Roberto Gagliardini admits Inter ‘couldn’t afford to get it wrong’ against Sassuolo and worked better with a more traditional 3-5-2 formation.
Alexis Sanchez scored the opener, Arturo Vidal forced an own goal and Gagliardini added the third goal in the 3-0 victory.
Roberto Gagliardini admits Inter ‘couldn’t afford to get it wrong’ against Sassuolo and worked better with a more traditional 3-5-2 formation.
Alexis Sanchez scored the opener, Arturo Vidal forced an own goal and Gagliardini added the third goal in the 3-0 victory.
“It was a game we couldn’t afford to get wrong. We went into it with the right attitude, showing Sassuolo absolute respect, but also putting our qualities onto the field,” Gagliardini told Sky Sport Italia.
“There are difficult moments when we’re getting hammered from all corners, there’s not much to say, we just have to immediately turn over a new leaf and focus on the next match.
“We saw the team was much more compact, we allowed Sassuolo very little and remained focused throughout.”
There was a tactical change to more of a traditional 3-5-2, removing the trequartista role from the equation and using Nicolò Barella in front of the defence.
“It helped, as playing with three in midfield, we were able to cover the spaces better. We also used this system last season, so we knew it well and didn’t take long to settle into it.
“I think the biggest difference today was we knew how to wait for Sassuolo and press them in the right moments. This way, we allowed them to keep the ball and pass it, but then intervened at the right time to counter.”