Rafael Marquez reckons that Verona can bag the full three points when they travel to Milan to face Inter on Sunday.
The Gialloblu have beaten the Nerazzurri just four times in the 50 previous head-to-heads in Serie A.
In fact, they have never won at San Siro in their history, but Marquez thinks that there’s always time for a first.
Rafael Marquez reckons that Verona can bag the full three points when they travel to Milan to face Inter on Sunday.
The Gialloblu have beaten the Nerazzurri just four times in the 50 previous head-to-heads in Serie A.
In fact, they have never won at San Siro in their history, but Marquez thinks that there’s always time for a first.
“We want to perform well against big teams like Inter, but we must keep working hard if we want be competitive with top teams,” the veteran told the media in today’s Press conference.
“For instance, we did well against Lazio who had won their previous four games, and this is another opportunity to do well.
“Mauro Icardi and Rodrigo Palacio are very strong, but we’ll have to stay as tight as possible without leaving any gap.
“We always try to win, and I think that against Inter it’s a good opportunity to do well and we hope to come back in Verona with all the three points.”
The defender seems to have found his feet immediately both in Verona and in Serie A.
“We are united as a group and I think we can do a bit more than what we have done so far.
“I didn’t have any problem in adapting within the team and I’ve assimilated to the system immediately. Also, I felt the rest of the squad had confidence in me.
“When I came, Andrea Mandorlini asked me to start the action from the defence and to do everything else I had done in my career in the other teams I had been at.
“Generally speaking, I think it’s easier to play with four in defence for us. And yes, I’ve played in front of the defence in the past, so it wouldn’t be an issue to play there as well.
“My experience must be a key factor, a value for all, as it can help us to give more on the pitch.
“Obviously to wear the armband was a unique emotion for me – I really felt responsibility towards my teammates.”
The 35-year-old old reckons that Verona needs to be ambitious, just like he is.
“The immediate target is safety as when I came here and talked to the club they told me that 40 points were our most important target.
“But anyway, I am ambitious and I always strive for the best, I am never satisfied and I always want more.
“And more than our fans, we must be confident in our qualities. In this League you can beat and be beaten by anyone.”
Having featured just 85 minutes so far, Javier Saviola, his former teammate at Barcelona, doesn’t seem to have it going his way but Marquez has denied any will to leave the club from the Argentine’s side.
“Saviola is a great person, I’ve known him for some time now. He is a great professional and he always gives his best for the team.
“He doesn’t play a lot, but he is training hard and this must be an example for everyone.
“He is happy here, he has found a good group of people, and also some South Americans. He has never told me anything negative.”
Finally, Marquez was asked to assess the level of Italian football as compared to the rest of Europe.
“The fact that Inter and Milan are going through such a difficult moment makes it a loss for the whole of Italian football.
“But I think there’s a lot of quality in Italian football – I think of Juventus’ Paul Pogba who can become a great champion.
“Or Nico Lopez here has impressive qualities and he’s got everything to become a top player – he just needs to work a bit more to reach that level.
“Then in Europe, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid are the strongest, especially the Germans for the way they work and play.
“I know them well because of the work I’ve done with Pep Guardiola in the past – eventually it’s the team’s philosophy that triumphs.”