Henrikh Mkhitaryan feels that the leadership in the Inter Milan dressing room is like having 25 captains in the team.
The 35-year-old former Arsenal and Manchester United midfielder spoke to Andrea Ranocchia on the former defender’s “Frog Talks” podcast, via FCInterNews.
Argentine international Lautaro Martinez is the man who wears the captain’s armband for Inter.
The 26-year-old inherited the captaincy from Samir Handanovic in the summer.
Meanwhile, midfielder Nicolo Barella is the Nerazzurri’s vice-captain.
Martinez and Barella are players who are emblematic of this Inter team, both in terms of their status among the players with the most quality, and their loyalty and leadership.
But it is not as though Inter rely on just a couple players for that leadership.
Quite the contrary. This Nerazzurri squad is full of players with experience and a history of winning trophies.
Midfielder Mkhitaryan is an example of such a player.
The Armenian has enjoyed a long and successful career playing in Ukraine, Germany, and England, eventually coming to Serie A with Roma and then Inter.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: “25 Captains” In Dressing Room At Inter
Mkhitaryan gave his thoughts on Inter captain Martinez in particular.
“I’ve said in interviews that even without the armband he’s a driving force for this team,” the 35-year-old said of Inter’s captain.
“He scores a lot of goals. He’s a fundamental player for this Inter, and he shows it every day.”
“It’s not a matter of the armband,” Mkhitaryan said of how Martinez leads Inter.
“What matters is how you act on the pitch.”
Mkhitaryan observed that “Even without being captain, a leader can show you the way.”
“I can look at Barella for example, who doesn’t have the armband, but who can do things that leave you speechless.”
Asked how many players are like captains in the dressing room, Mkhitaryan said “All 25 of them.”
“That’s important,” he added. “When you play with eleven players on the pitch, maybe one or two aren’t at their best on the day.”
“But knowing that they have their teammates beside them they’re calm. Because they know that their teammates will help them out.”
