Just a few thoughts on this morning’s game:
Of course, the result was important but what stands out most for me is the team’s attitude: we came out from the very start in the mood to win the game with the intention of harassing, bullying and dominating Milan. There have been so many times over the last decade when we have started and played entire games without the right mindset and approach. My heart absolutely soared when I saw our confidence and intent from the opening minutes. I am not sure if this is down to having better players, having a week to prepare for games, Conte motivating the players, or a combination of all of the above, but taking the right mindset into important games has been a longstanding issue for us and it was great to see us in the mood from the very beginning as opposed to waking up when we are 2-0 down or not playing whatsoever.
The second thing that really stands out for me is the transition of our play from defence to attack, the speed of our play and the fact that our midfielders were not scared to take on their opponents. There were so many times when Barella and Eriksen created space for themselves and skipped past their opponents to move forward. At such moments, I found myself asking why we were unable to replicate this kind of game in Europe. It was delightful, beautiful and inspiring to watch.
In the opening minutes of the second half, we were under huge pressure. It goes without saying that Handanovic’s saves were crucial but I was proud of how, with the exception of those minutes, our defence weathered the storm. All three defenders played with focus, attention and accountability but what I loved more than anything was the way Bastoni was playing against Ibrahimovic. There were a few instances where there were little pushes and manhandling which made me proud that Bastoni and our defence were not scared of Ibrahimovic and essentially reduced his influence on the game to being a bystander. Also, the way that our defenders were prepared to put their bodies on the line with low headers where they risked getting kicked in the head or timely headed interventions to clear our box was admirable.
I do not love Perisic but I am a great fan of how he has been applying himself and playing. I am not sure if it is down to Icardi leaving or the fact that he won the Champions League last season but he is more willing to play for the team and plays with real maturity. Of course, there are times when he slows down the play or takes one too many touches but I find it hard to fault him, especially as wingback is not his usual position. I loved how he linked up with Eriksen for our second. The cut back to find Martinez was beautiful!
I was one of the posters that wanted Eriksen to leave. However, I have enjoyed watching him in recent matches and especially this morning and I am glad that he has found a place in our eleven. Perhaps he just needed time to adjust and perhaps Conte needed to find a way to utilize him that would best suit Inter rather than simply playing him in the way he was utilized at Spurs. And maybe he needed the confidence of his coach to unlock his contributions and performances as well as supporters like me to get off his back. I like the seamless way he sidesteps his opponents and his composure on the ball. I also like his hustle and the way he is tracking back and contributing defensively. Perhaps what I love the most is the story of redemption in the sense of being on the brink of leaving to now being indispensable. Having him in the eleven with Vidal on the bench feels like a luxury and I am glad that he remained with us over the winter break. It is great to see him smiling and to know that Conte trusts him enough to be a starter in a top of the table Milan Derby clash.
And lastly, there is Lukaku. I read through his thread and I am not going to get caught up in the arguments about what and how much he contributes to this team, Icardi comparisons and the article that asked if he is one of the best strikers in the world. He missed some good chances but he also made up for those chances. I feel like his hold up play, passes to teammates that are running off him are absolutely priceless. Personally, I think a lot of posters get caught up in arguing about the minutiae, his weaknesses or the things he does wrong and miss what he actually contributes. I think the misses and mistakes are part of his game, just like they are of every player’s game. But do you know what I love about Lukaku? The way his teammates play off of him and his partnership with Martinez.
Think about it guys: Lukaku is presently on 17 goals and Martinez is on 13. We are watching something special and the last time our front duo had this kind of potential was when we had Ronaldo and Vieri who hardly got to play together. For me, it is not about how many chances Lukaku misses, his poor touch, how much we paid for him and how much he earns. It is about what he contributes, how he helps his teammates and his almost telepathic partnership with Martinez. These kind of front duo partnerships do not happen every day. They are special and rather than arguing about the minutiae some posters should sit back and enjoy the show.
Love you guys!
FORZA INTER!