West Ham Legend Declares: “Inter Milan Playing World-Class Football”

Legendary former West Ham United, Lazio, and Juventus striker Paolo Di Canio feels that this season Inter have been playing football of a genuinely top-class European level.

Speaking on Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, the former striker contrasted Inter’s current season with previous ones.

Inter could book their place in the Champions League final for next month.

If the Nerazzurri were to face either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the biggest match in European club football, it would be a testament to a certain newfound comfort playing at the highest level.

In previous seasons, European competition was not necessarily a stage where the Nerazzurri felt that they belonged.

Two group stage eliminations under Antonio Conte contrasted with the team’s excellent league form.

Last season, there were signs of change under Simone Inzaghi, however. The 47-year-old guided the Nerazzurri to the round of sixteen for the first time in over a decade.

Losses to Real Madrid and Liverpool perhaps showed Inter’s inexperience, even immaturity in the Champions League. However, there were promising elements to the Nerazzurri’s performances in those matches.

This time around, Inter reached the round of sixteen in very difficult circumstances. The Nerazzurri progressed from a group containing Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Then, the Nerazzurri built on last season’s accomplishments by going much further than the round of sixteen

Di Canio: Inter Milan Are Playing World-Class Football

“This season Inter have played very technical, world-class football, and they’re in the semifinals of the Champions League,” former West Ham and Lazio striker Di Canio said.

“In prior seasons, even with Lukaku and Brozovic, they couldn’t even get out of the group stage,” he noted.

“Hammering the team every day like Conte did is difficult.”

“Inzaghi certainly has a different kind of leadership,” he continued.

“Football is contextual, it’s a matter of individual moments,” Di Canio added. “It’s going very well for them now, let’s see what happens in the run-in.”