Inter Milan CEO Beppe Marotta feels that the Nerazzurri’s squad has enough quality in it to rotate between matches without dropping off.
The Nerazzurri executive spoke to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews, ahead of the Nerazzurri’s Champions League group stage opener against Real Sociedad.
There are quite a few eye-catching inclusions in Inter’s starting eleven for their first Champions League match of the season.
Against Real Sociedad, Benjamin Pavard makes his first ever appearance for Inter, and he does so from the first minute.
Meanwhile, Kristjan Asllani is in the lineup, making his first start of the season.
The Albanian replaces Hakan Calhanoglu, who is out with an injury, in midfield.
And another player who gets his first start this season is striker Arnautovic. The Austrian re-joined Inter during the summer, and has played in all of the team’s matches so far this season.
However, he has only done so as a substitute.
This evening against La Real, the Austrian partners Inter captain Lautaro Martinez in attack. Marcus Thuram drops to the bench despite his flying start to the season.
Inter CEO Marotta Hails Nerazzurri Strength In Depth
Marotta noted that “Along with Ausilio and Baccin, we’ve built a squad that’s made up not of starters and then backups, but starters and co-starters, all available to fight on every front.”
He continued that “It’s up to the coach to make decisions.”
“Today’s changes underline the high quality of this team,” Marotta said.
“We’re happy with what we’ve done in the transfer market.”
Of the dream of a European Treble this season, Marotta said that “The Treble was something extraordinary and unrepeatable.”
“But it’s only normal that the experience from last season has strengthened our belief in our abilities.”
Marotta noted that “We started from scratch two years ago. Today we’re providing the Italian national team with several starting players. Not even including Acerbi, who was injured.”
Reflecting on the defeat in the Champions League final last season, Marotta said that “It’s part of life.”
“Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”
“Someone said ‘I didn’t lose, I learned,'” Marotta reflected.
“All these experience enrich us, there’s a sense of regret because we lost. But we have maximum respect for the team who won.”