Salernitana coach Paulo Sousa feels that his team gave Inter Milan plenty to think about when they attacked the space in behind.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Serie A match against Monza, as reported by FCInterNews, the Granata coach looked back at his team’s loss to the Nerazzurri in Campania last weekend.
The story of last Saturday’s match between Inter and Salernitana was the reamarkable second half of Nerazzurri captain Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentine did not start the match. But he came on and scored four goals in less than 45 minutes.
This meant that, according to the scoreline, it was an emphatic win from Inter.
The Nesrazzurri did their bit as the team with the higher budget and greater quality in their squad.
But in truth, prior to Martinez’s introduction, the match at the Stadio Arechi looked fairly balanced and competitive.
Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia had some positive moments against Inter.
The Senegalese has often been the Granata’s talisman since his arrival at the start of last season. He is a strong presence as a target man who can get his team up the pitch.
But in truth, Dia was not necessarily Salernitana’s most threatening player. Or at least he was not the player who instigated their most dangerous moments.
Inter defender Stefan de Vrij did a very credible job of marking the 26-year-old and containing his threat.
But the players behind Dia like Jovane Cabrala and Agustin Martegani were able to find pockets of space.
And the Granata were not afraid to try and use this to get in behind Inter. Particularly with the pace of wingbacks Domagoj Bradaric and Grigoris Kastanos.
“Inter had problems when we attacked the space in behind,” Sousa said.
“We performed better thanks to the full stadium and the extra motivation you get from facing title contenders.”
“Right now the individual moments are going against us more than in the past,” he added. “So for that reason I ask that the guys be more clinical.”
