Former Inter, Lazio, and Parma midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron feels that his former side the Nerazzurri are well set-up to win the midfield battle in this evening’s derby clash with AC Milan.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInter1908, the Argentine predicted that Inter’s Serie A clash with the Rossoneri will be decided in midfield, and praised the balance of their midfield trio.
This season, Inter have been playing with a new-look midfield trio of Hakan Calhanoglu, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Nicolo Barella, formed during the prolonged injury absences of Marcelo Brozovic.
This midfield setup has proved to have the right balance for the Nerazzurri, as the three central players have had the right complementary characteristics to get the best out of one another.
For his part, Veron anticipates that this could be the key for Inter to get a win over their city rivals in the derby this evening.
Asked what he thinks will be the key factor, the Argentine replied, “As they’ve always said, it will be decided in midfield.”
“Football hasn’t changed that much, and whoever wins the midfield battle can win it.”
Asked who he feels is better-placed in this respect, Verona replied “Inter, no doubt.”
“They have three players there with very different characteristics, and they are perfectly suited to what Simone Inzaghi wants from them,” he continued.
“Milan need to press, Inter less so.”
“They know how to wait for the right moment to striker, they have experience and greater patience,” Veron added of the Nerazzurri.
Asked who is favourite of the Nerazzurri midfielders is, Veron replied without hesitating, “”Barella.”
“He has it all,” he said of the 25-year-old, “stamina, technique, pace, grit.”
“He’s a complete player,” Veron said of Barella.
“He has the spirit of sacrifice that you need from a midfielder, he has the shot of a mezzale and the sense of when to join the attack of a trequartista.”
“Wherever he plays, he looks great,” Veron said of the Nerazzurri midfielder, “and along with Tonali he’s the best current Italian midfielder.”
“I rarely go out on a limb like this, but for Barella I’ll just say it: he is a top-class player.”
Of another Nerazzurri midfielder Calhanoglu, Veron said that “He’s been making an incredible journey in terms of his stylistic growth.”
“From an attacking midfielder, to more of a mezzala, to playing as a deep-lying playmaker.”
“Bravo to him for changing the way he plays to suit what the team needs from him right now.”
And of Mkhitaryan, Veron said that “He’s a player who can open up a match with a moment of magic.”
“Or with a long-range shot, even if he rarely goes for that,” he added of the former Roma midfielder, “he should try to shoot from outside the box more frequently.”
