Milan Skriniar commented on Inter’s sluggish start to the season, how it felt to lose the Scudetto last season and working with Antonio Conte and Simone Inzaghi.
The 27-year-old Slovakian centre back has been one of the most discussed Nerazzurri players in recent months, being heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer. With less than a year left on his current contract, Skriniar is again the subject of numerous transfer rumours as Inter work to tie him down to a new deal.
Speaking to DAZN, Skriniar first discussed who his childhood idol was.
“It was Ronaldo the Fenomeno when I was a child because I was a striker. I think all children when they start playing football think about scoring lots of goals and providing assists, just like he did at the highest level.
“I remember when he was at the World Cup in 2002 winning the top scorer’s trophy with that particular hair that I asked my dad to do mine like that. But I looked disgusting so I took it off right away!”
He spoke about Inter’s tough start to the season and the criticisms levied against the defence.
“It’s not that the team or the coach are blaming the defenders, we take the criticism in a global way because it’s the whole team that defends and the same goes for the offensive phase.
“We all talked about this together, but we know as defenders that we can and must do better than what we’ve been doing since the start of the season.”
The Slovakian centre back reflected on the Nerazzurri’s failed title charge last season and how it felt to lose to intercity rivals Milan.
“There was a lot of disappointment, but we said to each other straight away: ‘Guys, we won two cups, let’s hope it gives us extra determination to prepare and try to win the Scudetto next year’.
“There’s a lot of criticism, people say we have to win because we have a strong team, that we shouldn’t play, that we play badly. We don’t want to listen to them because they only make us lose energy.
“Last year we lost the derby after dominating for 70 minutes, then we also made a mistake against Sassuolo and that too could have been decisive. I don’t want to look at it like that.
“There’s also credit to Milan, they were very good because the last five games were very very difficult, but they won them and did very well. There is also credit to them and not just our faults.”
Skriniar looked back at Conte’s time in charge of Inter.
“For me, playing in a three-man defence was something new, at the beginning I struggled. Although I always gave my best, I had limits in that role. Working with him and his staff helped me to improve.
“In the national team I play in four, I was already used to it and there are no problems, with Conte I got used to playing in three, now I can do both and that’s a good thing.”
He spoke highly about current coach Inzaghi, who has been the subject of much criticism recently.
“He’s like one of us. He talks to us, he jokes with us, but when there’s a heavier word to say he says it.
“I’d say he’s a more balanced coach, he knows how to have fun with us, but also when there’s something wrong to say. That’s when he says his piece.”
He touched on his relationship with teammate Marcelo Brozovic.
“We used to play around a lot, now we still do, but a little less. Brozovic was sick, but he made us all sick.
“We always spend the retreats together, we are six or seven in the room, we watch the games if there are any. We are a good group, a fantastic group. We are friends, not just teammates.”
Finally, Skriniar discussed his relationship with the Inter fans.
“I’ve always tried to give my all for this team, fighting for every ball and maybe that’s why the fans love me. I have a good relationship with them and it’s great.”