Handanovic a starter, Simone Inzaghi explains his choice

“Right now we need so much with his experience.”

In the Inter Milan side that beat Udinese at the San Siro clinching their 10th home win in the league, the presence on the pitch from the 1st minute of Samir Handanovic, the former Nerazzurri captain who had not played a match as a starter since the home loss to Roma on Oct. 1, 2022, caused a stir.

Speaking to Sky Sport’s microphones in the post-match interview, the Piacenza coach explained why this surprise move was made, also talking about the progress of Romelu Lukaku, the other big man relaunched from the start and who scored with a penalty that was made to be repeated by the match director.

“Handanovic would have played even before today, but he had some little problems after Malta and I didn’t have it. He is an important player who is very well and we need a lot at this moment with his experience to make Onana draw breath as well. I’m happy for him but I had no doubts, not even about the others,” he began.

“Lukaku is improving daily, we have great confidence in him. He is putting in all the effort he can, he is a player who had a problem last year in London. We brought him back, he had a major injury for four months. If he is playing so many games as a starter it means he is in a good condition, but he can grow training after training: the matches will make him regain his form,” he concluded.