Italian journalist Ivan Zazzaroni believes the ‘stronger and better’ team won in the match between Inter and Roma. The Nerazzuri were the dominant side, earning a slender 1-0 win against Roma courtesy of a late Marcus Thuram goal. Writing in Corriere dello Sport, Zazzaroni explained why he believes the better of the two sides earned the victory, in part due to their strength in depth:
“It could have ended much worse for Roma, who have been struggling with obvious technical and physical limitations since the start of the season.”
“The team that was stronger and better, much better, won. The one that played with its superiority, its quality, fresher legs and lungs, freer heads. It could have ended much worse for Roma, who have been struggling with obvious technical and physical limitations since the start of the season. We would have only seen a different game if Mourinho had been able to use Dybala, Pellegrini, Renato Sanches, Smalling and Spinazzola. The result, I don’t know. But the five starters are constantly at half strength’.
“It is unthinkable that a team that pits Dimarco and Dumfries against Kristensen and Zalewski and is forced to wait in midfield (pressing does not belong to it due to the congenital slowness of the squad), in order to avoid being subjected to the Nerazzurri’s verticality, can bring home anything different. The strategy of forced waiting and attention, at least that, paid off – or, if you prefer, held up – for about eighty minutes. That is, until a midfield slept on Thuram’s timing which, it must be said, did justice to Inzaghi”.
