MY ACCOUNT
Inter have been linked with Juventus star Paulo Dybala, but Simone Inzaghi instead focused on his delight with the recent form of Alexis Sanchez.
Dybala is out of contract at Juve at the end of the campaign and recent reports have suggested that the Nerazzurri will move to add him to their ranks ahead of next season.
But speaking at a news conference ahead of Inter’s trip to Atalanta on Sunday, Inzaghi refused to comment on the possibility of moving for the Argentine, who has scored nine goals and registered four assists in 20 games in all competitions for the Old Lady this season.
“I’ve read and heard things but I don’t like talking about players from other teams, I’m proud of the ones I have,” he told reporters.
One of the players the former Lazio manager is proud of is Sanchez, who scored the winning goal in the last minute of extra time as Inter beat Juve 2-1 in the Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday.
“Sanchez has been decisive and I am happy to coach him,” Inzaghi added. “For a coach, to see the action that determined the match, with the four players who came on during the match and [Arturo] Vidal was also decisive with his entrance, is a great satisfaction.
“Sanchez is a great asset, but I’ll evaluate him for the game against Atalanta.
“I’ve already said it, Sanchez is a champion who always wants to learn. He didn’t need the goal against Juve, he’s already settled down for two months.”
Inzaghi also had words of praise for Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini, who once again has the Bergamo side in the top four of Serie A, three points ahead of Juve in fifth with a game in hand, with only Inter (51) and Milan (46) having scored more goals in the league than Atalanta’s 44.
“Gasperini has been doing well for many years at Atalanta,” he said. “Football has evolved over the years and occupying space at the right time is increasingly important.
“It’s going to be a good, physical game, one to be experienced. Like the first game [2-2 at San Siro in September], with a very high tempo.”
Despite being eight points behind Inter heading into the game, when asked if Sunday’s opponents are a part of the race for the Scudetto, Inzaghi insisted: “Absolutely. Atalanta are in fourth place and they’re improving all the time. It’s a title race match.”
