Lothar Matthaus trusts Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski can shine at Inter. “It’s up to them now.”
Shaqiri formalised his transfer from Bayern Munich on Friday and could make his debut tomorrow against Genoa.
“Now it’s up to him, just like Podolski, to do well at Inter,” Matthaus told Swiss site Blick.ch.
Lothar Matthaus trusts Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski can shine at Inter. “It’s up to them now.”
Shaqiri formalised his transfer from Bayern Munich on Friday and could make his debut tomorrow against Genoa.
“Now it’s up to him, just like Podolski, to do well at Inter,” Matthaus told Swiss site Blick.ch.
“I see parallels between Shaqiri, myself and Andy Brehme, as 26 years ago we both moved from Bayer to Inter. The Nerazzurri hadn’t won anything for eight years, but in 1989 we were crowned Champions of Italy.
“I don’t think that leaving Bayern Munich for Inter is a step back. He proved he can compete with the best in the world. But at times you find yourselves in difficult situations. It also depends on the Coach, as he’d have no future with Pep Guardiola, but it would’ve been different with Jupp Heynckes.
“Shaqiri did well at Bayern and, even if things didn’t go perfectly, he still remains a player of indisputable talent.”
The 23-year-old Swiss international was greeted at the airport by 500 screaming fans, so is there too much pressure on Shaqiri?
“That’s what Italian fans are like,” smiled Matthaus. “Even if Serie A is in a bit of a crisis, they talk about football from morning till night. The sport is experienced very intensely there.
“I am not worried about him, as he just has to focus on enjoying his football. He won’t feel pressure and Shaqiri will adapt well to Inter.”
The former Nerazzurri legend has been an outspoken critic of Podolski, but backs him to rediscover his form after a loan move from Arsenal.
“I want to say that I have no problem with Lukas and if he hadn’t been misinformed about my comments, he wouldn’t have reacted in such an infantile way,” noted Matthaus.
“As for his ironic comment that I am a ‘successful Coach,’ I can only say I’ve become more famous as a Coach than a player.
“In the last two or three years Podolski has focused more on his personal image than football. I just wanted to point out he should concentrate on the essentials, because both at Bayern and Arsenal he did not fulfil his potential. I hope he can do it now at Inter.”
Image via @robymancio