Edin Dzeko reveals the secret to still scoring decisive goals at 36 after allowing Inter to beat Napoli. ‘I’ll keep going as long as I can still make a difference.’
The Nerazzurri knew this was their last chance to stay in the title race, already sitting 11 points adrift of the leaders at the end of 2022.
Dzeko popped up with the decisive header on a Federico Dimarco cross, after first half big misses from Dimarco, Matteo Darmian and Romelu Lukaku.
It proved enough to end Napoli’s unbeaten Serie A record and blow the Scudetto battle wide open, as they are now five points above Milan, seven from Juventus and eight apart from fourth-placed Inter.
“I was tired and had cramp, the pitch wasn’t in great condition, but I’m happy with the win,” Dzeko told DAZN after limping off the field to make way for Joaquin Correa.
“We were playing for the three points, especially against a team that for the first six months played extraordinary football. We knew Napoli passed it around well, which we saw today too, but told ourselves we had to remain solid and focused.
“We had three or four really big chances and in the end I think we deserved the victory.”
With Lautaro Martinez returning from the World Cup Final with Argentina, it was a new partnership upfront between Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku.
“As I said before, great players can play with anyone. I think we did well today, as though we allowed Napoli to keep possession, that’s something a lot of opponents do with them. The important thing is that we scored a goal and got the points.”
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international is 36 years old and has scored 20 goals for Inter, all of them after turning 35. What is his secret?
“The secret is to work hard, because you get nowhere without hard work. I know that I am 36 years old, but I want to play at the highest level and this is the only way to achieve that, with hard work.
“I’ll keep going as long as I can still make a difference,” he grinned.
Babuka!