Legendary former Nerazzurri defender Marco Materazzi believes Inter Milan can get a Champions League boost against Napoli this weekend.
Speaking to Naples-based newspaper Il Mattino in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews, Materazzi suggested that the Nerazzurri can receive an extra boost after their heroics reaching the final of Europe’s top club competition.
Inter are in the Champions League final, but there are still several matches to worry about before then.
The Nerazzurri still have to secure their spot in the top four of the Serie A table. A five point barrier currently separates Inter from city rivals AC Milan in fifth, but that could quickly evaporate.
Accordingly, Inter will have to immediately put their focus on the league despite the excitement of reaching the Champions League final.
In the view of former defender Materazzi, however, the Nerazzurri don’t have to put it out of their minds entirely.
The Inter icon believes his old team can instead receive a boost from what they’ve done in Europe.
Materazzi Backs Inter Milan To Keep Momentum Up Vs Napoli
Inter immediately get back to Serie A against virtually the hardest possible opposition.
The Nerazzurri will face this season’s champions, Napoli.
Inter beat the Partenopei in the reverse fixture. Theey secured a narrow 1-0 win at the San Siro in January.
However, there is no doubting this Napoli’s immense quality. Moreover, Luciano Spalletti’s men will be hungry to reassert themselves after a less-than-stellar recent run in which they’ve seemed to take their foot off the gas a little bit.
Materazzi noted that “I won the Champions League, and that season the more we won, the more we wanted to win.”
“If you reach the Champions League final, then you certainly get an extra boost.”
“If a team get to this point of the season the way Inter are doing, then they have to try and win everything, Materazzi noted.
“Apart from the table which would suggest Inter have more to play for than Napoli, it’s a matter of motivation.”
