Giuseppe Rossi thinks Inter have “the solidity” to knock his old club Manchester United out of the Champions League.
Jose Mourinho’s Nerazzurri face a very tough second round encounter with the holders next week, but former Red Devils man Rossi is confident the Italians can qualify.
“My team Villarreal was able to hold United twice in the group stage. They play well, but they don’t pin you back. Inter are more solid than Manchester,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Are Inter the strongest side in Italy? The statistics speak clearly. Mourinho sends out solid outfits and their strength is that they know how to win even when they are playing badly.”
The Nerazzurri are nine points clear at the top of the Serie A table, but stuttered in Europe and only qualified second in their group behind Panathinaikos.
Rossi has experienced life at United, in Serie A and La Liga, but has been linked with a return to Italy under Claudio Ranieri’s command at Juventus.
“Of course I like being appreciated and Ranieri already worked with me at Parma. We did a lot of intense work on tactics, that is an obsession for Italian Coaches.
“It’s very different abroad. In Serie A I learned about tactics, in England they taught me aggression and in Spain I am rediscovering the single moment that can turn a match.”
’Joe’ Rossi was an Under-21 international, but has now made the leap up to the senior Azzurri full-time.
“I am happy with my performance, but not with the overall game,” he said of the 2-0 friendly defeat to Brazil earlier this month.
“We had a bad start and were tired. The Brazilians were too, but the slow tempo just highlighted their technique.
“My favourite role is as a support striker, but obviously I adapt to any solution and all teammates. For example, there would be no problem playing alongside Amauri, if Marcello Lippi were to call him.”
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