Nicolò Barella admits things weren’t working for him lately, but his two assists might be the breakthrough. ‘Inter are crazy, so anything can happen in Liverpool.’
It wasn’t just Lautaro Martinez who had been struggling in 2022, without a single Serie A goal, but Barella had failed to make an impact and looked tired in recent weeks.
That all changed this evening in the 5-0 victory over Salernitana, with a Lautaro Martinez hat-trick and Edin Dzeko double, but also two Barella assists.
Serie A | Inter 5-0 Salernitana: Lautaro hat-trick revitalises Inter
The statistics show the difference too, as in 2021 Barella had created 13 chances for Lautaro Martinez, whereas in 2022 he at most managed four for Dzeko.
“It was a bit of a strange period for me. It wasn’t just my legs that weren’t going at full strength, my ideas weren’t coming, the passes weren’t working out. I hope that I’ve managed to break out of that funk today,” Barella told Sky Sport Italia.
“Criticism is part of the game as much as compliments, the important thing is to help the team, and when I can’t do that, I get irritable and don’t give my best. I hope we’ve found the right path again now, all of us together.”
Inter are temporarily top of the table, as Napoli and Milan go head-to-head on Sunday, but the Nerazzurri still have a game in hand too.
“There are strong teams, it’s an open title race and all the sides dropped points along the way. As for Juventus, there’s a bit of a gap, but if we don’t win at the top, then they can still get closer.”
Inter regain confidence ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Liverpool, having lost the first leg 2-0, but Barella will again be suspended.
“It is disappointing not to be there, but Arturo Vidal was Man of the Match in the first leg when replacing me, so I am sure he’ll have another great performance.
“This evening’s win is certainly a confidence-booster, but in general playing at Anfield is such a wonderful experience, we shouldn’t feel any fear, only hunger.
“It’s going to take something remarkable to turn it around, but then Inter are ‘crazy’ and anything can happen.”
The club’s nickname, and indeed their anthem until Antonio Conte forced them to change it, had been ‘Pazza Inter’ – Crazy Inter – for their unpredictable and chaotic reputation.
How does that saying go again? 🚌 🚌
Lautaro Martínez scores for the second time in the game after waiting two months for a goal in 2022! pic.twitter.com/ey92P7V9ir
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 4, 2022
When you win Salerentina and think you can do it with Liverpool too
Nah Bruh
Yes Barella, you’re crazy like your club. Liverpool will wipe the floor with your lot. You couldn’t even beat them on your own ground when they were playing at 50% of their capacity. Big game chocker Martinez and One mile an hour Dzeko will get shown up again.