Former defender Andrea Ranocchia feels that a strong core in the dressing room has been key for Inter Milan this season.
Ranocchia spoke to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews.
During the summer transfer window, there were a lot of changes at Inter.
A number of players who had been at the club for years, or even close to a decade, departed.
And replacing them came in plenty of new faces.
Therefore, there were some doubts as to whether or not the Nerazzurri could remain coherent on the pitch.
And so far, those doubts have looked to be unfounded.
The reason has been a string of performances that show that the team on the pitch still has the kind of chemistry and understanding that they’ve been building for three or four years now.
In fact, it has even looked to have grown.
And in the view of Ranocchia, the core of players who have been at the club through that period and grown together is key.
Ranocchia Hails “Strong Core” At Inter
As far as Inter’s excellent early form, Ranocchia said that “Their strength lies in the group.”
“In their awareness of what they’re capable of,” he continued.
“Inter have been making their way back to the top steadily over the past few years,” Ranocchia observed.
“There is a strong core in the dressing room that makes the difference,” the former defender argued.
He named “Lautaro to Dimarco. From Barella to Bastoni and Calhanoglu.”
And Ranocchia also gave his thoughts on Nerazzurri defenders Matteo Darmian and Benjamin Pavard.
“I’ve known Matteo all my life,” he said.
“I don’t think he’s missed a match in his career, and even on the right of the defense he’s fantastic.”
“Pavard came into a team that was already well-established,” he went on. “And I think that made it easier for him to integrate.”
“And then he’s a former world champion,” Ranocchia noted. “Another transfer coup from the directors.”
