Veteran defender Matteo Darmian says he feels like the ‘old man’ in the new, youthful Inter squad this summer. The Nerazzurri have been among the most active Serie A teams in the transfer market, signing the likes of Davide Frattesi and Yann Bisseck, while also securing renewals for Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 33-year-old discussed the new-look Inter team with an Italian core, and the focus they have for the Scudetto next season:
“I’ve been here a long time now-I feel like an old man in this group. And the armband is a huge pleasure, even in games like this.
Beating Psg always feels good. What is it, Champions League spirit again?
“The truth is that we are doing a good job. We are at the beginning of the path, but we have to be ready right away. We all have one goal in our heads: not to repeat last year’s mistake, we want to start strong right away. And we are preparing for that, we told each other in the locker room.”
To hear it, only positive feelings….
“We are happy, but there are things to improve. But I saw the right menatality in my teammates, even in the newcomers who immediately gave great willingness. It’s up to us to make them integrate as well as possible.”
What are the aspects in which Inter needs to grow?
“With Psg the first 15-18 minutes we didn’t do well. We couldn’t find our plays, then once we found our distance we grew in both phases. Matches like these are good for us.”
What is the biggest difference, with last season’s Inter?
“I talk about similarities instead, not differences. The base is the same. We did very well in the last 2-3 months, we have to start from there. We have to take advantage of that wave, continue on that trend. Then it is clear that, looking at the roster, very important players have left and it is not easy to replace them. But those who have arrived have the right predisposition and it has also been noticed on the field: Frattesi, Cuadrado, Thuram himself, I also mention Bisseck, all have already shown something.”
Frattesi in particular, he seems to have been at Inter for years.
“Fratte (text, ed.) we all know him, he was not discovered now. But the others will also give a lot. To be here, it means that everyone has great quality. The starting base is very good.”
Isn’t the second star in danger of becoming an obsession? You all talk openly about it…
“But I say one thing: when you are at Inter you must always aim for the maximum. This year, too, we will do that. We don’t want to leave out any goal, not even the Champions League. We come from years in which we have always lifted trophies: the goal must be to win more.”
Frattesi, now probably Scamacca as well. And then the whole defense. In midfield Barella and Dimarco. Inter goes against the trend, it has an Italian soul. Why, in your opinion?
“Inter in recent years has always had an important base of Italian players inside the group. I don’t know if more will come. But I think the idea of the club is clear: we are the ones who have to explain Inter to the new ones, we will have to be good at inserting them into our world, this is the added value of being Italian.”
