Raoul Bellanova Starts For Inter Milan Vs Empoli: ‘It’s A Great Opportunity For Me, But Most Important Thing Is To Win’

Inter wingback Raoul Bellanova feels that he’s been handed a great chance to prove himself in this evening’s Serie A match against Empoli, but that the most important thing is that the team gets back to winning ways.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, the 22-year-old reflected on what a relatively rare start in the league means for him, and also what the team are looking for at the Stadio Carlo Castellani this evening.

Bellanova starts for Inter this evening in a match which sees Simone Inzaghi make a number of changes compared to the team that drew against Benfica in the Champions League over the week.

Captain Samir Handanovic and midfielder Roberto Gagliardini are among the other relatively infrequently-used players to get a start for the Nerazzurri this afternoon in Tuscany.

Whilst some of the players who’ve come into the lineup are experienced heads like Handanovic and Danilo D’Ambrosio, for Bellanova this represents something a little different.

The 22-year-old is currently on loan from Cagliari, and still looking to prove that he can make good on his potential playing in an Inter shirt.

There have been reports that the Nerazzurri are unlikely to make Bellanova‘s loan move permanent at the end of the season.

However, the young wingback does have undoubted quality and potential that could become a real resource for Inter in the gruelling fixture schedule that they face in the run-in of the season, as he showed in a substitute appearance against Fiorentina.

“Today is a great opportunity for me, but the most important thing is that we get back to winning ways,” the 22-year-old said of his start, coming in a match after the Nerazzurri have gone five without a win in the league.

“We have to make up points in the league after dropping too many, because we can’t afford not to qualify for the Champions League next season.”

Of what reaching the Champions League semifinals to face AC Milan represents, Bellanova said that “It’s an historic achievement, but we’re also fired up and want to win today.”

“These three points would be a big boost for us in the table and in terms of morale,” he added.

Bellanova also gave his thoughts to InterTV, via FCInterNews, remarking that “It’s important to find continuity [between Serie A and the Champions League], we have two faces this season between the league and the Champions League.”

“Today we have to try and rectify our place in the table and bring home the three points.”

Bellanova noted that “It won’t be easy, Empoli play great football, but we have to show our quality and be determined.”

And regarding the extensive rotations made to the team for this match, the wingback emphasized that “Rotations or not, there are many top players and anyone who plays will without question be ready.”