Inter central midfielder Nicolo Barella has stressed that Inter have proven themselves as a team following their resounding 5-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League semi final on Monday night.
Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring for the Nerazzurri and Danilo D’Ambrosio then doubled Inter’s lead against the Ukrainian giants. Lautaro scored Inter’s third and then Romelu Lukaku scored Inter’s final two goals of the match.
“We proved ourselves again and I am happy. This is the start of a new era for us, so it wasn’t easy to be on fine form from the very start,” the Italian national team player explained in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, following the match at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
“I had to make mistakes and learn from them. When you play with top players and a great coach, it becomes easier to develop.”
He was then asked if he feels he players better when he argues more during the course of matches.
“No, there was tension. For me it was an important game, then the things that happen on the pitch end up on the pitch. They are not quarrels but on the contrary. They give us an extra push.”
In conclusion the former Cagliari player spoke on how playing alongside the players that he has at Inter has helped him to improve as a player and he spoke on an area of his game which he feels he needs to improve upon.
“Conte has improved my mentality and the way I play. I use my mind a lot more now. I am also stronger when going forward.
“I was more instinctive before, but working with great champions like Christian Eriksen and Stefano Sensi, they really taught me to focus and think before I act.
“With regards to bookings, I still need to improve a lot, but I have been working on that with the coach. Maybe referees just book me now out of habit!”
