Former Italy and Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi admits he doesn’t like Juventus but feels Inter must press more and doesn’t understand why Simone Inzaghi replaced Marcus Thuram in the second half.
Sacchi analysed Inter’s win over Juventus at San Siro on Sunday and even if he confirmed that the Nerazzurri deserved to win against the Old Lady, the ex-coach said Simone Inzaghi’s men have room for improvement.
“Inter deserved to win, but the Scudetto race is not over. Inter have a four-point lead over Juventus and have a game in hand but they must play against Atalanta,” Sacchi told Gazzetta.
“They [Atalanta] are tricky opponents, they have no fear and seem to have returned at a high level. I think the title race is still open.
“Inter had more courage than Juventus; they tried to create something, and in the end, it paid off. Risk is the starting point of every adventure, and if you don’t take risks, you become old and live in the past,” he continued.
“Inter were excellent in defence, always focused and ready to hit back. And in attack, they were good too because they caused trouble for the Bianconeri defence more than once.”
Thuram was among the best performers at the Stadio Meazza last night and even if he didn’t score, he forced Federico Gatti to a decisive own goal in the first half.
“Thuram is a modern, dangerous, smart striker that plays for the team. Gatti’s own goal is his merit,” said Sacchi.
“However, why was he subbed off? Thuram seemed perfect for counter-attacks; with Arnautovic, it is more difficult.”
Not surprisingly, Sacchi said Juventus disappointed him, but probably the 77-year-old didn’t expect anything different from the Old Lady.
“This is who Juventus are. They are strong in defence, with great physicality. They tried to score the equaliser in the second half, but Inter’s superiority was evident. The Nerazzurri have something more, it can’t be denied,” he said.
“Juventus only had a chance, it’s not enough if you want to get out of San Siro unscathed. You know, I like teams that want to be protagonists on the field, and Juventus are not in this group.”
Inter are now four points clear of the Old Lady at the top of the Serie A table and have a game in hand, but this doesn’t mean the Scudetto race is over, according to Sacchi.
“They are the favourite, but it doesn’t mean they have won already,” noted the ex-Rossoneri coach.
“If they think they have crossed the line, troubles will begin. They must always be determined and focused like in the game against Juventus. This win also confirmed a great psychological condition, I think all the group is on the same page.”
The Nerazzurri have proved to be the best team in Italy so far, winning 18 games from 22. But where can they still improve?
“If they don’t press, the opponents always have a chance to build up with no pressure, and Inter have the players to press, so they must try,” concluded Sacchi.