Bastoni: “Pleased with the display but we should’ve won”

MILAN – Alessandro Bastoni played a key role in Inter’s derby performance, both as a solid part of the defence and also as an extra attacking threat down the wing. During the first half, the 22-year-old showed all his trickery to reach the by-line and set Nicolo Barella up with a pinpoint pull-back. There was more of the same in the second half, as he sent in more dangerous crosses, but it was to no avail as the contest finished 1-1.

The Inter defender assessed the game in interviews with DAZN and Inter TV: “It would’ve been great to reduce the points gap to Milan. We wanted to win but we’re pleased with our performance. When you don’t manage to win, it’s important not to lose. In the first 70 minutes, we certainly could’ve scored two or three goals and overall we certainly deserved to take all three points.

“It’s true that we haven’t won games against our direct rivals, but we’re in the hunt on all fronts and we were also in this position last year but we then bounced back. None of the top teams that we’ve faced have been better than us, not even Real Madrid. We were so unlucky in Rome, as we were tonight. We’re moving forward with our principles in place. Of course, it’s not just down to bad luck, but we’re pleased with the path that we’re taking.”

In terms of the team performance, Bastoni said, “We’re heading towards a football world in which predefined positions no longer exist. The boss asks us to move around so much on the pitch and we’re trying to do so. I feel important in this team, as is everyone. We’re a united group of players. [Simone] Inzaghi is carrying on the job started by [Antonio] Conte. We all feel at the heart of the project. We rotate a lot and whoever plays always gives their all.”