Alessio Dionisi explains how Sassuolo have been able to beat Juventus, Milan and now Inter away this season. ‘We always want to fight it out on level terms and attack.’
The Nerazzurri are the giant-killers of Serie A and proved it again this evening at San Siro with Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca goals.
It could easily have been 3-0, as only the crossbar denied Domenico Berardi, wile Inter poured forward in waves during the second half.
They have now won away to Juventus, Milan and Inter this season, so are a force to be reckoned with, especially in the race for European places.
“Perhaps we wouldn’t have believed it, but this is what we work for. We knew Inter were coming off a difficult Champions League match and our plan was to come here and attack them,” Dionisi told DAZN.
“We managed to press them for long periods, we created a great deal and allowed chances at the other end too. This is what we wanted to do and we were rewarded for that attitude.”
Scamacca and Raspadori are at the centre of transfer speculation and a potential bidding war, with Davide Frattesi also targeted by Inter.
“The only one who already proved himself is Domenico Berardi, the others are still at the beginning of their journey. They have ups and downs, I try to calm the attention around them, because I know we’ve missed important opportunities before.
“This is why we want the more experienced players around them to help them to grow.”
Sassuolo had not kept a clean sheet in 19 Serie A games, but they have been able to beat Inter, Milan and Juventus away because they take the same approach, no matter the opposition or the venue.
“We have quality and characteristics, so we need to make the most of them and be unpredictable. Some teams sit back and wait for us to come forward, so that can make it more difficult for us,” added Dionisi.
“We always want to fight it out on level terms, even with sides more important than us. We respect the opposition, and today we changed system during the game to make it easier for our forwards to attack, because I don’t like it too much when they are made to come back and defend.”
Inter trail inside the first 10 minutes against Sassuolo! 😳
Giacomo Raspadori shoots straight through Samir Handanovic, who should do better…
Another twist in the Serie A title race! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ziBBhMz0Wt
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 20, 2022