Inter Milan assistant coach Massimiliano Farris feels that midfielder Nicolo Barella is having a season “at the highest level.”
The Nerazzurri coach spoke to Italian broadcaster DAZN in lieu of Simone Inzaghi, via FCInterNews, after the team’s 2-0 Serie A win over Empoli.
Barella had yet another outstanding performance for Inter in this evening’s win over Empoli.
The former Cagliari midfielder may not have scored or assisted a goal.
But Barella did just about everything else.
The 27-year-old Italian international showed his technical quality all throughout the match. Barella’s first touch, dribbling ability, and eye for a pass were at the heart of everything Inter did in midfield.
This is hardly the first time that Barella has put in a great performance for Inter.
But the 27-year-old does seem to grow more and more confident and assured virtually with each passing match.
Inter Assistant Coach Massimilano Farris Full Of Praise For Nicolo Barella
Farris said that Barella is having “A season at the highest level.”
“He came back from the international break energized by the goal he scored for the national team.”
Of the win over Empoli, Farris said that “After evaluating it with the staff, I would say that we did better in the second half.”
“And that the substitutes gave us a big help in bringing the win home.”
Of the return of defender Francesco Acerbi to the starting eleven after the alleged racism row involving he and Napoli’s Juan Jesus before the break, Farris said that “There was quite the firestorm.”
“We waited for his return to talk,” the coach continued.
Farris said that “We all sided with him after he told us that he had not used any racist language.”
“I’ve known Francesco since his time at Lazio,” Farris noted. The coach was also the assistant to Simone Inzaghi at the Biancocelesti.
“I know that he’s not racist in the least,” he said of the defender.
“I hope that this incident is now closed, and that we only talk about football.”
On Dimarco Goal & Lautaro Goal Drought
Of the number of Inter’s goals that have come from defenders, Farris said that “It means that the guys have great quality.”
“We give them the sheet music. But they know how to play the instruments.”
“Everything works well, the movement of the defenders, but also the ability of the midfielders to cover the spaces they leave behind is a team effort.”
“Then, if Dimarco or another defender scores, it’s great,” Farris added.
“We know how much wearing the Inter shirt means to him, and it makes us happy.”
Meanwhile, Farris also spoke about the continued goal drought of Inter captain Latuaro Martinez.
“He came back from the break after everyone else,” the assistant coach said.
“But he made himself available. But he’s captain in every way.”
“There’s been a moment where he’s not been quite clinical,” Farris said of Martinez. “But his quality is beyond question.”
“I’d also like to add that in some matches he hasn’t scored, but the work that he, Thuram, Arnautovic, and Sanchez do helps us a lot out of possession, and puts us in position to score.”
