collective attention that makes the difference.”
“As I see it, Inter’s defensive trio can stop even the most difficult strikers,” he added.
Of what could be causing the current rough patch in form at Inter, Lucio speculated that “Perhaps the disappointment of the failure to win the Scudetto is still felt in everyone’s mind.”
“At this moment I’d support Inzaghi even more closely, as he’s a good coach and has built a good group.”
Of the return of striker Romelu Lukaku, Lucio said that “His return didn’t surprise me given how strong of a connection he feels with Inter.”
“He was decisive in the past, but every season is different from the last and new difficulties can always emerge.”
