Former Nerazzurri midfielder Borja Valero recalls a tense atmosphere at halftime during Inter Milan’s 4-2 comeback win over AC Milan in 2020.
Speaking to Italian broadcaster DAZN, via FCInterNews, the Spaniard gave his recollection of the dramatic derby match under Antonio Conte.
The Milan derby between Inter and Milan has obviously produced no shortage of memorable results.
And one of the most dramatic was a 4-2 comeback victory for the Nerazzurri during the 2019-20 season.
That was the first campaign in charge for coach Antonio Conte. And it proved to be a key match in really showing what the Nerazzurri would be about under the former Juventus and Chelsea coach.
Inter did not get the match off to the start that they wanted.
The Nerazzurri went in to halftime 2-0 down.
But in a second half performance for the ages, the Nerazzurri scored four goals without reply. It was a show of Inter’s mental strength even when the pressure and adversity were on them to the highest degree.
And as former Inter midfielder Valero has revealed, that second half display only came about after a lot of tension and soul-searching during the halftime period.
Borja Valero Remembers Episodes With Brozovic, Lukaku & Conte In Inter 4-2 Win Vs AC Milan
“When we went back in to the dressing room, Brozovic and Lukaku were arguing,” Valero looked back.
“They weren’t holding back!”
“We were 0-2 down in the derby.”
“In the Inter dressing room there’s a room for the coach next to the players’ room,” the former midfielder noted. “Conte heard the screaming argument and opened the door.”
“He asked, what’s going on? Are you arguing?”
“Then there was a moment where the argument paused,” Valero noted.
“And then he went, ok, good, carry on! That’s what you need to do! It’s good for you, fight it out!”
“He kept urging us on, he was screaming at us!” the former midfielder looked back.
“And then we came out for the second half fired up, and turned it around from 0-2 to 4-2.”
