Former Inter Milan defender Beppe Bergomi feels that yesterday’s penalty against Napoli is par for the course these days.
Bergomi reacted to the incident on Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, after the match.
In the end, Inter’s penalty yesterday was not decisive for the result of their top of the table clash with Napoli.
Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, who had scored from range earlier in the match and who has been flawless from the spot across three seasons with Inter, hit the post with his effort.
Prior to yesterday evening, Calhanoglu had taken nineteen successful penalties for Inter.
Just on Wednesday, the Turk had scored the winner for the Nerazzurri from the spot against Arsenal.
But Calhanoglu missed yesterday.
That did not stop Napoli coach Antonio Conte from fuming about the decision after the match.
The former Inter and Juventus coach was left bewildered as he felt that VAR should have intervened to rule out the penalty.
Bergomi On Inter Napoli Penalty Decision: “These Penalties Are Given Now”
The penalty was the result of contact by Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa on Inter wingback Denzel Dumfries.
Bergomi noted that “[Monza coach and legendary former AC Milan and Lazio defender Alessandro] Nesta said he no longer knows how to coach his defenders.”
“Because they can no longer play they way they did before.”
“Now there are more variables to consider,” Bergomi said.
“The defenders have to put their hands behind their backs,” he gave as an example.
“In general we don’t like to see these penalties,” Bergomi said of the soft penalty awarded to the Nerazzurri. “But they’re given these days.”
Meanwhile, Bergomi also said that “Napoli’s defenders did well, just as they had against Milan.”
“Napoli initially attacked Inter, like when Politano pressed Bastoni,” he added.
“But this pressure only lasted a bit, and then Politano retreated.”