Paolo Di Canio praises Marcus Thuram who proves Inter can play without Romelu Lukaku and believes Simone Inzaghi has improved at the Stadio Meazza: ‘He has understood that one Supercoppa in Dubai is not enough.’
Di Canio, a former Juventus, Milan, Lazio and West Ham striker, previewed Sunday’s big Serie A game between Juventus and Inter with an interview with Friday’s printed edition of Tuttosport newspaper on page 4.
Read Di Canio’s quotes about Juventus HERE
The Nerazzuri are two points clear of the Old Lady at the top of the Serie A table and Di Canio feels Inzaghi deserves credit for Inter’s positive results this season.
“Honestly, I think he was responsible for Inter’s ups and downs, but I must admit that he has matured in managing the team in Serie A and the Champions League and in terms of communication,” he said.
“Simone has settled in the Inter dimension. Inter players are doing what we expect and many like Denzel Dumfries have improved. Inzaghi has improved too and the results in the Champions League have had an impact because he has faced top coaches and understood that winning the Supercoppa in Dubai is not enough to be worthy of Inter.”
New Inter signing Thuram has settled in quickly, scoring five goals in 16 appearances across all competitions.
“He keeps improving in every game, he adds something more all the time. Marcus looks like his father. He knows how to do everything,” noted Di Canio.
“He may not have the sixth gear like prime Lukaku, but has the fifth and not many even reach the fourth in Italy. He doesn’t have the creativity of Edin Dzeko, but he knows how to play for the team and deliver assists and sees the goal. It’s easier to find the net at Inter than at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Don’t tell me the same story that it is more difficult to score in Serie A, because even Simy scored 20 goals. Thuram is perfect with Lautaro and I get crazy when I remember somebody thought it was impossible to play without Lukaku.”
Di Canio was asked which Juventus and Inter players symbolise Max Allegri and Inzaghi’s playing styles.
“I think Rabiot for Juventus and Calhanoglu for Inter,” he replied.
“The Frenchman was an attacking midfielder at PSG and has become a holding midfielder who wins the ball and brings it far from the box. A symbol of what Allegri wants. Inzaghi has transformed Calhanoglu into a Regista so he can bring quality 30 meters below. The Turkish midfielder is also good in recovering possession and does two phases at once.”
Di Canio scored 32 goals in 245 Serie A matches and netted 66 goals in 190 Premier League appearances.
He won the Serie A title once in 1995-96 while playing for Milan. He also lifted a UEFA Cup (now Europa League) at Juventus in 1992-93 and a UEFA Supercup with Milan in 1994.
What happened to being a Lazio ragazzi?!
Dal 1900 come on bro, can he not express an opinion on Inter? He is a pundit after all… I’m a Laziale too but you can’t hold him for that mate.