Legendary former Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar believes that this Inter team will be capable of going all the way to the final in the Champions League.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, via FCInterNews, the Brazilian expressed confidence about the Nerazzurri’s chances in Europe’s top competition even as far as the final, whilst he also praised current Inter keeper Andre Onana as being of the absolute highest quality.
Inter still have a lot of work to do if they’re to book their place in the biggest match in European club football, but it’s certainly gotten a lot closer within reach than many would have expected.
Against Benfica at the San Siro on Wednesday evening the Nerazzurri have the opportunity to make good on the two-goal advantage that they established over the Portuguese team in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie.
From there, the Nerazzurri will meet one of AC Milan or Napoli, depending on which of the Italian pair prevail in the second leg of this evening’s quarterfinal tie on the other side of the draw.
Given that Inter have already beaten both of the Rossoneri and the Partenopei in Serie A this season, they will have every reason to think that a two-legged tie against either would hardly be an impossible ask.
From the perspective of Cesar, who won the competition with Inter in 2010, there is no reason that this team cannot dream of an appearance in the Champions League final.
“I think they can do it,” he said of the team’s chances of reaching or even winning the final, “anything can happen in football, but I see Inter getting into the semifinals after their win in Lisbon.”
“They have every chance of reaching the final, they’re coming up against teams they’ve already faced.”
“Inter were drawn into a group that with teams good enough for the latter stages of the knockout stages, and progressed from it,” the Brazilian added.
“If the next round proved to be a derby that would be lovely, although even against Napoli it would be very open.”
Of his own experience winning the Champions League, Cesar looked back that “Moratti was very keen on winning a Champions League, I could see that right away and then Mourinho arrived.”
“We felt the pressure on us, you always feel the butterflies in your stomach in important matches,” he continued, “when a player stops feeling this, he’s ceased to have passion.”
“Then when the match begins you’re focused and you forget everything.”
Asked whether he thinks Onana or AC Milan shotstopper Mike Maignanan are the better keeper based on this season, Cesar replied that “There have always been comparisons and there will always be.”
“I like Maignan, and then Onana is showing why Inter wanted him.”
“I know he’s a very positive and optimistic guy, he’s a great goalkeeper,” the Brazilian said of Onana.
“And when you start making saves, your confidence goes up.”
“Both are having a very good moment,” he said of the two keepers.
