Pride and a big win: comments from Amsterdam

“I think it was a perfect Inter night. It was important to start with a win and get a positive result after two defeats. The performances have been there, but we needed to improve. Today, we did well to take the lead and read the game, managing it without too much pressure. I don’t choose between performance and result: the better you play, the more likely you are to get a positive result. We always try to play well and stick to our principles. Keeping a clean sheet is important. They had one big chance on the counter, but otherwise we controlled the match well. We communicated effectively and read their play intelligently. In defence, we know each other well, and Manuel is also settling in smoothly.”

“We were excellent, and the important thing was to get back to winning ways. We’re happy. Winning always helps, and after two defeats I think we’ve managed to get out of a tough patch. We’ll need to bounce back strongly in the league too: Sassuolo are a difficult side to face, and it will require a great performance. I’m willing to listen to any kind of criticism if it’s constructive – it’s part of the game. I have a clear conscience and always give my all for this shirt, always listening to the coach.”

“I’m very happy to have played these first two games straight away, and I thank the coach for his trust. I’m quick and physical, and I think I can contribute in terms of ball management and direct play – I feel confident in the build-up phase and hope my experience can be useful. In the Champions League, you always play to win, especially in a team like Inter, who have reached the final twice in the last three years. Now, we’ll focus on recovery, and then we’ll start preparing for the match against Sassuolo.”